Auction Detail

dateline on folded letter to Philadelphia, manuscript "Post Paid 2.16" [dwt] reflecting the old, higher rate prior to the rate reduction of April 5, 1788, the Philadelphia postmaster crossed out the ".16" in a different ink leaving the correct rate of 2dwt, some light staining, otherwise fine

dateline on folded letter to New York, manuscript "3.8" [dwt] rate, additional "1/8" for local currency conversion in New York, no Boston postal markings, very fine

straightline postmark with Franklin mark (July 3) on folded letter to New York City bootlegged from French Guiana, rated "3.8" (3dwt 8gr) for a distance of 200-300 miles, local currency in New York expressed as "1/8" (1sh 8d), light foxing, otherwise fine
This folded letter was bootlegged from French Guiana to Boston, where the ship’s captain did not turn the letter in to the Boston postmaster as he was required to do, but instead deposited the folded letter in the general delivery box. Therefore, it was not marked “Ship” (or its equivalent) and the captain did not receive the ship captain’s fee (16gr). The Boston post office treated the letter as any other letter mailed at Boston, placing it in a closed bag and sending it to New York.

straightline postmark with Franklin mark on folded letter to Philadelphia, bootlegged from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Boston where it entered the mails and was rated "8" [dwt] due, converted to local currency in Philadelphia with a manuscript "3/6" (3sh 4d for postage plus standard 2d carrier fee), vertical file folds, very fine strike and cover, curiously this letter would have cost the same if mailed directly from Portland as it did passing through Boston 

straightline postmark with Franklin mark, manuscript "5.8" [dwt] due (double rate), local currency conversion omitted, very fine