Sale 134: Boston 2026 World Expo Auction

Lot 2023    

1720 (Apr. 2) Attleborough, Mass. to Bristol, R.I., datelined folded letter addressed "To the Clerk of the Court at Bristol", endorsed "10d" court fee, the letter contained 10 pence to register five marriages performed in 1719, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

AN EARLY PRECURSOR OF A MONEY LETTER.

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2024    

1755 (Nov. 22) Philadelphia, Pa. to London, England (French and Indian War), "Philadelphia Novr 22 - 1755" dateline on folded letter from James Alexander addressed to the Earl of Lauderdale in London, flap with London (1.12) Bishop mark, manuscript "Ship" and large "3" (shilling) ratings, interesting letter content; some fold toning and docketing, still Very Fine.
Estimate    $4,000 - 6,000.

A REMARKABLE TRANSATLANTIC USE WITH INTERESTING CONTENT CONCERNING THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

Letter was from James Alexander to the Earl of Lauderdale. The letter reports the shipment to the Earl of two boxes of North American seeds. He blames the small shipment on reverses in the French & Indian War that made travel in central Pennsylvania impossible:

"Since the fattal defeat of General Bradock the french and Theresienstadt Indians have been killing and Scalping the back inhabitants whol familys and single persons in sich amount as that there was no traveling without great danger in those places where the most valuable plants ar got therefor it was impossible for me to procure that number of them that I designed. But to mak up that deficiency I have sent 2 boxes of plants Nov 11.12…I should hav sent a great many mor seeds but another season and as we hop to see an end to our trubbels your grace may depend on being better served…".


Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (1.2MB)

Realized: $3,250

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2025    

1770 (Feb. 1) Philadelphia, Pa. to Newport, R.I., datelined folded letter bearing red "Phila, Delphia" two line handstamp and magenta "1, Fe" Franklin mark, magenta "4" dwt rating, docketed received in Newport on February 21, 1770, Very Fine and choice, the single 4dwt (1 shilling) rate for between 300-400 miles, ex-Siskin.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.


Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (1.1MB)

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2026    

1773 (Jul. 12) Philadelphia, Pa. to London, England via New York, datelined folded letter endorsed "pr packet", bearing lightly struck red "Phila, Delphia" two-line handstamp on flap, partial "New York" straightline handstamp and matching "4, AU" Franklin mark, bold strike of "Inland And, Packet Postage" handstamp with "4N6" rating indicating prepayment of 4 shillings 6 pence, London "6, SE" Bishop mark and manuscript "To pay 1/6" rating for 1 shilling 6 pence inland British postage due; paper loss in center, F.-V.F., ex-Siskin.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

ONE OF ONLY A FEW RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THIS "INLAND AND PACKET POSTAGE" HANDSTAMP.

Realized: $5,000

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2027    

1775 (Jan. 24) Annapolis, Md. to Philadelphia, Pa., folded letter sheet addressed to John Cadwalader, reverse with clear strike of red "Annapolis" straight line handstamp with matching "Jan 24" date below, front with manuscript "2.16" dwt/gr rating and light red "1/4" local currency rating with additional carrier fee, reverse with "Rich. Bn. Lloyd, 17th Jany, 1775, Patuxent Letters &c" docketing on bottom flap; portion of top flap added not affecting postal markings, Very Fine.
Estimate    $7,500 - 10,000.

THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE EXTREMELY RARE ANNAPOLIS STRAIGHTLINE POSTMARK - USED DURING THE END THE BRITISH COLONIAL POST AND AT THE BEGINNING OF THE INDEPENDENT POSTAL SERVICES.

The sender, Richard Bennett Lloyd, was a wealthy Maryland landowner and former British officer from the prominent Lloyd family of Wye House, Talbot County. Educated in England, he served in the Coldstream Guards before returning to Maryland during the American Revolution. The addressee, John Cadwalader, was a commander of Pennsylvania troops during the American Revolutionary War and served under George Washington. He was with Washington at Valley Forge.

