SELECTIONS FROM EARLY AMERICAN JUNE 2016 SALE

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V19 2016 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 19, Number 22, May 29, 2016, Article 23

Here are some lots that caught my eye in the upcoming sale from Early American History Auctions. -Editor

New Jersey. First Presbyterian Church at Newark. December 16, 1790 Issue. ONE PENNY denomination. Extremely Fine.

This well printed and nicely centered, typeset small change private issue Church Money note is typeset at bottom: “E. Town: Printed by S. Kollock.” This denomination has the text “One Penny” on both left and right, whereas the date is typically seen printed along the right side. It has all of its border designs distinct and present with the text clearly readable. The signature of “E. Boudinot” as President is large and beautifully written in brown ink, having one of the finest examples of his signature we have seen. Likely less than two dozen or so known to exist and not listed with a value in Newman due to its rarity. Near impossible to locate in high quality and is an important, historic American rarity. Elias Boudinot was a member of the New Jersey Committee on Correspondence (1774-1775) and the New Jersey Provincial Congress (1775). In 1777 he was appointed commissary-general of prisoners. He was a member of the Continental Congress (1777-1788; 1781-1784) and its President (1782-1783).

He signed the treaty with Great Britain to end the war. He served in first Congress of 1789; in 1795 was made the third Director of the United States Mint, and from 1816 to 1821 served as the first president of the American Bible Society.

Early crip notes are quite rare, and here's one iwth the signature of a Director of the U.S. Mint. A beauty. -Editor

Province of New Hampshire. December 25, 1734. Seven Shillings. Hunking Wentworth Portsmouth Merchants Note. (For the benefit of trade) Legend. Seven Shillings. PCGS graded Very Fine-35.

Fr. NH-38.4. Important Large Format 1734 New Hampshire rarity, boldly printed and well centered on very clean, bright paper having excellent margins on all four sides. Apparent repaired splits noted, as vertical centerfold has seal has clear early archival fiber tape reinforcement on the blank reverse. Nicely signed in red and bold brown ink by Theodore Atkinson, Henry Sherburne and George Jaffrey. Signed on back “Hunking Wentworth,” for circulation, being the assignee Merchant who's name appears in the printed text on that face side. This boldly printed note is on crisp laid period paper displaying significant eye appeal. The top has a printed text agreement which reads, in part:

"We Promise Jointly and Severally to pay to Hunking Wentworth of Portsmouth Merchant or Order,” within a simple rectangular frame with rounds, at the top is the scroll indent and below "PROVINCE - OF - N. HAMPSHIRE".

The lower left shows the New Hampshire Colony Seal with its Pine Tree vignette within an ornate design, with the motto: “BENEFICIO COMMERCI” (For the benefit of trade). The reverse side displays an ornate scroll design printed at the top with Sailing Ship vignette, shown heading towards the West, indicating the direction towards the American Colonies.

State of Georgia. October 16, 1786. Twenty Shillings. PCGS graded Choice About New-55.

Fr. GA-131. This fresh, bright and highly distinctive looking 1786 Georgia issue note was engraved by “Abernathie, SCT.” (sculptor) with his name printed in reverse within the black ornate design block located just below the written serial number. It is printed on high quality clean white period laid paper supplied by John E. Smith of Augusta, Georgia. This note has the overall eye appeal and appearance of Crisp Uncirculated with only a light crease seen on its blank reverse. Once hinged by a 1” spot of old glue seen at the right side of the reverse, accounting for the term Apparent by PCGS with comments, mounting remnants and stain on back. Signatures include; George Jones, W. Freeman and W. Steele.

c. 1796 Federal Period, Virginia, “NORFOLK LOTTERY” Ticket. “for Paving the Streets,” Gem Crisp Uncirculated.

This “Norfolk Lottery” Ticket measures 4” x 2.25”, trimmed along left side, no folds, on laid paper. Ticket reads, "This Ticket will entitle the Bearer to such Prize as may be drawn against its Number in the NORFOLK LOTTERY for Paving the Streets, agreeable to the scheme.” Signed by “Thos Newton”. “Willett &O’Connor. Printers, Norfolk.” printed along left border. Extremely bright, fresh crisp and bold with significant traces of original press text embossing within the laid period paper. The first we have offered and quite superb!

Early U.S. lottery tickets are often collected alongside colonial currency. A fascinating glimpse into early U.S. history and financing. -Editor

Mercantile Dining Room, U.S. Postage Stamp Envelope, 256 Broadway NY (Blank) Cts. PE489. “White Paper” variety. Extremely Fine.

M. Friedberg #90, #KL72-O. Black printed text on white envelope, “MERCANTILE DINING ROOM,/ 256 Broadway,/ Opposite City Hall, NEW YORK./ R. LETSON, Proprietor./ Breakfast, Dinner &Supper./ U.S. Stamps. Ct.” This is an exceedingly rare merchant with just Two Examples Known according to author Fred Reed.

And here's a fascinating glimpse into U.S. Civil War history and financing. This and the next lot are rare examples of postage stamp envelopes, a handy substitute for small change during the specie panic of 1862. I have a few of the more common postage stamp envelopes in my Civil War collection. -Editor

Edwin Forrest, Niblo's Garden, (New York) 25 Cents U.S. Postage Stamp Envelope, PE537. Choice Extremely Fine.

M. Friedberg PE537. #KL-97-25. Black Printed text on Orange paper envelope. “NIBLO's GARDEN./ WM. WHEATLEY, Lessee./ Postage 25 CTS. Stamps./ EDWIN FORREST.” Complete except for the backflap. Fred Reed indicates only Five to Ten Examples Known, with those being spread across six varieties, thus all are very rare.

EP-136, HB-23, S-12, Reed-AP12. Twelve Cents. TAKE AYER'S PILLS. Choice Extremely Fine.

Rated as Rarity-8 (5 to 10 known) according to Fred Reed. This 12¢ denomination is a great rarity, being only the fifth EP-136 we have offered in over four decades (one of those being a defective Very Good).

Encased postage stamps were the centerpiece of my Civil War collection. I wasn't interested in the higher denominations, but they're generally rare. -Editor