philatelia
Member 
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,408
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Oct 10, 2023 18:41:10 GMT
 Happy dance time! I love to add a few nice, classic covers to all of my collections so I’ve been prowling the auctions looking for something for my Roman States collection. Well today I found it! The auction just closed and my bid won! Even better, this cover predates my birthday by almost exactly 100 years - so it was meant to come to mama Terri lol! This mourning cover - or so I believe from the black border - left Rome on the 8th of June in 1857, it arrived in Calais on the 14th and then travelled on one of the early steamships (judging by the 16 day transatlantic transit time) and arrived in New York on 30th. From there it travelled to Winthrop, Maine to be delivered to Samuel P Benson, who, according to Wikipedia had just retired from his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Maine’s 4th district. The cover is franked with 4 Michel #9, 8 baiocchi, and 1 Michel #7c 6 baiocchi, or a cost of about USD .40 if I’m calculating correctly - I found an exchange rate of 1 Skudo to 100 Baiocchi- (abbreviated to Baj on the stamps.) with a skudo valued at .96. I really LOVE that the cancels are all so legible! This one is a keeper! FYI - I’m a novice to cover collecting, so feel free to chime in with tips or comments.  
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,408
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Oct 10, 2023 19:17:20 GMT
A question - I’m thinking of VERY gently erasing the pencil scribbles on the back of this cover. Is that a good or a bad idea? Thanks in advance for your advice.
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Mr. H
Member
Member - APS #129381
Posts: 935
What I collect: US, Netherlands, Whatever suits my fancy.
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Post by Mr. H on Oct 10, 2023 19:45:12 GMT
I wouldn't as it you may not be able to remove it all and it could leave clean spots where you removed the pencil. You also risk thinning or tearing the paper.
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,269
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Oct 10, 2023 20:15:02 GMT
I would remove the pencil marks as I feel they detract. Sometimes you find the recipient has used an old envelope as a shopping list or done their tax calculations on the back . A gentle quality eraser will not harm the cover and will improve it . I have done so on flimsier paper than this .
An artist’s plastic eraser will also clean up the dirty stiff marks along the lower edge. I believe soft white bread works as a cleaning agent also .
lovely cover Terri.
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,408
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Nov 14, 2023 19:54:33 GMT
The cover (see previous posts in this thread) just arrived and the contents - a lengthy 4 page letter - were intact! How freaking cool is that? Dated June 2, 1857’ Here’s the interesting part. The cover took LONGER to travel from Norway to Florida in 2023 than it took to travel from Rome to Maine in 1857. WOW!
It was taking so long to arrive that I contacted the company and they started a search. So relieved that it wasn’t lost or stolen.  |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,914 
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Nov 15, 2023 0:45:06 GMT
The cover (see previous posts in this thread) just arrived and the contents - a lengthy 4 page letter - were intact! How freaking cool is that? Dated June 2, 1857’ Here’s the interesting part. The cover took LONGER to travel from Norway to Florida in 2023 than it took to travel from Rome to Maine in 1857. WOW!
It was taking so long to arrive that I contacted the company and they started a search. So relieved that it wasn’t lost or stolen. Interesting piece, the paper is fascinating, must have been pre printed livery stationery, for an important person / business. The Arch of Constantine, a true "wonder of the world" how it has survived since 315 AD in such an amazing state, leaves me in awe. I note it is shown with flora growing all over it, as it was painted in 17th century wiki  |
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Post by nick2302 on Nov 15, 2023 1:50:47 GMT
As the pencil marks are on the back I would gently try to erase one with a soft eraser. But if it starts to lighten the envelope paper then stop and be happy with what you have.
Happy collecting.
Nick
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,408
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Nov 15, 2023 2:06:51 GMT
The author of the letter was Charlotte Sewall Eastman - here is a portrait of her;  |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,914
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Nov 15, 2023 2:55:50 GMT
The author of the letter was Charlotte Sewall Eastman - here is a portrait of her; Self Portrait. Apparently she was a painter. link |
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,408
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Nov 15, 2023 8:23:24 GMT
Oh very cool! Thanks for finding this information. The history associated with stamp collecting is so addictive, isn’t it?
And - I’m trying to read her handwriting, but I think she was declining an offer of marriage from Samuel Benson.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,914
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Nov 15, 2023 8:39:44 GMT
Oh very cool! Thanks for finding this information. The history associated with stamp collecting is so addictive, isn’t it? And - I’m trying to read her handwriting, but I think she was declining an offer of marriage from Samuel Benson. You ladies can certainly break our hearts, sometimes.  4 pages, for a "Dear John" that appears at least kind. My first thought she was an Eastman-Kodak lady of means, then realised too early for that. She apparently married Benjamin Eastman ? link |
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Happy dance time! 
