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Catalogue 267: BRITISH POST OFFICES ABROAD - The DUBOIS collection (part II)
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  • Lot# : 4001 USA

    Seven Years War 1759 (Oct 22): Entire letter written from John Dunnett at Crown Point, north of Fort Ticonderoga on Lake Champlain, addressed to Capt. John Sutherland of Forres, Caithness via Edinburgh, Scotland cancelled in transit by fine "NEW / YORK" handstamp in red ink, charged in manuscript "1N10" (1s. 10d.), with 1s. for the Packet rate and 10d. internal charge. A fascinating letter: "General Amherst has given us short warning of a Pacquet's going to Britain...I shall only inform you that the Campaign is over and all your friends and acquantances in this Army are healthy. When we get into winter quarters I will write you whole sheets of paper. General Amherst with all the regulars in his Army, embarked at this place on the 11th instant, with a view to drive the French from the Isle de Noix and St. John's and so penetrate into the heart of Canada...The story of Quebec's being reduced (Sept 13, 1759) General Wolfe's death and all other circumstances of that interesting conquest, you will undoubtedly have before this arrives...". A splendid and historic entire.rnNote: Isle de Noix fell to the British in August 1760. The last French Governor-General of New France, Pierre François de Rigaud, Marquis de Vaudreuil-Cavagnal, surrendered to the British under General Amherst on September 8, 1760.
    Starting bid : 1,000.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,600.00 CHF

    Lot# : 4002 USA

    1765 (June 29): Entire letter from Boston to Shelter Island, Long Island, New York with manuscript on flap "Via New London (Connecticut) to the care of Gordon Saltenstal, a Kegg of Salmon and a bundle" and, on the right hand flap "Forwarded by yr. servants, N.L. July 19, 1765, G. Saltonstall". The cover is addressed to Thomas Dering (1720-1785), Attorney, a delegate to the Third Provisional Congress in New York and former supervisor of Shelter Island, the Forwarding Agent being the son of Gordon Saltonstall, Governor of Connecticut 1707-1724. A fine and most appealing entire with contents stating "as to trade, every day looks like Sunday".
    Starting bid : 1,000.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,000.00 CHF

    Lot# : 4003 USA

    1766 (July 31): Entire letter from Boston via Hartford to New Haven marked on front panel "1.8" in manuscript (1 penny-weight, 8 grains of silver) the equivalent of 8d. sterling (and the rate for under 60 miles from Hartford to New Haven), with, on reverse a superb strike of two line "HART / FORD" handstamp in black: only recorded in use from 1766 to 1772. This handstamp was made in England and supplied by the General Post Office. A superb strike - a magnificent rarity in the foremost quality.rnrnNote: The sender, Andrew Oliver became Lt. Governor of Massachusetts in 1770. He was hanged in effigy (and his home and office ransacked) for his support of the vastly unpopular Stamp Act and for accepting the office of Distributor of Stamps, even though he was privately against it. The addressee, Jared Ingersoll was a Connecticut Stamp Agent and Judge of the Court of the Admiralty: his son, also named Jared (1749-1822) was a lawyer and statesman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress and a signator of the United States Constitution.rn 
    Starting bid : 4,000.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 16,000.00 CHF

    Lot# : 4004 USA

    1769 (Dec 22): Entire letter from Falmouth, Maine to Samuel White, merchant in Marblehead, Massachusetts, with manuscript despatch "Falmo. 2:16" at top (Falmouth 2 penny-weight, 16 grains of silver). The entire letter, written by Jere. Pote from Falmouth (which at this date incorporated Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Westbrook) primarily concerns shipping Fish and a notice that a quantity of Tobacco was rotten. Extremely rare: the sole recorded Postal Marking from Maine during the British Colonial period.rnProvenance: R. A. Siegel, New York, 15 Dec 2010.rnrn 
    Starting bid : 3,500.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 7,500.00 CHF

    Lot# : 4005 USA

    1770c.: Cover from London to Edenton, North Carolina endorsed at lower left "Pp. Capt. Q.D.C." (Whom God Preserve) and rated in manuscript "1N2" (1 shilling 2d.) in ink for 1s. Packet rate and 2d. for local fee, struck on reverse on arrival with two superlative strikes of the two line "CHARLES / TOWN" handstamp in black, in use from 1769-1776. This handstamp was made in England and supplied by the General Post Office. Flap imperfections but truly exceptional and of great scarcity.rnrnNote: The addressee, Samuel Johnston of Edenton, 1733-1816, was a prominent Patriot, lawyer and the first U.S Senator from North Carolina.
    Starting bid : 1,000.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,400.00 CHF

    Lot# : 4006 USA

    1771 (Aug 2): Cover from Philadelphia to the secretary for the Society of the Propagation of the Gospel in London endorsed "pr. N. York Packet" struck on reverse with two line "PHILA / DELPHIA" handstamp in orange-red and Philadelphia Bishop Mark "2/AV" in crimson on despatch, two line "NEW / YORK" in black and unrecorded italic "Inland   d. / Packet Post Pd.}" with manuscript rates adjacent "2" in red ink (2 penny-weight) and "1N" (1 shilling). London Bishop Mark of receipt "13/SE" in brown of arrival with manuscript "To pay 6d." in red on obverse and internally docketed "Read to Committee Oct 14, 1771". A marvellous and extraordinary cover.
    Starting bid : 1,500.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,500.00 CHF

