Lot
1 
Northern Liberties News Rooms, Via Sub Post Office (Type I Imprint), well impressed at lower left of folded letter to Carlisle, Pa., with letter datelined "Philada. Mar 14, 1836", with red octagonal "Phila, Mar 14" date stamp and manuscript "12½" rating; some reinforced edge wear with small edge tear at top center, still Very Fine, ex-R. Chambers, Gibson and Meroni; with 1999 P.F. certificate. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
ONE OF 18 RECORDED TYPE I EXAMPLES OF THE NORTHERN LIBERTIES NEWS ROOMS - SUB POST OFFICE IMPRINT.
The Northern Liberties Sub Post Office was established by Alexander McMackin in late 1835 and operated for a short time until early 1836 in the Northern Liberties News Room. News editorial in the October 10, 1835 edition of the Saturday Courier mentioned the business of a Sub Post Office and "a new and appropriate stamp…now imprinted upon all letters deposited at his office." Letters deposited by patrons of the News Room were subsequently carried by an employee to the main Philadelphia Post Office (Northern Liberties, an area north of Philadelphia's Vine Street, did not become part of Philadelphia proper until The Consolidation Act of 1854).
Lot
2 ()
Northern Liberties News Rooms, Via Sub Post Office (Type II Imprint), similar to type I but with simplified design at center and around the rim, well impressed on cover front addressed to New York, with red "Phila, Apr 30" octagon date stamp and manuscript "12½" rate; vertical file fold with small spilt at top, F.-V.F., the C. Hahn census lists only four examples of this short-live mark from April 30th to May 21st of 1836., ex-Middendorf; with 2000 P.F. certificate. Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
THE EARLIEST OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE NORTHERN LIBERTIES NEWS ROOMS - SUB POST OFFICE SECOND TYPE IMPRINT.
Northern Liberties District was immediately north of the old city, it had no post office, but was the terminus of the New York stagecoach. The Northern Liberties News Room was a hub of useful information and current events. On October 10, 1835 they advertised a "Sub Post Office" for mail to the Philadelphia post office.
The Frajola census of Northern Liberties Type II uses:
1. April 30, 1836, front only to New York, ex Middendorf (lot #7), offered here.
2. May 4. 1836, addressed to Philadelphia, ex Middendorf (lot #8)
3. May 13, 1836, Evans correspondence (Phillips sale of March 11, 1981)
4. May 20, 1836, addressed to Clearfield, Pa., ex Middendorf (lot #9).
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Realized: $3,750
Lot
3
Carrier Usages Group, 1845-49, of three folded letters; to the mails with 1847, 5¢ red brown (1) tied by blue "2" in circle handstamp on folded letter sheet to Princeton, N.J. with matching "Philada, Pa., 5, Jan 13" integral rate cds, drop letter with 1847 local folded letter bearing blue Philada., Pa., 5cts, Mar 25 integral rate cds and second same day cds with "2" rate handstamp below, and from the mails with incoming 1845 folded letter with red Richmond, Va. origin cds and "5" rate handstamp and blue Philadelphia cds and "2" in circle handstamp, Very Fine; #1 cover with 2003 P.F. certificate. Estimate $500 - 750.