Summer 2025 | July 18-20, 2025

Addressed to James T. Neasmith, administrator for the estate of William B. Wright, and pertains to non-payment of an $180 promissory note signed by the deceased. Dated May 26, 1857.

"Richmond, Va. Feb 12 1857" postmark with local address.

The cover dated Sept. 25.

"AUG 14" postmark, Ca. 18552.

Oswego New York, "MAY 14" datestamp to Detroit, Michigan on folded letter outer sheet. The strip of five used to pay the quintuple rate. A vertical crease between the right pair, the strip of stamps roughly separated at bottom.

Chase notes that a horizontal strip of 5 is 100 times more rare than a single used stamp off cover, and even more rare when used on cover.

The stamps tied by three strikes of “Charleston S.C. Nov 19” datestamp. Red “N. York 7 Am. Pkt.” exchange office datestamp and red, boxed “Aachen Franco” marking. The cover was routed Charleston, SC via New York to Lamstedt, Hanover, Germany via Aachen. The cover with vertical crease affecting the center stamp, the bottom pair with gum staining.

Addressed to John W. Tisdall, Caistor P.O., County of Lincoln, Canada West. Manuscript at lower left reads "Cupsoli, Iowa, April 22d" Various Canadian transit marks on reverse.

Stamp tied by Jefferson, Ohio, Feb 22 handstamp addressed to The Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Ashtabula County, Jefferson, Ohio. Manuscript docketing on reverse dated Feb 20, 1856, indicates contents filed by Notary Public R.H. Folger in a legal case involving “Dunlap, Jarvis & others vs. Fowler & Fowler.”

Horizontal pair tied by black Philadelphia datestamp on 1855 cover to Stratford, London, with red Philadelphia "Paid 15" exchange marking (May 15) and red London arrival datestamp (28MY28 1855), endorsed “Per S.S. Atlantic via Liverpool,” carried by Collins Line Atlantic from New York. Light edgewear and a tear through right stamp, Fine appearance.

Signed by Ashbrook, Noting the Demonetized Usage
The stamp with choice centering, tied by "Saint Joseph Mo. Dec. 27, 1863" double circle cancel on locally addressed cover, with original enclosure datelined Dec 26 1863. This is a very late demonetized usage. The stamp with a tear at bottom right.

The stamp tied by bold black circle of wedges cancel, with matching “Little Falls, N.Y. Apr. 30” double-circle datestamp on locally addressed cover to George A. Hardin.

"Lewiston N.Y. Feb. 21" circular datestamp.

"1859 Circular, Presspring Schonfeld & Co., 20 Dicbre" docketing. Likely meant to be mailed in New York City, but instead carried outside the mails to Vera Cruz and postmarked there. There is no indication that the Mexican post office charged postage. The 2c circular rate was not applicable in Mexico. The cover with a vertical crease.

No postal markings. The cover with red stains and a small piece out at bottom left.

The stamp tied by red Providence R.I. circular datestamp on local drop-rate cover, with docketing at left and back flap missing.

Addressed to Charles A. Whitney in Chicago, Illinois, where the "Advertised" circular datestamp was applied. The right stamp with perfs trimmed away at bottom, the cover soiled with an ink erosion hole.

"NEW YORK NOV.5" postmark. The cover opened roughly at top. The 1c stamp with top perfs torn away.

"SEP 21" Greenfield, Mass datestamp tying the 1861 issue.

Single tied by "NEW YORK AUG. 20, 1857" postmark on cover to Utica, NY.

The cover with backflap partly separated.

"CHICAGO SUPPLEMENTARY MAIL MAR 20" datestamp addressed to Watertown, NT. The cover without backflap.

Three strikes of “New Orleans Dec. 6, 1853” double circle postmark on folded letter front to Charlevall, France with blue boxed “A. Texier New Orleans” forwarding agent marking, boxed “P.D.”, and Boston and French transit markings. Manuscript directive “Per First Steamer." The stamps with perfs trimmed away at top and at right. The front with mended tear and a vertical and horizontal fold.

Constableville, N.Y. to Friedewald, Germany, August 30, 1858 folded letter. Blue “Constableville N.Y. Aug 30” circular datestamp, with sharp “N. York U.S. Pkt. ‘14’ Sep 4” debit exchange marking. Carried by Vanderbilt Line Ariel from New York Sep. 4 to Bremen, arriving Sep. 22; red “24/9 KrR America über Bremen” transit handstamp, blue crayon “3” rating, and treated as wholly unpaid due to underpayment of the 22c Bremen-Hamburg rate. Reverse with Cassel, Hersfeld, and Friedewald Sep. 23 arrival markings.

"New Orleans, LA. APRIL 1" (1861) postmark, with "4" handstamp for 4 reales due, carried outside the mails to New Orleans during the Confederate States Period, making this an After-Succession Foreign letter. Forwarding agent handstamp on reverse.