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William H. Tower Philatelic Collection
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
William Hogarth Tower (1871-1950), Princeton University Class of 1894, served as secretary of his class and was a resident of Montclair, New Jersey. It was Professor Lawrance Thompson of the Princeton University Library who encouraged Tower "to begin a Princeton stamp collection" and who later suggested that Tower bequeath it to the University (From "William Hogarth Tower," an obituary published in The Princeton University Library Chronicle, Volume XII, Number 4, Summer 1951, p. 225.). Tower described his own collection in an article entitled "A Philatelic Medley," published in The Princeton University Library Chronicle (Volume V, Number 1, November 1943, pp. 14-15), as follows:
When I made a fresh start in collecting, about six years ago, I hoped to form a collection that would interest anyone, collector or not. That meant keeping away from the lesser details and minor types, and permitted the broadest latitude in acquiring philatelic material... my collection is predominately made up of postally-used envelopes, or covers, and completeness of any given period or country is not sought after so long as I can show illustrations of varieties and types along certain lines. Even that is a consideration secondary to miscellaneous items of peculiar interest. With this as a working principle, my collection has gradually fallen into four or five distinct sections, each of them an essential part of the whole: (1) Philatelic Miscellany; (2) English Postal History; (3) United States Postal History; (4) War Covers; and (5) Franking.
Tower assembled and annotated hundreds of pages of philatelic material and bound them into over fifty volumes (see photos of him at work). He won prizes at many exhibitions, and was especially renowned for his early English postal history and American Colonial covers, Abraham Lincoln collection, and Arctic philately collection. Tower was instrumental in establishing a Stamp Room in the Princeton University Library in 1946 for the study of philately and postal history, and became the curator of many well-received exhibits there. Tower died on December 14, 1950, and was elected posthumously to the American Philatelic Society"s Hall of Fame in 1951.
1100 Henry I employed messengers, or Nuncii, to carry Royal Despatches. 1484 Under Edward IV, Posts were set up where horses could be hired, and Messengers seldom furnished their own horses. 1512 The reign of Henry VIII. Sir Brian Tuke appointed first Master of the Posts. Regular service for Royal and State messages begun. 1635 Charles I appointed Thomas Withering to establish Posts between towns, and private letters were included in the Service. 1656 Charles II. First Act establishing Rates and confirming State Monopoly. 1661 Henry Bishop, Postmaster general, advertised "A Stamp has been invented,"-the first Postal mark, in use 126 years. 1680 William Dockwra established his Penny post with house to house delivery. 1682 Dockwra deprived of his Post and the use of his Stamp or mark. His Penny post continued as a branch of the State Monopoly. 1801 Penny Post changed to Twopenny Post to help meet the expenses of the French War. 1839 Fourpenny Post, leading to Uniform Penny Postage. 1840 The first Adhesive Labels or Stamps-the famous Penny Black-with compulsory pre-payment. 1853 Use of the adhesive stamps made mandatory. 1639 First post office in America established in the private residence of Richard Fairbanks in Boston, Massachusetts 1672 New York City-Boston service established 1711 First organized of system of post offices in America created by the British Parliament 1847 First US official issue of postage stamp 1862 Mail service by railroad instituted 1918 Airmail service begun
The collection consists of envelopes both used and unused (also known as covers), letters, postcards, documents, postage stamps, and a variety of other philatelic material from around the world as collected and annotated by William Hogarth Tower (Princeton Class of 1894). Rev. Tower's collection spans the topics of English Postal History, United States Postal History, War Covers, Philatelic Miscellany, and Franking. A baked clay tablet letter enclosed in a partially broken case (circa 2200 B.C.), from Drehem, Mesopotamia, is the earliest item in the collection.
The next earliest letters in the collection date from the late fourteenth through the fifteenth centuries in Europe. There are signed letters or documents by royals such as King Charles II, King George II, Queen Caroline, and King William IV, as well as a small pencil sketch of his own royal frank by King Edward VIII. English postal history is well illustrated by letters from or to nobleman such as Edward Harley, Hugh Percy, Thomas Fairfax and his son, Ferdinando Fairfax. Letters from notable persons during the Colonial American period include: Joseph Dudley, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Isaiah Thomas, and a love letter from William Bradford to his future wife, Susan Boudinot.
Two volumes in the collection are devoted to the topic of Abraham Lincoln in philately. Another volume focuses on Arctic philately and contains single letters from John Franklin, C. F. Hall, Princeton University's Edward Libbey, Fridtjof Nansen, Roald Amundsen, and Richard Evelyn Byrd. The majority of this volume contains material from A W. Greely's 1881 Arctic Expedition that was later recovered in 1899 from Fort Conger during Robert Peary's expedition.
Tower's War Cover volumes contain examples from the U.S. Civil War, World War I, and World War II, as well as many other conflicts around the globe throughout the centuries. Single letters of interest include a military dispatch to Emperor Napoleon from one of his generals and a letter by the Duchess of Richmond about her husband and sons at the Battle of Waterloo.
It should be noted, however, that most of the covers and letters collected by Tower are from 'ordinary' people and were considered significant, not for the contents inside, but for the postal marks on the outside of the envelope or the locations from which they were mailed.
Tower's original volume numbers start at 15 and go up to 72, with 3 miscellaneous volumes at the end. Items were removed from the volume if they constituted correspondence (letters, documents, postcards, etc.) or displayed significant postal marks or seals illustrative of postal history or the franking signatures of notable persons. Removed items are housed in folders, which are arranged in each box chronologically by date and by ascending volume number in 8 archival boxes (boxes numbered 1-8). Tower's original volumes containing his typed, annotated pages and the remaining (unremoved) items are in 10 record center carton boxes numbered 9-18.
William H. Tower bequeathed his collection to the Princeton University Library prior to, and upon, his death in 1950. Additional materials in the Library's accessions conerning Tower have been added to the collection.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Sylvia Yu in 2003. Finding aid written by Sylvia Yu in 2003.
Collection title updated by Faith Charlton in 2022 to provide more specificity.
In 2022, restrictions on original material where researchers were required to use a surrogate were lifted as part of a restrictions review project.
A Babylonian baked clay tablet letter enclosed in a partially broken envelope case (circa 2200 B.C.), from Drehem, Mesopotamia, is stored separately from the rest of the collection, and therefore its date is not included in this range of collection dates. The letter, in cuneiform characters, is the larger of the two pieces, and has to do with grain which was given out for seed by the priests of the temple.
The decision was made to remove the letters and documents, the majority of which were folded up on the pages of the volumes, in order to preserve them for the long term. In general, items were not removed from the volume if they were unused envelopes, addressed covers without associated correspondence, postage or commemorative stamps, or other philatelic memorabilia. Tower's captions, which he researched and typed onto the pages of the volumes, were often lifted, in whole or in part, and incorporated into the box and folder list descriptions of this finding aid.
People
Subject
- Arctic regions -- Discovery and exploration -- 19th century
- Covers (Philately)
- Franking privilege
- Nobility -- Great Britain -- Correspondence
- Postal service - History -- Sources
- Postmarks
- Stamp collecting
- Stamp collections -- United States
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Sylvia Yu
- Finding Aid Date
- 2003
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
[originally from Volume 58, Leaves 2-3]
Physical Description1 folder
Includes from album 1 [pp. 1-49]: Mulready envelope, Stamps from Great Britain (Penny Black), Brazil, Basel (Switzerland), U.S., France, Belgium, Bavaria, Spain, Austria, Lombardy-Venetia, Saxony, New South Wales (Australia), Two Sicilies (Naples), Prussia, Jamaica, Hanover, Tuscany, Trinidad, Canada, Baden, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Wurtemburg, Netherlands, Roman States, Oldenburg, Modena, Parma, Sindh-Scinde (India), Germany (Thurn & Taxis), Luxemburg, Chile, Portugal, Cape of Good Hope, Western Australia, South Australia, Norway, Cuba and Porto Rico, Bremen, Danish West Indies, Argentine Republic
From album 2 [pp. 50-102]: Stamps from St. Helena, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Mexico, Uruguay, Newfoundland, Natal, Ceylon, Naples (Two Sicilies), Russia, Argentine Republic, Ionian Islands, Venezuela, Lubeck, Hamburg, New Caledonia, Bahamas, French Colonies, Romagna, Sierra Leone, Poland, Liberia, Queensland, Malta, Saint Lucia, Greece, St. Vincent, Prince Edward Island, British Columbia, Grenada, Confederate States (U.S.), Antigua, Nicaragua, Italy, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Turkey, Holstein, India, Dutch Indies, Bermuda, Egypt, Bolivia, Serbia, Turks Island, Union of South Africa (Orange River Colony and Zululand), Swaziland
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(regarding olive oil exports)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Includes: Typed list of English Postal dates (1100-1853), clippings from "Stamps of London" booklet that illustrates London's stamps from 1661-1840 (originals of all of these various types are included in this volume), reprint of a London Penny Post map, photograph of a Map of London in 1791 that lists the 47 General Post offices and the 158 Penny Post offices in the city
Physical Description1 box
1 box
This cover well illustrates the delivery of private correspondence before the Government service was available for the public. It was written by a monk and delivered by a monk serving as a courier.
