Lot
1085 
1776 (Sep. 19) Providence, R.I. to London, England, folded cover from Rev. J. Graves to the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts at London, censored with: "State of Rhode Island & p., This letter is permitted to be forwarded in the Brig. Triton. Nichs. Cooke Govr.", carried by cartel Brig Triton from Providence through the British blockade to Liverpool, two-line "Liverpool / Ship Lre" handstamp with manuscript "5" rating, neat London "10 / FE" arrival backstamp; couple small edge tears, clean and Very Fine, ex-R.M. Willcocks. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED AMERICAN CENSORED COVERS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, THIS BEING THE ONLY TRANSATLANTIC EXAMPLE.
The interesting letter starts, "Since Independency has been proclaimed here, my 2 Churches have been shut up, - still go onto baptize their Children, visit their Sick, bury their Dead, & frequent their respective Houses with the same Freedom, as usual; & add, with Gratitude, that their Benefactions to me, since the above Period have been great…" He mentions he last wrote Sep. 25th 1775.
The 140-ton brigantine "Triton" was captured by the Rhode Island Privateer Sloop "Montgomerie" around late Aug. 1776. The "Triton" had been bound from Barbados to Whitehaven, England when captured. She was sent into Providence, arriving on 16 September 1776. The court records indicate that she was libeled on 13 September 1776 and tried on 7 October 1776. The "Triton" was purchased by several British prisoners and fitted out as a cartel to carry prisoners to England. Among those who received permission from the Rhode Island government to leave, on 15 November 1776, was Captain Martindale, his two mates and four apprentices, all of the Triton. This letter was censored and held for this cartel voyage to England.
The other recorded American censored cover is a July 5th 1775 cover from Barbados to Halifax, Nova Scotia via Machias Me. where docketed "Opened by order of the Committee of Safety for Machias Jas Lyon". This letter was carried by the same Brig "Triton" with Capt. Gideon from Barbados to Rhode Island, leaving Sep. 6th 1775 for Newbury and London. It was offered in the Edward Siskin collection (Bennett sale 290 lot 151, $15,600).
Realized: $27,000