1515 Bergamo, Republic of Venice, Italy, "Cito" Special Delivery Stampless Folded Letter to Lodi A Very Early Form of Express Letter from the Rectors of Bergamo Following the Battle of Marignano
Stampless folded letter datelined Bergamo, October 20, 1515 with two stirrups and "cito" repeated five times at right to indicate haste. In Latin the phrase, "Cito Cito Citissime" represents a superlative escalation of speed (fast, faster,...
The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 - Day 1
By: Americana Stamps
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Jun 26, 2026 America/Los_Angeles
Americana Stamps The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 - Day 1
Friday Jun 26, 2026 19:00 to 23:00 America/Los_Angeles America/Los_Angeles
We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.
America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.
This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale.
As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:
✔ High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item
✔ Links to reference articles and supporting research
✔ Links to philatelic certifications
✔ Census data and population insights
✔ Provenance details to trace notable histories
Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.
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Showing 151 - 175 of 470
Lot #2001 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 16th Century
Price: $ 500.00
Lot #2002 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 16th Century
Circa 1515, Media Nox. Meridies, Page from a Book About An Early Astronomy Measuring Device
Media nox means "middle of the night" (midnight), while meridies refers to "midday" or "noon."
Price: $ 300.00
Lot #2003 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 17th Century
1668 Stampless Folded Letter, Longhouse, London to Liverpool, "IV/25" in Circle Bishop Mark An Early Bishop Mark Usage Within the First Decade of Recorded Postmarking
1668 stampless folded letter from London to Liverpool, dated June 23, 1668 and addressed "For Edward Moore Esq. at his house at Bankhall near Liverpool, Lancashire." The letter is written by his cousin and signed "your most humble servt & Affect.t Kinsman."
The...
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #2004 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 19th Century
1sh 4p Blue Embossed Revenue with Foil Insert Used on Piece of Document with Royal Seal Missing on Reverse
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2005 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 19th Century
1801 L1 Blue Embossed Revenue with Foil Insert Used on Piece of Document with Seal of King George III on Reverse
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2006 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 19th Century
1801 6d Blue Embossed Revenue with Foil Insert Used on Piece of Document with Seal of King George III on Reverse
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2007 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 19th Century
1801 L4/5/- Blue Embossed Revenue with Foil Insert Used on Piece of Document with Seal of King George III on Reverse
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2008 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 19th Century
1860 10/- Blue Embossed with Foil Insert Used on Piece of Document with Seal of Queen Victoria on Reverse
Dated June 27, 1860.
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2009 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 19th Century
Great Britain, 1840, 1p Mulready Lettersheet (U3), A63, Cancelled by Maltese Cross with "Monk Waermouth/Penny Post" Two-Line Handstamp on 1841 Cover from Sunderland to London Very Fine and Unusual Usage with Penny Post Handstamp
1p Mulready Lettersheet addressed to London, cancelled by Maltese Cross with "MONK WAERMOUTH/PENNY POST" two-line handstamp, indicating the letter was collected by the penny postman in Sunderland. "SUNDERLAND MY...
Price: $ 200.00
Lot #2010 - 16th-19th Century Worldwide Worldwide 19th Century
Great Britain, Daily Packet List, General Post-Office, January 20, 1843
Printed broadside issued by the British General Post-Office under the authority of the Postmaster General. Titled "Daily Packet List," No. 13,782, dated Friday, January 20, 1843. Royal Arms engraved at upper left of the masthead.
Tabulates the "Daily Statement of the Packet Boats" listing stations (Dover, The Thames, Holyhead, Milford, Port Patrick Donaghadee...
Price: $ 50.00
Lot #2011 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 17th Century
1691 Topsfield, Massachusetts, Stampless Folded Letter, Written by John Gould, Accuser at the Salem Witch Trials Written Three Months Before the Salem Witch Trials Began
Stampless letter datelined December 29, 1691, written and signed by John Gould of Topsfield, Massachusetts. This letter is written just three months before the Salem witch trials began in February 1692.
The writer is John Gould of Topsfield, aged 56 in 1692,...
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #2012 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 17th Century
1695 Boston, Massachusetts Price List from Boston A Beautiful 17th Century Military Document
Manuscript price list datelined "Boston April 1695," listing twenty-eight officers and men with individual amounts in pounds, shillings, and pence. Among the list are Captain John Hill and Lieutenant Joseph Hill.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #2013 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1758 Folded Letter, Boston to Newport, Rated 2dwt (6 Pence)
Folded letter from Boston to Newport, indicated by manuscript "Bos" Rated 2dwt (6p) for 60-100 miles.
Datelined 20 March 1758, addressed to Samuel Vernon.
Price: $ 200.00
Lot #2014 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1760 Stampless Folded Letter, Boston to Scarborough, Maine, "pr Capt Milliken" Addressed to Father of Rufus King, Signer of the Constitution
Stampless folded letter datelined Boston, November 8, 1760, addressed to "Mr. Richd. King, Mercht. In Scarborough" with manuscript carriage endorsement at lower left indicating delivery by Capt. Milliken. Retained file copy of Richard King's reply of December 23, 1760, written on a separate sheet....