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
According to Tower's caption, "Captain Matthew Parker was the Muster Master of the Cinque Ports who wrote about their Trained Bands."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
This letter was carried by the State Post which was only for convenience of Royalty and Business of State. According to Tower's caption, "Captain Matthew Parker was the Muster Master of the Cinque Ports who wrote about their Trained Bands."
Physical Description1 folder
This is an exceedingly rare example of a letter carried by Thomas Withering's "Running Post." The first State Postal Service for private letters was established in 1635 by King Charles the First who appointed Thomas Witherings to organize and direct it. Under him there was a regular weekly service-twice a week to Scotland-over the five main Post Roads going out from London, with a fixed Scale of Rates according to distance.
Physical Description1 folder
These two letters, 1636 and 1640, were sent from Holland to Cheshire, England, and their marking would indicate that they were transported as far as London by means of the Merchant's Post.
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
A request for two barrels of gunpowder and matches proportionate, possibly to use as a fumigant against the Plague, or possibly as a step in Preparedness, as a hostile Dutch Fleet was then threatening.
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
This letter, without "Post Paid" mark, is of the period between the suppression of the "Dockwra Penny Post" and its being taken over and operated by the Post Office authorities, as the "London Penny Post" (see folder 19 description).
Physical Description1 folder
The red silk thread encircled the cover to assure that it was not tampered with.
Physical Description1 folder
(addressed to "Juan Ayluardo" on the cover)
Physical Description1 folder
A rare example of the Dockwra Type of Stamp, triangular in form, two years from the start of the London Penny Post.
Physical Description1 folder
In 1680 William Dockwra, a London merchant, established a local penny post within the city. He devised a triangular Stamp or Mark to show that the postage had been paid. On the ground that it was an infringement of the State Monopoly, Dockwra's Post was suppressed and, after a short time, taken over by the State as the London Penny Post which used the Dockwra Type of Stamp until 1794 The 1696 letter shows the extremely rare variety with both of the spellings "PAID" and "PENY" on the same Stamp in place of the Variations "PAYD" and "PENY" or "PENNY." A 1791 letter (see folder 39) is a minor type variety with sharply indented corners of the triangle.
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This envelope shows a less common marking for an "unpaid" letter with its "Penny Post Not Paid" within a circle with a large "S" in the center. The reverse shows a superb Receiver stamp, "E.H." The letter was to a surgeon at Putney and deals with a deceased lunatic.
Physical Description1 folder
A late Government "Penny Post Paid" Dockwra Type
Physical Description1 folder
An example of the Dublin Bishop Mark, which is always black and with the month above the line.
Physical Description1 folder
An example of the Dockwra Type of Stamp — a minor type variety with sharply indented corners of the triangle (see description for folder 19).
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Example of a front with a clear strike of the "Penny Post," and a circular date stamp. The cover is dated 1796 both in manuscript and with the dating handstamp.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
This is a Cover of 1799 with one of the new marks giving the date in full together with the time of day.
Physical Description1 folder
He wrote: "While we were at Gibraltar our Boats had a Dust with some French and Spanish gun Boats, which annoy our Trade very much in the Straits..." (details follow). The envelope cover features an example of the Edinburgh Type Bishop Mark of the late 1700's.
Physical Description1 folder
Example of "Penny Post Not Paid" stamp.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
The writer tells his wife of his poor health since his arrival in England from New York. He writes: "But Times are no beter but worse and many do not get enuf to soport Natur. Wages are very Lowe and Provitions very high, so it foarses many to resort to the Highway for a living. Roberies are so comon that it is dangerous to be out after Dark... the[y] frequantly Break into Houses and steel Provitions and Abuse the Inhabitance. In short the situation of England is worse than I can rite."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
The letter shows a "Glasgow Penny Post" stamp on its cover and reads, in part: "Such is the glorious uncertainty of every thing connected to the law. If you are anxious to hear the case you should be here on Wednesday forenoon."
Physical Description1 folder
Example of an envelope properly marked "Money letter" by the sender. Letters so marked were entitled to receive special care in handling.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Inquiry about the lowest rent price on the "mansion house of Bovey" and "if any good trout fishing is attached to it."
Physical Description1 folder
First page titled "Liverpool Corn Exchange."
Physical Description1 folder
Includes: Example of a Permanent type of General Post stamp used from 1790-1801 Stage Coach Mail
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folder
Written on official paper watermarked with a crown and G.R., it deals with the proposed honorarium that should be paid the Vicar, of a shilling and six pence, for each funeral service for such persons as might die in the Royal Hospital or Mill Prison.
Physical Description1 folder
(very late example of the Bishop Date Mark before it was changed)
Physical Description1 folder
(early example of the new Bishop Date Mark)
Physical Description1 folder
(very rare Experimental Type Post stamp)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Excerpt: "We are getting Petitions in Inverness and all over the country for legalizing the Church of Scotland in upper Canada."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Includes: London Twopenny 1801 and Fourpenny Post 1839-1840 Scottish Stampless 1834 "To be delivered BY HAND" handstruck stamp 9 1840), Ship letters 1834-1938
Physical Description1 box
1 box
The letter mentions shipments of bales of cotton, casks of sugar, and the "return of Tully's Negroes who escaped from his Boat while at Anchor in the night below the Post at Morocco..."
Physical Description1 folder
Sent from St. Vincent to London, "Via Jamaica Pkt.," this cover carried a proclamation, issued 1807 October 6 announcing "His Majesty's Royal Pleasure" that a survey should be made of certain unoccupied and uncultivated lands, and that Thomas Browne, Esquire, after meeting certain set conditions, should be let into immediate possession of all said portions of the said lands as were uncultivated. It also provides for the valuing and the giving full possession of certain cultivated lands upon the payment of their former unimproved valuation.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Circular that offers "services... in the way of Landing, Shipping, and Housing Goods" at Iron Gate Wharf, next to the Tower.
Physical Description1 folder
Regarding shares in the Berwick and Kelso Railway
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Document is titled "Notes" and reads "Hoops to be prepared and shipped from Newport" at the top, with "69 Tons Hoops ordered 1827 June 29" and initialed at the bottom.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(includes a copied document in another hand)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes on same leaf a report titled "Results of the Public Sales of Drugs, 1843 September 21"
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
(also includes duplicate of a letter dated 1851 July 7)
Physical Description1 folder
Includes: Handstruck Penny Provisional stamps 1840-1851 The Mulready Envelope 1840 and its caricatures, Beauforth House Essay and Proof (submitted in competition for a design for the first adhesive postage stamp), The Penny Black (first adhesive postage stamp, 1840) and commemorative souvenirs ( 1890 and 1940), Queen Victoria autograph, propaganda envelopes for penny postage across the oceans, Arctic Philately 1875 Queen Victoria Jubilee stamps, University stamps, Charity stamps
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This printed circular is titled "A Statement of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Tonbridge Fire Engine Establishment, From 1840 August 28 to 1841 November 1"
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
("My Dear Brother and sister Sarah")
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(includes a 1848 May 24 postscript)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
It throws light on its status as a rejected design rather than as a caricature.
Physical Description1 folder
A rare original proof of a Caricature of the uniform Penny Postage Commemorative designed and signed by Harry Furniss
Physical Description1 folder
Includes: Stamps depicting Kings Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Commemorative stamp issues 1924-1940 High Value stamps, various Air Mail covers, British Post offices abroad (Constantinople, Smyrna, Tetuan, Tangiers, India), New Zealand stamp issues 1937-1938 Antarctic Philately 1933
Physical Description1 box
Includes: Example of Free Franking 1794 Royal Franks (King Edward VII, King George V, King Edward VIII and King George VI), Royal Mail (Royal Household, Lord Chamberlain of St. James Palace, Lord Steward and Privy Purse of Buckingham Palace, Master of the Horse of Royal Mews at Windsor and in London), Official Franks (First Lord of the Treasury), examples of Official Mail envelopes (Tower of London, Scotland Yard)
[Note: "The Franks of English Royalty" By The Rev'd William H. Tower, published in Stamps, 1943 October 2 pp. 20-22, is attached to Leaf 1 and also remains in the binder.]
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folder
A Royal gift of Venison to the Lord Mayor of London [John Parsons(?)] is indicated by this letter. The printed form is filled in and signed by King George the Second. It was then folded, and addressed on the reverse to the Keeper of Windsor Great Park. While the order is dated 1730 November 6 the date of the Bishop Mark is 1730 December 15 The letter is Franked from the King, and went Free through the Post.
