Lot 445
Liberia, 1839-44 Missionary Reports, seven reports to sent to the Board of Missions in New York City; first a 1839 50 page report on missionary settlements and conditions in the whole of Liberia, second a 1839 25 page report on "African Missions", third a ca. 1840 4 page resolution of Episcopal and Presbyterian Missionaries stating that newly established colonies of American blacks are…exceedingly Prejudicial to Missionary operations and propose…that we retire from their immediate vicinity and influence with as little delay as possible., exceedingly negative opinion of morals and character of colonists, etc., fourth-sixth - 1842-43 6 page reports datelined Setta Kroo and Alexandria, Setta Croo, seventh a ca. 1844 4 page report from Setta Kroo missions filled with details about missionary life and struggles, much on native tribes, etc., Very Fine, a rare and fascinating Liberian missionary correspondence group, ex-Cockrill.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
446 
Liberia, Ship Saluda, Bound for Monrovia, Oct 2d (18)39, dateline on 3-page letter from Dr. Wesley Johnson to his mother in Hillsdale, N.Y., entering the mails with red "Norfolk, Va., Jan 16" cds, matching "Ship" handstamp and manuscript "27" due rate, letter regarding his trip…I will tell you all that shall now occur to me since Mr Buchanan came out in this vessel last spring and I am now on a voyage to the Cape & Sierra Leone for my health…and when I return to Bassa I shall take charge of a high school about to be established there and carried on by the Ladies' of Philadelphia, etc.; cover toning, Fine.Estimate $150 - 200.
Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot 447
Liberia, 1840-1866 Benjamin Coates Correspondence, fascinating group of 15 letters from or concerning Liberia and the colonization movement; five 1850-66 letters from Monrovia (two folded letters posted in the U.S.) including 1850 folded letter from J.N. Lewis concerning general business affairs, 1857 folded letter sent through England from E.W. Blyden requesting paper to print his pamphlet "An Apology for the African Race", lengthy 1849 8-page letter from President J.J. Roberts regarding trip to Europe and visiting various governments seeking recognition for Liberia, upon return he was successful in removing slave traders from several towns, mentions Henry Clay return to U.S. Senate, 1850 3-page letter from President J.J. Roberts curious about Clay's compromise bill and the result of California's application for statehood, comments on U.S. slavery issue with note written by Coate in margin to bring this to the attention of Mrs. (Harriet Beecher) Stowe, and a 1866 4-page letter from former President Roberts commenting on American newspaper accounts of Civil War Reconstruction, Negro suffrage, etc., 10 other 1840-50 folded letters posted in the U.S. regarding Liberian matters including many letter from members of government concerning the slave trade, booking return trip to Liberia, etc., from persons including W. McLain, G. Wilkeson, Rev. R.R. Gurley, Rev I.W. Roberts, etc., Very Fine overall, a marvelous historical group for the Liberian specialist.Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
Benjamin Coates (1808-1887) was among a certain group of Philadelphia Quakers to become deeply involved in philanthropy, particularly those efforts dealing with abolition and education. He was a member of several organizations, including the Friends Freedmen, the Pennsylvania Abolition Society, the Union Benevolent Association, the Institute for Colored Youth and others. The philosophical inclinations of Benjamin Coates were shaped in part by the abolitionist networks of his day. Coates was convinced that a new colony in West Africa, populated by black Americans, was the best strategy for ending slavery and giving African Americans a positive fresh start. In this regard, Coates was involved with the American Colonization Society, an organization which established the colony of Liberia to resettle free black Americans in West Africa Coates forged an alliance with African American Joseph Jenkins Roberts, who emigrated to Liberia in 1829, and became a symbol of the personal, financial, and economic opportunities that could be had in Africa. Coates propounded the abolition of slavery as the catalyst for worldwide change, viewing slavery as a problem that plagued his religious community, his business relationships, his country's political system, the world economy and his Quaker conscience. Benjamin Coates was the author of "Cotton Cultivation in Africa, Suggestions on the Importance of the Cultivation of Cotton in Africa, in Reference to the Abolition of Slavery in the United States…" in 1858.Complete images:
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Current Opening Bid: $1,500
Lot
448
Liberia, Factory Island, July 14th, 1842, dateline on lengthy three page letter from Dr. Wesley Johnson with interesting contents his Aunt in Cincinnati, O., entered the mails with blue "Philadelphia, Pa. Oct 10" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with magenta "27" rating (25¢ postage plus 2¢ ship fee), letter with contents including…We have at length taken possession of this place, So long under the dominion of his Satanic Magesty and have commenced the Sadie's Liberia High School…affording a few the means of making life and liberty; some edge splitting, F.-V.F.Estimate $300 - 400.
