9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Sale 1230 — U.S. and Hawaii Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 15-18 December, 2020
Category — Spanish Louisiana, Territorial, Alaska
ISLAS DE/BARLOVENTO. Light strike of red two-line handstamp on folded letter datelined "In prison Royalle De la Nouvelle Orleans Le 28 Janvier 1791" from Antonio Patrick Walsh and addressed to Monsieur Durin in Bordeaux, France, manuscript "16" (sols) due in FranceFINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE "ISLAS DE BARLOVENTO" TWO-LINE HANDSTAMP MARKING FROM SPANISH COLONIAL NEW ORLEANS TO FRANCE.
According to Dr. Yamil Kouri, this originated in Spanish New Orleans and was sent via Havana to Cadiz, Spain, where the "ISLAS DE/BARLOVENTO" (Windward Islands) marking was applied. It was then sent overland to France and rated 16 sous for a single-weight letter from Spain. Dr. Kouri records only one other New Orleans cover bearing this marking, rated 24 sols.
The sender, Antonio Patrick Walsh, was a native of Dublin, Ireland. Walsh served in the Spanish military and in the militia of colonial Louisiana under Spanish rule. He later became involved in shipping, serving Spanish commercial interests in the Caribbean and Mexico as third commander of the ship Louisiana and as the owner of the ship La Mexicana. Following his maritime service, Walsh settled in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, where he owned a cotton plantation. (Source: https://www.lib.lsu.edu/sites/default/files/sc/findaid/0887m.pdf )
(Mississippi Territory) "Chickasaw Nation June 20th, 1805". Manuscript postmark, "25" cents rate and "Chickasaw Bluffs" notation on folded letter to the postmaster of Detroit, datelined "Fort Pickering Chickasaw Bluffs June 8? 1805," interesting content including "I am here alone in a dreary wilderness, savage country", though he adds that "the situation of the garrison is pleasant.", overall dampstaining, Very Fine appearing and scarce Mississippi Territory use, very few covers are known during this time period
View PDF of contents of this lot
Territorial Covers. Balance of five covers, the first four are better Illinois or Indiana Territory folded letters including 1806 with manuscript Cahokia postmark and addressed to Kaskaskia, 1806 and 1817 manuscript Kaskaskia postmarks, 1810 postmaster free frank with Clinton Hill Ill. Territory postmark to Cincinnati O., also 1855 folded letter with "Red Wing M.T." circular datestamp, Very Fine group, the early territorial uses are each worth $750 or more at retail
View PDF of contents of this lot
"U.S. Stmr. Resaca, Sitka, Alaska Ter'y". Manuscript return address at top left of cover to Trenton N.J., with 3c Rose (65) tied by cork, "San Francisco Cal. Nov. 23" (1867) circular datestamp, with original enclosure datelined "U.S. Stmr Resaca, Sitka, Alaska Terry., October 23rd 1867", contents mostly discusses miserable weather and ends with "Direct till further instructions to San Francisco Cal. As the mail to this place is brought up from there as chance of ?, there being no regular communication", barely reduced at rightVERY FINE. THE EARLIEST KNOWN CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALASKA AFTER ITS TRANSFER TO THE UNITED STATES ON OCTOBER 18, 1867.
The treaty purchasing Alaska for $7.2 million (equivalent to $117.8 million in today's dollars) was signed May 28 and the territory was formally transferred on October 18, 1867, less than a week before this was sent. The Resaca was commissioned by the Navy in 1866 and initially patrolled off the Mexican and Central America coasts to protect U.S. interests. After an outbreak of yellow fever affected the Jamestown and Resaca, both ships were sent to Alaska to effectively quarantine. It arrived in Alaska in August 1867 and stayed until 1869.
3c Ultramarine (114). Tied by bold strike of target cancel, complete and legible strike of "Sitka Alaska T. Jun. 13" circular datestamp on 1870 cover to Millersport O., barely reduced at right, minor edge soilingVERY FINE. FEWER THAN A HALF-DOZEN 1869 PICTORIAL COVERS FROM ALASKA TERRITORY ARE BELIEVED TO EXIST. AN IMPORTANT COVER FOR THE ISSUE AND IN THE STUDY OF EARLY TERRITORIAL POSTAL HISTORY.
From 1867 until 1884, the region later known as the District of Alaska (1884), Territory of Alaska (1912) and the State of Alaska (1959) was officially known as the Department of Alaska. Until 1877 it was under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Army. The Census of 1870 reported 461 whites living in Alaska (with no effort made to count the Eskimo population). Covers from Alaska pre-dating the 1890s are rare, and the 1869 PRA Census estimated three to six extant.
Ex Gimelson. With 1976 P.F. certificate
10c Brown (161). Used with three 3c Green (158), cancelled by targets, blue "Fort Wrangel Alaska Terr. Dec. 9, 1876" circular datestamp on linen-lined legal size cover to Owego N.Y. and forwarded to Washington D.C., Jan. 9 forwarding circular datestamp, some expert restoration along edges, two left 3c stamps slightly affected from placement near edge, possibly missing a stamp, still Very Fine and scarce use from Fort Wrangel which was built by the Russians to stop encroachment by Hudson Bay Company traders, a new fort was built in the same location for U.S. troops, ex Gimelson
30c Gray Black (165). Tied by light strike of "Sitka Alaska T. Jul. 11" circular datestamp, second strike at left, on linen-lined legal size cover to Washington D.C., stamp with few faults including expert repair at top left, some expert edge restoration, otherwise Very Fine, a rare high-denomination use from Alaska, ex Gimelson
Alaska-Related Covers. Eight covers used from Alaska between 1885 and 1898, including 2c entire with Wells, Fargo printed frank used in 1885 from Juneau to Portland Or., 2c Columbian entire used from Juneau to Cal. in 1894, 2c entire used from Sitka to Milwaukee in 1889, No. 213 used from Sitka to Cal. in 1888, No. 213 used from Douglas to New York in 1890, 2c entire from Sitka to New York used in 1888, 1c Columbian entire used with 1c Columbian to San Francisco in 1894, last is 1c Postal Card from Sitka to New York in 1898, few faults to be expected, overall Fine-Very Fine, scarce group, ex Gimelson
View PDF of contents of this lot
Website Terms of Use and Privacy Policy