Physical Description1 folder
The Cover is marked "On his Maj'ty's Service." The lower right corner has a faint Handstamp "FREE." The paper of the Cover is evidently that for Official use being water-marked with the Royal Crest which bears the Motto-"HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE".
Physical Description1 folder
The Free Franking System had its start in 1652 and was abolished in general in 1840 This Cover shows the earliest form of "Free Superscription" with "Frank Oxford" in the lower left corner. "Oxford" was Edward Harley, the 2nd Earl of Oxford, 1689-1741 and the friend of Pope and Swift. In this letter he speaks of his great pleasure in seeing his daughter, who was the Duchess of Portland-the "noble, lovely little Peggy" celebrated by the poet Prior.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Regarding E. Reed, a Corn Inspector for Kingsbridge
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Robert Peel more than once held office as Prime Minister. Although Free Franking was abolished in 1840 the privilege was continued for Royalty and certain high ranking officials. This cover was franked by Peel in 1842 when he was holding high office in the Government.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
This cover, showing Palmerston's frank when he was Prime Minister, is also franked with the post office marking, "Official Paid, London, Jan. 30,1863.
Physical Description1 folder
[George William Frederick Charles, second duke of Cambridge 1819-1904 cousin of Queen Victoria and appointed as personal aide-de-campe to her in 1882]
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Royal Frank stamp design is "Approved by The King" [George VI], and initialed "A.H." at the bottom of the page.
Physical Description1 folder
(example of free franking)
Physical Description1 folder
This cover is opened up to show the red seal of the Duke of Clarence, as well as his franking signature, "Clarence." In 1830 he became King William IV. He was the uncle of Victoria, who, as Queen Victoria, succeeded him on the throne in 1837
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Stamps from: Aden, Aden States, Antigua, Ascension, Australia, Bahamas, Bahawalpur, Barbados, Basutoland, Bechuanaland, Bermuda, British Guiana, British Honduras, British Solomon Island, Burma, Cayman Island, Ceylon, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Islands, Falkland Islands Dependencies, Fiji, Gambia, Gibraltar, Gilbert & Ellice Islands, Gold Coast, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Hyderabad, Grenada, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Leeward Islands, Malta, Mauritius, Montserrat, Nigeria, Niue, New Zealand, Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Pitcairn Islands, St. Helena, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somaliland, Southern Rhodesia, South West Africa, Swaziland, Tangier, Zanzibar, Turks and Caicos Islands, Trinidad, Virgin Islands, Union of South Africa, Western Samoa
[all stamps present in this volume except for Canada]
Physical Description1 box
Includes: Early Map with Postal Data 1729 Way-Bills 1787 Early Covers 1785-1799
Physical Description1 box
1 box
This very early Colonial Cover was sent from near Boston by Joseph Dudley who was governor of Massachusetts from 1702-1715 The letter refers in part to the very troublesome activity of the Privateers along the New England coast.
Physical Description1 folder
This cover was sent to New York from Boston "per Scormonhoorn" (modern "Schemerhorn").
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
Nephew of Gurdon Saltonstall, Richard Saltonstall 1703-1756 graduated from Harvard in 1722 and in 1728 was chosen to represent Haverhill in the general court. Subsequently he was a member of the council. From 1736 till he resigned a few months before his death he was a judge of the superior court.
Physical Description1 folder
This is a business letter, in most part regarding insurance, that arrived in London on 1734 December 2 according to the English "Bishop Mark."
Physical Description1 folder
The letter has to do with a bill for a shipment of brandy and wine.
Physical Description1 folder
This letter took 50 days in transit from London to New York "Per Packt" [ship] and contains a reference to a previous letter sent from Philadelphia to London which had miscarried.
Physical Description1 folder
Egerton who, for pawning his landlady's furniture, had been sent to America for penal servitude in the household of Dr. Craik, who later attended George Washington as he lay dying. The beginning of the letter refers to "Sir Hugh Smithson" which was the original name of Percy, the first duke of Northumberland (made duke, 1766) and the second earl of Northumberland. The Cover went from Maryland to Deal, England, as a Ship Letter, and there received its Bishop Mark stamp. It also shows a fine black wax seal.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
It was delivered to him through a friend when he was in France in 1788 forming the valuable alliance between France and the struggling United States.
Physical Description1 folder
Early Mail had very largely been carried by riders on horseback, but around 1785 stage routes were multiplied and a large part of the country could be reached by established routes.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
[originally containing the resignation of Dwight Foster Esq., 1795 February 14]
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
[from Wm. Ellery, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Newport]
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes: Postmarks of different shapes, Postage charge account receipts, 1812 War rate/postage tax, Postmaster's Accounting sheet, Mail Stage Coach bill
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This letter, sent to the writer's nephew, a student at Princeton, speaks at length of the purchase and sale of Negroes: "I am pleased with the purchases your Father has made, and wish him to immediately on receipt of this to take the woman and child and Boy of 12 years. They are certainly great bargains, at least fifty pr. cent lower than they can be purchased for in this place... Men cannot be had for less than 350$ except by chance and women from 220 to 250, boys 12 years old 200 to 240$ and 16 to 18 years 300 to 320..."
Physical Description1 folder
(includes a response in different handwriting)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(Quaker marking is 12Mo[nth] 26 [day]). The letter went "Free" as inscribed, the writer being the postmaster. He and the party addressed, with the same name, have just learned of their relationship. He tells of his prosperity in his new home, "six miles E. of the Allegheny river," to which he had moved from New York.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
("Phoebe-Ann" stamped on cover)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
("Dear Parents")
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(duplicate, in another hand)
Physical Description1 folder
(on same leaf as above)
(sent by "Express Mail")
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
("Dear Parents")
Physical Description1 folder
("Brother Gore")
A second letter (on the same leaf) addresses "my dear Sister" talks about family matters.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes: Various postage rate marks, contractor's receipt, U.S. pre-stamp covers and circle postmarks, stampless covers, foreign ship letters addressed to U.S.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This is a very unusual item of Postal History, being a claim upon the Postmaster General for the Reward and Expenses involved in the arrest and bringing to trial of John Larkin, a man accused of killing the driver and robbing the Mail near Stockton, Alabama. The accused man was duly convicted, sentenced to death, and executed.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(continuation on same leaf above)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
These two letters, mailed at New Orleans 1851 May 24-29 have to do with the purchase of a Negro slave.
Physical Description1 folder
Excerpt: "I will keep the boy Andrew, at five hundred dollars altho he has been badly whipped, and shot in the shoulder..."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Letter is titled "Agency of French Spoliation Claims, Prior to 1801" and includes a list of members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Thirty-third Congress, Second Session
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes: Daniel Webster stamps, Centenary Anniversary of U.S. Postage Stamps 1847-1947 examples of postal rate increases in 19th century, first U.S. (pre-)stamped envelopes, registry stamps, different postmarks (straight line boxed, without box, fancy, etc.), Dead Letter Office, Confederate States stamps, Civil War covers, independent mail routes and private mail dispatch agents, foreign postage rates, common and unusual cancellation stamps, Post office seals, commemorative envelopes, postage due stamps, letter sheets and cards (with postage stamps impressed)
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
$110 For the hire of Negro man Edmund for the year 1855 the Virginia Central Railroad Company promise to pay to Austin Hancock or his assigns, the sum of one hundred & ten Dollars, on the first day of 1856 January Said Negro to be employed on the repairs of the Virginia Central Railroad... and to be returned well clothed in the usual way, and with a Hat and Blanket."
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
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It was not till some months after the War started that the Southern Confederacy was able to supply its own postage stamps. This led to the use of Provisionals by a number of the post offices. Here is one of the few reprints from the original plate of the Provisional issued by R.H. Glass, Postmaster of Lynchburg, Va., autographed by U.S. Senator, Carter Glass, and State Senator, Carter Glass, Jr. of Virginia.
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Includes: Registry Stamp, Parcel Post, Bills of Exchange, Mail delivery by Zeppelin airship, Sea, Highway (bus and coach), Railway and Air, Floating post office (on boats), Postal rate changes, Issue of stamps (U.S. National Parks, International Philatelic Exhibition, Susan B. Anthony, Presidential series), Occupied Nations series of stamps (Korea, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Norway, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Greece, Yugoslavia, Albania, Austria, Denmark), Stamp oddities (misprints), Free franking (Mrs. Calvin Coolidge), Meters and Slogans, Pre-cancelled stamps, International Reply Coupons, Consular mail forwarding service (examples from Siam, Indo-China, Italy, Honduras, Japan, Morocco)
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Includes: Stamps connected to Fairs (Sanitary Commission, etc.), British revenue stamps for America, Federal issues of embossed revenue stamps, State revenue stamps, other revenue stamps (for collecting taxes on photographs, tobacco, liquor, bottles, cigars, potato tax, metal cotton tax stamp which was affixed to each bale of cotton), Revenue stamped paper (insurance policy, bank draft for gold, etc.), Custom House stamps
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The Schooner stamp is one of the embossed revenues for Colonial use. This Four Penny stamp was used mostly on real Estate transactions for more than twenty pounds, and is now seldom found.
