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

Benecia, Cal. "No. 4", manuscript registry number and matching " Benecia, 7 Oct. 61 " postmark on 10¢ green (U18) buff entire canceled by large Boston "Paid" grid to Neponsett Mass., docketed "Answered Nov 4. 61"; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Fiddletown Cal. Jul 17, cds with magenta " 238 " registry number on "Love, Purity & Fidelity" Temperance Envelope illustrated with allegorical figure, waterfall, fountain, and star, bearing two 10¢ green (33) singles tied by partial cds strikes to Ravenna, Ohio, New York ms. " 2993 " transit registry number, original July 16, 1858 letter indicating enclosure of $5 and ten 10¢ stamps; cover originally folded over at top, stamps with light crease, right torn, light stain, Fine appearance, ex-Kutz .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

Grass Valley Cal. "Registered", blue circular handstamp with ms. "5" number, matching "Grass Valley Cal. Jan 3" cds duplexed with circle of wedges cancels that tie 2¢ brown (113) vertical pair and single, in combination with 15¢ Black, F. Grill (98) similarly tied, on 1870 yellow cover to Pembroke, Maine; minor edge wear and 15¢ stamp with small flaw at top where perfs cut in, Very Fine appearance, unusual use of three 2¢ 1869 Pictorials and the 15¢ 1868 Grilled Issue to pay double 3¢ rate plus 15¢ registration fee, ex-Landau, Rose .

Milgram No. R-GR-1   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

*This is quite an unusual registered postmark, one of the registered circles without town name. The usage from a small western town is also unusual as is also the blue color. Only recorded example. *

References: Listing example in Milgram's Registry book as fig. 170, page 116.

Oroville Cal. "Registered", circular handstamp with ms. "12" number, matching "Oroville Cal. Apr 19" cds duplexed with circle of wedges cancels tie 3¢ red, F grill (94) and 15¢ black, F grill (98) to Boston Mass., " Boston, Registered, May 10, 1869 " dotted cds (R-BO-4) struck upon receipt, 1869 docketing at left indicating $5 enclosed, F.-V.F. and scarce use with two different registry postmark.

Milgram No. R-OR-1   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $200 - 300.

This marking was probably made by the same manufacturer as the marking from Grass Valley,

California.

References: Listing example in Milgram's Registry book as fig. 217A, pages 141.

Placerville Cal., 3¢ green entire bearing 15¢ black, F. grill (98) tied by blue cork cancel, matching blue "Placerville Cal. Sep 23" cds and ms. "No. 38 Registered" at top circa 1870 to Boston Mass., rimless "Boston, Mass. Reg. 3 Oct" cds (Milgram R-BO-4) and green "10124" registry number; bit of flap missing, fresh and Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Rattlesnake Cal. "Regis No 31", manuscript registry marking on buff cover bearing 10¢ green (35) , canceled by matching ms. cross hatch, "Rattlesnake Cal. Feb 4" cds to South Montville Me.; cover wear, minor gum toning, Very Fine and early California registered use; signed George Sloane.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

1864 San Francisco Cal. Return Registered Letter Receipts, two 10¢ yellow green (U41) entires, one canceled by four-rings, matching "San Francisco Cal. 30 Mar 1864" cds to New London N.H., stain spot; second with indicia invalidated with punch hold and canceled with "San Francisco Cal. 12 May" cds and matching "P.O. Business, Free, R.F. Perkins P.M." handstamp with label to Martinsburg W.V.; accompanied by 1864 Cleveland O. return registered letter receipt, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

The Postmaster at San Francisco had an excess supply of 10¢ entires that were rendered useless with the July 1, 1863 law lowering the transcontinental rate to 3¢. He first just canceled them as the March 30, 1864 cover shows to return the registered letter receipts to sender. Then in 1866, he punched a hole in the indicia and struck with P.O.B. Free facsimile frank for the same purpose, returning receipts. Some of these exist with a name only, they were placed into patrons' boxes in San Francisco.

Puebla, C.T. Mar. 22 (Colorado Territory), cds with ms. "No 119" registry number, on yellow cover bearing 3¢ ultramarine (114) and 15¢ brown & blue (119) , each pen canceled and 15¢ tied by cds to Weymouth, Ohio additional blue crayon "13855" and red "62", 1870 original letter; horizontal crease, 15¢ small flaws, Fine and rare 1869 Issue Colorado Territory registered use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

Chesterfield Ct., Oct 30, cds duplexed with target cancels tie 1869, 10¢ yellow (116) and 1870, 1¢ ultramarine (145) on registered cover to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., blue "19849" registry number handstamp, original 1874 letter indicated $35 was enclosed; reduced slightly at right, 10¢ light corner crease, Very Fine and scarce 10¢ 1869 registered use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.

This was an early use of a handstamped registry number.

Registered, Feb 22 '84, Yankton, Dakota, framed postmark with ms. "285/271" registry numbers on 1884 cover bearing 2¢ red brown (210) and 5¢ Garfield (205) pair , each canceled by ms. "M" cancels to Ypsilanti, Michigan; 2¢ small tear, Very Fine territory registry use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Georgetown D.C. "Registered", straightline with purple ms. "172" number, matching "Georgetown D.C. Oct 6" cds on circa 1869 cover bearing combination franking of 1868, 15¢ black, F grill (98) and 1869, 3¢ ultramarine (114) vertical pair , tied by partial segmented corks, remnant of return registry receipt on flap; reduced slightly at left, 3¢ short perf, few toned, Very Fine, only recorded example , ex-Landau .

Milgram No. R-GE-1   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $200 - 300.

References: Listing example in Milgram's Registry book as fig. 168, page 115.

Washington D.C., Registered, Mar 13, cds with with purple ms. "2490" registry number on 3¢ pink (U59) buff entire bearing 5¢ brown (76) and 10¢ green, F. grill (96) , each tied by quartered cork to Shreveport, La., endorsed from "Legation of Sweden & Norway" at left and blue flap circular handstamp, flap with bit of registry receipt; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine.

Milgram No. R-WS-2   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

References: Listing example in Milgram's Registry book as fig. 270, page 169.

Washington D.C., Registered, Dec 13, neat cds with magenta "R" and ms. "1860" registry number, bold quartered corks tie 10¢ green (68) pair on legal-size Adjutant General's Office, Official Business imprint cover with free frank handstamp to Frederick, Maryland, right 10¢ clipped corner, Very Fine and scarce registered free frank use, only two recorded 20¢ examples .

Milgram No. R-WS-3   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

Washington D.C., Registered, Aug 11, 1870, large oval postmark (wrong year) with blue crayon "8548" and magenta "R" markings on legal-size Adjutant General's Office official business imprint cover bearing 6¢ War (O117) and 10¢ War (O118) canceled by matching quartered corks to Sante Fe, N.M. Terr.; 10¢ with scuffed corner, otherwise Very Fine and rare official registered use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.