Lot
1710 
G.P. Office - Dead Letter, clear strike of circular handstamp on 1818 Paymaster Generals Office free franked letter with light "Washn. City, Jan 4" cds and "Free" handstamp to Charleston S.C.; some light file fold toning, otherwise Very Fine, ex-Wegner. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED DEAD LETTER OFFICE HANDSTAMP USE.
Realized: $4,250
Lot
1711
G.P. Office - Dead Letter, red circular handstamp on April 18th 1819 folded letter free franked "Free, Saml. Southard, Sen: U.S." to Philadelphia Pa., after unsuccessful delivery attempt endorsed "not at AR", and sent to DLO where it apparently languished for 14 years before finally returned with folded part-printed letter datelined "Post Office Department, Dead Letter Office, Washington D.C. 23d Jan. 1836" reading "The enclosed has been returned to this Department as a dead letter. As it bears your frank it is transmitted to your address without being opened…"; original letter separated, return is torn, Fine and rare early return pair, ex-Wegner. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $625
Lot
1712
G.P. Office - Dead Letter, bold strike of brown circular handstamp on 1819 folded letter with manuscript "Harmonie La., Jul 25th" postmark and matching "25" rating to near Bausers Mill Pa.; horizontal fold, otherwise Very Fine and early DLO handstamp use, ex-Wegner. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $550
Lot
1713
P.O. Dept., Dead Letter Office, clear circular handstamp on reverse of gray 1851 folded letter bearing 3¢ orange brown (10), pos. 9R1E, canceled by circular grid, matching "West Poultney Vt. Aug 18" origin cds to Addison Mass., endorsed "no person of that name here" and matching ms. "Addison Point Me., Aug 23" postmark, "West Poultney Vt. Aug 28" cds and matching "5" cent due handstamp; 3¢ small tear at right, Very Fine and unusual 3¢ orange brown D.L.O. use. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $325
Lot
1714
P.O. Department, Dead Letter Office, Aug. 11, 1853, large double-oval on buff cover bearing 3¢ dull red (11A), creased, tied by "Montgomery Ills., Mar 7" cds to Jacksonville Ill., hand-drawn blue "T" for last name and "$35" at center identifying valuable enclosure; some edge wear, F.-V.F., ex-Wegner. Estimate $500 - 750.
THIS IS THE EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF THE NEW DLO PROCEDURE SHOWING HAND-DRAWN FILING LETTERS.
In 1853, the DLO established new procedures for valuable dead letter. The hand-drawn "T" identified valuable enclosure ($35) and ledger where surname (Turner) in DLO file August 11, 1853.
Realized: $350
Lot
1715
P.O. Department, Dead Letter Office, Jun 9, 1856, double-oval on 1855 cover from New York to Melbourne, Australia with red "New York, Am. Packet, Feb 7" exchange cds with pencil "33" prepaid rating and magenta "12" cent credit, endorsed "Via Overland Mail through Europe" at left, red London Paid (2.24) transit cds and matching "1d" colonial credit h.s., manuscript "2" rating, returned to the U.S. via the Dead Letter Office to ascertain the sender's address; cover roughly opened at top and partial flap, Fine and scarce DLO use to Australia. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $210
Lot
1716
San Francisco Cal., Dead Letter Office, May 28th 1856, beautiful strike of rare double-circle handstamp on legal-size gray cover with "Sacramento, Cal. Feb 19" cds to Highland Mich.; some tone spotting, wrinkling and small edge tears, F.-V.F. and spectacular San Francisco DLO use, ex-Tatham. Estimate $300 - 400.
Reference: Illustrated "Letters of Gold", p. 331.
Realized: $550
Lot
1717
Philadelphia Pa., Dead, Jun 30, bold strike ties 3¢ dull red (11A) on buff cover to Glenwood, Iowa, 1857 original enclosure; small nick at bottom, F.-V.F. and rare use as canceler, ex-Gibson, Wegner. Estimate $300 - 400.
The Philadelphia Post Office was one of many cities who used a special "Dead" handstamp for the return of DLO mail. In this instance, they ignored P.O. regulations (Laws & Regs 1855 - Sec. 132) and used the handstamp as a canceler.
Lot
1718
P.O. Department, Dead Letter Office, May 12, 1860, double-oval handstamp on buff 1860 cover from Boston to Manchester, England bearing 12¢ black (36B) vertical pair, tied by two strikes of Boston "Paid" in grid cancel, matching "Boston Br. Pkt. Feb 8" backstamp and red "19" credit to G.B. handstamp, Manchester (2.21) arrival backstamp, magenta manuscript "not to be found" and Manchester (2.28) cds, "Returned Lr. Br., London, Fe 29, 60" backstamp, returned to the U.S. Dead Letter Office, Very Fine, ex-Wegner. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Lot
1719
1861, Dead Letter Office "Returned to the Writer because Unpaid" Label, black on yellow label affixed to seal torn flap on reverse of buff cover with "New-York, Feb 25" cds backstamp and matching "Held for Postage" handstamp to Troy N.Y., sent to Dead Letter office where sender's name ascertained, postage requested, remailed with 3¢ dull red (26) tied by two strikes of "New-York, Mar 20" duplex with circular grid cancel; flap torn from opening, F.-V.F. and rare. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE "RETURNED TO THE WRITER BECAUSE UNPAID." PRECURSOR DEAD LETTER OFFICE SEAL.
There were two styles of these labels, one for fully unpaid postage reading "Returned to the Writer because unpaid. Postage must be pre-paid in full" (two recorded), and one for carrier fee unpaid reading "Returned to the writer because the Carrier's fee is unpaid." There are only three recorded examples of these labels (one recorded, ex-Vernon Morris). All three recorded labels were used in February 1861. They were probably made obsolete by the first Dead Letter Office return envelopes produced later in 1861.
Realized: $1,200