(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.

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables