Lot 843
1849 Philadelphia to Canton via London, Southampton, and Hong Kong. Stampless folded letter to U.S. Navy East India Squadron Fleet Surgeon William S. W. Ruschenberger on the U.S.S. Plymouth "Care of Wetmore & Co." in Canton, China, letter is from his wife in Philadelphia (14 pages on 4 tissue sheets) and is datelined from December 17, 1848, through January 6, 1849, evidently carried privately from Philadelphia to London where endorsed "P[er] Overland mail via Southampton" and marked "1/" (shilling), forwarding agents "Lemuel Goddard/London" blue double-lined double oval handstamp (Rowe R3) and "Forwarded By Rawle, Drinker & Co./Hong Kong" orange-red oval handstamp (40 x 23 mm, Rowe R5) on the back, some deterioration and missing paper affecting the Rawle Drinker handstamp, F.-V.F.Estimate $300 - 400.
The East India Squadron is best known for the Perry Expedition to Japan 1852-1854. Dr. Ruschenberger served as Fleet Surgeon 1835-1837 and 1847-1849. The U.S. Sails Sloop of War Plymouth (989 tons, 22 guns, complement of 210) was built in Boston in 1844. The ship was burned and scuttled at Norfolk, Virginia, in 1861 to prevent her capture by the Confederate States of America.
Realized: $3,500
Lot 844
Camp Floyd, U.T. Balloon type cds with matching "Paid 3" in small arc on blue cover to New York, small tear at top right & minor grease stain at bottom right, still Very Fine and choice& an unusually clear strike of this scarce cds; this is much scarcer than a stamped usage.Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $250
Lot 845
Camp Floyd, U.T. Balloon type cds tying 1857 3¢ dull red horiz. pair on blue cover to New York, Very Fine and choice& an unusually clear strike of this scarce postmark.Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $350
Lot 846
Camp Floyd, U.T. Small size cds tying 1857 3¢ dull red horiz. pair (right stamp defective) on blue cover to New York, Very Fine& an unusually clear strike of this scarce cds.Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $250
Lot 847
Camp Floyd, U.T. Small size cds tying 1857 3¢ dull red on 1861 cover to New Hampshire, Very Fine& an unusually clear strike of this scarce cds, ex-Jessup.Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $425
Lot 848
Salt Lake City U.T., July 1 (Utah Terr.). Strong clear strike of straight line postmark on 1851 folded cover to Ohio with matching "X" rate handstamp, lengthy spiritual letter written by Robert Burton telling of the death of his brother William Burton, edge wear & splits with some archival tape on inside, Very Fine strike, the earliest reported handstamp postmark of Utah.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Robert Taylor Burton (October 25, 1821 ? November 11, 1907) was a member of the presiding bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1874 until his death. He was also one of the principal officers in the Nauvoo Legion during its Utah reconstitution (including the Utah War) and led the territorial militia against the Morrisites during the 1862 Morrisite War.
In 1856, Burton was part of the rescue party sent from Salt Lake City to assist the stranded Martin Handcart Company near the Sweetwater River. In 1870, Burton was tried and acquitted for the murder of Isabella Bowman, a person who had been killed by Utah militia while surrendering in the Morrisite War.
Burton practiced plural marriage and fathered 27 children. He is the great-great-grandfather of the current presiding bishop of the LDS Church, H. David Burton.
Realized: $1,250
Lot 849
(Clallam) Quillayute, Wash., Jul 11 1883. Fancy duplex cds (8 reported) with "mountain goat" killer on 2¢ green entire to Ft. Atkinson, Wis., roughly opened at right, Fine.Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $150
Lot 850
(Clark) Pioneer, W.T., Dec 21-78. Near manuscript postmark, on cover to Astoria, Oregon, franked with pen cancelled 3¢ green Banknote, bit of edge staining, still F.-V.F.Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $100
Lot 851
(Island) Utsalady, W.T., Oct 29 / 70. Manuscript postmark (type 1, 11 reported) on cover franked with manuscript cancelled 3¢ ultra 1869, to New Hampshire, bit of staining, otherwise F.-V.F.Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $130
Lot 852
(King) Vashon, W.T. 1/12/85. Near purple manuscript postmark (type 1, 5 reported) on cover to Penna., franked with matching duplex with star in circle killer on reverse, n cancelled 2¢ brown Banknote, nice transit triple circle "Old Tacoma, Pierce Co., Wash. Ter.".Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $90