Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 92

Manuscript, Sports, Collectibles, Space and Philatelic Auction

Colonial Americana

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 148		17 Engravings of Important Historical People and Places. Lot includes engraved portraits of George Washington and Jefferson Davis and depictions of the U.S. Capitol Building, the President's House in Washington, Baltimore Harbor with the Washington Monument visible in the background, and the Confederate capital at Richmond, Virginia. Some light toning, but still very good. Estimated Value $300 - 500 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $175
Lot 149		Avery, John (1739-1806). American politician who served as the 1st Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth. Autograph letter signed ("John Avery"), as Junior Secretary of the Continental Congress, 1 page, 9 x 7¼", "Council Chamber", June 28, 1786. To William Holten (1738-1816), informing him that he has been appointed as a delegate from Massachusetts to the Continental Congress, set to convene in November of 1786. The second, blank page (whcih has been docketed on its verso), is torn at the upper left and right corners, but the page bearing the historical text in Avery's beautiful hand is fine. Estimated Value $200 - 300 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $120
Lot 150		Botetourt, 4th Baron of (Norborne Berkeley), under King George III (1717-1770). Partially printed document signed on behalf of the sovereign ("Botetourt"), by the Colonial Governor of Virginia (1768-1770) under George III, heavy vellum, 15½ x 13¼", Williamsburg, April 9, 1769. Land grant of 150 acres in Virginia for the sum of 15 shillings to William Preston (1729-1783), a militia colonel during the American Revolutionary War and signer of the Fincastle Resolutions, an important predecessor to the U.S. Declaration of Independence. This handsome document appears to record Preston's acquisition of the plot of land upon which he would establish Greenfield Plantation, a historic plantation that is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Creased at the horizontal center and three times vertically, there is some weakening and discoloration, as well as two small fold separations (¾" and ¼") which minimally impact four words of the text. Additionally, there are two ½" slits and some light staining throughout, especially on the verso, but the signature is bold and the overall condition very good. Estimated Value $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $3,625
Lot 151		Calvo de la Puerta y O'Farrill, Sebastian (1751-1820). Marquis of Casa Calvo and interim Governor of Louisiana (1791-1801), so appointed by King Charles II of Spain. Along with his successor as governor, Juan Manuel de Salcedo, he was instrumental in the official transfer of the Louisiana Territory to the French in 1803, immediately prior to the Louisiana Purchase by the U.S. a mere three weeks later. In 1806, the notoriously ill-tempered Casa Calvo returned to Spain before ultimately retiring in Havana, Cuba. Manuscript document signed ("El Marq. de Casa Calvo"), in Spanish, as Governor of Louisiana, laid paper, 2 pages, recto & verso, bifolium, 12½ x 8", New Orleans, July 13, 1801. With this document, Casa Calvo certifies the excellent performance of militia captain Don Patricio Antonio Walsh. A red wax seal appears alongside the marquis' signature. Creased horizontally three times to fit an envelope, with four 1" vertical tears alongside the central fold and three small tears on the fold, one of which has opened to a ¼" hole. Some staining and discoloration along the folds and edges do not obscure the beautiful text. In good to very good condition. Estimated Value $300 - 500 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $960
Lot 152		Dearborn, Henry (1751-1829). During the American Revolutionary War, Dearborn served in the Continental Army under both Benedict Arnold and George Washington, before being appointed Secretary of War (1801-1809) during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson and serving as a General in the War of 1812. Letter signed ("H. Dearborn") twice, once at the close of the letter and once as a free frank on the address leaf, as Secretary of War, 1 page, 10 x 8", bifolium, "War Department", Washington, D.C., November 14, 1803. To Stephen Moylan (1737-1811). Our letter advises Moylan, as Pennsylvania Commissioner of Loans, of the transfer of a pensioner by the name of Joseph Rudolph from the books of Pennsylvania to those of Maryland. Red wax seal remains intact on the address leaf. In very good to fine condition. Estimated Value $200 - 400 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $156
Lot 153		Irvine, William (1741-1804). Revolutionary War general and Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress. Autograph document signed ("Wm. Irvine"), 1 page, 6½ x 8", n.p., n.y. (ca. 1783). Document certifies the good service and "great gallantry" of one Lieutenant Armstrong of the Pennsylvania line, who served in several campaigns under Irvine�s command. Mounting strip along left edge, and two vertical folds to accommodate an envelope, else fine. Estimated Value $300 - 400 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 154		Lee, Henry III. Partially printed document signed ("Henry Lee"), 1 page, vellum, 12 x 15", Richmond, Virginia, September 24, 1793. Granting 112 acres in Hardy County to one Peter Noel. Document is creased three times horizontally and once vertically, with some discoloration, weakening, and fold separations at central intersection and left and right margins. Red wax seal on laid paper attached with aged tape at the lower left. The document is good to very good. Estimated Value $500 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $313
Lot 155		Withdrawn	Unsold
Lot 156		Lot of Two Late 17th-Early 18th Century English Indentures. This pair of handwritten documents on vellum detail the legal transfer of land ownership. The term indenture refers, in fact, to any legal contract. Such documents are characterized by their wavy, "indented" upper margins which were contrived to prevent counterfeiting. The copies distributed to all engaged parties were gathered together and cut at once along their upper margins in a unique, irregular pattern, thereby authenticating each copy. The first indenture included in this lot, dated July 5, 1782, outlines the transfer of a cottage at Seasholo, Gaydon, in the County of Warwick, from Richard Lancaster to John Upton for the sum of 40 pounds 19 shillings. This 2-page document is authenticated with the signature of Richard Lancaster and the red wax seal beside his name. Both pages bear a blue tax seal from the County of Warwick at the upper left. The pages measure approximately 24 x 30". With only some light creasing, this document is in very good condition. The second document, dated October 3, 1833, describes the transfer of land ownership in the County of Warwick, England from George Goodwin Barrett, by William Adams, to John Toone of Leamington Prior for the sum of 2,395 pounds, paid by several parties, each of whom has signed along the bottom alongside his red wax seal. All six pages bear one pound tax stamps from the County of Warwick at the upper left. The pages measure approximately 23 x 30". With some light creasing and curling, as well as some moisture staining along the lower margin, this document remains very good. Estimated Value $500 - 800 View details	Unsold
Lot 157		Meredith, Samuel (1741-1817). Revolutionary War general, Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress, and first Treasurer of the United States. Letter signed ("Saml Meredith"), as Treasurer, on laid paper, 1 page, 7¾ x 9½", n.p., May 29, 1793. To former Revolutionary War general, Jedediah Huntington (1743-1818). Meredith writes concerning monies received and credited to Huntington's account. Notation for filing purposes on the verso. With a pencil notation at the upper left, some minor cracking to the corners and along the left edge and fragility at three horizontal folds, the letter remains very good. Estimated Value $200 - 400 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 158		Revolutionary War Era Document Signed by Oliver Wolcott, Jr. and John Lawrence. Document signed ("Oliv. Wolcott Jun." and "John Lawrence Esq."), 1 page, 8 x 4½", Hartford, Connecticut, January 30, 1782. With this document, the Pay Table Office of the State of Connecticut authorizes payment of one pound ten shillings "lawfull [sic] money" to one Ralph Pomeroy. An interesting peek at the daily business of Connecticut, the 5th state of the U.S. Docketing on the verso. With just some minor cracking to the right margin, particularly along the horizontal folds, and two tiny perforations where the horizontal and vertical folds intersect, this document is very good. Estimated Value $150 - 300 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 159		Revolutionary War Era Liquor License. Partially printed document accomplished in manuscript, on laid paper, 1 page, 4½ x 7¼", Dunnington, Vermont, September 30, 1794. Being an application by David Leavitt, storeowner, for a license to retail "foreign distilled spirits", submitted to Jonathan Ware, Collector of Revenue in the East Division of the district of Vermont. Early American alcohol consumption was considerable -- beer and cider, in particular, were drunk by adults and children alike throughout the day, as water was perceived to be unhealthy (and considering standard sanitation practices of the day, it probably was!). Taverns were important places for both social and civic gathering, and thus tavern owners, such as our David Leavitt, enjoyed a social status superior even to members of the clergy. Framed to 6¾ x 9". Age toning, with some cracking to the left corners, but still very good. Estimated Value $250 - 500 View details	Unsold