Lot
48 
(New Mexico) San Fernando De Taos, August 29th, 1853, type 1 manuscript postmark with matching "Paid 5" rating on cover to Francis Preston Blair (member of Jackson's "Kitchen Cabinet" and father of Postmaster General Montgomery Blair) in Silver Springs, Washington City, D.C., with original enclosure datelined "Taos, New Mexico, July 9th, 1853" written by Elisha Riggs Sr. on troubles of the E.F. Beale survey journey to the Pacific, with interesting content in part…I have concluded a long letter to Mary recounting the difficulties and dangers that our party encounter on the way Rio Grande when distant not more then twenty days journey from San Francisco - difficulties that to men equipped as we were proved insurmountable and dangers that threatened the entire party…you will perceive that we did all in the power of men to proceed on our going and to yield to the elements when we had lost the majority of our arms and ammunition & clothing. Beal's persistence amounted in my opinion to obstinacy and temerity he was did to leave no effort throughout the apprehension he entertains endangering his commission from the delay in his journey caused these misfortunes. When I parted with him at his camp on the Rio Quartos in the midst of the Utah country he was laboring under great depression of spirits from this apprehension and his other troubles and I promised him I would write to you soliciting your kind services in his behalf. That if necessary you might inform the President of the true causes of the delay in his arrival in Cal'.; small erosion spots in docketing, Very Fine, ex-Longfellow & Erivan; with 2023 P.F. certificate.Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.
THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE MANUSCRIPT SAN FERNANDO DE TAOS POSTMARK AND UNIQUE OF THIS TYPE.
Letter written by Elisha Riggs, a member of the Beale survey journey from Missouri to the Pacific. Francis P. Blair served under President Andrew Jackson and later under President Buchanan.
Lot
49
(Ohio) Kelley's Island (O.), Printed Shaded Map Town Postmark, with "Feby 11th" manuscript date, showing island fully shaded, intact frameline all around and "Brainard Clev" imprint at bottom, on buff ca. 1853 cover to East Rockport, Ohio, franked with 1851, 3¢ dull red and manuscript canceled; small cover restoration at top right and partial backflap, otherwise Very Fine, the discovery example of this first type shaded map cancellation - a great classic fancy printed illustrated cancellation rarity.Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
THE UNIQUE EARLY FIRST TYPE FULL SHADED ISLAND MAP CANCELLATION OF KELLEY'S ISLAND, OHIO.
Kelley's Island, O. is a small island in Lake Erie north of Marblehead and near Sandusky, not far from Cleveland. Members of a family named Kelley owned the island from the 1840's. Early on, mail was transported by sailboat and than later by steamboats to Sandusky. The fist post office on the island was established around May of 1852 with George Kelley appointed the first postmaster on the 13th of that month. At that time, the population of the island was around 500 residents.
It is not known who devised the pre-printed map postmark or where the envelopes were actually printed, however the earlier type postmarks, said to date from 1853 to 1860, show the engraver's "Brainard Clev" imprint at bottom left. Cleveland city directories list an engraver J. Brainard from 1850-66 an since he was an engraver, it is believed the cancel was engraved on copper rather than being a woodcut.
Three types of the postmark are known: This first type showing heavy shading within the outline of the island and lacking the typeset "O" for Ohio below town name. This was altered to the second type, likely very early on, to achieved greater visibility of the town name with the "O" added at this time. The third type, mostly likely cause due wear and/or edge truncation of the plate, lacks the outer frame line and engraver's imprint. It is interesting to note that after retiring of this device, a member of the Kelley family used a similar map design as a corner card as grape grower's in the 1860's.
Lot
50
(Ohio) Kelley's Island, O., Printed Map Town Postmark, second type postmark showing outer frameline, engraver's imprint and added typeset "O" below town name, with manuscript "Sept 4" date and added map feature entitled "Island House" on the southern most portion of the map, on cover to St. Louis, Mo. franked with 1852, 3¢ brownish carmine (11) cancel with manuscript "4" for the postmark day; some light cover soiling, Very Fine, ex-Knapp & Eubanks; with 2018 P.F. certificate (noting stamp in dull red shade).Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE FANCY ILLUSTRATED KELLEY'S ISLAND, O. PRINTED MAP TOWN POSTMARK - CONSIDERED TO BE THE FANCIEST PRINTED POSTMARK USED DURING THE UNITED STATES CLASSIC PERIOD.
Only nine examples of the Kelley's Island map postmark are recorded: The unique first type shaded postmark which is featured here in our Gem Sale prior to this lot, four examples of the second type postmark with outer frame, and four examples of the third type postmark without outer frameline. Only two of the nine covers bear confirming dates of use (1859 & 1860 from the later third type postmark usages). From this, it has been surmised that the period of use was between 1853 and 1861.
Realized: $5,000
Lot
51
(Pennsylvania) (Philadelphia, Pa.), addressing on oversized multicolored floral embellished bordered Valentine cover, likely locally hand carried (no postmarks), with original Valentine enclosure with embossed floral border, rose embellishment and 15-verse hand written poem, Extremely Fine and choice, a wonderful Valentine design in exceptional condition.Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $400
Lot
52
From Steam Boat Tennessee (Cumberland River), fancy red circular handstamp on folded Nov 5th, 1846 Port of Cairo, Ill. bill of lading to New Orleans, La., Very Fine.Milgram No. 1355 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN EARLY AND VERY RARE EXAMPLE OF "TENNESSEE" FANCY STEAMBOAT MARKING.
Letters carried on the Cumberland River in Tennessee are rare, the route from Nashville to New Orleans used the Cumberland, the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, a distance of 1,270 miles. No contracts existed for this route and all letters were carried outside the mails to New Orleans.
The "Tennessee" of 391 tons was built in 1846 and carried President Elect Zachary Taylor between Vicksburg and Nashville on his inauguration journey in February 1849.
Realized: $725