Rome, New York: Office of the New York State Map and Atlas Survey, 1861. Unbound. This envelope features a map of New York along with surveying and drafting tools and instruments. It is franked with a 3-cent stamp (Scott #65) and bears a double-circle Rome, NY postmark dated December 16... More about Illustrated envelope, with enclosure, promoting the New York State Map and Atlas Survey
Mid-1860s to 1871: Various locations including Copenhagen, La Spezia, Naples, Portsmouth, Trieste, etc. Envelope or Cover. These covers (none include content) span six or seven years in the career of Lieutenant S. P. (Simon P.) from the mid-1860s until 1871 when he left the U. S. Navy to pursue a.... More about A small archive of 12 U.S. and world-wide covers (including Denmark #2) from the estate of a...
Bilbao, Spain: 1831. Envelope or Cover. This three-page stampless, folded letter is datelined “Bilbao 5th Augt 1831.” Although it references an enclosed invoice, the invoice is no longer present. The letter was no doubt favor-carried to Le Havre in France as it bears a faint forwarding agent cachet on the... More about Letter from a Marblehead, Massachusetts merchant in Spain informing his family at home of the...
Washington, DC: 1857. Envelope or Cover. This handbill advertisement measures approximately 8” x 10 and is printed on light blue paper. Its accompanying mailing envelope is addressed “To the Heirs of Mrs. Ruth Bullard.” The envelope is franked with a straddle copy of a one-cent blue Franklin stamp (Scott #24)... More about Advertisement for an attorney specializing in obtaining military land patent bounties for...
Ship Burgundy to Middletown, Connecticut: August 14, 1837. Envelope or Cover. This two-page folded letter measures 16” x 10” unfolded. It bears a circular red New York “Ship” postmark dated August 16 and is in nice shape. The ship Burgundy regularly brought immigrants from Europe to the United States. On... More about Letter from an American passenger describing the arrival of immigration ship and informing a...
New York: 1895. Unbound. This postally used envelope features two nicely drawn pencil sketches. One is of a braying donkey in evening dress with a caption that reads, “1 A.M. – Just in from the Box Social. Very tired and sleepy.” The other is of a court jester holding a...... More about Hand-drawings of a finely dressed donkey and court jester on a postally used envelope with a...
Marietta, Ohio: 1892. Envelope or Cover. This advertising envelope features an illustration of ascending hot air balloon and a text that reads, “Billy F. Travise’s * Souvenir Minstrels * Season ’92. & ’93. Touring Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky.” The reverse notes that for the next season, the show will be..... More about Illustrated advertising envelope promoting Billy F. Travise’s Souvenir Minstrels
New York: 1814. Letter. This important three-page folio-sized manuscript letter reports on the American actions at the Siege of Fort Erie during September of 1814 including a detailed description of the sorties attacking British artillery batteries and the death of General Daniel Davis, the leader of the New York Militia... More about War of 1812 American Militia Letter - The Siege of Fort Erie
1944-1945. Envelope only, no letter. The envelope was addressed to Private First Class Walter Mikucki at the Osaka Yodogawa Bunsho POW Camp in Japan. It has a typed “Prisoner of War Postage Free” free frank in the upper right corner and has received a Chicago “War Savings machine postmark dated..... More about Returned mail sent to a World War II Marine who was captured on Corregidor and died in a Japanese...
Naples: 1810. Unbound. This two-page stampless folded letter measures approximately 14.5” x 10” unfolded. It was sent by Olphert Tittle in Naples to Olphert Tittle (his father) in Beverly, Massachusetts. The letter is dated “March 11th 1810,” and its salutation begins “Honor’d Mother.” It bears a weak red strike of..... More about Letter from a U. S. mariner held captive in Naples after his ship was captured and condemned...
Fort Direction (Macon), Georgia to Greensboro, Alabama: March 25, 1865. Envelope or Cover. This three-page letter was sent by Lanier to Waller just one week before the fall of Richmond and two weeks before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Its envelope is annotated on the front “Paid on the other side,”..... More about A mysterious, tongue-in-cheek letter from an Alabama Cavalry Sergeant to an Alabama Infantry...
Clay Center, Kansas: 1898. Envelope or Cover. The envelope features an illustration of a man hanging by his feet from a parachute attached to an ascending hot air balloon. It is addressed to “Secy of Fair. McPherson, Kansas.” The letterhead contains illustrations of “The Balloon Ascending, Leaving the Balloon, Parachute..... More about Illustrated advertising envelope and letter promoting “Professor” Edward Rush’s balloon...
Washington, DC: 1861-1863. Unbound. Six letters to family members at home, four from 1861 and two from 1863. One of the letters has its original envelope. All of the letters are complete except one that is missing its final page. The handwriting is legible. Three of the letters are written... More about Collection of six Civil War letters from a soldier who served from April of 1861 until he was...
