Sale 1146 — U.S. and Confederate States Postal History
Sale Date — Thursday, 15 December, 2016
Category — Colonial Postal History: British Parliamentary and Early Colonial, Massachusetts
(Boston, 1742) "B 1/2". Manuscript postmark with 1sh2p rate in local currency on folded letter to Samuel Vernon in Newport R.I., datelined "Boston Oct. 25th", Very Fine
(Boston, 1749) "Free Sam Holbrook". Postmaster's free frank on folded letter datelined "Boston 19 Feby. 1749" to Samuel Vernon in Newport R.I., letter includes request for Mr. Vernon to forward mail on a vessel to England, some age toning, Fine and extremely rare early postmaster's free frank, Samuel Holbrook, who held the title Deputy Postmaster of Boston from 1749-54, had a colorful history, including being expelled from school for cutting off a mare's ears and tail, as well as appearing by name in the Boston Evening Post for "getting one Grace Turner with child"
(Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Newport R.I., 1759) "Bost 2dwr-16grs". Manuscript postmark and rate applied in Boston on folded letter datelined "Halifax Sept. 26, 1759", directive at bottom "via Boston under cover to Mr. Caleb Blanchard" who forwarded the cover with "Rec'd and forward by your most humble serv't Caleb Blanchard", receipt docketing, arithmetic notations on one flap not affecting any docketing, mended where wax seal removed, still Very Fine Colonial forwarded letter from Halifax to Newport
(Hobbs Hole Va., 1765) "H. Hole 1.8d". Manuscript postmark on folded letter docketed "George Seaton Sep. 7-1765" and "Letters and order on me to pay to Col. Braxton 400 pounds," addressed to "King & Queen" which is a county in Virginia, staining and some edge splittingFINE AND EXTREMELY RARE COLONIAL POSTMARK OF HOBBS HOLE VIRGINIA. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES.
The Siskin collection (Bennett sale) had an Apr. 24, 1767 cover postmarked at Hobbs Hole, which was described as the only recorded example. This cover becomes the second and earliest recorded example. The post office at Hobbs Hole was in existence for only seven years during the Colonial period. According to Wikipedia, "In 1682 a local man, Jacob Hobbs, established a trading post in the now extinct Rappahannock County (in the vicinity of present-day Tappahannock). This area became known as 'Hobbs Hole'. The town comprised 50 acres divided into half-acre squares. The port was established at Hobbs Hole and called "New Plymouth", later changed back to the Indian name Tappahannock
(St. Eustatius, Dutch West Indies, to Marblehead Mass., 1772) "Sh 2 dwt" (?). Folded letter datelined "St. Eustatia June 22, 1772", addressed to Marblehead Mass., manuscript "per favor" notation at bottom, manuscript rate we read as "Sh 2dwt" but might be something different, also "5/", letter includes detailed discussion of trade in sugar and rum and discusses doing business in places such as Gibraltar and Barcelona, Very Fine incoming ship letter