MGJ Postal History

Nice cover. Full paid cancel goes with what looks like August 19, 1859 Boston red postmark. Also, there is partial double frame line at left.

This lot contains three items. First, a pink American Tract Society business envelope with a cachet and Boston postmark with pie wedge cancel on a Scott #65 stamp. It is opened roughly at the top and has no back flap. Second is a letter on ATS stationery from Henry Hill, ATS treasurer offering to pay Taunton Bank director Lovett Morse interest due on a building loan to his son if Morse will forego foreclosure proceedings. Third is the reply from Morse, explaining his position in the matter and setting down reasons for his decision whether or not to accept Hill’s “proposition”. The winner of the lot gets all the details. Very interesting reading.

Lovett Morse was a director of the Taunton National Bank as well as a director of the Taunton Gas-Light Company. Born in Taunton, on February 25, 1810, he married Sally Morse and they had five children.

Henry Hill – 1795-1892 – Born in Newburgh, NY. In 1809 he became clerk for Hill & Smith, 100 Wall Street, New York City. In 1817 he went on business to Chili acting as U. S. Counsel for Valparaiso and Santiago. He was treasurer of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions from 1822 to 1854 for 11 years was a member of its Prudential Committee. He was treasurer of the American Tract Society, Boston, for nine years.

The American Tract Society (ATS) is a nonprofit, nonsectarian but evangelical organization founded on May 11, 1825 in New York City for the purpose of publishing and disseminating Christian literature. ATS traces its lineage back through the New York Tract Society (1812) and the New England Tract Society (1814) to the Religious Tract Society of London, begun in 1799. Over the years, ATS has produced and distributed many millions of pieces of literature.

Superior condition for this cover with Scott #25 brownish carmine stamp. Scan does not do the deep color of this stamp justice.  Red Boston postmark and black PAID circle grill killer tie stamp to cover.  Addressed to E. B. Mason in Beverly.

Letter is from a Boston property owner to a friend in Danville, New York, first complimenting him on his shooting ability: "You shoot well--a good gun no doubt--give it to some of the grey squirrels in the woods".  He goes on to rave about Bob Bowa -- that crassy mouthed, drunken fellow abovestairs, 2 parties, 6 girls. The fellow would not clean.  Cousin G. tried to clean him out but the devil said Silverman engaged him and he would not clean (out) without his discharge. The girls as G. calls them know that I know all about the affairs and the other night I talked pretty freely about matters with Miss Abby."  Much more about that and other topics.  Easy reading. Letter in very good condition.