Sale 89: The John Barwis Collection of Philadelphia Postal History

Lot 3012    

1749 (Sep. 30) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England, manuscript docketing on inside of folded letter sheet to London, England addressed "To be left at the Pennsylvania Coffee-House in Birchin Lane", endorsed "pr the Dolphin, Capt LeGros, QDC" ship endorsement, carried as endorsed by Sloop Dolphin from Philadelphia Oct. 5th, London "2/DE" Bishop mark arrival backstamp and manuscript "10" pence due rating; tone spots and some splitting at folds, Fine and scarce use endorsed for collection at a coffee house.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

London rated "10" pence due for a 1 oz. letter of two-times 4d inland plus 1d ship fee and 1d delivery.

The Pennsylvania Coffee House provided a place for businessmen and politicians with an interest in the colony to meet for socializing and deal-making. Letters could be delivered there, and a ship's bag was available for patrons to deposit their letters for Philadelphia, paying the ship captain 1d. This coffee house was on Birchin Lane near the Lombard Street post office. Benjamin Franklin used this coffee house as his address at times during his stays in London in 1750s-60s.

Realized: $375

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Lot 3013    

1756 (Sep. 11) London, England to Philadelphia Pa., folded cover to John Reynell with London "11/SE" Bishop mark backstamp and red manuscript "P 1N" prepaid 1sh packet rating, endorsed "The Packet" at lower left, carried by Packet General Wall from Falmouth Sep. 11th to New York arriving Nov. 8th, brownish-black "NEW/YORK" two-line handstamp and red manuscript "3^dwt" rating for inland postage to Philadelphia where rated "1/3" 1sh 3d in local currency (3dwt = 9d stg., 9d x 1.66 = 15d = 1/3), receipt docketing "From Elias Bland, reced 11th mon: 10th 1756 p the Packet"; some reinforced fold splitting, Very Fine and early Falmouth-New York packet cover, ex-Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

The distance from New York to Philadelphia was known to be less than 100 miles, but the rate was nevertheless set at 3 pennyweights of silver (3dwt),or 9d sterling This rate was determined by subtracting the Boston-New York rate (1s) from the Boston-Philadelphia rate (1s9d). Coinage was scarce, so payment of postage due was often made in local Pennsylvania currency. One pennyweight = three pence sterling. Sterling x 1.66 = local Pennsylvania currency. There was neither a requirement nor the facility to prepay Colonial inland postage in Great Britain.

Seven-Years War Results in Introduction of Falmouth-New York Packet Service

In November 1755 Great Britain introduced packet service to speed communication with military units in the American colonies, who were engaged in what Americans call the French and Indian Wars.

Realized: $375

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Lot 3014    

1757 (Jan. 9) London, England to Philadelphia Pa., folded cover with London "9/IA" Bishop mark backstamp and red "P 1N" prepaid 1sh packet rating, carried by Packet General Wall from Falmouth Jan. 21st but returned to port and resailed Feb. 10th to New York arriving Mar. 22nd, New York red "NY 3^dwt" rating for inland postage to Philadelphia where rated "1/3" 1sh 3d in local currency (3dwt = 9d stg., 9d x 1.66 = 15d = 1/3), receipt docketing "From Mary Groth rece'd 24th of 3 mon. 1757 via New York", reverse with additional "RG" in circle; minor tone spot and wear, Very Fine and scarce manuscript New York postmark, ex-Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

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Lot 3015    

1759 (Jan. 16) London, England to Philadelphia Pa., folded cover to John Reynell with London "16/IA" Bishop mark backstamp and red "1N6" rating updated to "P 1N" prepaid 1sh packet rating, endorsed "p the Packett, QDC" at lower left, carried by Packet General Wall from Falmouth Jan. 21st to New York arriving Mar. 5th, New York "3^dwt" rating for inland postage to Philadelphia, receipt docketing "From John Edwin, Rece'd 3 mon 17. 1759, p Packett", instructions on back "If gone to be sent back to James Woodbridge, London"; Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

