Sale 1316 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 19-20 March, 2024
Category — Mail from and to the Philippines
Manila, Philippines, to Providence R.I., 1818. Folded cover to Samuel G. Arnold & Co., Providence R.I., from Manila, Philippines, with receipt docketing "John Christopher O'Farrell, Manilla, October 1818 is dated, Recd 4th June 1819", entered mails with reddish "Phil 2 Jun" (1819) circular datestamp, matching "SHIP" handstamp and red manuscript "39" due rate (37c double rate plus 2c ship fee)
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY EARLY COVER FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE UNITED STATES.
Samuel Green Arnold (1778-1826) was a prominent merchant residing in Providence, Rhode Island. This cover lacks content, but the receipt docketing confirms it originated in Manila in October 1818. On June 2, 1819, the postmark date, the brig Saunders arrived at the port of Philadelphia after a 130-day journey from Manila. This is most likely the ship that carried this cover, but that would indicate a delay from October 1818 to mid-January 1819 when the Saunders set sail.
Manila, Philippines, to Boston, 1825. Folded letter from Benjamin Welch in Manila, Philippines, to his parents in Boston, datelined "Entrance of Manilla Bay, Sept 1825", entered mails at Boston with red "SHIP 6" in ribbon handstamp, splits along folds, writing shows through, otherwise Fine, a very early letter from the Philippines to the United States, written by a young sailor on a voyage to Canton
Manila, Philippines, to Charlestown Mass., 1838. Folded letter from a sailor in Manila, Philippines, to his mother in Charlestown Mass., datelined "Manila 11th March /38", sender's directive "via China", probably via Canton, no postal markings, writing shows through, Fine, scarce early letter from the Philippines
Manila, Philippines, to Boston, 1844. Folded cover from Manila, Philippines, to Appleton & Co. in Boston, sender's directive "Pr Exchange", clearly struck "Forwarded by Russell & Sturgis Manila" oval handstamp on back with manuscript "Recd at Manila Apl 30th" and "Canton April 13th 1844 Russell & Co.", red "SHIP 6" in ribbon handstamp applied at Boston, Very Fine, a scarce Philippines forwarder usage
Manila, Philippines, to Newport R.I., 1845. Blue folded letter from Wilkes Slocum in Manila, Philippines, to his mother in Newport R.I., datelined "Manilla, Isle of Luzon, June 8th '45", sender's directive "pr. Ship Mattakeeset", red "Boston Mas. Nov. 1" circular datestamp, manuscript "7" rate (5c plus 2c ship fee), legible letter from a young sailor en route to China, minor toning around edges, still Fine
Manila, Philippines, to Salem Mass., 1850. Blue folded letter datelined Manila, Jul. 5, 1850, from Peele Hubbell & Co. to Stone, Silsbee & Pickman, Salem Mass., sender's directive "Via Marseilles" crossed out, bold "LS 24 SP 24 1850" British Maltese Cross datestamp and "3 Cents" debit handstamp, perfectly struck "New York A. Pckt. 24 Oct. 9" 24c debit datestamp, Very Fine, ex White with write-up explaining route via Hong Kong and Marseilles
Manila, Philippines, to Boston, 1852. Folded cover to Appleton & Co., Boston, endorsed "Printed Sheet" with red "Via Southampton" straightline directive handstamp, mostly readable "Hong-Kong 22 MY 1852" and red London (Jul. 22) backstamps, manuscript "2" and "40" rates, bold "45" due handstamp applied at Boston, some ink smears and slightly toned, Fine
