EARLY AMERICAN APRIL 2026 HISTORY AUCTION

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 14, 2026, Article 24

Here are a number of items that caught my eye in the upcoming Early American History Auctions sale. -Editor

Historic Rarities from Multiple Consignors & Ambassador j. William Middendorf II
& Our Commemoration of PAUL REVERE'S Historic Famous Ride on APRIL 18th, 1775

ELIAS BOUDINOT (1740-1821). 10th President of the Continental Congress (1782-1783); a Founding Father; Member of the Continental Congress who served in the First Congress of 1789; Signed the "Treaty of Paris" with Great Britain ending the Revolutionary War; Member of the Committee on Correspondence; New Jersey Provincial Congress; Commissary-General of Prisoners; in 1795 Appointed Third Director of the United States Mint by George Washington; founded the American Bible Society and began "Thanksgiving" in America as a National Holiday. December 16, 1790, Newark (New Jersey) First Presbyterian Church in Newark, Signed "E Boudinot" as Church president, Private Four Pence Small Change Note, Newman page 266, Wait 1410, PCGS graded Very Fine-25. This Church money series was printed by Kollock and is clearly Signed in brown ink by Elias Boudinot.

An American Revolutionary War era Statesman, Elias Boudinot was a close friend of George Washington, and was a tireless supporter of the Revolution and the fledgling Federal government. Despite not signing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution or the Articles of Confederation, he is one of the more important political figures from the American Revolutionary Era.

1787 Benjamin Franklin Signed Land Sale Deed His Large Bold Signature Measures 2.75 inches long and His Flourish

July 13th, 1787-Dated, historic Partially-Printed Vellum Land Sale Deed from The Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Signed, "B Franklin" by Benjamin Franklin in his capacity as the Council's President, Choice Very Fine+. This impressive original document measures 15.5" x 12.8", with the purchaser's name, Joseph McGuffin, and the land's location information completed in manuscript, boldly handwritten. It is one of the finest examples, with the strongest Benjamin Franklin signature we have offered, being one of a pair presented to McGuffin on the same day, which is also being offered. A large paper and wax Pennsylvania State Seal is Embossed Stamped at center located on the front upper left corner, with a matching Embossed Great Seal of Pennsylvania on the back side, both adhered back-to-back at the document's top left corner.

This deed cedes "A CERTAIN Tract of land, called 'Down Patrick' situate on the North West Side of the Ohio River in the Count of Westmoreland" containing 201 acres to a Mr. Joseph McGuffin who purchased it for "the Sum of Five pounds and Six pence" at public auction. It goes into detail regarding the property's boundaries, states that the land was surveyed by Daniel Seet, the Deputy Surveyor of Pennsylvania's District No. 2, lists the conditions of its sale and stipulates that the land is "free and clear of all Restrictions and Reservations as to Mines, Royalties, Quitrents, or otherwise, excepting and reserving only the fifth part of all Gold and Silver Ore, for the Use of this Commonwealth, to be delivered at the Pit's Mouth, clear of all charges."

September 27, 1785, (Indents of 1782-1787) Continental Congress Federal Indent Bearer Certificate, One Dollar and Eighteen ninetieths of a Dollar, Partly-Printed Typeset form, Printed Denomination, Signed by John Hardy, No Cancel, Anderson 165, Crisp Extremely Fine.

Listed by Anderson as Number 165, Hi Rarity-7 (4 to 6 known), in his reference, THE PRICE OF LIBERTY. Continental Congress Federal Indent Bearer Certificate, boldly Signed, "J.(ohn) Hardy", an exceedingly rare Signer of these Continental Currency Indent issues of September 27, 1785 and October 11, 1787. This wonderful Indent type is listed and illustrated in Newman on page 75 of the 5th Edition.

This Partly-Printed Typeset Fiscal form was for funds "received for TAXES". It is printed in black typeset on thin tissue laid period paper. This rare form measures about 6" x 3.5". It is boldly printed in black Typeset with ornate top and bottom borders. At the left side border is an indent with a protector reading, "ONE DOLLAR, and Eighteen ninetieths of a Dollar".

An exceedingly rare series of Continental Congress notes that were issued and meant to circulate. Space was set aside on the form for a written fractional denomination in the form of "ninetieths of a Dollar". This was based on the conversion of 90 Pence to a Spanish Milled Dollar in New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. A nice clean well printed and boldly signed example for its paper quality. Overall, sharp looking very clean example with only some sealed ink burn noted on it's blank reverse. An important opportunity to acquire one of perhaps a handful known of this Continental Congress Bearer Certificate.

EAHA 2026-04 Sale Lot 066 1740 Massachusetts Silver Bank note

August 1, 1740, (Massachusetts) The Silver or Specie Bank, "We jointly and severally promise to pay Isaac Winslow.", Fifteen Shillings, Ex. Ford-Boyd Collections, PCGS Banknote graded Very Good-10 (Finest Certified), however, it was graded raw Fine by noted cataloger Bruce Hagen when sold by Stack's in May 2004.

This engraved Merchant Bills issue was to be loaned out with land promised as security. The directors formed the Silver Bank as a conservative "hard money" response to the Land Bank of 1740, which they viewed as inflationary and dangerous. While the Land Bank was popular with farmers and small traders (including Samuel Adams' father), the Silver Bank directors represented the wealthy elite who favored a stable currency pegged to precious metals.

This Uniface note is fully Signed by James Boutineau, Joshua Winslow, H. Hall, and James Bowdoin (whose son was the namesake of Bowdoin College in Maine). The blank back is ink Signed "Isaac Winslow" (1709-1777), small penciled "iayx" cost code also present. Other than two small chip repairs at upper left edge, and another small pair of like repairs at lower right edge, the visual impact of this rare and important note has not changed when compared to the photo in the Ford sale catalog.