Realized: $6,250

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2028    

1779 (Apr. 22) Brooklyn, N.Y. to Oyster Bay (Long Island, N.Y.), folded letter datelined "Brooklyn 22d April 1779" addressed to "Seth Norton, Company Forage, Oyster Bay", manuscript "On His Majesty's Service" endorsement at top, with letter, under Commissary General's Orders, hat Norton take carge of provisions at Oyster Bay and continue to issue both Forage & Provisions and to make week reports of the same, this cover examined in series article by Calvet Hahn in Collectors Club Philatelist (Mar-Apr 1991, Vol 70, No. 2).
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

EXTREMELY RARE BRITISH MILITARY LETTER CARRIED BY PRIVATE EXPRESS FROM BRITISH OCCUPIED BROOKLYN, N.Y.


Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (960KB)

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2029    

1779 (Oct. 17) New York to Edinburgh, Scotland, folded letter datelined "New York, Oct 17th 1779" from Thomas Sterling, with large "Plymouth, Ship-Lre" two-line handstamp and "In all 1N9" rating, reverse with brown "3, De" Bishop mark, bottom flap with "New York, 17. October 1779, Genl. Sterling" docketing, letter with interesting content regarding use of Virginia prize money and on battles in Georgia; file fold, Very Fine.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A RARE BRITISH OCCUPIED NEW YORK PLYMOUTH SHIP LETTER TO EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.


Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (805KB)

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2030    

1785 (Nov. 20) L'Orient, France to Philadelphia, Pa., incoming folded letter datelined "L'Orient, 20 Nov. 1784" regarding tea shipments, with straight line "Paq. L'Orient" handstamp and additional fancy "Port-Paye De L'Orient" handstamp at upper right, manuscript "2" dwt rating from New York and reverse with "20" pre-paid rating on reverse, Very Fine.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

A RARE FRENCH ROYAL PACKET USAGE BEARING THE "PAQ. L'ORIENT" & "PORT PAYE DE L'ORIENT" MARKINGS.

From 1775 on, the American Revolutionary War brought a surge in activity, as many privateers hailed from Lorient. When the war ended, transatlantic lines opened to the United States, and in 1785, a new commercial company started under Calonne's tutelage (then Controller-General of Finances) with the same goal as the previous entities, i.e. conducting trade in India and China, with again Lorient standing as its operative base.


Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (797KB)

Realized: $2,900

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2031    

1786 (Feb. 2) London England to Philadelphia Pa. via New York, datelined folded letter sheet endorsed "Via New York, Feby Pacquet", London "2/FE" bishop mark backstamp and matching "Post, Paid" in circle handstamp with red manuscript "1oz" and "pr 4/-" prepaid rating for four-times the 1sh packet rate, carried by Packet Speedy from Falmouth Feb. 14th to New York arriving Apr. 18th, New York manuscript "8" dwt rating for inland postage (4x 2dwt for 60-100 miles), Philadelphia manuscript "3/6" 3s6d due rating in local currency (8dwt = 24d sterling, so: 24d x 1.67 = 40d local + 2d delivery = 3s6d), docketed "Recd 21 August 86"; some edge wear, F.-V.F., ex-Barwis.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A RARE PREPAID QUADRUPLE RATE PACKET LETTER.

email this lot to a friend

Lot 2032    

(Eastern Express) Gay, Kinsley & Co's Boston, New York, Philadelphia & Eastern Express. (Forwarded By), black on vermilion label affixed to folded letter sheet to Philadelphia, with bold red "Stait's Despatch Post, at Adams' Expr's, 48 S. 3d St., Paid" handstamp, with printed "Circular." and manuscript street addressing; label margin folded over cover with some creasing at bottom, Very Fine and rare; with 2001 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

THIS BEING A UNIQUE GAY, KINSLEY & CO. EXPRESS EXPRESS USAGE HANDED OVER TO STAIT'S DESPATCH FOR DELIVERY IN PHILADELPHIA.

Realized: $650

email this lot to a friend