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This document is impressed with the Codfish Revenue stamp that was first used in 1755 and mostly used on Real Estate deeds as in this case.
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Example of the II (Two) Penny Colonial Embossed Revenue stamp for Massachusetts, known as the Pine Tree Revenue.
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This document shows the twenty-five cent value of the embossed revenue stamp, Second Federal Issue. The design of the eagle and the shield, seen on the two stamps, differ with each value of the stamps.
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This indenture concerns the sale of a lot of land, corner of 20th and Coates Streets, Philadelphia, reserving a ground rent of $240 per annum. It is made out on vellum and duly stamped with a $5 Internal Revenue conveyance stamp, which is further secured to the document with two metal eyelets, very like the old English custom.
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Includes: Princeton University postcard (Nassau Hall), various envelopes postmarked from Princeton, NJ, etc.
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A Princeton student is writing to a friend who had graduated from an unnamed college. Gardiner tells of the horse play when Senior Honors were given out, and the "Sophs and Fresh rode the member who took the lowest grade from a rail."
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(forwarded to King George Court House, Virginia)
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They have an albino embossed corner card giving the numeral of the College Class, "66" and "67." On the bottom of the circle is the name "Nassau Hall." Each corner card carries also a motto in Greek, less clearly embossed.
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Includes: Arctic stamps (mimeographed drawings) devised by Lieut. Greely's Expedition of 1881 news and photo clippings of Rear Admiral Byrd's Antarctic expedition and Roald Amundsen's First Airship over the North Pole, 1934 Byrd Antarctic special issue commemorative stamps.
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Regarding P.G. Nettleton, H.M.S. Rainbow
He was the English arctic explorer who was lost in the North in 1847 to whom credit is due for the discovery of the North-West passage, and who gave the name "Lady Franklin Bay" (in honor of his wife) to the point of Ellesmere Land from which Lieut. Greely and his party set out in 1881
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It is undated, but Hall's reference to preparing his Arctic Manuscript for publication would seem to place it about 1863 (Among his expeditions were those in search of Sir John Franklin, whose unhappy fate he definitely ascertained, and a government directed expedition which arrived at the furthest point north reached by any ship previous to 1876)
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Printed in England in 1876, was to be given to the men on Polar Expeditions
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Note Robert Peary's handstamp on the top of this item that he had recovered these papers from Fort Conger in 1899 and brought them to the U.S.
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Donating a book to the expedition as a Christmas present "for some man not so well provided for as the others"
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The envelope was sent to him at Louisville, Kentucky, evidently reaching there after he had departed. it must have been sent on after him, for it was found by Lt. Peary, with the rest, beneath the ice in 1899 and taken by him back to New York and there lost sight of for forty years.
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This sheet contains the General Instructions given by Lieut. Greely for sledging parties of his Expedition. They cover such particulars as detailed daily records; memoranda as to the nature of the country over which they have travelled; astronomical and meteorological records; the collecting of plants, flowers, insects, and shells; distance and direction travelled each day; the condition and weight of the men, etc.
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Note (from Leaf 17): A.W. Greely's Arctic Expedition of 1881 was lost in the far North for three years as the relief ships failed to reach them. Letters written to be taken home by the relief ships had to be left behind as they made their struggling way southward. Finally rescued in 1884 only Greely and six others were found alive. Not until 1899 did Lieut. Peary recover the letters from the snow buried hut at Fort Conger.
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(it also shows the stamp put out by his men who thought they should have one.)
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The Princeton expedition had made a scientific collection of almost all forms of life, many of them new to science. It was probably the largest and most valuable collection of its kind then ever made. The letter refers to the expedition's gratifying success. Lt. Peary had come down from further north to join them, giving them the benefit of his personal guidance.
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. The letter was written from the Navy Department, Bureau of Steam Engineering, Washington, to Albert Operti, the artist, who accompanied Lieut. Peary into the Arctic.
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In it, a reference is made to the serious illness of Geo. W. Melville, U.S.N., the noted Arctic explorer. There is also a short, interesting sketch of the Russian expeditions of 1822-1833 that sought to reach the continent of America that lay across the Pacific, and finally gained for them Alaska.
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Taken aboard the relief ship that finally rescued them in their last extremity (only Lt. A.W. Greely and 6 others were found alive)
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Examples of Free Franking from this volume: Oliver Walcott, Henry Clay, W.C. Paulding, Daniel Webster, Elihu Root, etc.; examples of Congressional postmarks and franks; President's Widows include Mary Lord Harrison, Helen H. Taft, Edith K. Roosevelt, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, etc.; official government envelopes.
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Franklin's free franking signature appears as "B. Free Franklin."
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Morris was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
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Letter refers to the recruiting for War against France.
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(Charles Carroll age 92 and last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence). Includes Leaves 7 & 8.
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Includes: Lincoln commemorative envelopes, post cards, postmarks, and postage stamps of U.S. and Philippines, photo reprints of Lincoln historic places, memorials, and artwork, Lincoln on poster and tobacco revenue stamps, Gettysburg Address souvenirs, Family tree connection between Rev. William H. Tower and Abraham Lincoln
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This cover carried a soldier's proxy, provided by law for the Presidential Election, 1864 November 8 when Lincoln was elected for his second term.
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Includes: Lincoln portraits on cabinet cards, Merchant's Bank Note (one dollar), Fractional Currency Note (fifty cents), post cards, Campaign Covers (envelopes) before and after his Election and during the Civil War period, on revenue, beer, tobacco, and newspaper stamps, on postage stamps of U.S., Cuba, and Republic of San Marino, and items mourning Lincoln's assassination on 1865 April 15
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(refers to the defeat at Bull Run)
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(Presidential Election Tally Sheet, including one vote cast for Lincoln, for Meigs County, State of Ohio)
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(on Lincoln stationery printed with the words "The Nation Mourns His Loss")
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(Abraham Lincoln's son signed the letter at the top)
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Includes: U.S. postage stamps ( 1940 series) depicting 35 famous American authors, poets, educators, scientists, composers, artists and inventors.
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Topics include: Hungary/Sweden war, English Civil War, French army and War of the Augsburg League, French army and Wars of the Spanish/Polish/Austrian Succession and Expeditions into Corsica, The Seven Years War, French and Indian War, American Revolution, Cherokee Indians
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This letter gives an account of the battle between the Swedes and Hungarians at Norlingen in which General Horne was captured and 15,000 Swedes killed. Excerpt: "... the king of Hungarye came to to beseidge a town theyr call Norlingen... with as greate an army iff not greater than the king had, with whom theye ioned battell and skirmished two days in which time came up to aide the king of Hungary the king of Spayne his brother with an armye of choyce soldiers, which hee had newly brought outt of Italy and fell soe powerfully upon the Swedes as putt them to flight killed 15000 and did take Generale Horne & divers other commanders and Duke Bennard his standard butt hee escaped."
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An important historical letter from the Henry Yates Thompson collection, it expresses the sympathy of the House with Ferdinando, Lord Fairfax in the difficulties he had encountered in the North as Commander of the Parliamentary forces and makes a special mention of the valour of his son, Sir Thomas Fairfax, who two years later was to defeat Charles I at Naseby.
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(War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-1714)
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The Post-Man was an English newspaper published in 1709 News had just arrived of victories won by the English Army fighting against the French in Flanders, and they hurried out an Extra edition
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(War of the Polish Succession, 1733-1738)
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(War of the Austrian Succession, 1741-1748)
(Postmark reads "Armée de Boheme")
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Morris writes: "I shall want one good waggon besides what is necessary for the forage" (Indian corn, oats, etc.). This is in reference to supplies needed for Braddock's expedition against Fort Duquesne during the French and Indian War. Braddock had appointed Franklin his commissary in this matter (see PULC Volume V, No. 1, 1943 November p. 19; article pp. 14-26).
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(includes photocopy of transcript in binder)
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(during the Seven Years War 1756-1763)
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Andrew Oliver, lieutenant-governor of Massachusetts, who was hanged in effigy when distributor of stamps 1675 (Stamp Act) and compelled to renounce collection. Agreement with Robert Thompson about building materials — "Nails & Glass for the new House" — which could be a reference to the office he was building as a result of the Stamp Act passed by the British Parliament.