Pedigree: Ex F.C.C. Boyd Estate; Stack's sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part III, May, 2004, Lot 521. The Isaac Winslow associated with the 1740 Silver Bank was a prominent Boston merchant born in 1709. He should not be confused with his ancestor, Colonel Isaac Winslow (1671-1738) of Marshfield, who died before the bank was established. This younger Isaac was a member of the Sandemanian religious sect and a Loyalist during the American Revolution.

January 15, 1741/42, Province of ye Massachusetts Bay, Copper-Plate Engraved Unique PROOF, Twenty Shillings, New Tenor (or Four Pounds, Old Tenor), Unique, The Newman Plate Note, PCGS graded Uncirculated-60. Fr. MA-99PR. This unique Proof note is sharply printed on sturdy laid period paper printed from the engraved copper-plates by Kneeland and Green. As a Proof specimen there is no serial number or signatures, as intended. On the signature line written in clear brown ink it reads: "Copy from The Plate" (written vertically). This "Tall Note" measures 100mm x 140mm, printed on both sides. The face side is very well centered, the reverse more towards the right edge.

This is a truly gorgeous note, exceptional for the era, despite PCGS qualifiers; repairs, design redrawn, piece added, contemporary notation. The bottom left corner at the Lion vignette, about 1" x .5" was restored and expertly conserved, otherwise this note is crisp and undeniably highly attractive. As written by cataloger Bruce Hagen in the 2004 Ford catalog, "Not issued, but a ‘Proof' from the engraved face plate (so-called First Plate) and with the typeset back printed also... this striking certainly was done contemporary to the period and probably used for counterfeit detection."

The back has some old faint penciled collector notations reading: "old bill unsigned" / "6,000 issued" and "msxy" (which is Boyd's cost code, indicating he paid $75 for this note likely circa 1910). This unique note represents the finest example of the issue extant

"War of 1861" American Eagle Union Army Dog Tag Struck in Bronze for Private Thomas Lane of Company B, 57th New York Infantry, Choice Extremely Fine. Private Lane's name and unit designation are stamped on the reverse. A hole has been drilled through the tag's top to allow it to be worn around the owner's neck. This Tag measures about 1" across, minor deep tone on the reverse rim edge and having traces of light golden luster within the obverse legends, American Eagle and lettering on the reverse side.

Thomas Lane enlisted on September 17, 1861 at the age of 20 in Utica, NY. He was mustered out on December 15th, 1864 in Rochester, NY. Additional copied information on this soldier will accompany the item. (See additional unit history online at: www.EarlyAmerican.com)

The 57th New York Infantry Regiment was formed by amalgamating companies of several smaller military formations in and around New York City, including the National Guard Rifles, the Clifton Rifles, the United States Voltigeurs, the Washington Zouaves, and the Manhattan Rifles. They were mustered as the 57th on August 12th, 1861.

1862 Civil War Encased Postage Stamp, EP-11, HB-89, S-59, Reed CL01-01, ARTHUR M. CLAFLIN, One Cent, Hopkinton, MA., Choice New. The Finest Known Arthur M. Claflin One Cent Merchant Type.

Rated Rarity-8 (5 to 10 known) according to Fred Reed. The Claflin, Merchant Type, is the single rarest of all 34 different major Encased Postage Merchants known. Owning a Claflin is the most important "Key" if one hopes to ever complete a 34 Merchant Set of Encased Postage Stamps. The example we offer here is to our best knowledge the absolute Finest in quality of all the known Claflin, of all denominations.

This very specimen was sold as part of a fabulous quality collection where it had resided for some twenty years. In a Robert Siegel multimillion dollar major stamp public sale over 25 years ago this example brought $13,500 in strong competitive bidding to our present consignor. An exceptional opportunity to acquire the single Finest of all known "Claflin" merchant pieces of any denomination. Certainly worthy of our current estimate range. (Friedberg EF & Scott VF $13,500 - *apparently based on the sale of this item 25 years ago). Provenance ex: Robert Siegel Auctions; Early American History Auctions, February 10, 2001; Collection of Robert Bauer.

1865-Dated (Struck post-1886), Silver Abraham Lincoln "Presidential" Second Term Commemorative Medal. Original Version. Struck in Silver at the United States Mint in Philadelphia, with its Original Hanger Intact at Top. King-518. Julian PR-12. (76mm) NGC Certified "GENUINE.", EAHA graded Extremely Fine. Choice Extremely Fine.

76mm. Julian PR-12. The 1865 (post-1886) Abraham Lincoln Second Term Commemorative Presidential Medal (King-518, Julian PR-12) is a prestigious United States Mint Struck Medal designed by George T. Morgan. While frequently seen offered struck in bronzed-copper, original examples Struck in Silver are extremely rare and highly collectible. We believe that this current example is the Only Silver "Presidential" Second Term Commemorative Abraham Lincoln Medal available for private collectors, as the few others known are locked away in institutional collections. Though 1865-dated, this Silver Abraham Lincoln Medal was officially struck at the United States Mint in Philadelphia in circa 1886. The Obverse: displays a large Bust Profile of President Abraham Lincoln facing to the right. The Reverse has an ornate decorative Wreath which wraps around the central legends which read:

"INAUGURATED PRESIDENT Of The UNITED STATES March 14, 1861. - SECOND TERM March 4, 1865. - ASSASSINATED April 14, 1865."

This is the rare Original Version was produced Without the engraver Morgan's name on the truncation (the Julian reference believes that his name was later added in 1917 when Morgan became an official Engraver). This medal is holed at the top for suspension with its original added Silver Hanger intact for suspension and has natural medium silver tone presenting an overall attractive appearance, as shown.