The C.A. Stillions Collection of Washington D.C. Postal History

1790 (Dec. 13) Alexandria, D.C. to Philadelphia Pa., folded letter with sharp " ALEXA. DECR 13 " straightline and "2" rating, Philadelphia " 1/ " local currency rating; some fold toning, minor docketing on face, Very Fine strike.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1793 (Jul. 15) Cadiz, Spain to Philadelphia Pa. via Alexandria Ship, datelined folded letter with " ALEX Aug 29 " straightline and ms. " Sh 19 " ship rating, letter concerning shipments with some interesting content " …advice from Italy that the Crops in Sciily & other states are exceedingly abundant & that very strict prohibition has been issued to prevent any being sent to France. They had a mind to do it they cannot as very large English & Spanish Fleet are cruising in the Mediterranean who have block'd up in a manner all the French ports thereabouts… "; file fold through rating, erosion hole, Fine and scarce early Alexandria ship letter.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1793 (Jul. 5) Georgetown, D.C. to Newburyport, Mass., datelined folded letter with " Geo. Town July 5 " manuscript postmark with matching "25" cent rating on 1793 folded letter to Newburyport Mass.; light right half toning, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

A RARE EARLY USE FROM THE GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA POST OFFICE.

Georgetown was the only the settlement in the District of Columbia that has a post office at this time. Washington was not opened until 1795. At that time it was known as "Washington in the State of Maryland", even though it came under the jurisdiction of the Philadelphia office.

1796 (Aug. 16) London, England To Washington, D.C., folded letter datelined "Great Bath Street, August 16, 1796" and addressed to "John Douglas, Stone Cutter, at the Capital Citty of Washington, Mary Land", entered mails with Philadelphia " 24 OC " Franklin mark and manuscript " Sh 16½ " ship letter rating, letter from Douglas's sister with good content describing her difficulty of finding a husband and advising her brother not to get a wife there, "for by your description of the women, they are not very agreeable creatures" and suggesting she come to America where she could get a husband asking whether "the people have any particular form of religion"; small paper loss at top edge and partial fold separations, Fine, A scarce and very early use to a Washington D.C. stone cutter engaged in the construction of government buildings that were not occupied until 1800.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1799 (Sep. 1) Alexandria, Va. to Boston, Mass. via Washington D.C., docketed folded cover with boldly struck " Wash-City Sep 1 " cds in brownish black with manuscript " 20 " rating addressed to John Hancock in Boston Ma., docketed from Alexandria via the post, Extremely Fine early strike of the first Federally-issued cds.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1802 (Jan. 15) Washington D.C. to Chester County Pa., forwarded to Lancaster Pa., datelined folded letter with "Washn. City, Jan 15" cds and ms. "25" cent rating to Chester County Pa., manuscript " Chester forwarded " postmark and "10" rating totaled to " 34 "; small spindle hole, Very Fine forwarded use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1856 (Sep. 10) Washington, D.C. to Hagerstown, Md., folded letter with intense red "City of Washington, Sep 10" cds and ms. "10" rating, fresh and Extremely Fine gem.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

(Express Mail) 1837 (Aug. 27) Washington D.C. to Milledgeville Ga., red "Washington D.C., Aug 27" cds and manuscript "75" cent express rating on folded letter to the Postmaster at Milledgeville Ga., endorsed "P.O. Dpt." and " By Express mail ", datelined "Post Office Department, Central Office, August 1837" with content concerning the express " …Sir, The Express Mail is going South on the 7th September next is directed to arrive at your Office by 9½ pm, and you will despatch it for Columbus at 10pm. Respectfully, Your Obt.St. S.R. Hobbie, 1st Asst. P M Genl ", Very Fine and rare Official express mail use from Washington D.C.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

All express mail, including official mail, was required to pay triple mail rates, either prepaid or collect. Official mail could not be sent free.

1840 (Jun. 8) Washington D.C. to Galveston, Texas via New Orleans, folded letter datelined from Philadelphia with free frank, entered mails with green "Washington City, D.C. Jun 8" cds with "Free" handstamp to Gaveston, Texas, endorsed "Care of Wm. Bryan Esq, New Orleans", flap with neat " Wm. Bryan, New Orleans Agent of the Texan Post Office " oval and matching "SHIP" handstamp, long letter with two leafs; some edge wear and splitting, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

During the life of the Texan Republic (1837-1845), the Texas post office operated in New Orleans as a forwarder of the mails to Galveston and Houston. The mails were initially handled by Samuel Ricker Jr. until December 1838 and then William Bryan until statehood in December 1845.

1844 (Jun. 16) Washington D.C. to Saratoga Springs N.Y. forwarded to New York City, datelined folded letter with red "Washington D.C. Jun 16" cds and "Free" handstamp with " Free, Silas Wright " Senator free frank to Saratoga Springs, forwarded with complete "Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Jun 19" cds with "FORWARDED" straightline to New York City, Extremely Fine and attractive free frank fowarded use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1846 (Dec. 22) Washington D.C. to Oswego, N.Y., long printed "Circular to Collectors of the Customs" with "Treasury Department" endorsement entering mails with red "Washington D.C., Jan 9" cds with scarce red " 2 " cent printed matter rating to Collector of Customs, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.

1849 (Oct. 12) Washington D.C. to St. Louis Mo., forwarded to Eldorado, Arkansas, "United States Patent Office, Official Business" envelope free franked by "H.H. Sylvester, Act. Comm.", entered mails with red orange "Washington D.C., Oct 12, Free" attached rate cds, red "St. Louis, Mo. Dec 6" for sending to DLO, " Dead Letter Office, P.O. Dept . 13/ 244 = E.R., Jul 6, 1849 " circular handstamp, opened and sent to Eldorado Ark.; some wear and corner tear, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1853 (Nov. 11) Washington D.C. to Newark N.J., gray cover with "Washington D.C. Nov 11" cds and matching "Paid 3" in Circle rating handstamp, docketed "Webb, No. 10 '53" at left; flap mend, Very Fine and scarce.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $75 - 100.

1850 (Feb. 20) Washington D.C. to Philadelphia Pa., wrapper with " Free, Jas. X. McLanahan " free frank enclosing complete The Daily Globe newspaper to Philadelphia street address, pencil " 2 ct " rating at left; some wrinkling and faults, Fine and scarce newspaper use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Newspaper wrapper sent free using the free frank privilege of James Xavier McLanahan, Representative from Pennsylvania.