The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

85 Results Found

U.S. Stampless ➝ U.S. 18th Century

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

New York straightline "NY APR*3" on folded letter from Paris, forwarded through New York to Saybrook, Connecticut. Manuscript rate "Sh 29" in shillings notation. Transatlantic ship letter. Double rate with ship fee.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Complete straightline "LANSINGBURGH" (37x5mm) on 1795 folded letter sheet to Albany. Manuscript rate "6". Business letter. Fine to Very Fine.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Certificates: PF 621889

Stampless folded letter datelined Philadelphia, July 20, 1795, addressed to Captain William Van Ingen, Albany Pier, New York. Manuscript "10" rate marking. Letter signed by John I. Glen, a clerk in the Treasury Department under Secretary Oliver Wolcott, Jr., reporting on his health, his decision to remain in Treasury rather than take a place at the Albany Bank, and family business.
A marginal note in the letter reads, "Archibald Hamilton Rowan, the distinguished Patriot, has arrived here from France." Rowan, the Irish radical and member of the United Irishmen who had escaped imprisonment in Dublin and fled to France in 1794, arrived in Philadelphia on July 4, 1795, two weeks before this letter was written.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Partial "New York" straightline on folded letter to Portsmouth, NH. Datelined Charleston, SC March 26, 1796. Rated : Sh 24. 20c for the distance from NYC to Portsmouth + 2c Ship captain's fee. Addressed to Samuel Hale.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Boston straightline with matching "17 AP" circular datestamp on folded letter to Dover, NH. Manuscript "Sh 14" and "Per Shooner Isabella." Rated 10c for 60-100 miles from Boston to Dover + 4c ship fee. Addressed to Samuel Hale.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Straightline "Chaston Feb 12*" on circa 1796 folded letter sheet to Edenton, North Carolina. Manuscript rate "20" cents. Addressed to Samuel Johnston, who was a prominent Revolutionary-era statesman who served as governor of North Carolina (1787–1789) and later as one of the state's first U.S. senators

Provenance

Ex Donald Thompson

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $200

Estimate: $400 - $600

Straightline "Savh 28 June" on folded letter sheet from Savannah, forwarded from Philadelphia to New York. Manuscript rate "70" cents. Double rate with forwarding charge. Overated.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Straightline "RICHM'D Jan 26, 1796" on folded letter sheet to Edenton, North Carolina. Manuscript rate "15" cents.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Year-dated straightline "RICHM'D. June 13, 1796" between two lines on 1796 folded letter to Philadelphia. Manuscript rate "40" cents. Double rate. Light file fold through postmark; otherwise Very Fine.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Handstruck "PORTSMOUTH/August 3" on folded letter sheet to Newburyport. "Paid" with Manuscript "6" Rate.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Straightline "N*York SEPT 26" on folded letter sheet to Albany. Manuscript Unusual combination of the "PAID" and "FREE" straightlines. Apparently the Postmaster had second thoughts about the FREE at the time of posting.
The letter is addressed to Simeon De Witt who was a geographer who served as the Surveyor General for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

NEW YORK / APR 13" orange-red New York clamshell marking on folded letter from Amsterdam, forwarded to Philadelphia. Manuscript rate "Sh 24" for double-rate ship letter.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Straightline "RICHMOND Oct 11, 1797" on folded letter sheet to New York. Manuscript rate "22" cents.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Straightline "PETERSBURG MARCH 30" on folded letter sheet to Philadelphia. Manuscript rate "60" cents. Triple-rate letter.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $200

Estimate: $400 - $600

Folded letter sheet from Norfolk to Newburyport marked "1 1/4 Oz" indicating substantial weight. Manuscript rate "$1.25". Quintuple-rate letter.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Straightline "BOSTON" on folded letter sheet originally addressed to New Gloucester, Maine. Missent to Gloucester, Massachusetts. Manuscript rate "45" cents. Triple-rate letter.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Certificates: PF 621654

11.5mm numeral "4" handstamp on coastal ship letter datelined Savannah, April 24, 1797, in French, addressed to Philadelphia. The "4" handstamp was the Ship postage fee for letters to be delivered in the port-of-entry.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $200

Estimate: $400 - $600

Orange New York City Clam Shell, Jul 13, Dot Variety, on
13 July 1798 docketed folded cover to Albany, NY with manuscript "15."

