Auction Detail

manuscript postmark on folded letter to Jeremiah Wadsworth in New York City, datelined Hartford August 18, 1776, originally rated "2.16" (2dwt 16gr) in Hartford but rerated "5.8" double weight in New York and marked "2/6" local currency equivalent, very fine early Congress Post letter

manuscript postmark with matching "2.16" rate (2dwt, 16gr) alongside on folded letter to Colonel Samuel Ward in East Greenwich, Connecticut, light toning along filefolds, very fine Continental Congress Post letter, Samuel Ward, Jr. participated in Benedict Arnold's attack on Quebec and later saw action at the Battles of Red Bank and Rhode Island, in 1781 he retired and later served as a delegate to the Hartford Convention in 1814

manuscript postmark on folded letter to New York City, very fine, letter from Thomas Seymour who served as the first mayor of Hartford from 1774 until 1812

black datestamp with matching straightline "Paid" and manuscript "8" rate on folded letter to New Haven, very fine example of this scarce postmark with just 10 examples known, letter written by Revolutionary War veteran John Chester who served as Supervisor of the United States Department of Revenue for the District of Connecticut

perfect strike of black rimless datestamp on folded lettersheet from Jeremiah Wadsworth to Benjamin Walker in New York City, manuscript "12½" rate, extremely fine and choice, the earliest recorded use of this postmark which predates the listing in the American Stampless Cover Catalogue by 18 years and arguably the finest strike of Hartford's early rimless circular datestamp