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The letter, a request for the hiring of W. Richard Carpenter, may be in the handwriting of Alexander Hamilton, who was Washington's Secretary and Aide at his Headquarters. [Note: However, Hamilton became secretary and aide-de-camp to Washington on 1777 March 1 according to the Dictionary of American Biography.]
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Parker accepts the proposal of "an exchange of as many of the Crew of the Syren as there are Prisoners of War with me... an equal number shall be return'd in lieu, according to their respective qualities..."
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Huntington was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, who wrote as "President" of the Continental Congress, conveying to Governor Henry the action of the Congress requesting him to prevent any repetition of those harmful trespasses of which Congress had been advised by Colonel Broadhead.
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This is a certificate of Honorable Discharge from the military service of the United States, given to William Martin, a Sergeant in the Dragoons of the First Partisan Legion serving in the American Revolution. He was enlisted in the state of Pennsylvania, and was entitled to all benefits granted by that state to Noncommissioned Officers and Soldiers.
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"Washington" was George Washington, partner in the Potomac Company, and the letter deals with a shipment of goods to them from England on board "The Liberty."
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Huntington was a general in the Revolutionary army.
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A receipted bill for fifty dollars which is a warrant on the United States for services rendered as Dispatch Rider between Nashville and Knoxville
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This cover was sent free under the frank of "Artemas Ward," who was the first Commander of the American Army at Cambridge in 1775
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In 1797 the United States was engaged in hostilities against the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee, and this letter begins: "My Commanding Officer says let the pack horses rest until further orders. I have reported according to the old stile of public business..."
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[Lord] "Stirling" [William Alexander], an American General in the Revolution who was with Washington at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton and distinguished himself at the Battle of Monmouth.
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"S[amuel] Patterson," a General in the American Army during the Revolution.
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The letter requests provisions for a hundred men.
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Topics include: French Revolutionary and Directory periods, French army (in Italy, Switzerland), Napoleonic period, War of 1812 Native American express rider's bills
Includes: Envelope addressed (handstamp-French Army in Switzerland) [Leaf 11]; Envelope addressed to Madame La Baronne(?) and stamped "No 17 Arm. D'Allemagne" (French Army in Germany) [Leaf 8]; Envelope addressed to Citoyen Perregaux, Paris (believed to belong to the Directory period, 1795-1799) [Leaf 9]; Sardinian cover postmarked "Regia Posta (Royal Post) da Campagna" (Napoleon's Hundred Days following his return from Elba, 1815) [Leaf 21]
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(assignat note of the French Revolutionary period)
This one calls for the payment of Ten Sous to the bearer, and was found in the attic of the old Convent de Talent, in Burgundy, France.
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The events of the French Revolution led France to declare War against England and Holland. England fought on the Continent in defense of Holland. These two letters were sent to a Captain Lee fighting with the English Forces in France by his father and mother in Aylesbury, England.
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(printed official communication in French)
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This letter from the French army in Italy shows a very unusual use of the army post mark by the navy.
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Also includes, a "really rare French Army postal marking used during the Civil War between the comparatively new revolutionary government and the Catholic Royalist armies in the west of France."
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Business letter telling of the difficulty and risk of shipping goods, the writer stating that "Both French and English continue to take our vessels" (presage to the War of 1812)
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This cover was from the Napoleonic army that was prepared for the invasion of England
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The letter advises "Citizen Prefect" that the Commission expects to examine surgeons aspiring to the Auxiliary Assembly on the 20th of this month. He is charged with its public announcement, and with inviting those who are too remote from Berne to attend in person to send in their certificates.
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A cover from the first French invasion of Naples.
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This is an example of the privilege occasionally granted to civilians to have their correspondence transmitted by the military postal service (France "No. 1 Arm. D'Italie").
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A young English officer, writing to his father from the Army Barracks, tells how he is waiting for the ship that will carry him and his men into active service at Malta or Cyprus.
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(from Napoleon's Army at Ajaccio on the Island of Corsica)
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It was sent from Saal-post by Military Dispatch and gives the Emperor the military information that the enemy are between "Monsieur le Marechal Duc d' Auerstadt" [Louis Nicolas Davout] and Abensburg [scene of Austrian defeat by Napoleon on 1809 April 20], and cannon are firing from the mountains. There is also a mention of "General Gudin."
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The mother of the brigand, Fugazzi, is arrested, guilty of "favorreggiamento," having brought money, food and guns to her son and his gang on many occasions. It refers to the capture of an offender against the peace of the Country then held by the Army under French Authority.
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Congress declared the United States and their Territories in a State of War with the United Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland and their dependencies. It refers to [the War of 1812] as a "dreadful calamity, and the united strength and support of the people are necessary to carry us through the conflict."
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Express Rider's Bill for Winn Winnship, paid by Captain William Piatt, Deputy Quartermaster General
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Bill and receipt for the services of Monutkeh, a Naragansett Indian as an Express Carrier with Military communication in the War of 1812 The receipt is signed, "Monutkeh his X mark" in the presence of McClelland and Stikney. It was paid by Captain William Piatt, Deputy Quarter Master General.
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This letter from the enemy (England) gives a list of 17 men who had volunteered from that regiment into the Regular Army to serve against the United States.
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("Triplicate"). England was at war with the United States as well as on the Continent, and the letter speaks of the small prospect for peace and the great difficulty in carrying on business: "Times are a thousand times worse than last year and, I fear, little chance if their getting better." It bears a very early [one of the earliest known?] Censor's Mark: "Examined circa 1814 May Marshall's Office Massachusetts."
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This item is a receipted bill for $30 for the services of Harmon as "Express Rider" bearing "despatches" for General Harrison between Detroit and Cincinnati during the War of 1812 a part of which was fought on the Great Lakes.
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This letter was sent during the Anglo-American War of 1812 from the U.S. Schooner "Carolina" and describes the death of one of the crew who was killed on active duty in the pursuit of smugglers as follows: "King had fired two muskets at her [boat] and was in the act of taking up the third. It unfortunately went off and its contents went through his body. He died at ten O'clock, two hours after he was shot..."
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Certificate of Honorable Discharge given to Francis Crawford, a soldier in the U.S. War of 1812 who was to receive land for his services
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She gives thanks to God for the happy preservation of her sons in "the most dreadful of battles [Battle of Waterloo]. In addition to this, I had the misery of the Duke [her husband, Charles Lennox, fourth duke of Richmond and Lennox, 1764-1819] and Lord W. Pitt being at the scene of action. I shall never forget the great but awful 10th. The cannonade was tremendous, and what I suffered is beyond my power to express. The scenes of the wounded were quite heart breaking."
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Wellington, the victor over Napoleon at Waterloo in June 1815
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Chauncey was a Naval Commander during the War of 1812 and was still on active duty at the time this letter was written.
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Lazare Carnot (1753-1823) was one of the great leaders of the French Revolution toward the close of the 18th century.
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Topics include: French army (in Algeria, Spain, Greece, Mexico, Italy), Carlist War (British Legion in Spain), Papineau Rebellion (Canada), Seminole Indians of Florida vs. U.S., Civil War in Argentina, Mexican War and Gadsen Purchase, Crimean War, Indian Mutiny
Includes: Envelope postmarked from New Orleans by a member of the Overland Expeditionary force against Mexico in 1847 and addressed to Mrs. Ann Berry in Washington, D.C.; Envelope from Italy addressed to a Mademoiselle in Paris in 1850 Envelope addressed from New Orleans to Hon. James Gasden when he was in Mexico in 1853 as the representative of the United States in the negotiations for the Gasden Purchase; Two envelopes addressed to Mr. T.J. Benes, Assistant Storekeeper, Balaclava, Crimea, during the Crimean War 1854-1856
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Lindsay reports a lack of funds to carry on the recruiting in Kentucky. He also reports that the officers are in a very embarrassing position, not having been paid "for 7 to 11 months."
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The period around 1831 was one of unrest in Europe, and the U.S. therefore thought it wise to have a naval vessel off the coast of Spain, in the Mediterranean. Jarvis had just received his Commission as Midshipman aboard the United States Ship Ontario, then stationed at Minorca.
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The perforations in the letter are punctures for the purpose of fumigation.
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They are written on the special notepaper of the Legion with its insignia or coat-of-arms, addressed to Charles L.(?) in London, and dated 1836 July 12-1837 January 15 in San Sebastien. The war was both dynastic and a struggle between a despotically inclined Court and the ever growing popular desire for a Parliamentary Government.
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Louis Joseph Papineau led an armed movement in Canada looking toward the setting up of a French Republic on the Saint Lawrence, and sought asylum in the United States. This letter speaks of the Agitation as having about subsided "unless we should become involved in a nation war with the United States; and of this we have some painful apprehensions at present. A number of the disaffected have gone over to the States... there has been the most flagrant violations of neutrality of the two countries on the part of the United States people; what the result will be it is for the British Government to determine."
