The NAPEX Sale

(War Rate - 1¢ Drop) Providence "1" Drop Letter Rate, Mar. 15th 1816 folded letter from William S. Grinnell & Co. merchants in New York City sent privately to Providence where dropped in the mails; tiny top edge tear, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

PROBABLY THE FINEST OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED PROPER WAR RATE 1¢ DROP LETTERS.

(War Rate - 1½¢ Drop Rate) Albany Dec., red cds and magenta "1½" rating for the 1¢ drop letter rate plus unauthorized 50% war surcharge on 1815 folded letter datelined New York City, Dec. 22nd 1815 to the Comptroller in Albany N.Y.; paper flaws upper right, vertical file folds and some edgewear, Fine and rare unauthorized 1½¢ drop-rate letter from Albany, ex-Kramer .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

(War Rate - 1½¢ Drop Rate) New York, Jul 7, red cds with red ms. " 1½ " rating for the 1¢ drop letter rate plus unauthorized 50% war surcharge on 1815 folded letter datelined from Newburgh N.Y. July 4th 1815 to New York City street address, carried privately on the Hudson River to New York City where dropped into the mails; some fold wear, otherwise Very Fine and rare unauthorized 1½¢ drop-rate letter from New York City.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

Effective February 1, 1815, Congress increased postage rates by 50% to help defray the cost of the War of 1812. However, certain postal services were expressly excluded from the surcharge:

Drop Letters, Carrier Fees, Steamboat and Ship Captain Fees, and Way Letter Charges.

(War Rate - 1½¢ Drop Rate) New York, Dec 16, red cds with red ms. " 1½ " rating for the 1¢ drop letter rate plus unauthorized 50% war surcharge on 1815 folded letter datelined from Monticello N.Y. Dec. 11th 1815 to New York City street address, carried privately to New York City where dropped into the mails, Very Fine and rare.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE UNAUTHORIZED 1½¢ DROP-RATE LETTER FROM NEW YORK CITY.

(War Rate - 9¢ Ship Letter) 1815 (Mar. 27) New York N.Y. to Albany N.Y. with 9¢ Ship Rate, datelined folded letter carried by North River Line steamboat up the Hudson River to Albany where red manuscript " 9 " cent ship rating applied (6¢ ship fee plus 50%); file fold toning, Fine and rare 9¢ War Rate Ship Letter, ex-Roth.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

On February 1st 1815, a 50% surcharge was applied to all inland postage rates to raise additional funds for the Treasury Department that had been seriously depleted by the War of 1812. The surcharge was also applied to the normal 6¢ rate for letters landed at ports and delivered within that port. This included letters carried on inland waterways.

(War Rate - 9¢ Ship Letter) 1815 (Apr. 12) New York N.Y. to Albany N.Y. with 9¢ Ship Rate, datelined folded cover carried by North River Line steamboat up the Hudson River to Albany where red manuscript " 9 " cent ship rating applied (6¢ ship fee plus 50%); light file fold, fresh and Extremely Fine, ex-Roth .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

A RARE 9¢ WAR RATE SHIP LETTER TO ALBANY N.Y. IN SUCH OUTSTANDING CONDITION.

(War Rate - 9¢ Ship Letter) 1815 (Nov. 25) New York, N.Y. to Providence R.I., folded letter datelined "New York Novemb. 25th 1815" to Providence R.I. carried by non-contract ship, clear strike of red " SHIP " handstamp and red manuscript " 9 " war surcharge rate (6¢ ship fee plus 50% surcharge), contents mentions how difficult it is to find industrious workers; light vertical file folds, Very Fine, ex-Hahn.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED 9¢ WAR RATE SHIP LETTERS WITH "SHIP" HANDSTAMPS.

(War Rate) 1815 (Feb. 3) Beaufort S.C. to Charleston S.C., datelined folded letter with readible " Beauft s c Feb 3 15 " straightline and manuscript "Free" rating updated to "18¾" rate for 40-90 miles rate (12½¢ rate plus 50% surcharge) to Lt. Col. Robert Y. Hayne, Qr. Mr. Genl. So. Coroa. Mil., Charleston S.C.; some toning and edge flaws, Fine and early war surcharge rerated use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

It is unclear why the letter was initially marked "Free" as the sender was required sign there name, and neither party appears to have qualified for the free frank privilege. The letter contained $743, which were the proceeds of eleven sales not identified in the letter.

Robert Y. Haynie served as a Captain in the 3rd S.C. Regiment and also later as the Quarter Master of the South Carolina Militia. After the War of 1812, Hayne was elected a U.S. Senator. William Joyner was the sheriff of Beaufort S.C.