The James Milgram Collections of U.S. Registered Mail and Campaign Envelopes

1819 (Feb. 2) Post Office New York City "The Mail Robbers Caught!", original Theodorus Vail, Postmaster N.Y. letter to Postmaster General R.J. Meigs that was edited and published in part titled "The Mail Robbers Caught!" along the side reading "Post Office New York City (N.Y.), 3 Feb. 1819, Dear Sir, I have the pleasure to inform you that two of the mail Robbers mentioned in my Letter of yesterday (their names, Maurie and Bertrand, both Frenchmen) were this morning apprehended by two of our Police Officers, and are now under examination before our City Police Magistrates. They found upon them, secreted in their clothes, about one thousand dollars - the search not yet completed. The third Robber is also a Frenchman of the name of Doctr. Henrie who it is believed is making his way for Philada. [the following parts of the letter except signature are crossed out for the publication] I have given the necessary information to Mr. Bache and Mr.Bailey of Philadelphia so that if he goes there 4e will be apprehended. I have published the enclosed advertisment in our public prints. There cannot be a doubt but that these are the villains who perpetrated the Robbery and I am of opinion that the Good Citizens of New Jersey are well disposed to convict them on reasonable testimony. (in another hand) Very respectfully & sincerely Yours, Theodorus Bailey"; small edge flaws, Fine and early mail robbery documentation.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1855 (Jan. 11-20) James Holbrock Mail Loss Letters, group of three letters from Holbrock sent from New York City to the Postmaster at Hartford Conn., each on official letterhead and enclosed in orange envelopes with New York postmarks and red "Post Office Business, Free" arc rating handstamps, they discuss mail losses between Willimanic Conn. and New York City and include his suspicion that the robberies could be localized to between Hartford and Norwich, the first letter discusses his book "Ten Years Among the Mail Bags or Notes from the Diary of a Special Agent of the Post Office Department" and thanks the postmaster for help in the facts of one of the previous cases to be described in his book, Very Fine trio.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

(Robbery) 1855 (Jul. 14) Wyandotte, Mich. to Sante Fe N.M. (Robbed Mail), buff cover with manuscript " Wyandotte, Mich. July 14 " postmark on Webb correspondence cover to Sante Fe, New Mexico on the Hall contract route, mail was robbed enroute from St. Louis to Sante Fe on the Hall contract route, original letter datelined "Wyandotte July 14, 55", manuscript " Robbed Mail " across top by Jefferson City Mo. postmaster and pencil "Paid 3" below; erosion hole and small edge tear, Fine and rare.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $2,000 - 3,000.

A REMARKABLE "ROBBED MAIL" USE ON THE HALL CONTRACT ROUTE TO SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO TERRITORY.

A second "Robbed Mail" example from the J.J. Webb correspondence sent from Santa Fe N.M. Sept. 25th 1855 to Kent Conn. was robbed enroute near Jefferson City. The disparity of dates suggest they were from separate robberies. Both are missing stamps, the latter mail robbers left the mail in the Marie River.

References: Illustrated in Milgram's "Robbery of Mail in the Classic Period", Chronicle 176, Nov. 1997, pp. 232-242, fig. 8.

Illustrated in Milgram and Berlin's "Early Mail Robberies in the United States", American Philatelist, Nov. 2007, pp. 1000.

(Robbery) 1863 (Jun. 30) Corvallis, Oregon to Hebron, N.H., pink envelope bearing 10¢ green (35) canceled by open grid cancel and just tied by rim of "Corvallis Or., Jun 30, 1862" cds, robbed enroute from Oregon to San Francisco, magenta " San Francisco, 14 Aug. 1863, Opened by Mail Robber. Henry Baker Special Agt. P.O. Dpt. " notation; robber roughly opened and reduced at left tearing away half of stamp, edge wear, Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

A REMARKABLE 1857 ISSUE "ROBBED MAIL" USE FROM OREGON VIA SAN FRANCISCO TO THE EAST COAST.

References: Illustrated in Milgram and Berlin's "Early Mail Robberies in the United States", American Philatelist, Nov. 2007, pp. 1001.

(Robbery) 1923 Ashland & Gerber Train No. 13 Mail Robbery Cover, original fire damaged cover bearing 2¢ Wash. tied by "Eugene, Oregon, Oct 10, 1923" machine cancel to Glendale Cal., house in pouch with trimmed "This mail damaged by fire and dynamite hold-up of Ashland & Gerber Train No. 13, at Siskiyou, Oregon, October 11, 1923." printed label; entered mails with Post Office Dept. penalty ambulance envelope canceled by "San Francisco, Calif. 1923" machine cancel to Glendale, edge nick; accompanied by original Wanted Broadside for the Autremont Brothers and describing the robbery that was widely circulated by mail, Very Fine group.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

(Robbery) 1923 Ashland & Gerber Train No. 13 Mail Robbery Cover, original fire damaged Montgomery Ward & Co. envelope with red "Portland, Ore. Oct 10, 1923" meter imprint to Mill Valley Cal., accompanied by " This mail damaged by fire and dynamite hold-up of Ashland & Gerber Train No. 13, at Siskiyou, Oregon, October 11, 1923. " printed label and original Wanted Broadside for the Autremont Brothers and describing the robbery that was widely circulated by mail, small flaws, Very Fine group.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

References: Illustrated in Milgram and Berlin's "Early Mail Robberies in the United States", American Philatelist, Nov. 2007, pp. 1005-06.

(Robbery) This article was rifled in robbery at Los, Angeles, California, Oct 8, 1925, manila label on uprated 2¢ red entire with German Consulate corner card addressed to Berlin, Germany, with top portion of cover roughly torn off (rifled), with original Post Office ambulant penalty cover with same label addressed to German Consulate returning the corrupted correspondence, Very Fine and unusual.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1833-1860s Mail Depredation Letters and P.O. Dept. Circulars, interesting group of 17 items including letters reporting mail thefts and P.O. Department printed circulars, note 1841 letter to Postmaster General Wickliffe with details concerning overland mail bag security, 1843 letter from P.O.D. Mail Depredation Desk, 1842 Circular advising of postmasters of new mail bag locks, 1848 Circular regarding restrictions on Access to the mails and Depredations producing great loss to the citizens, 1856 robbery report of unregistered letter from Seneca Falls N.Y., etc., most letters with content transcripts, F.-V.F. and wonderful group.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

(Robbery) 1889-1987 Mail Robbery Postal History, group of 8 different mail robberies comprising 1889 robbed at Hopkins Minn, 1903 Oklahoma Territory, 1931 Morris Minn., 1976 theft of mail in Los Angeles, and latter examples with robbery handstamps, 1976 with ambulatory penalty envelope and POD letter; expected faults, F.-V.F. and rare group.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.