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The Seminole Indians in Northern Florida fought the United States bitterly in 1807-1818 and again, under Osceola, in 1835-1842. He writes in part: "I had thought the war was almost over until this day. We had since last fall captured upwards of 1700 Indians and Negroes... besides many killed in battle... not more than 300 warriors remain, but enough to keep up a severe war for another year in such a country as this, and perhaps longer. They are now scattered in small bands all over the Territory. On the 18th inst. Capt. Loyd Beall of the 2nd Dragoons had a fight with about 50 Indians... Capt. Walker of Nunansville acted as guide, and was killed in the engagement. Five dragoons were wounded besides several horses... One Indian was found killed only; his scalp was taken. The Indians as a matter of course, as they do generally, came off with the best of the bargain. Capt. Beall had not more than 20 men engaged in the fight."
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The manuscript inscription on the cover reads "Long live the Argentine Confederation!! Let the Unitarian Savages die!" It is typical of the practice of Juan Manuel Rosas, who as dictator, despot and tyrant, ruled over the Argentine Confederation after he had united it, ending its long period of civil wars. The warring political parties were known as the Federalists and the Unitarians. Rosas was a Federalist and believed in putting to death all those who opposed him.
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The writer, a member of the U.S. forces in Florida, tells his brother that he had been ordered to reopen the war on a small scale and was taking 80 men to go after a "principal Miccasukie chief [who had] broken away with 15 warriors... [and were] somewhere on the Suwanee river. This falling off is attributed by some to the injudicious conduct of Col. Vose who refused the chief some whiskey, first a bottle, then even half a bottle, after the Chief had had a taste and wanted a drop to 'cool off with.' The Col. is a religious and a temperance man and possibly had some scruples about letting the savages drink the ardent. So we go."
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Duval was an Attorney at Law who sought business prosecuting claims for pensions and bounty land. This is one of his printed letters, filled in, informing that Pomroy's commutation pay for military service in the Revolution was $7575 and also 200 acres of bounty land "to which his heirs are entitled."
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She writes regarding her son in Mexico: "I have not heard from John since the capture of Vera Cruse [Cruz] a few days previous... oh! what heart-rending scenes have been witnesses at those battles! oh! this unfortunate war! Who can be reconciled to it."
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A soldier in the Mexican War 1846-1848 writes to his uncle and aunt: "I am now a soldier in the service of the United States, far from home and in a foreign land, where I can't hear anything but the howling of wolves and bears and talk of war and parties of our men killed. Sixty miles from this place there were 23 Texas Rangers killed as we was on the road. Capt. Read started to avenge the death of these companions. The captain and his men said that they will kill ten for one."
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He tells about the frequent raids and severe bombardments by the enemy.
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(on cover addressed to Mrs. Arthur Mecher). He gives brief details of a successful minor action during the Indian Mutiny 1857-1859 in which "guns" were captured and the British losses were small.
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asking about the number of certain Troops that would be moved during the Indian Mutiny (1857-59).
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The French had an armed force on the American continent, in Mexico, at the time of the war between the States.
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Includes: Civil War Patriotics (unused and used envelopes printed with patriotic themes including mottos, drawings, caricatures, propaganda) and other souvenirs, including a "Mock Confederate Bill of Fare printed Just Prior to the End of the Siege and Defense, 1863 July 4" by "Jeff Davis & Co., Proprietors, Hotel de Vicksburg" [Mississippi].
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Includes an autograph inscription that reads as follows: "This envelope was taken from the knapsack of a dead Rebel who was slain near New Bern, N.C. when that city was captured by the Union forces under Gen'l Ambrose Burnside, 1862 Presented to Lt. Cook by Thos. H. Nickerson, Sag Harbor, 1862 June 30"
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(Confederate States of America $1000 loan)
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It relates, among other things, the hanging of a "notorious Rebel Spy" who had cut the throat of one of his guards while trying to escape. The Barracks (depicted in a printed drawing on the stationery) were, at that time, mainly a Hospital.
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A sworn statement that William McDole "is not liable to perform Military Service by reason of Loss of teeth of upper jaw."
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Release from Service in the Civil War showing the use of Internal Revenue stamps.
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1 folder
Parole given to one of the surrendered southern army at the close of the Civil War.
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Soldier's Discharge with Bonus.
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A Confederate soldier writes to his father about the purchase of a colt.
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In the Summer of 1900 during the War with Spain, the Grand Army of the Republic veterans held their 24th Encampment at Chicago
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A soldier in the Heavy Artillery is sending his accumulated pay ($250) back home or sending the money for some business transaction in an "Adams Express Company" envelope, sealed with 5 red wax seals.
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Countries and topics represented in this volume include: Saxony/Russia, Brazil/Paraguay, Austro-Prussian War, Franco-Prussian War, Siege of Paris, Britain in India, Afghan War, Spanish War (patriotic envelopes), Boer War, Boxer Rebellion, French army expeditions (in Algeria, Morocco), Russo-Japanese War, Japan in Korea, Balkan War, Civil War in Mexico
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Bears the Army Field Post mark of the Austro-Prussian War.
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This letter is dated the day the Siege of Paris began and, owing to hostile forces, it took over a month to reach its destination (back stamped Dieppe 1870 October 22
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(via balloon mail) An "Amazing Indiscretion" during the Siege of Paris in a letter that gives a diagram of fortifications.
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(probably via balloon mail)
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(via balloon mail)
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(via balloon mail)
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(via balloon mail)
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(via balloon mail)
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The inscription "Paris par Moulin (allier)" indicates the method of transportation of this letter during the Siege of Paris was in a zinc ball floated down the River Seine.
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(published in Paris during the Siege)
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This letter is franked with the stamp for Alsace and Lorraine that was issued under German occupation (Franco-Prussian War).
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St. Helena was where the British interned some thousands of Boer War prisoners.
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Topics of (cover) items include: various postcards, envelopes addressed by prisoners of war, mail with different countrie's military censor marks, etc.
Countries represented in this volume include: Tahiti, U.S., Germany, Russia, Austria, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Japan, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, India, England, Thailand, Egypt, Denmark, Malaya, St. Helena and St. Lucia (British colonies), etc.
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These cards were sent from French hospitals during the First World War.
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This cover was issue to soldiers in the British Army during the First World War for their confidential letters and was not supposed to be opened by the Censors (but this one was).
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Reed thanks him for a Box, received by him just before leaving Brest, France, on their way to Harwich, England.
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These two postcards indicate how men in the Army and Navy enjoyed their cigarettes. One is from a Canadian sailor on the British ship, and the other is from a member of the Canadian Air Force based in England.
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Countries represented in this volume include: U.S., Greece, Russia, South Africa, England, Archangel (Northern Russia), Siberia, Egypt, Dominican Republic, Sweden, India, Switzerland, Italy, Ethiopia (Eritrea), Germany, etc.
Topics of (cover) items include: U.S. Camps, Army and Navy mail from overseas (England, France, Germany, Greece, etc.), U.S. Patriotics (patriotic-themed envelopes and post cards), military censor stamp marks from different countries, American Expeditionary Force in Siberia 1918-1919 Guam Guard mail stamps, etc.
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(Washington, D.C. postmark)
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A vivid account of the fighting in Tetuan Spanish Army in Morocco, written by Elmer D. Leonard.
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(via American Red Cross in France) He writes: "8 days leave. Go to the front tomorrow morning."
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Countries represented in this volume include: U.S., Australia, Ireland, Iran, Algeria, Spain, Finland, Poland, England, India, France, Bermuda, Canada, etc.
Topics of (cover) items include: British-censored mail by Royal Air Force and Navy, mail from prisoners of war around the world, Dachau stamps, war propaganda leaflet dropped by British on German and Italian soil, Canadian camps, wartime mail, and war issue stamps, etc.
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Purple ink stamp reads: "God Punish England!"
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This letter took ten weeks to cross from London to New York (received July 14).
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This autograph of Ambassador Saburo Kurusu was sent 2 weeks before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
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Countries represented in this volume include: U.S., Siam, Singapore (Malaya), Newfoundland, Brazil, India, Italian Somaliland, Australia, Finland, China, Ceylon, Italy, France, Czechoslovakia, Malta, Switzerland, Belgian Congo, Norway, England, Mexico, North Africa, South Africa, Germany, Wales, West Indies
Topics of (cover) items include: Envelopes that originated from the countries listed above.
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Countries represented in this volume: U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii), China, Palau, Solomon Islands, Aleutian Islands, Cuba, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Canada, etc.
Topics of (cover) items include: Japanese-issued post cards, Navy, Marine Corps postmarked envelopes, etc.
