United States and C.S.A. Postal History continued...

**Revolutionary War Period - Virginia**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description
3097		(Dumfries Va., 1777) "Dumf (way)". Neat manuscript postmark on folded cover docketed "Richd. Graham Dumfries 8 Decem. 1777" and addressed to Fredericksburg Va., Very Fine, scarce war-period Way cover, ex Siskin (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $800.00 Will close during Public Auction
3098		(Fredericksburg Va., ca. 1777-79) "Fredkbg.8". Manuscript postmark and 8dwt rate on folded cover addressed to "The Honorable Brig. Genl. Woodford, at Headquarters", additional ms. "9/4" rate marking, minor toning, missing bottom flap, still Very Fine, Woodford was promoted to Brigadier General in Feb. 1777, was wounded later that year at the battle of the Brandywine, was captured in late 1779 at the Siege of Charleston and died aboard a British prison ship in New York harbor in 1780 so this must have been used between 1777 and 1779 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 500-750 SOLD for $2,400.00 Will close during Public Auction
3099		(Hampton Va., 1775) "HAMPTON, AUG. 4". Bold strike of straightline datestamp on back of folded letter datelined "Chesapeake Bay the 1st of August 1775" and addressed to "Mr. James Robinson, Merchant Falmuth, Rappahanock River", small ms. "8" rate (8p = 2.16 dwt), business contents, light vertical file fold, bottom flap with small tear VERY FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS HAMPTON HANDSTAMPED MARKING, WHICH WAS USED SHORTLY AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONTINENTAL POST OFFICE UNDER BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. The Congressional Post was formed by the Resolution of July 26, 1775, nine days before this entered the mails at Hampton. In an effort to offer a better deal than the British Parliamentary Post, the rates were lowered. This created a budget shortfall and by Sep. 30, 1775, the old rates under the British were reestablished. This cover was paid at the rate of 2dwt for distances between 60 and 100 miles, plus a 16gr fee for the ship captain. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $5,500.00 Will close during Public Auction
3100		(Hampton Va., 1776) "Hampton 5.8". Manuscript postmark with 5dwt 8gr rate on folded letter datelined "Mole 19th September 1776" and addressed to Philadelphia, endorsed "Via Virginia" at lower left, red ms. "2/5" due in local currency, fascinating contents incl. "there was a 36 Gun Frigate here at Anchor & a Guarde Coast who shipped their cables and are in pursuit of the prize and the English Cruizers that's of here, this affair Wears every serious appearance and may be productive of agreeable consequences to America, as every person who enjoys any place under the King is demonstrating against the insults that are committing on their coast by the English...We are every day in Expectation of the Arrival of a considerable Land and Naval force from France", light vertical file fold at right, Very Fine, fascinating contents and a rare war-period postmark, Mole is on St. Domingo, ex Siskin (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 1,500-2,000 SOLD for $1,800.00 Will close during Public Auction
3101		(Norfolk Va., 1775) "NORFOLK/FEB:25". Bold strike of two-line datestamp on back of folded letter datelined "Parquo. Co. No. Carolina 20th Feby. 1775" and addressed to Philadelphia, "5.8" dwt rate and red ms. "2/5" due in local durrency, endorsed "Via Post" at lower left, vertical file fold VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAR STRIKE OF THE RARE NORFOLK STRAIGHTLINE. This was carried outside the mails from North Carolina to Norfolk Va. where entered the post office. Ex Siskin (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 2,000-3,000 SOLD for $6,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
3102		(Port Royal Va., 1775) "FREDERICKSBURGH/MAR:1". Straightline handstamp (town and date struck separately) on back of folded letter datelined "Port Royal 26th Feby. 1775" from R. Johnston to John Mitchell in Philadelphia, "3.8" dwt rate, red "1/7" due in local currency (3dwt8gr = 10p x 1.67 inflation factor = 17p plus 2p carrier fee, or 1sh7p) VERY FINE. ATTRACTIVE AND CLEARLY STRUCK EXAMPLE OF THE RARE "FREDERICKSBURGH" BRITISH COLONIAL STRAIGHTLINE DURING THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD IN 1775. This style of marking came into use in 1775. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 3,000-4,000 SOLD for $6,250.00 Will close during Public Auction
3103		(Port Royal Va., 1778) "Pt. Royal 6". Manuscript postmark with 6 dwt rate on folded letter datelined April 18, 1778, and addressed to Lancaster Pa., forwarded to York Pa., letter concerns holding of lottery tickets, some soiling, still Very Fine, this is the reported Port Royal postmark used during the Colonial period, the Continental Congress was forced to relocate to Lancaster Pa. around this time, ex Sampson and Siskin, illustrated in Ter Braake on p. II-126 (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 750-1,000 SOLD for $600.00 Will close during Public Auction
3104		(Portsmouth Va., 1779) "Portsmouth 24". Neat manuscript postmark with rate on 1780 folded cover to "Representative of France resident in Baltimore", docketing indicates sent on Dec. 9, 1779, vertical file folds, Very Fine usage paying the 24dwt double rate, ex Siskin (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 1,000-1,500 SOLD for $650.00 Will close during Public Auction
3105		(Suffolk Va., 1775) "SUFFOLK/JUN:20". Bold strike of red handstamp which may be two devices due to slanting of date on back of 1775 folded cover to Edenton N.C., ms. "N8" Congressional Post 8p rate (equivalent to 2.16 dwt), also endorsed "To the care of Mssr. Gibson & Co., Suffolk Virginia" which along with the rate indicates that this was brought in on a ship to Suffolk where it entered the mails, some toning, vertical file fold VERY FINE. THIS IS BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THIS SUFFOLK MARKING IN PRIVATE HANDS. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE AND INTERESTING AS THIS ANTICIPATES THE CONGRESSIONAL POST RATES, WHICH WERE NOT ENACTED UNTIL JULY 26, 1775. The Congressional Post was formed by the Resolution of July 26, 1775, appointing Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General of the United States. In an effort to offer a better deal than the British Parliamentary Post the rates were lowered. A very small number of covers are known anticipating the new rates (see lot 2739 in our sale of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Sale 944). This created a budget shortfall and by Sep. 30, 1775 the old rates under the British were reestablished. This cover paid the rate of 2dwt for distances between 60 and 100 miles, plus a 16gr. fee for the ship's captain. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 5,000-7,500 SOLD for $24,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
3106		(Suffolk Va., 1775) "SUFFOLK/JULY 25". Bold red two-line handstamp together with black "NORFOLK/JUL 25" two-line handstamp on back of large part of 1775 folded cover to Savannah, about half of address panel is missing CHOICE STRIKES OF THESE EXTREMELY RARE MARKINGS FROM THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD BETWEEN BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY POST AND THE EMERGING CONGRESSIONAL POST. On July 26, 1775, one day after the markings were applied to this cover, the Continental Congress passed a resolution formally creating a new postal system to replace the British Parliamentary Post. Illustrated in Ter Braake book on p. II-131. (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 4,000-5,000 SOLD for $4,250.00 Will close during Public Auction
3107		(Williamsburg Va., 1779) "Wmsg 4.16". Red manuscript postmark and 4dwt 16gr rate on folded cover to Fredericksburg Va. with docketing indicating it originated in Norfolk on Jan. 16, 1779, light file folds and minor wear, Very Fine, scarce (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com	E. 500-750 SOLD for $650.00 Will close during Public Auction

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