Louisville, Kentucky: 1929. This small 2” x 3” typewritten advertisement was enclosed in the accompanying envelope with a printed return address that reads, “Presbyterian Colored Missions, Incorporated, 314 South Hancock Street, Louisville, KY.” The advertisement reads, “EXTRA ****** WANTED—TEACHERS At the Presbyterian Colored Missions, 314 S. Hancock St. Won’t YOU..... More about Job advertisement for teachers to work at the Presbyterian Colored Missions in Louisville, Kentucky
Liverpool to Richmond via the Black Ball Line: 1830-1831. Envelope or Cover. These stampless folded letters both measure 16” x 10” unfolded. The 1830 letter discusses the market for American tobacco in Liverpool, and the 1831 letter discusses the market for other products, specifically butter, oats, flour and cotton. One... More about Two transatlantic letters discussing the market for American tobacco and other products and the...
Canon City, Colorado: 1916. Letter. The letter is written on United States Post Office stationery from a man named Allen, probably a post worker, and addressed to a friend named Lewis. Although no envelope accompanies the letter, its first page is postmarked, Canon City Colo. / M.O.B (Money Order Business)... More about 12-page Letter from Canon City, Colorado to North Adams, Massachusetts referencing the Colorado...
Providence, RI: Livermore and Knight (possibly), 1903. Postcard. A very scarce fold-over novelty postcard, possibly published by Livermore and Knight. (If not, then it is certainly in the Livermore and Knight style.) Light wear including the bull's tail and farmer's hand. Franked with Scott #300 with a 1905 Buffalo, NY... More about Masonic Fold-Over Novelty Postcard
Richmond, Virginia: 26 July 1861. Envelope or Cover. This 5.5” x 3.25” envelope has two Richmond, Virginia postal markings: a circular city postmark dated “Jul 26 1861” and a circular “Paid 10” handstamp indicating Confederate postage was paid at the time of mailing. There is also a bold strike of... More about Civil War “Across the Lines” private express mail envelope with special instructional label
Reading, PA: City of Reading, 1908. Envelope. Ornate advertising cover promoting Reading, Pennsylvania, features the city seal, a muscular worker, mechanical products, factories, railroad trains, etc. Franked with Scott #301, postmarked at Reading, and addressed to Ithaca, New York. More about Advertising Envelope for the City of Reading, Pennsylvania
Easton, Pennsylvania: American Flag Manufacturing Company, 1908. Envelope. Illustrated advertising cover (envelope) for the American Flag Manufacturing Company of Easton, Pennsylvania. The illustration shows a multicolor U.S. flag behind Lady Liberty and a young boy surrounded by the slogan, "One Country, One Language, One Flag." Franked with Scott #300;, postmarked... More about American Flag Manufacturing Company Advertising Envelope
Kansas City, Missouri: Baker & Lockwood Manufacturing Company, 1903. Envelope. An all-over advertising cover (envelope) for the Baker & Lockwood Manufacturing Company. Printed in green. Illustration features a large party tent. Franked with Scott #301 and postmrked with a Barry Postal Supply company machine cancellation dated 26 December 1903. Light... More about Baker & Lockwood Tent Advertising Envelope
Wilmington, Delaware: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, 1944. Envelope. Multicolor advertising cover features a quail on the front cover and an all-over chart with standard shotgun loads for hunting and trapshooting on the reverse. The cover is franked with Scott #905, postmarked at Watseka, Illinois, and addressed... More about DuPont Gunpowder Advertising Envelope
Binghamton, New York: G.M.T. Johnson, 1884. Envelope. Cartoon advertising cover for G.M.T. Johnson's Practical Poultry Keeping features chickens, peacocks, turkeys, ducks, geese, and other poultry marching around a large flag titled "Johnsons Poultry Book." All of the birds carry pennants, many bearing the initials, "JPB." Text from reviews of the..... More about Johnson's Poultry Book Advertising Envelope
Portland, Oregon: Lewis & Clark Exposition Company, 1905. Envelope. Multicolor advertising cover for the exposition features America with her arms resting on the shoulders of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as all three gaze at a Pacific Ocean sunset. This cover is franked with Scott #319 and postmarked at Colfax... More about Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition Advertising Envelope
1860. Greeting Card. Approximately 5" x 7". The embossed card features a foral diecut with the legend "Souvenir, Love & Truth." With its original envelope. Franked with Scott #11. Manuscript cancellation. Clean with light wear. More about Ornate, Embossed Valentine with Gilt and Multi-Color Floral Diecut, With Orignial Envelope
