(Portsmouth/Boston to Philadelphia, Dec. 1747) "Free E Huske". Manuscript free frank of Ellis Huske, Postmaster of Boston, on folded cover to John Reynell in Philadelphia, receipt docketing "From John Sherburne, recd 28th Decr 1747 p Post", slightly soiled file fold, small piece out of top clear of frank and address, otherwise Fine, a rare Colonial postmaster’s free frank, Ellis Huske was the publisher of the Boston Post-Boy, a naval officer at Portsmouth, Chief Justice of the Province (1749-54) and postmaster of Boston (1734-55), ex Historical Society of Pennsylvania (deaccession)

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(Boston, Aug. 15, 1777) "BOSTON". Bold smaller 27.5 x 4.5mm style straightline handstamp struck in red on back of August 15, 1777 folded letter to Portsmouth N.H., matching "21/AV" (Aug. 21) Franklin mark, manuscript "2" dwt rate, written by John Williams to John Langdon about paying for repairs to a ship, docketed on back with clear yeardate

VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE "BOSTON" STRAIGHTLINE MARKING, STRUCK IN 1777 FOLLOWING THE BRITISH EVACUATION OF THE CITY.

Until the discovery of archival examples of the Boston straightline, no postal markings were known from Boston in 1776 and 1777, during the period following the British evacuation. The earliest reported use of a Confederation-period straightline is not until 1782.

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Abraham Skinner. “A. Skinner CGP” and “On public service” endorsements on folded cover addressed in his hand to “Thomas Bradford Esquire, D. Comy. Prisoners, Philadelphia”, no date, with paper affixed to bottom panel and reinforced along folds, minor soiling, Fine, Abraham Skinner succeeded John Beatty as Commissary General of Prisoners in March 1780, covers with this endorsement are extremely rare

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(New York-Falmouth Packet, 1771) "NEW/YORK". Two-line handstamp on folded cover from Ireland to Samuel and Robert Purviance of Baltimore, well-struck "LARNE" straightline handstamp, docketing indicates sender was Samuel Montgomery and letter date was Dec. 13, 1771, side flap with "15/IA" (Jan. 15, 1772) and "23/IA" (Jan. 23) Bishop's marks, "24/AP" Franklin mark indicating arrival date in New York, several rate markings incl. "4" crossed out, "In all 1N10" and "10.16", slight toning along vertical file fold, still Very Fine, a rare Colonial transatlantic cover from Ireland

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(Alresford, England, to St. Quentin, France, 1778) French Prisoner-of-War Letter. Folded letter datelined Alresford, England, Jul. 14, 1778, from a French prisoner-of-war to St. Quentin, France, “Examined July 16, E Knapp” censor marking on flap -- which was sealed with red wax, opened and overlaid with paper, then re-sealed with black wax -- entered mails with “ALRES/FORD” two-line handstamp on other flap, manuscript “p3” pence prepaid to London, red “Post Paid” circular handstamp and “20/IY” (Jul. 20) Bishop’s mark, light strike of “ANGLETERRE” straightline and “30” sols due in France, re-addressed to St. Brieux, flap with manuscript “Deb de St Qui” (Debourse de St. Quentin), Very Fine, from a French naval officer whose ship was captured by the H.M.S. Hector during the American War of Independence, he was taken to Alresford where he was on parole when the letter was mailed, ex Walske

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(New York to Northumberland, England, via Falmouth-New York Packet, 1781) American Blockade Run Letter. Folded letter datelined “New York 16th of Augt. 1781” and addressed to Newcastle Upon Tine, Northumberland, England, clear “26/SE” (Sep. 26) Bishop’s receiving mark, manuscript “1N” packet rate crossed out and re-rated “1N4” with inland postage added, letter to owner of the ship Providence from Capt. John Ritchie, slight wear, Fine, written just two months before Burgoyne’s surrender at Yorktown, also accompanied by second letter dated May 27, 1782

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(Charleston S.C. to Glasgow, Scotland, via Dover, 1782) American Blockade Run Letter. Folded letter datelined in Charleston on June 17, 1782, endorsed “Pr the Fame Capt. Morgan” and carried by the 8-gun British Letter of Marque Fame on June 17, arriving in convoy at Deal with clear strike of “DEAL/SHIP LRE” two-line handstamp, re-rated 6p due for 1p ship plus 5p inland, “5/AV” (Aug. 5) London Bishop’s mark, red “AU/9” (Aug. 9) Bishop’s receiving mark on back, Very Fine cover from Charleston carried through the reverse American blockade by a merchant ship with a letter of marque, such ships were allowed to capture enemy prizes while on voyage, ex Walske

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(Elizabethtown N.J. to Inverary, Scotland, 1791) “N-YORK Oct.5”. Clear strike of red straightline (no asterisk appears between “York” and date as normally found) on folded letter datelined “Elizabeth Town 6th Octr. 1791" and addressed to Inverary, Scotland, manuscript forwarder’s endorsement on back “Forwarded by Yr. humble serfvt, New York Oct. 5, 1791, Richd. Yates”, manuscript “2/-” rate crossed out, re-rated “4/-”, London receiving backstamp, excellent 6-page letter with details of location between Elizabethtown in relation to New York and Philadelphia, mentions “four publick carriages pass my gate every day” and describes differences between life in England and America, Very Fine, ex Hahn

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War of 1812 Correspondence. Six folded covers or letters with three War Rates and one Restored Rate, each endorsed "Public Service" (but rated anyway) and addressed to Capt. Perez Loring, all from Portsmouth N.H. with various datestamps including red oval, black, red circular, most to Boston, 1814 use with fascinating content, rates include 10c, 20c, 30c War Rate, 37-1/2c War Rate and 45c War Rate, last datelined "Fort Constitution 24 Sept. 1816" with 10c Restored Rate, Fine-Very Fine group

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(Cadiz, Spain to New London Conn. via New Bedford Mass., 1814) Routed Around the Blockade. Folded letter datelined at Cadiz on Jan. 22, 1814, carried by Swedish brig Fortuna, departing Jan. 22, around the New York blockade to New Bedford Mass., arrived Mar. 21 and posted two days later with bold strike of red “New Bedford Ms. Mar. 23” circular datestamp, “SHIP” straightline and “14-1/2c" cents due in New London (12-1/2c plus 2c ship fee), Very Fine cover sent via non-blockaded New Bedford (one month before blockade initiated there) to blockaded New London, ex Walske

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