Lot 2107
1849 Saratoga Springs Stampless Cover, 2c Local Drop Letter Rate, Addressed to Reuben H. Walworth, an Influential Jurist
Only Two Known
Mise à prix: $100
Estimation: $200 - $250
Folded stampless letter postmarked Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Dec. 22 (1849), addressed locally to Hon. R.H. Walworth. Marked with blue circular town postmark and matching "2" handstamp for the 2c drop letter rate, applicable for letters delivered from the post office without further mailing. The cover with vertical file fold and creasing.
This letter did not leave Saratoga Springs, it was deposited at the post office by the sender and delivered directly to the recipient. The 2c rate for drop letters was in effect from July 1, 1845 to June 30, 1851, and applies to mail under ½ oz.
Reuben Hyde Walworth (1788–1867) was a prominent American jurist and the last Chancellor of New York, serving from 1828 until the court was abolished in 1847. Known for his legal scholarship and influence on equity law, he also served as a U.S. Congressman and was nominated three times to the U.S. Supreme Court by President John Tyler, though the Senate never confirmed him. Walworth played a significant role in shaping 19th-century American jurisprudence and remained an active public figure throughout his life in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Informations sur la vente
The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 | June 26-28
Sale 28: U.S. & Worldwide Stampless Postal History, and 18th Century American Historical Documents — Friday, June 26, 2026 | 3pm EST, 12pm PST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.