Sale 127: The December Sale

Lot 1727    

John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), 6th President of United States 1825-29, free frank "J. Q. Adams" (as Sec. of State) on 1818 folded cover to Boston, manuscript "Department of State" in another hand, light strike of red "Washn. City Oct. 30" cds with matching "FREE" handstamp, vert. file fold with minor paper breaks, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Son of John Adams, he was Minister to the Netherlands, Prussia, Russia and Great Britain, and negotiated the Treaty of Ghent which ended the War of 1812. He was a Senator from Massachusetts and Secretary of State under Monroe. In 1824, he ran against Andrew Jackson and Henry Clay, and though Jackson received more votes, the election was thrown into the House of Representatives. There, House Speaker Clay swayed members to vote for Adams, who then appointed Clay Secretary of State. Following his defeat in 1828, he was elected to the House of Representatives, where he served from 1831 until his death.

Realized: $425

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Lot 1728    

John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), 6th President of United States 1825-29, free frank "J. Q. Adams" (as Sec. of State) on 1819 folded cover to Albany, manuscript "Department of State" in another hand, postmarked nice strike of brown "Washⁿ City Aug. 19" cds with matching "FREE" handstamp, cover forwarded to Sandy Hill with small "Albany Aug. 25" cds, vert. file fold and repair at top, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $450

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Lot 1729    

John Caldwell Calhoun (1782-1850), Vice President Under Andrew Jackson, manuscript free frank "Free J.C. Calhoun" signature on cover to Columbia, S.C., postmarked red Washington, D.C. cds with attached "Free", Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

John Caldwell Calhoun, 1782-1850 was an American statesman and political theorist who served as the seventh vice president of the United States from 1825 to 1832. Born in South Carolina, he adamantly defended American slavery and sought to protect the interests of white Southerners.

Realized: $220

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Lot 1730    

Henry Clay (1777-1852), Secretary of State 1825-29, manuscript "H. Clay" free frank with Department of State above on folded cover to Baltimore, postmarked red "Washⁿ City Dec. 14" cds with straight line "Free", small cover tear at top, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Henry Clay, Sr. was an American lawyer, politician, and skilled orator who represented Kentucky in both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. He served three different terms as Speaker of the House of Representatives and was also Secretary of State from 1825 to 1829. He lost his campaigns for president in 1824, 1832 and 1844. Henry Clay generally did not indicate his office when franking mail as required by regulations.

Realized: $260

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Lot 1731    

Frances F. Cleveland Preston (1864-1947), free frank on postcard to Chicago, postmarked Tamworth, N.H. Jul. 21, 1947, card forwarded within Illinois, handwritten message on reverse blacked out with felt pen, otherwise Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Frances Clara Cleveland Preston was the first lady of the United States from 1886 to 1889 and again from 1893 until 1897, as the wife of President Grover Cleveland. She is the only first lady in U.S. history to have served in the role during two non-consecutive terms. Grover died in 1908, and Frances was left to raise their four remaining children alone. She refused the pension to which she was legally entitled as a widowed first lady, but she did accept the franking privilege that was offered to presidential widows in 1909.

Frances Cleveland remarried Thomas Preston, professor of archaeology and acting president at Wells College, on February 10, 1913.

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Lot 1732    

Howell Cobb (1815-1868), two covers with manuscript free frank "Howell Cobb" signature, both addressed in his hand, one addressed to his wife & one to Col. John B. Lamar, both in Macon, Ga., postmarked different type Washington City, D.C. Free cds's, one with part of flap torn off, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Cobb was Governor of Georgia (1851-1853) and served as Buchanan's Secretary of the Treasury from 1857 to December 10, 1860, when he resigned. Cobb personally opposed secession. He was Chairman of the convention of delegates from the seceded states, which assembled in Montgomery, Alabama on February 24, 1861 to form a Confederate government. In July 1861, Cobb accepted a commission as Colonel in the Confederate Army and was later commissioned a Major General. He saw action at Shiloh and Antietam and surrendered at Macon, Georgia on April 20, 1864.

Realized: $180

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Lot 1733    

Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885), House Speaker, Vice-President of the U.S. Under Grant, 1869-73, three free frank covers, two as Vice President & one as Speaker of the House, first with free frank "Schuyler Colfax, Speaker H. Reps" on 40th Congress shaded envelope to Philadelphia, postmarked "Washington, D.C. Free" double circle, second with on envelope with "Vice President's Chamber" imprint with "Schuyler Colfax, VP" free frank to Washington, D.C. for 1873 Reception at Masonic Temple, last is small unused envelope with "Schuyler Colfax, VP" free frank, all addressed in his hand, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $260

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Lot 1734    

Millard Fillmore (1800-1874), 13th President 1850-53., manuscript free frank "Free M. Fillmore" on immaculate small unused cover, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Fillmore served in Washington from 1833-1835 and 1837-1843 while a member of the House of Representatives and 1849-1850 while Vice President. He became President on July 9, 1850, following the death of President Taylor. He failed to get the Whig presidential nomination in 1852 and returned to his Buffalo home after leaving the White House on March 3, 1853.

Realized: $150

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Lot 1735    

James A. Garfield (1831-1881), 20th President of the United States 1881., manuscript "J.A. Garfield MC" free frank as Member of Congress on cover to Hon. James Monroe in Oberlin, Oh., postmarked "Hiram, O. Sep. 12" cds with bold straight line "Free" handstamp, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Garfield rose to major general during the Civil War, served as chief of staff under Rosecrans and won his seat in Congress while still in uniform. He was elected to the Senate in 1880 and later won the Presidency that year. He was shot by Charles Guiteau in Washington after only three months as President and died later in New Jersey.

Realized: $220

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Lot 1736    

Lucretia Rudolph Garfield, 1832-1918, wife of James Garfield, first Lady of the United States 1881., manuscript "Lucretia R. Garfield, Free" free frank signature on small mourning envelope addressed in her own hand to Mr. Dewitt Miller, Union League Club, Philadelphia, Pa., postmarked "Westmentor, Ohio Jun. 25, 1900" cds, cover with two strikes of "Due 4" handstamp at bottom left with traces of Postage Due Stamps which have been removed, reverse with manuscript notation from recipient, "Upon my complaint the charge for due postage was cancelled and the stamps removed. DM", Very Fine and unusual.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Lucretia's stay in the White House was brief because of Garfield's assassination on September 19, 1881, approximately six months after he took office, but she enjoyed the franking privilege for 37+ years. It was granted on December 20, 1881.

Realized: $190

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