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Countries represented in this volume: U.S., Japan, Philippines
Topics of (cover) items include: mail (envelopes only) to and from Japanese internees in the U.S., Japanese censored mail, Japanese occupation of the Philippines, Philippines stamps, Japanese military post (envelopes, post cards), Japanese war bonds, Japanese bank notes prepared for use in Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. (one, five, ten and fifty cent bills, and one, five, ten, one hundred and one thousand dollar bills), Japanese constitution souvenir sheet 1947 May 3 mail from prisoners of war in Japan
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(note the bullet hole near the stamped portion)
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Countries of items represented in this volume: U.S., Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, China, Britain, Switzerland, Germany, Greenland, Iceland
Topics of (cover) items include: Mail addressed to Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, Fifth Army news release for Corporal Pierre L. Fallot 1944 Election War ballots returned by absentees, American Red Cross mailings, "V" for Victory stamped covers, an Army Frank stamp (not authorized for use), examples of blacked out postmarks, returned mail due to service being suspended, V-mail (microfilmed), mail sent from relocation camps and prison camps (including pre-printed cards and letter sheets for prisoners of war and civilian interns), covers mailed from Naval vessels and military bases around the globe (censor stamped), etc.
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It begins: "I'm sending you these few words to ask you if there is possibilities for you to find me a Godmother. I've been here now almost two years and during this time have received very little packages from home, having my wife and three kids to support."
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Countries represented (envelopes/stamps): Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Palestine, Lebanon, Ecuador, South Africa, Brazil, Suriname (Dutch Guiana), Greece, Ireland, Egypt, Romania, Tunisia, Sudan, Russia, Mexico
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Topics of items include: Envelopes passed by censor from island bases (Newfoundland, Trinidad, Iceland, New Zealand, Oahu) and elsewhere (China during Sino-Japanese War 1937 England, Northern Ireland, Poland, Minnesota, US Headquarters in Europe, India, Chile, Italy, Nicaragua, Cuba, Mexico), Mail from U.S. training camps (including a series of envelopes [letters removed previously] addressed by Lieut. E.L. Holloway to his parents during his Army air training and deployment to the Pacific, 1942-1943) and SHAEF (Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces), censored mail from vessels, including battleships (U.S., British, Swedish)
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(Halsey's autograph, C.W. Nimitz's also included)
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Countries represented in this volume include: Hungary, Netherlands, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Poland, France, Belgium, USA, Japan, Norway, Britain, Luxembourg, Italy, Austria, Yugoslavia, New Guinea, Ethiopia, etc.
Topics of items include: one Nazi German Propaganda (printed leaflet dropped on English soil from German airplanes on 1940 July 19 stamps of occupied nations and governments in exile, French battleship Richelieu, etc.
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It bears a May 27 Battleship "Richelieu" postmark on the reverse of a Match Card (used as a post card for economy's sake)
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Countries represented in this volume include: England, USA (including Alaska), Switzerland, France, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Indonesia, etc.
Summary of items: Covers (envelopes with no letters) from post-war Europe, Asia and U.S., war post cards (Berlin Airlift), commemorative stamps (Dachau Concentration Camp), cover from Arab-Jewish War in 1948
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Countries represented in this volume include: France, Poland, Australia, U.S., Nicaragua, Siam, Colombia, Egypt, England, Switzerland, Italy, Curacao, Marshall Islands, Brazil, India, Netherlands, Newfoundland, Sicily, Canada, Uruguay, Peru, Chile, Cuba
Summary of items/topics: War Covers, Abraham Lincoln stamps, Home-made penalty envelope, Cigarette cards, Rotary International covers, Stamps with errors in production, Cancellations, Unusual Covers, Corner card envelopes, Mementos of Daniel Webster, Oddities (a Cuban stamp postmarked in the U.S.)
[Note: This volume was originally labeled "War Covers" and "noted to be empty 1992 March 26 B.E.L." 37 miscellaneous loose leaf pages were added to it in 2003 March]
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Summary of stamps displayed (titles on each page): Alwar, Bahawalpur, Bamra, Barwani, Bhopal, Bhor, Bundi, Bussahir, Charkhari, Cochin, Dhar, Duttia, Faridkot, Jholawar, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Jhalawar, Jihnd, Kedah, Kishe[a]ngarh, Las Bela, Morvi, Nandgaon, Nepal, Nowanuggur, Orchha, Poonch, Rajpeepla, Sirmur, Soruth, Travancore, Wadhwan
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Jammu and Kashmir form a joint feudatory state with a common ruler in the extreme north of India. Stamps displayed include: one eighth anna, one quarter reis, one quarter anna, one half anna, 1 anna, 2 anna, 4 anna, 8 anna 1869-1891
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Summary of stamps (titles on each page) in this volume: Bamra, Dhar, Duttia, Faridkot, Hyderabad, Indore, Jammu-Kashmir, Jhind, Nandgaon, Orcha, Sirmoor, Soruth
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It begins: "Please accept this small sign of gratitude for your many kindnesses."
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Background summary: The postal service in Egypt was so poor that, in the late 1830s Carlo Meratti, an Italian, organized a private postal service in Egypt with offices in Cairo and Alexandria to carry ordinary mail through the consular offices. The name "Posta Europea" was given to it in 1843 The scope of the service was broadened from time to time and ultimately taken over by the government. There are six distinct types of postal markings (Types I-VI, 1842-1865
Letters (covers only) include: Type II (Cairo to Alexandria, 1857) [Leaf 4]; Type III (Tanta, undated) [Leaf 9], (Zagasik, 1862) [Leaf 9], (Mansura, 1859) [Leaf 10]; Type IV (Michalla, 1864) [Leaf 12]
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Countries represented in this volume include: England, Australia, Tasmania, Cape of Good Hope
Topics of items include: Photographs of Rev. W.H. Tower (the collector at work), map of trade routes in Palestine, embossed revenue stamps, insurance fee license (partial)
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This is an English document imprinted with the embossed revenue stamps used in those days, of six pence each.
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This is a Royal Warrant for payment to Arthur Collins, Gentleman, of the sum of One Hundred Pounds from "His Majesty's Treasures or Revenues." It carries the signature of Queen Caroline, referred to as "Guardian of the Kingdom," acting as Regent for George II. The document is impressed with three Revenue stamps for two shillings sixpence each.
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This English document is a sworn certification of a Deed referred to. It shows the fine clear impression of two Revenue Stamps of six pence each.
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It is an agreement to keep "a certain painting ... representing a Scene of Riot... for the purpose of making an Engraving and publishing a Print therefrom... and deliver back the said Painting..." The two impressed revenue stamps on the upper left corner are for One Shilling and Sixpence and One Shilling, respectively.
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This English legal document is impressed with three Revenue stamps. The two upper ones are for Six Pence each, the lower one for One Shilling. At the bottom of the sheet is seen the impressed Seal of the Notary Public.
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This is a Bill of Landing dated April 3 at Waterford, Ireland. It shows an embossed Irish Revenue stamp with the Harp design and also a handstruck One Penny stamp, a very unusual combination.
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Validated at the top "William R (ex)" and stamped with his Royal Seal. The Blue revenue stamp is for One Pound, Ten Shillings.
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These large Revenue stamps come already printed on sheets of Government watermarked paper and are purchased from the Government to be used for Legal Documents.
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Issued by the Stamp Office for the amount of eight Annas, apparently used in the payment of "Court Fees."
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Countries represented in this volume include: U.S., Guam, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Yugoslavia, India, Netherlands, Italy, Australia, Iraq, Honduras, Canada, Alaska, Austria, Germany, U.S. Navy, Lundy Island, France, Germany, etc.
Topics of items include (mail delivery via): ocean (steamships, clippers), rocket (experimental), cart, pigeon, airplane, Pony Express, Wells Fargo overland, catapult (experimental), railroad, dirigible, dog-team, pneumatic tube mail, telegraph
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This letter was carried by the Wells Fargo Co. then turned over to Boyd's Express for delivery to addressee.
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This letter to Vienna, Austria, was carried by one of the first Pneumatic Mail systems.
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This Service was used from Great Barrier Island to the Mainland at Auckland, New Zealand.
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This letter was flown on the First Air Mail Contract Flight from Madison.
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Countries represented in this volume include: Japan, France, Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Formosa (Taiwan), San Marino, etc.
Topics of items include: machine cancellations, mail posted from remote or unusual locations, different sized stamps, fumigated mail, The Making of a Stamp, etc.
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Addressed to the Noblemen and Captains and Governors at "Regium"
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Note the crude gallows with a man hanging from them at the bottom of the cover, suggestive of dire penalty if it is miscarried. On either end of the cover is the word "CITO" (Haste).
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Example of a French stampless cover. (See also other letters to Monsieur Jean Aylouard in London in Volume ?)
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Example of a French stampless cover.
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French Stampless cover with an excellent example of the "Paris P" with crown above it.