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $200

Estimate: $400 - $600

Folded letter from boston, privately carred to Ashburnham, MA. "1 MA" and "BOSTON" straightline markings, with manuscript "Sh 34." Datelined April 14, 1798. Addressed to John Cambridge. The rate of 34c was for a triple ship letter sent 60-100 miles.

Manuscript at the bottom left reads "HAN'D BY MR. KNOX"
The writer notes opportunity to send letter was presented by Thomas Knox who promises to be careful in forwarding this letter.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Certificates: PF 621888

Stampless folded invoice, hand carried, datelined London, September 19, 1798, addressed to Henry Smith, Merchant, Providence, Rhode Island, with manuscript carriage endorsement by Captain F.W. Hall in the Ship Merchant.
Letter is the retained file copy from Clifford Crowninshield of London, marked "(Copy)," reporting the shipment of goods aboard the Ship Minerva, Stephen D. Turner Master, bound for Boston, consigned to Boston merchant Timothy Williams for delivery to Smith's order. A second copy letter to Williams of the same date is included. Accompanied by the original three-page itemized invoice "of Sundries Shipped by Clifford Crowninshield on board the Ship Minerva," totaling £307.14.6, comprising over 328 ounces of London silver and plate (gadrooned coffee and tea services, candlesticks, porringers, complete flatware services, salts, snuffers, fruit baskets), plus the Encyclopedia Britannica in 18 volumes, Voltaire's Works, a gold watch with chain, key and seal, knife cases, and a mahogany tea chest. Invoice signed "Errors Excepted, London 20 September 1798, Clifford Crowninshield."
Clifford Crowninshield (1762 to 1809) was the London representative of the Crowninshield merchant family of Salem, Massachusetts.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Certificates: PF 489915

Stampless folded letter datelined Philadelphia, May 23, 1799, addressed to Lansingburgh, New York, bearing red "PHI/23/MY" postmark and manuscript 17c rate marking; faults include stains and a Scotch tape repair covering tears and a piece out at bottom.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $260

Estimate: $500 - $600

Black New York City Clam Shell, Jun 21, Dot Variety with Olde English Lettering, on folded letter datelined Savannah June 3d 1799 to Philadelphia. Manuscript "Sh 14"

Rated : Sh 14 (12c for the distance from NYC to Philadelphia + 2c Ship captain's fee. Notes the Ship fee was reduced from 4c to 2c under the Act of March 2, 1799.) This letter contained one enclosure (a banknote) according to the text so that postage was double the single rate.

The Olde English lettering in the month and day was only used for 8 weeks, from 6/13 - 7/7 1799.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Black Trenton SEP 5 circular datestamp on folded letter to Bath, MA with red "FREE" manuscript from the Treasury Department. The letter is franked by Joseph Nourse, Register of the Treasury Department, datelined "Treasury Department/Register's Office (Trenton)/ Septr. 5, 1799."

During the time Philadelphia was the United States Capital, some of the executive departments would flee to other sites during that city's oppressive summer heat and contagious fevers. As shown in this letter's dateline and the townmark, the Treasury Department was at Trenton, New Jersey in 1799 at summer's end.

Addressed to Bath, Massachusetts, before the District of Maine became a state in 1820.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Folded letter sheet from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to Washington, Pennsylvania. Manuscript rate "20". Earliest known Bethlehem usage.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.

Opening: $150

Estimate: $300 - $500

Straightline "BALTE MD" on folded letter sheet from Baltimore, routed through New York to Providence. Manuscript rate "60" cents. Triple-rate letter.

When will this lot be auctioned?

The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28

Session: Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST

We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.

America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.

This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale. 

As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:

✔  High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item 
✔  Links to reference articles and supporting research 
✔  Links to philatelic certifications 
✔  Census data and population insights 
✔  Provenance details to trace notable histories

Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.