EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY SEPTEMBER 2025 SALE

Early American History Auctions lives up to its namesake once again with an offering of 216 lots, including numerous important and unique items. This auction is presented online only on its website and through the Invaluable auction platform. The array covers multiple collecting fields, including historic autographs, engravings, documents, US Navy, Colonial and Revolutionary War documents, Continental and Colonial currency, George Washington, Federal period, Abraham Lincoln and Civil War encased postage stamps and artifacts, Black history, historic maps, plus political and decorative Americana. Absentee bidding has already opened, with the sale closing on September 20 at noon.

   

The sale begins by offering many historic, autographed lots. The first lot across the block is a unique Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) 1772 fourpage autographed document, signed nine times within the body of the text, as either "Benedict Arnold," or "Arnold," this likely being Benedict Arnold's own original retained copy of a land transaction, written at New Haven, Conn. ($8/10,000).

   

There's a special June 17, 1776, dated early Revolutionary War John Bradford signed, Boston, letter reporting Continental Navy successes, mailed to John Hancock as the president of the Continental Congress, regarding five American privateers engaging British naval forces, with the docket handwritten by John Hancock ($8/12,000).

Another lot provides a unique opportunity to acquire the only known surviving example bearing President James Buchanan's and his full cabinets' signatures written on a single sheet of paper ($2,5/3,500).

   

A favorite outstanding historic highlight of this auction is a "Valley Forge January 28, 1778-dated" (seven times), Revolutionary War manuscript document signed by the captains or NCOs of seven different companies of the Third New Hampshire Regiment of the Continental Line during their horrific winter encampment at Valley Forge. This manuscript document is a receipt for new stockings being distributed to the troops during the famous winter where many soldiers suffered and died from frostbite, some without stockings or shoes for their freezing feet ($12/18,000).

An associated lot offers a true Revolutionary War original pair of stockings of the type being distributed in this unique document ($500/600).

   

Yet another favorite rarity is an original circa 1770 American Colonial era, complete handmade tricorn black wool hat, with its black silk cockade fully intact, apparently made for an American militiaman, Ex: Virginia Museum historical display ($8/10,000).

Also on offer from the collection of Ambassador J. William Middendorf II is the finest known historic map the first London Printing of "A Prospective of the Battle fought near Lake George, on the 8th of September 1755..." engraved by Thomas Jefffreys. As one historian called it: "The only engraving that exhibits the American method of bush fighting." The only other example to appear at auction in the last 40 years was 2005 hand-colored Middendorf-Guthman copy ($50/60,000).

   

Early American Colonial and Continental currency is represented with an array of certified or unique examples. Two Continental Congress currency notes include a rare April 11, 1778, $8, Yorktown Issue, Blue Counterfeit Detector, PCGS graded GEM NEW-65PPQ ($5/6,000) and a September 26, 1778 Philadelphia Issue $60 Blue Counterfeit Detector PCGS graded GEM UNC-66PPQ ($1,5/2,000) both notes currently the finest certified examples.

   

Many rare Colonial era notes include May 8, 1740 Redated May 8, 1746, Colony of Connecticut, Three Pounds, Contemporary Counterfeit, Fr. CT-56eCFT, Ex: Ford III auction, PCGS Banknote graded Choice Fine-15 ($4/6,000); August 27, 1755, Colony of Connecticut, Two Shillings Sixpence, PCGS graded Very Fine-30; (1774) Undated, Province of Georgia, Ten Shillings, Uniface Issue, PCGS Banknote graded Very Fine-20 ($5/7,000); and major rarity 1737, Province of the Massachusetts Bay, Five Pence, Printed Text with Ornamented Woodblock Borders face and back, PCGS Banknote graded Choice Very Fine-35 the Prior Newman Plate Note, Ex: Ford-Boyd Collections, the Finest Known ($4/8,000).

The American Revolutionary War is well represented with many historic documents, artifacts and letters. These include a 1774-dated Revolutionary War era manuscript document, Boston, relating the news that King George III has prohibited the export of gunpowder, arms or ammunition to the American Colonies and has so instructed the colonial governors, ($8/10,000).

   

Another lot documents a Black soldier, Robert Freeman, who served in the Connecticut Line of the Continental Army, Revolutionary War, a pay order signed "X" with his mark, The "Valley Forge Muster Role Project" records Robert Freeman as a private, with the 8th Connecticut Regiment. serving at Valley Forge Camp ($3/4,000)

For military hardware collectors a museum quality, circa 1776 Revolutionary War era, British Coehorn mortar, cast bronze with the royal cipher of King George II on top, complete with its wooden block carrying and firing base with all securing iron and side handles, appears unused ($3,5/4,500) Another military favorite is a circa 1776, perhaps earlier, Eighteenth Century, bronze Burst cannon marked on top "P 14," placed on a modern wood stand, with large explosive powder ($4/6,000).

George Washington is well represented starting with a March 10, 1753 dated original Frederick County, Va., manuscript land indenture, written with "Surveyed By Mr George Washington" then as a 17-year-old, working for his relative Lord Fairfax, and this document is signed by Fairfax ($4/6,000).

These are but a few of the 216 historic auction lots currently presented. For information, www.earlyamerican.com or 858-759-3290.

 

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web