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Lot 3016    

1764 (Feb. 29) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. via New York, folded cover docketed "London, Febry, 29th 1764", London "10/MR" Bishop mark backstamp and red manuscript "P 2N" prepaid 2sh double-weight packet rating, carried by packet Harriet from Falmouth Mar. 17th to New York arriving May 2nd, magenta "New/York" two-line postmark on flap and manuscript "6" dwt rating for inland postage of two-times the 3dwt rate to Philadelphia where rated "2/8" 2sh 8d in local currency (6dwt = 18d stg., 18d x 1.66 = 30d + 2d carrier fee = 2/8), docketed "Rece'd p Packet, May 4th. 1764. pd postge. 2/8 & 5d", Very Fine use sent on the Leap Year of 1764.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Westbound trips took at least two months plus an overland trip to Philadelphia of at least two days. Scheduled, one-day stage service between New York and Philadelphia was unavailable until 1785.

Realized: $290

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Lot 3017    

1766 (Jun. 6) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England, datelined folded letter sent by private ship Jamaica from Philadelphia Jun. 6th to Dover arriving Aug. 10th, "Dover/Ship Lre" two-line entry handstamp and "4" pence due rating for 3rd inland plus 1d ship letter, London "10/IY" Bishop mark arrival backstamp, Very Fine and early ship letter.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $180

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Lot 3018    

1767 (Apr. 11) London, England to Philadelphia Pa. via New York, folded cover to John Reynell with London "11/AP" Bishop mark backstamp and manuscript "3N" triple-rate 3sh packet due rating, carried by packet Lord Hyde from Falmouth Apr. 16th to New York arriving May 28th, 49 day voyage, back flap with brownish "New/York" two-line postmark and matching "28 MA" Franklin mark, manuscript "18" dwt due rating for three-times the 4 dwt packet rating plus 2 dwt inland, docketed "Recd 5 mo., 29th 1767", Very Fine and choice packet due use.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

A GPO London notice of 24 October 1755 required prepayment of the packet letter rate, but this rule was not strictly enforced until it was reiterated in a GPO notice of 22 May 1784.

The postage from New York to Philadelphia was reduced to 2 dwt (6d) effective October 10, 1765.

Realized: $1,150

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Lot 3019    

1767 (Aug. 8) London, England to Philadelphia Pa., docketed folded cover with London "8/AV" Bishop mark backstamp and manuscript "1N" due rating for 1s schilling packet rate, carried Falmouth packet Earl of Halifax from Falmouth Aug. 29th to New York arriving Oct. 7th, reverse with "New/York" two-line postmark with "7 OC" Franklin mark and red manuscript "6" due rating for 4dwt packet plus 2dwt inland, docketed as received Oct. 10th, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $120

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Lot 3020    

1768 (Nov. 7) Philadelphia Pa. to London, England, datelined folded letter endorsed "p. Capt Falconer" at lower left, carried by ship "Pennsylvania Packet" from Philadelphia Nov. 7th to Plymouth arriving Dec. 11th, "Plymouth/Ship.Lre" two-line handstamp and rated "5" pence due for 4d inland plus 1d ship, some edge wear, Very Fine and early ship letter, ex-Arnell.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

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Lot 3021    

1771 (Dec. 24) Kingston, Jamaica to Philadelphia Pa., datelined folded letter carried by private ship into Edenton N.C. where rated "1/4" stg. due, Philadelphia crossed out and converted to "6 16" 6dwt 16gr in red manuscript for ship and inland and "3/" sh in local currency at left, Very Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Edenton N.C. rated "1/4" stg. due (16d) that Philadelphia converted to 6 dwt 16 grains (1 shilling 8 pence) for ship and inland = 20d, converted to local currency (20d stg. x 1.67) = 34d plus 2d delivery = 3 shillings due in local currency.

Realized: $450

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