Sale 55: United States Postal History

Lot 654    

[Interior] Dewitt C. Laurence, Chief Clerk of Patent Office 1849-50. Free frank "Dewitt C. Laurence" signature on 1850 U.S. Patent Office imprint envelope to Cincinnati Oh., red "Washington D.C. Nov 25" cds with attached "Free" rating, original 1850 enclosure rejecting patent claim, pencil "Opened by Mistake, E. Eaiton" on reverse, Cincinnati red "ADV. 2" advertised due rating handstamp, sent to DLO with "P.O. Dept. Dead Letter Office" circular handstamp with ms. "May/ 8 1851" dating; red Patent Office wax seal; light wax seal stain and reduced slightly at right, F.-V.F., ex-Richard Graham Collection.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lot 655    

[Interior] Joseph S. Wilson, Commissioner of Land Office 1867-69. Free frank "J.S. Wilson" as Commissioner on beautiful all-over shaded General Land Office legal-size envelope to San Francisco Cal., light "Washington D.C. 'Free' Dec 21" cds, Very Fine and attractive, ex-Theodore Stevens, Richard Graham Collection.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Joseph S. Wilson and his brother John Wilson, served as clerks in the General Land Office or other Bureaus as early as 1833. Joseph became chief clerk in 1853 and served as such, except for a stint as Acting Commissioner in 1859, until 1867 when he was appointed the Commissioner of the General Land Office.

Realized: $450

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Lot 656    

[Justice] Edward Bates, Attorney General 1861-1864. Free frank ""Edwd. Bates" signature on Attorney General's Office official imprint cover to Dr. Th. E. Massie, Chillicothe Oh., "Washington D.C. Jun 30 1862" cds, original "Attorney General's Office" imprint stationery ALS letter datelined "June 30. 1862", reading in part "I am sorry that it is not in my power to gratify you in the matter of Conrad D. Boyd, now a prisoner (as you say) in Fort Delaware. Sometime ago, the President did give me, as a personal favor, two … boys, then prisoners at Camp Douglas, Ills. They were children of my early friends. That was an exceptional care, and the example has not been followed for reasons deemed good, at the War Office" signed by Bates; no flap and small toned spot, F.-V.F., ex-Lynn Brugh, Richard Graham Collection.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $550

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Lot 657    

[Justice] Cesar A. Rodney, Attorney General 1807-1811. Free frank "C.A. Rodney, Atty Gen. U-S" signature on 1810 folded cover with reddish "Wilmington Dec 29" cds and matching "Free" rating handstamp to Philadelphia Pa.; fold toning and some 1810 docketing, ex-Richard Graham Collection.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Realized: $150

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Lot 658    

[Justice] Roger B. Taney, Attorney General 1831-33. Free frank "Free, R.B. Taney" signature on 1831 folded cover to Annapolis Md., red "City of Washington Dec 7" cds and matching "Free" rating handstamp, Very Fine and scarce, ex-Richard Graham Collection.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $160

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Lot 659    

[Navy] William Faxon, Chief Clerk 1861-69. Free frnak "Wm Faxon" signature on large size Navy Department imprint cover to Commodore Henry K. Thatcher, Commanding Sloop Contellation at Spezia Italy, "Washington D.C. Mar 27 1862" cds with manuscript "54" due rating, "New York Mar 28" exchange cds, red Calais (4.11.63) entry cds, Spezia (4.14) arrival backstamp, various manuscript ratings; some faults; accompanied by letter datelined "Navy Department, 4 August 1862" informing Henry Thatcher that the President of the United States has promoted him to the grade of a Commodore… and signed by "Gideon Welles" as Secretary of the Navy, a Very Fine pair, ex-Richard Graham Collection.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $625

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Lot 660

[Navy} Matthew C. Perry, one page ALS signed "M. C. Perry" and dated Aug. 4th 1852 concerning the inspection of the mail steamer "Golden Gate", Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

In 1848, Commodore Perry was appointed to the newly created post of General Superintendent of Mail Steamers. His responsibility was to oversee the construction of all ocean mail steamers to be used on the New York to West Coast ocean mail route via Panama. These ships were built to be converted to war steamers in case of emergency. In 1852, he was relieved of duty and assigned to the East India Squadron with instructions to negotiate a commercial treaty with Japan, which led to the opening up of that country after centuries of self-imposed isolation.

Realized: $220

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