Manila, Philippines, to Salem Mass., 1852. Folded letter datelined "Manila July 9th 1852" to Stone, Silsbee & Pickman, Salem Mass., sender's directive "Via Marseilles," lightly struck "Hong-Kong 23 AU 1852" and red London (Oct. 15) datestamps on back, manuscript "2/6" rate crossed out, re-rated "60", "Br. Packet Boston 29 Oct." circular datestamp and "65 Cents" due handstamp, Very Fine, ex Shek
Manila, Philippines, to Salem Mass., 1853. Blue folded cover docketed "Messrs Peele Hubbell & Co. June 12th 1850" in Manila, Philippines, to Stone, Silsbee & Pickman, Salem Mass., sender's directive "Via Marseilles", lightly struck "Hong-Kong 23 JU 1853" circular datestamp on back, red London backstamp (Aug. 1), manuscript "2/6" and "44" rates, bold "New-York Am. Packet Sep. 1" circular datestamp with "65" due handstamp, Very Fine
Manila, Philippines, to Philadelphia, 1853. Blue folded cover docketed with Manila Jun. 23, 1853 origin from Ker & Co. to Plymouth R.I., forwarder's manuscript "Lpool 2nd Sept—Forwarded by Your obt Servt. Scholfield Doering & Co." on back and ship directive "p. Niagara" on front, green "Liverpool SP 2 1853" circular datestamp and "19 Cents" handstamp, clear strike of "Br. Packet Boston 16 Sep. 24" 24c integral due rate datestamp, minor stains, Fine, ex White (with write-up detailing sailing itinerary)
Manila, Philippines, to Northampton Mass., forwarded to New Haven Conn., 1853. Blue cover to Isaac E. Clark with 4-page letter from Ogden Edward, datelined Manila, July 22/28, 1853, sender's directive "Via Southampton,", "Hong-Kong 5 SE 5 1853" and red London datestamp (Nov. 3) on back, manuscript "1/8" and "40" rates, "New-York Br. Pkt. Nov. 17" circular datestamp and "45" due handstamp, forwarded to New Haven with bold "Northampton Ms. Nov 18" circular datestamp and "Forwarded 5/50" rate calculation (45c plus 5c), neat receipt docketing, backflap removed, small edge tear, otherwise Fine, an unusual cover from the Philippines to the U.S. and forwarded domestically, ex White (with write-up)
Manila, Philippines, to Philadelphia, 1853. Folded letter datelined "Manila November 16th 1853" to Grant & Stone, Philadelphia, sender's handstamped directive "Via Marseilles", lightly struck "Hong-Kong 9 DE 9 1853" and red London (Jan. 30, 1854) datestamps on back, manuscript "2/6" rate crossed out, re-rated "60" and then "65" due, "Philadelphia Pa. Br. Pkt. Feb. 19" circular datestamp, Very Fine
Manila, Philippines, to San Francisco, 1854. Blue folded letter from McEwen & Co. in Manila, Philippines, to Daniel Gibb & Co., San Francisco, sender's directive inside "via China", red "Forwarded by Fletcher & Co. Hong Kong" oval handstamp, lightly struck "San Francisco Cal. 3 Jul." (1854) circular datestamp and "SHIP 6" clamshell handstamp, inside docketed "Recd 3d July 1854 pr 'Victoria' from Hong Kong", hinge reinforced along file fold causing some toning, otherwise Fine, very scarce early transpacific letter from the Philippines to U.S. via Hong Kong
Manila, Philippines, to New York via Singapore, 1856. Folded letter datelined "Manila 3d July 1856" (with duplicate of June 2 letter) from Peele Hubbell & Co. to Alfred H. P. Edwards, New York, mostly readable strike of "Singapore P.O. 18 Jul. 1856" double-circle datestamp, red London backstamp (Aug. 30), manuscript "32" rate, "New-York Am. Packet Sep. 15" circular datestamp and "53" due handstamp, writing shows through slightly, Very Fine
Manila, Philippines, to Salem Mass., 1857. Folded letter datelined "Manila May 10, 1857" (with copy of Apr. 28 letter) from Peele Hubbell & Co. to Stone, Silsbee & Pickman Salem Mass., sender's directive "Via Marseilles," clear strike of "Forwarded by Lyall Still & Co. Hong Kong" forwarder's oval handstamp on back, mostly clear "Hong-Kong 24 MY 1857" and red London (Jul. 14) datestamps on back, manuscript "18" rate, perfectly struck "New-York Am. Pkt. Jul. 29" circular datestamp and "39" due handstamp, Very Fine