    Lot# : 4007 USA

    1772 (March 3): Entire letter from Coutts & Co in Glasgow, Scotland to Falmouth, Virginia endorsed "By the Spero QDC" (Whom God preserve), the letter travelling via Charles Town and Williamsburg where struck with fine "WMSBURG" handstamp in red on flap (this handstamp supplied by the General Post Office in England); docketed on front with "1s." (the Packet rate) and in red manuscript "Sh 3-8" (3 penny-weight 8 grains of silver). A fine and scarce entire.
    Starting bid : 750.00 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4008 USA

    1773 (Jan 26): Entire letter from Philadelphia to Poole, Dorset endorsed "pr. 1st Packet via New York" struck on reverse with two line "PHILA / DELPHIA" handstamp in red on despatch, two line "NEW / YORK" in black and "INLAND AND / PACKET POSTAGE" applied in New York with adjacent rate (3 shillings) deleted in manuscript. London Bishop Mark of receipt "26/MR" in black of arrival with manuscript "To pay 11" in red mss. on obverse and total charge 3s./4d. due upon delivery. Some tape stains but of great rarity and most attractive.
    Starting bid : 1,250.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,200.00 CHF

    Lot# : 4009 USA

    1772 (Dec 14): Entire letter written from Camp at Grand Sable in St. Vincent to Mrs. Barrie in St. Augustine, East Florida, endorsed "By way of Carolina or Georgia" at left, The entire with contents from the addressee's husband stating "Pilot is come to tell me the Boat is just going to sail, and the Barrel that the letters are obliged to be put into headed up" from there by a local vessel to Kingston, Jamaica where straight line "IAMAICA" handstamp in black applied with manuscript "Windward Islands" below. Landed with two line "CHARLES / TOWN" across flap and straight line "PENSACOLA" handstamp in black. Rated at top "4d. - In all 8d." in manuscript, this altered to "1/S8" (1s. 8d.) to pay upon receipt (April 5, 1773; on reverse flap). Illustrated in Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia on page 22 and 'The Colonial Posts in the United States of America' by Horowicz and Lowe on page 19. Sensible cover repair tape at top, a truly remarkable and rare entire.rnProvenance: Collection Grant Glassco, RL, London, 25 Nov 1969, lot 17.
    Starting bid : 40,000.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 40,000.00 CHF

    Lot# : 4010 USA

    1774 (Sept 12): Entire letter from Mount Oswald Plantation, Florida to London addressed to Richard Oswald (a slave trader and businessman who was granted 20'000 acres in Florida by the British Govt. in 1764), with a postscript added on September 21 at St. Augustine; headed at top with manuscript "St. Augustine" and "To pay 1/1" in red ink, struck in transit with superb two line "CHARLES / TOWN" handstamp and Bishop Mark "OC/10" applied in black. Further handstamped on obverse with "INLD & PACT. / POSTAGE" with manuscript rate "2N" (2 shillings) alongside. London arrival Bishop Mark "5/DE" in black also on reverse of a truly marvellous entire in the foremost quality for a Transatlantic letter of this period.rnrnT & T see for pic - Florida Plantations of the Past part 1 - Dejaelaine.com
    Starting bid : 15,000.00 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 4011 USA

    1794 (Oct 11): Entire letter from an English Officer in Detroit via Halifax to London, struck with circular "HALIFAX / N. SCOTIA" datestamp (March 6, 1795) on reverse and, on obverse with framed "AMERICAN INLAND / POSTAGE" handstamp alongside the American (not United States) postage in manuscript of 1/6d., the "Packet Postage" of "1s." with a total charge of "2/6d." to pay. Three London arrival datestamps on reverse (April 20). This entire is illustrated in the Robson Lowe Encyclopaedia on page 370. Exceptional strikes and a remarkable and very rare entire.rnrnNote: The British retained a Fort in Detroit until 1796. The letter's content after noting that building the new Fort at Detroit had made many soldier's ill is fascinating: "War with America has been very much talked of & General Wayne came close to the new Fort, but retreated, perhaps you know with greater certainty in England, what is to happen. The Americans complain very much, and the Indians whom we have always supported will fight no longer without some English Troops....this is the last opportunity of sending a letter to Europe."rnrn 
    Starting bid : 2,000.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 7,500.00 CHF

    Lot# : 4380 USA

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    Mail Boat Obliterations / Atlantic Packets / Cunard Line 1862 (Sept 18): Crested mourning envelope and complete original contents addressed to the Fernie family in Berkhampstead, written on board the "Steam Ship Persia" franked by single 1857 1 d. red, Die II, Alphabet III, plate 52, slightly defective and crossed by fold due to contents, tied by bold strike of "A96" obliterator in black. Reverse with Liverpool transit cds (Sept 20). The contents note: "We left New York on the 10th & I hope this will be posted in Queenstown...ship rolling so much I can hardly write". This explains the rate - the letter was posted in British waters and thus just a single 1 d. rate was due. Despite faults a very scarce cover. Cert. RPSL (2007).rnProvenance: Spink, London, 7 March 2007, lot 1147; Collection Dr. D.N. Seaton, Cavendish, Derby, 10 Sept 2014, lot 14.
    Starting bid : 2,500.00 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold
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