Price: $ 260.00
Lot #2015 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1765 Stampless Folded letter, Basking Ridge, New Jersey to New York, Privately Carried Privately Carried with Contents Regarding Missing Letter
Stampless folded letter datelined Baskenridge Oct. 17 1765, addressed to Mr. Evert Bancker in New York. Written and signed by Gerard Bancker, an American Surveyor.
In the letter, Gerard Bancker writes to his brother, Evert, concerning a previous letter entrusted to a courier named Burgie,...
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #2016 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1767–1778, Extensive Samuel White Correspondence Collection, Barbados, Falmouth, Salem and Atlantic Trade Network Stampless Folded Letters Extensive Pre-Revolutionary Merchant Archive of 14 Stampless Folded Letters
An impressive group of merchant correspondence addressed to Samuel White, Merchant, of Marblehead, spanning 1767 through 1778 and documenting New England participation in the Atlantic fish and West Indies trade.
The...
Price: $ 750.00
Lot #2017 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1768 Stampless Folded letter, Boston to Newport, From John Lowell Referencing the Sons of Liberty, Privately Carried An Important Letter Referencing the Sons of Liberty Enforcing the Boston Non-Importation Agreement
Stampless folded letter datelined Boston, April 18, 1768, addressed to Mr. Christopher Champlin, Merchant, in Newport and carried "By Capt Elsbie"
The letter is written and signed by John Lowell of Boston who instructs...
Price: $ 500.00
Lot #2018 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1772 Stampless Folded Cover Sheet, Privately Carried by the Allentown (New Jersey) Stage to Philadelphia
Manuscript notation at bottom left "By stage with cash €50", carried privately on the Allentown, New Jersey stage to Philadelphia. Cover sheet with repairs.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #2019 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1778 Military Express Mail to Jethro Sumner, North Carolina Brigade, Lancaster Very Fine and Scarce Military Express Cover to Noted Commander of Revolutionary War
Revolutionary War folded letter addressed to “Col. Jethro Sumner of the No. Carolina Brigade” at Lancaster, docketed April 1778 and carried by military express. Sumner was later promoted to Brigadier General for the Continental Army.
Price: $ 360.00
Lot #2020 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1779 Stamplesss Folded Letter, New Market to Dover, New Hampshire
Folded letter addressed to Mr. Eliphalet Coffin “Att Dover,” datelined “New Market Febr’y 21st 1779” and written by Peter Concord. The letter discusses dissatisfaction with low wages and proposes an alternative rate for six months' labor.
Price: $ 200.00
Lot #2021 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1780 Stampless Folded Letter, Hamburg, Germany to Boston via Amsterdam Privately Carried Through American Privateer Blockade
Folded printed notice of a business partnership, datelined “Hamburg the 2d June 1780,” and privately forwarded via Amsterdam with manuscript notation on flap: “Amsterdam July 10, 1780 per cover of Y.m.h.s. John de Newfield & Son.” Addressed to Mr. William Vernon in Boston with no postal markings or rates,...
Price: $ 200.00
Lot #2022 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1783 Stampless Folded Letter, Fredericksburg to Richmond, Manuscript "1.8" Rate Rerated to "2" dwt
Folded letter dated February 25, 1783, from Fredericksburg to Richmond with manuscript rate of "1.8" (1 dwt 8 gr), subsequently rerated to "2" dwt.
Fredericksburg to Richmond is approximately 60-100 miles.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #2023 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1784 Stampless Folded Letter, Philadelphia to Boston, Franklin Mark, Manuscript "4" dwt Rate
Folded letter sheet dated July 26, 1784, from Philadelphia to Boston with manuscript "4" dwt rate. Addressed to Sam White. Philadelphia to Boston is 309 miles, rated 300-400 mile rate band.
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #2024 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1784 Stampless Folded Letter, New York to Philadelphia, Clear Straightline "N.Y* Apr: 8.", Manuscript "2" dwt Rate
Clear straightline handstamp "N.Y* Apr: 8." (15x4mm) on 1784 folded letter sheet to Philadelphia. Manuscript "2" rate marking.
New York to Philadelphia: 96 miles (60-100 mile rate band). Under the Franklin Mark period rate schedule, the single-letter rate for 60-100 miles was 1 dwt 8 gr. The manuscript "2" rate...
Price: $ 150.00
Lot #2025 - U.S. Stampless U.S. 18th Century
1784 Stampless Folded Letter Sheet, Portsmouth to Philadelphia, Red Two-Line "PORTSMOUTH" Handstamp, Manuscript "4.16" dwt Rate
Clear strike of red two-line "PORTSMOUTH/AUGUST.10" handstamp on 1784 folded letter sheet to Philadelphia. Manuscript rate "4.16" dwt with local currency notation "2/2" due. Horizontal file fold at bottom with slight toning below. Portsmouth to Philadelphia is 361 miles, rated 400-500 miles.
Price: $ 200.00