Philippines to France via Los Angeles and San Francisco, 1858-59. Three covers addressed to Mons. Francois Dauriac, Marseilles, Bouches-du-Rhone, France—all three noted by the late Peter Holcombe to originate in the Philippines, but whatever information or letter content he used as a basis for that statement is no longer present—each with a similar sequence of postal markings indicating mail entry at Los Angeles, foreign mail exchange at San Francisco and New York, and French transit through Havre, Paris and Marseilles—Los Angeles dates are Aug. 24 and Sep. 24 (1858) double-line circular datestamp with manuscript "Paid 15", and May 24 (1859) circular datestamp with "PAID" oval and "15" rate handstamps; San Francisco dates are Sep. 6 and Oct. 30 (1858) and Jun. 6 (1859) with red 15c integral-rate datestamps; New York dates are Sep. 29 and Oct. 30 (1859), and Jun. 28 (1859) datestamps with 3c and 12c credits; each with French entry datestamp and transit backstamps, minor creasing and opening faults in flaps
FINE. A REMARKABLE CORRESPONDENCE OF THREE COVERS THAT ENTERED THE UNITED STATES POST OFFICE IN LOS ANGELES AND TRAVELED TO FRANCE VIA SAN FRANCISCO AND NEW YORK—REPORTED TO ORIGINATE IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Peter Holcombe was a very reliable expert and we are confident he had corroborative evidence for his written statement that all three of these covers to the same addressee originated in the Philippines. We have not yet located that evidence. Our estimate is based purely on the Los Angeles-to-France elements of these covers.
Manila, Philippines, to Boston, 1859. Folded cover with red "Russell & Sturgis Manila" oval handstamp to Appleton & Co., Boston, sender's directive "Via Marseilles", "Hong Kong C NO 28 59" and London (Jan. 13, 1860) backstamps, bold "45" due handstamp applied in Boston but no receiving datestamp, manuscript "40" rate, Very Fine, scarce cover from the Philippines via Hong Kong
Manila, Philippines, to Boston, 1860. Folded letter datelined "Manila 20th Feby 1860" to Appleton & Co., Boston, red "Russell & Sturgis Manila" oval handstamp, sender's directive "Via Marseilles," backstamped "Hong Kong C FE 23 60" and London (Apr. 13), manuscript "39" rate, "Boston Br. Pkt. Apr. 27" circular datestamp and "39" due handstamp, Very Fine, ex Ishikawa
Manila, Philippines, to Boston, 1860. Folded cover with red "Russell & Sturgis Manila" oval handstamp to Appleton & Co., Boston, sender's directive "Via Marseilles," backstamped "Hong Kong C JA 14 60" and London (Feb. 28), manuscript "48" rate crossed out and re-rated "90" in blue crayon, "Boston Am. Pkt. Mar. 15" backstamp, Very Fine, ex Carlin
Manila, Philippines, to Concord N.H., 1860. Cover to Mrs. N. S. Chandler, Concord N.H., sender's directive "Via Marseilles", "Forwarded by Russell & Sturgis Manila" oval handstamp, backstamped "Hong Kong C MY 21 60" and "Boston Br. Pkt. Jul. 27" circular datestamps, manuscript "40" and "45" due handstamp, inexplicably the red London backstamp was cut out, Very Fine
Manila, Philippines, to Boston, 1860. Folded letter datelined "Manila 6th Septr 1860" to Hooper & Co., Boston, red "Russell & Sturgis Manila" oval handstamp, sender's directive "Via Marseilles," backstamped "Hong Kong C SP 10 60" and London (Nov. 2), manuscript "2" and "1/4" rates, "Boston Br. Pkt. Nov. 13" backstamp and faint blue crayon "84" due, Very Fine
