Sale 61: The Fall Sale

Lot 11

John Tyler, 1790-1862, 10th President of the United States 1841-45. Autograph free frank "J Tyler" at top right of cover to Richmond Va., blue "Norfolk Va. Apr 13" cds and matching "Steamboat" handstamp, with original contents dated 1861 written by Tyler's wife; cover with pen "Supposed to be the autograph of the ex-Pres. Tyler" and with same ink circling the frank, small tear at left, Fine usage at the start of the Civil War.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

JOHN TYLER FRANKS A LETTER OF "NANNIE TYLER" ON THE EVE OF THE CIVIL WAR, APRIL 9, 1861, "THE LEGISLATURE HAS ADJOURNED AND IT IS THOUGHT THE CONVENTION WILL SOON; AND WHAT WILL VIRGINIA DO? WE ARE IN A TERRIBLE FIX I THINK.".

Tyler was a Congressman, Governor of Virginia, and Senator. Elected Vice President under Harrison, he became President after only one month. His term was marked by frequent clashes with Whigs led by Henry Clay. He approved the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, which clearly defined the American and Canadian boundary, and signed the measure annexing Texas. He was expelled from his party and denied renomination. In 1861, he was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives, becoming the only President to renounce his American citizenship.

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Lot 12

John Tyler, 1790-1862, 10th President of the United States 1841-45. Manuscript "J. Tyler" free frank on undated folded cover addressed to Mrs. Lovell Purdy at Fullers Hotel, privately carried outside the mails; tiny edge tear at top, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Tyler was a Congressman, Governor of Virginia, and Senator. Elected Vice President under Harrison, he became President after only one month. His term was marked by frequent clashes with Whigs led by Henry Clay. He approved the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, which clearly defined the American and Canadian boundary, and signed the measure annexing Texas. He was expelled from his party and denied renomination. In 1861, he was elected to the Confederate House of Representatives, becoming the only President to renounce his American citizenship.

Realized: $250

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Lot 13

James K. Polk, 1775-1849, 11th President 1845-49. Manuscript "Free, J. K. Polk" free frank as Member of Congress on fresh folded cover addressed entirely in his hand to Joseph B. Boyd in Cincinnati Ohio, red "Washington D.C. Sep 14" cds and matching sharp "Free" rating handstamp, Extremely Fine and choice.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE AND DESIRABLE JAMES K. POLK FREE FRANK.

Polk was a Congressman 1825-39 and House Speaker 1835-39, but resigned to become Governor of Tennessee. Nominated by the Democrats against the heavily favored Clay, he won because he favored the annexation of Texas. This, however, led to war with Mexico, after which America acquired much of the Southwest. Polk also acquired Oregon and Washington from England and reduced tariff rates. He declined to run for a second term and died three months after leaving office.

Realized: $3,250

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Lot 14

Zachary Taylor, 1784-1850, 12th President of United States 1849-50. Bold manuscript free frank "Z. Taylor" as President on cover addressed to Colonel J.S. Van Alen in New York, blue "Baltimore, Md. Apr. 6" cds and matching "Free" rating handstamp, undated but style of postmark and frank indicate presidential status, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

A RARE ZACHARY TAYLOR FREE FRANK AS PRESIDENT.

Taylor had an impressive military career, serving in the War of 1812 and the Black Hawk War. In the Mexican War, he earned the nickname "Old Rough and Ready" after defeating Santa Anna. He was elected President in 1848 after Polk retired. While in office, he opposed slavery and the Compromise of 1850, and signed the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty with England regarding the building of a canal in Central America. He died after eating some cherries and ice milk on the Fourth of July.

Because Taylor served as President for only sixteen months, from March 1849 until his death on July 9, 1850, and because his correspondence was closely monitored, he ranks only behind William Henry Harrison and James Garfield in terms of scarcity of his presidential material.

Realized: $1,800

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Lot 15

Millard Fillmore, 1800-1874, 13th President 1850-53. Free frank "M. Fillmore" signature as ex-President on mourning cover front to M. D. Phillips Esq. in Rochester N.Y., attractive blue "Buffalo N.Y. Aug 29" cds and matching "Free" rating handstamp, a Very Fine mourning cover front.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

In 1846, Fillmore helped found the private University of Buffalo, which today is the public University at Buffalo, the largest school in the New York state university system. He retired to Buffalo after serving as President in 1853.

Realized: $260

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Lot 16

Millard Fillmore, free frank signature as Member of Congress, on 1838 folded letter to Albany, N.Y., with blue "Buffalo, N.Y., No 15" oval origin postmark, Very Fine and choice; with 2014 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $325

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Lot 17

Franklin Pierce, 1804-1869, 14th President of the United States 1853-1857. Free frank "Franklin Pierce" signature on cover addressed in his hand to "Hon. S.S. Shugent, Act. Comr. of Patent Office, Washington D.C.", red "Andover Ms. Mar 28 1861" cds and matching "Free" rating handstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Pierce was a Congressman and Senator from New Hampshire before serving in the Mexican War. He was the Democrat's compromise candidate and not even suggested until the thirty fifth ballot. During his administration, he purchased the Gadsden territory for railroad development and signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed states to decide whether to have slavery. After the death of his only child, he was an ineffective President and allowed the country to drift closer to civil war.

Realized: $400

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Lot 18

James Buchanan, 1791-1868, 15th President of the United States 1857-61. Manuscript free frank "Free James Buchanan" as President on cover addressed in his hand to Ambrose Thompson Esquire in New York, partial "Washington D.C. 'Free' 1860" integral cds; slight soiling, a Very Fine free frank.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Buchanan served during the War of 1812. He was a Pennsylvania Congressman, Minister to Russia, Senator, Secretary of State under Polk and Minister to Great Britain. He defeated Republican John Fremont in 1856 by promising continued stability between the North and South. During his administration, he ignored victims of the economic Panic of 1857 and left the secession of the Southern states to Lincoln.

Realized: $375

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Lot 19

Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865, 16th President of the United States 1861-1865. Clear bold "A. Lincoln, MC" free frank signature as Congressman on folded cover to General D. Campbell at Abingdon Va., no postal markings; central file fold, Very Fine.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

A RARE AND BOLD ABRAHAM LINCOLN FREE FRANK AS CONGRESSMAN FROM ILLINOIS.

Lincoln served for only one term in the House. His free frank as congressman is far rarer than as President.

Realized: $6,250

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Lot 20

Andrew Johnson, 1808-1875, 17th President of the United States 1865-69. Envelope free franked "From the Pres" by Andrew Johnson as President in pencil at upper right, addressed in his hand "To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present"; undated and no postal markings, Very Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

A RARE ANDREW JOHNSON PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANKED COVER.

Johnson used pencil most of the time when signing his free frank as President, this was carried outside of the mails.

Realized: $1,450

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