Lot
1320 
1857, 1¢ blue, type V, horizontal pair with s.e. at left, tied by two strikes of the small double-circle New York City Delivery cds on square envelope addressed to "Hon. George Bancroft, the Great Historian of the Unit. States of N. A.", neat blue oval consular sender's cachet, the left stamp with natural straight edge at left, Very Fine, a nice example of the combined carrier and drop rates. Scott No. 24 Estimate $300 - 400.
The addressee, founder of the United States Naval Academy, Secretary of the Navy, Ambassador to Great Britain and to Spain, was the pre-eminent American historian of the 19th century. His massive multi-volume History of the United States is still a basic reference today. While the sender's address may have been rather flowery, it hardly overstated the case.
Realized: $350