Dr. Wesley Johnson served as a physician at Bassa Cove under the direction of the New York and Pennsylvania colonization societies. Later he became superintendent of the high school on Factory Island under the patronage of the Ladies' Liberia School Association of Philadelphia.
Current Opening Bid: $150
Lot
449
Liberia, U.S. Ship Portsmouth, Off Monrovia Feby 2d, 1849, dated ship endorsement covers to Richfield Springs, N.Y., entered the mails with red "Salem, Mass., Apr 23" cds and straight line "Ship" handstamp, manuscript "7" rate; small edge tone spot at top, Very Fine, a wonderful cover from the sloop of war Portsmouth during it's patrol to suppress the slave trade of the west coast of Africa.Estimate $750 - 1,000.
The Portsmouth, after returning in 1848 from California and Mexico, she parted Boston on Aug 29 and sailed east for Africa. There until 1 February 1849 she patrolled with the Royal Navy ships to suppress the slave trade. Between September 1849 and May 1851 she again cruised off the West African coast, returning home to Boston on June 26th.
Current Opening Bid: $375
Lot
450
Liberia, H.M.S. Groula At Sea - Off Coast of Liberia, August 29th (1853), dateline on 8-page enclosure with cover addressed to Alcester, England, with "H.M.S. Terrible" mail steamer endorsement and franked with G.B. 1d red paying the soldiers and seamen rate to England, tied by light Maltese cross postmark, reverse with red entry and receiving postmarks, letter with fascinating contents, Very Fine.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot
451
Liberia, United States to Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa, 1860's, cover addressed to the Muhlenburg Mission franked with U.S. 1861, 10¢ yellow green (three) + 3¢ rose tied by Duncannon, Pa. cds's, red "28" credit and "1d" rate handstamp, with red New York transit cancel and indistinct backstamp, bottom right 10¢ replaced, F.-V.F. appearance.Scott No. U.S. 65+68 Estimate $200 - 300.
Current Opening Bid: $100
Lot
452
Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia, 23rd Jany, 1878, bold strike of circular postmark with manuscript date at center, on fresh cover to Cambridge, Mass. with manuscript "7d" rate and red Liverpool transit cds, reverse with New York entry postmark, accompanied by original enclosure from a student of Liberia College appealing for financial support to further his studies…I am a native African youth, who through the providence of God has been brought from heathen darkness to the light of Christianity and Civilization, Extremely Fine, a wonderful cover and letter.Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Current Opening Bid: $500
Lot 453 o
Liberia, 1880, 12¢ yellow, with central strike of "Monrovia, Liberia, Dec 24, 1879" rimless town postmark pre-dating the date of issuance, brilliant color, few flaws, an Extremely Fine strike, only a few known (see Cockrill Booklet No. 23, pages 2-3).Scott No. 19 Estimate $150 - 200.
Current Opening Bid: $80
Lot
454 o
Liberia, 1880, 24¢ rose red, block of 4, neat six bar cancels, top right stamp with small tear, otherwise Fine to Very Fine, a very rare multiple.Scott No. 20 Estimate $200 - 300.
Cockrill has stated that he had never seen a used block on any 1880 issue.
Current Opening Bid: $100