Sale 8Completed: June 7, 2025
The NAPEX Sale
Lots 1084—1087
War Rates
Lot 1084
(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 ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ $750 - 1,000.
PROBABLY THE FINEST OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED PROPER WAR RATE 1¢ DROP LETTERS.Realized: $600
Lot 1085
(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 ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ $500 - 750.
A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE UNAUTHORIZED 1½¢ DROP-RATE LETTER FROM NEW YORK CITY.Lot 1086
(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 ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ $400 - 600.
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.Lot 1087
(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 ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ $500 - 750.
ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED 9¢ WAR RATE SHIP LETTERS WITH "SHIP" HANDSTAMPS.