1800-S Covers

Here are some images of a few of many I have.

Knowing nothing about covers, I dont even know what to look for when it comes to covers this old.

Thanks,
Jim

The cover to George Vickers, Esq., may be interesting, in that the personality was a US Senator from Maryland back in the day:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Vickers

As to the third scan of a cover addressed to Benjamin Haywood, Esq., of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, you will find this interesting reading as to an impressive biography of this individual:

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/f...Rid=23997851

As it relates to your last scan with the name Thomas P. Jones, dated July 5, 1844, check this link out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_P._Jones

The second cover with the Washington City CDS shows the 18-3/4 cent rate. The rates in effect at that time was from post rates of May 1, 1825 with 150-400 miles being 18-3/4 cents.

Wow...the personalities are very interesting.

So, the $64 questions is, how are they valuated?

Thanks,
Jim

Just wondering: How did one pay for a fractional rate such as 18-3/4 cents back in the early 1800's? I don't recall them having fractional currency for 3/4ths of a cent and it wasn't until the early 1900's that postage stamps started coming out with 1/2 cent stamps to help pay for the classes of postage in effect during those days.

18-3/4 cents in 1825 = $3.64 cents in today's money, which was quite a sum to mail a letter under 400 miles away. In fact, comparing it to today's 44 cent (or soon to be 45 cent rate in 2012) it's case in point that we're getting quite a bargain at our postage rates today.

The letter from Jones to Hayward is about a patent Hayward submitted to Jones' agency.

Interesting.

wt, check out Richard Frajola's exhibit
http://www.rfrajola.com/wash2006/wa...06frame1.htm

Thanks for the link. Excellent information.

I never knew the connection between fractional rate postage and coinage of that day. Then, again, I never had any covers from this early in American history to have previously made that connection.

Nice, Russ...thank you.
Jim

There was a 'half cent' coin in use from the late 1700s till around 1856... and it is in fact still legal tender today, although you'd be silly to spend one.

While doing a site search for postal currency and fractional currency I stumbled upon this old thread. How very interesting! I am currently looking at buying one that's in a local antique shop. It was a greenish 50¢ denomination depicting f 10¢ denomination (design of Scott #68 ~ A27)stamps in a line on the front.

Here is an image of one like it that I pulled from the internet as an illustration

Thanks for the great link, Russ!

The cover to William Flynt in Winston, North Carolina seems to be an example of a hand written free frank. I cannot make out the signature but likely it is some member of Congress from back then, or maybe a postmaster?

I have seen some very poor examples for sale recently online, and it has sparked an interest in me. I like how they have images of stamps on them.