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Printed on sheets of Government waterworked paper which were sold to those using them in drawing up legal documents (also see Volume 58 Folder 8)
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Shows the slits cut through by the Postal Authorities against Infection so that the Fumigating Fumes could reach the contents.
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Its population is small, visitors are few, so that with little mail, used covers are scarce.
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The envelope shows the two lines of punctures made with a metal instrument so that the letter could be fumigated. Yellow fever was prevalent in Florida in 1888.
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Possibly taken by Earl Rossman, the American explorer, who was in Addis Abeba as the official Pathe news photographer at the time of the great gala celebration in honor of the visit of His Royal Highness the Duke of Abruzzi.
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Found among the papers of Mr. Rossman.
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Certifying that Earl Rossman had been in Addis Abeba for some time as the representative of the "Pathe Review," participating in the festivities in honor of the Duke of Abruzzi
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Countries represented in this volume include: South Africa, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pitcairn Islands, Alaska, India, Mecca, Nepal, Tibet, Egypt, U.S., etc.
Topics of items include: Postal Jubilee Caricature, Health stamps, Dog-Sled Mail, Egyptian Interpostals, Commercial Revenue Stamps, Commemorative stamps, the Making of a Stamp, Private currency notes of the Mississippi & Alabama Rail Road Company (ten dollars, 1836) and the Dixon Hotel Company, Illinois (three dollars, 1938
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Guillelmus de Blassono, to Anziamo, "civitatis rigii" (Regium?). Courier was "Rolandus Columbanus."
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It is addressed to "Noble Herman" at Mt. Saint Julia de Hulguelth (probably a monastery) and is signed by "Dimont" with an elaborate rubric after his name. It was apparently delivered by hand by a monk and tied or rolled in a carrying scroll.
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Vincent De Paul was born in 1576, ordained priest in 1600, and canonized in 1737.
(portrait included [Leaf 2])
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Countries represented in this volume include: India, Japan, Italy, North Borneo, Switzerland, Colombia, Czechoslovakia, England, Australia, Palestine, Bahamas, USA, etc.
Topics of items include: Air Mail flights, undeliverable mail, post offices in unusual places and/or with unusual names, souvenir sheets, corner cards
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Around the World for five cents: This letter traveled from Boston (Mar. 31) to Seattle 1905 April 6 Seoul, Korea 1905 April 28 Shanghai 1905 May 8 Paris 1905 June 15 and back to Boston 1905 August 14
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Countries represented in this volume include: Siam, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Japan, South Africa, Korea, Arabia, China, Germany, Tonga Islands, Eritrea, Portugal, etc.
Topics of items include: England's Royal Family, Commemoratives (French Revolution, Czech National anthem, etc.) Souvenir Sheets, Japanese forwarding slips, unusual envelopes, Quetta (India) Earthquake, Advertising on stamps
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It reads: "From H.M. Stanley. Sent through Courtesy of Sungoro of Kagehyi. Lake Victoria, Central Africa." Stanley had to first entrust this letter to native carriers, courtesy of a native chief, to carry it to the nearest station, Zanzibar. There, it was endorsed by "Aug. Sparhawk" on August 21, taken by post to Aden, Arabia, and sent on to London, arriving on September 25.
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The Duke instructs his Secretary to express his thanks for a letter of congratulations on his marriage.
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Research by William H. Tower (everything removed from this volume and foldered)
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Includes Leaves 4, 7, and 10, with English translations included.
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Includes Leaves 5, 8, and 11, with English translations included.
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Includes Leaves 6, 9, and 11, with English translations included.
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(conserved by Ted? check)
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Includes Leaves 12 and 13.
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Summary of contents: brief postal history of Hawaii, stamps and envelopes
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Countries represented in this volume include: Vatican State, Denmark, Eritrea, South Borneo, Congo, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, New Zealand, Turkey, Costa Rica, Bolivia, etc.
Stamp themes include: religion, animals, less common shapes, mourning, Air Mail and labels, bank notes, bearded gentlemen, bi- and multi-colored, bridges, children and child welfare, U.S. Constitution, maps, medical, Olympic Games, railroad engines, ships, waterfalls, one cent, Red Cross stamps and seals
Topics of items include: Mail Transportation, Japanese tourist cards, many postal stamps and/or markings, Painted Covers, stamps used in art, an Oddity (bracelet with stamps as charms)
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Isaiah Thomas was the leading publisher of his day; printed the first Bible in America-indexable author
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Countries represented in this volume: India, Egypt, Portugal, Peru, Germany, Russia, Cuba, Canada, Falkland Islands, Greece, Ecuador, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Falkland Islands, French warship, Japanese warship, Australia
Includes: Partial Air Mail Service, Errors, Stampless, U.S. Constitution, Unusual Covers, Booklet Stamps, Battleship cancellations
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Countries represented in this volume: Afghanistan, Japan, Epirus (Greece), Morocco, India Feudatory States (stamps), South Africa, Manchukuo, Zanzibar
Includes: Stampless, Provisionals, Half Stamps (Bi-sects), example of damaged mail (shipwreck)
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He writes that he has not heard from her for more than six months and then goes on to tell her of his progress in his studies.
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This stampless cover by Morrison, one of the earliest missionaries to China, tells of the difficult conditions that he met.
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A suitor requests [a father's?] "permission ..., with Miss Jane's consent, to address her."
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This letter was mailed in Anvers (Antwerp), Belgium, and was mis-sent to Sierra Leone instead of the proper address as given.
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(example of a Bi-sect stamp)
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In most countries of Europe, these Dispatch Notes, which in French are called "Bulletin D'Expedition," and, in German, "Packetkarte," must accompany most parcels sent by mail. Owing to the multiplicity of these countries, most of such mail passing from one country into a foreign country has to cross territorial boundaries on its way. For this reason, parcels sent by Parcel Post have to have a form of Passport or Visa. There are International Notes as well as Domestic. They are filled in, more or less fully, with various items of required information, such as the nature of the contents, its value weight, etc. The stamps paying the charge were attached to the Note rather than to the package.
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Categories of stamps include: Air Mail & Aviation, Advertising, Hotels and Travel, Exposition and Exhibition, Philatelic Exhibition, Nature Study, People and Personalities, Religious, etc.
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(including some with handwritten poems/verses)
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Countries represented in this volume: Brazil, Spain, Australia, Hungary, Mexico, U.S., Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Belgium, Austria, Albania, Czechoslovakia, France, Japan, England, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Argentina, Guam, Cook Islands, Italy, Vatican City, Armenia, Tibet (letter sent/returned), Japan, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, British Honduras, Brazil, Iceland, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Philippines, St. Lucia, Grenada, Antigua, Monserrat, New Zealand, Poland, Russia
Topics of items include: War Covers (Spain, WWI, WWII, British stamps for Middle East and East African Forces 1942-1943 Hitler death mask stamps dropped by Allies over Nazi occupied territories), Oddities (stamp perforation, double paper, Isle of Lundy/"Puffinland" stamps), Cancellations, Unusual Covers, Special Delivery, U.S. Postal History, Postal Currency, Civil War Propaganda (envelope), Cover addressed to James Madison, Religion on Stamps, Abraham Lincoln (stamps), Special Handling (stamps, 1925 Shade Collecting (varying shades of stamp issues), Essays, Philatelic Hucksters (around 1900 Helmar cigarettes enclosed foreign stamps for promotional purposes), Express Mail, European Dispatch Notes (see Volume 69), Meters (meter stamping), Forgeries (stamps), Regimental stamps, Postmarks (unusual), Army Air Mail
[Note: This volume was originally unnumbered.]
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Bradford married Susan Boudinot later the same year and was Attorney General in George Washington's Cabinet from 1794-95.
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Wolcott was a delegate from Connecticut to the Continental Congress and, after the War, Secretary of the Treasury under both Washington and Adams.
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Example of a fifty cent embossed revenue stamp resulting from the Third Federal Issue Act of August 2, 1813.
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The British Tommy enjoys his Tobacco, as may be seen by this Card from the World War, expressing thanks for cigarettes received.
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Includes AD (school bill) for Elias Miller, Nov. 1
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(via New York-Amsterdam Packet ship)
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Robson Lowe auction folder.
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Robson Lowe Auction folder. Includes signature by Assistant Adjutant General on the reverse.
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(items removed and foldered)
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Contains an assortment of unfinished volumes and loose postal history material, including a scrapbook with Robert Garrett & Sons correspondence from the 1840s and 1850s, British vellum documents from the 1700s, and two folders of posted modern American envelopes, mostly addressed to author Ellis Parker Butler. There is also a copy of the 1974 Scott Standard Postal Stamp Catalogue.
Included is an album of Turkish stamps, collected by Charles Riggs, Princeton Class of 1893.
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