Manila, Philippines, to Boston, 1861. Folded letter datelined "Manila 8 Jany 1861" to Bates & Co., Boston, red "Russell & Sturgis Manila" oval handstamp, sender's directive "Via Marseilles," backstamped "Hong Kong C JA 30 61", London (Mar. 16) and Boston (Apr. 1), British "40 Cents" handstamp, bold "Boston 45 Apr. 1" 45c due datestamp, Very Fine
30c Orange (71). Used with 24c Red Lilac (70) and 3c Rose (65), deep rich colors, tied by perfect strikes of Boston large "Paid" grid cancel on blue folded letter to George H. Peirce in Manila, Philippines, Robert B. Storer blue oval handstamp and directive "Via Marseilles", red "Boston Br. Pkt. Paid Dec. 13" (1862) circular datestamp, red crayon "36" credit, bold "1d" British Colonial credit handstamp, red London Paid datestamp (Dec. 24) also ties two stamps, "Hong Kong C FE 11 63" and "Manila Iss. Filips. 15 Feb. 1863" backstamps, "2" due handstamp applied in Philippines, contents mentions war news including bombardment of Fredericksburg, stamps lifted and hinged in place, minor bleached spots
VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE AND BEAUTIFUL THREE-COLOR COMBINATION FRANKING TO THE PHILIPPINES.
George H. Peirce came to the Philippines from New England as a 19-year old clerk in the firm of Peele, Hubbell & Company. By 1862 he was responsible for buying one-third of all the abaca exported from the Philippines. In 1868 he became a partner in the firm. The Peirce correspondence began to leak out into the marketplace in the 1980s, and in 1994 the auction sale of 29 Peirce covers, under the name "The Manila Find," was held by H. R. Harmer of New York. Over half have their stamps either reattached by hinges or missing.
Ex "Manila Find" and "Angel". With 1994 P.F. certificate.
10c Brown, 24c Purple (150, 153). Rich colors, tied by circle of wedges cancels and red Boston circular datestamp on Nov. 3, 1871 blue folded letter to George H. Peirce in Manila, Philippines, care of Macdonald & Co. in Singapore, Robert B. Storer & Co. blue oval datestamp, sender's directive "Via Brindisi", red crayon "30" credit, red London Paid datestamp (Nov. 15), red crayon "1" British Colonial credit, blue Singapore backstamp (Dec. 22, 1871), stamps lifted and reaffixed as usual for the Peirce correspondence
VERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND EXTREMELY RARE BANK NOTE ISSUE COVER TO THE PHILIPPINES VIA SINGAPORE.
A rare Bank Note Issue cover from the Peirce correspondence.
30c Black (154). Straight edge at left, deep shade, tied by segmented cork cancel, "Boston Mass. Jul. 22" (1871) circular datestamp on blue folded letter to George H. Peirce in Manila, Philippines, Robert R. Storer & Co. blue oval datestamp and manuscript directive "Via San Francisco", "Hong-Kong C SP 2 71" backstamp, stamp lifted and reaffixed as usual for this correspondence
VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FEW BANK NOTE ISSUE COVERS KNOWN TO THE PHILIPPINES. THIS IS THE ONLY PEIRCE CORRESPONDENCE COVER SENT VIA SAN FRANCISCO.
The 30c stamp pays the triple 10c rate to the Philippines by a contract steamer direct from San Francisco.
10c Brown (150). Pair and single used with 6c Carmine (148), tied by segemented cork cancels, brownish red "Boston Jan. 27" (1872) circular datestamp on cover to F. E. Foster in Manila, Philippines, care of Macdonald & Co. in Singapore, sender's directive "Per the Str. 'City of Brooklyn' via Brindisi", manuscript "30" credit, red London and Liverpool Paid datestamps (Feb. 8), red crayon "1d" British Colonial credit, "Sangapore A MR 1 72" backstamp, evidently carried privately to Manila, Very Fine, a rare Bank Note Issue cover to the Philippines and desirable with the Singapore routing