Lot
762 
[War] Secretary of War Free Franks, group of 15 covers, includes: 1802 Henry Dearborn plus 2 incoming covers, 1812 William Eustis, 1831 John H. Eaton with ALS concerning conduct of sutler at Fortress Monroe, 1831 and 1833 Lewis Cass incl. ALS, Joel Poinsett, John Canfield Spencer, James M. Porter (front), William Wilkins, Charles Conrad, John B. Floyd, Edwin M. Stanton (large tear), and William W. Belknap; some faults, F.-V.F., a scarce group, ex-Richard Graham Collection. Estimate $600 - 800.
Realized: $400
Lot
763
[War] Various War Department Posts, Offices and Bureaus, group of 82 covers including: Commissary General of Subsistence, The Chief Signal Officer, Freedmens' Bureau, Chief Engineer, Office of the Chief of Ordnance, The Paymaster Generals' Office, Chief Clerks of War Dept., Accountant of War Dept., Office of Indian Affairs, The Pension Office, Superintendent Gen. of Military Supplies, Commissary Gen. of Purchases; some faults, F.-V.F., a remarkable group providing a solid basis for expansion, ex-Richard Graham Collection. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $900
Lot
764
[War] War Department, cover endorsed "On public business - Free" and addressed to Major Genl. Halleck at Washington D.C., "New-York Dec 15 1863" cds and matching "Held For Postage" straightline, red "Unpaid And Not Franked" circular handstamp, New York Dec. 16th backstamp, Very Fine, This is the only recorded example of the New York "Unpaid And Not Franked" circular handstamp. ex-Richard Graham Collection. Estimate $200 - 300.
The New York "Unpaid And Not Franked" circular handstamp stemmed from Section 42, effective July 1st 1863 that eliminated the privilege of receiving official mail free to executive departments and their officers and bureaus with the exception spelled out in paragraph 6, as follows: "All official communications addressed to…executive departments of the government by an officer of that department, "could be franked as free of postage. However, there was added, "Provided that in all such cases the envelope shall be marked "official", with the signature thereto of the officer writing the communication." Oddly, while the enactment did not mention it, the accompanying Instruction 42 paragraph 3, the sender's official designation - ie, title of office or military rank, was also required. This was abolished by the Act of June 1, 1864.
Realized: $800