Details
HUNTINGTON, SAMUEL, President of the Continental Congress, Signer (Connecticut). Autograph free frank ("S. Huntington Free") AS PRESIDENT OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS, on a cover sheet (letter not present) addressed by an aide "To Thomas Mumford Esquire at Groton Connecticut," labeled by Huntington at top right "public service." [Philadelphia, 26 August 1780]. 1 page, 4to, folding to 88 x 200mm. (3 7/16 x 7 7/8 in.), paper a bit weak along folds, recipient's docket "President of Congress, 26 Augt. 1780." Illustrated in Phillips, American Stampless Cover Catalog vol. 2, p. 202 (the date in the endorsement was misread as "1786").
A VERY RARE HUNTINGTON FREE FRANK AS PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS
Huntington's letter, sent under this cover sheet from Philadelphia on 26 August 1780, concerned American suspicions of George Howell, an Irish immigrant in New York operating as a British agent while posing as sympathetic to the American cause. The Long Island sound, on which Groton is located, was a crucial channel for spies of both sides, who passed easily by rowboat between rebel camps in Connecticut and British Long Island. Very few Huntington free franks are known; the Stern collection contained one, also dated 1780 (History, pl. 4, no. 7); but other than an undated example in the Hessel Collection, no other Huntington frank is recorded at auction by American Book Prices Current in the last 10 years.
Huntington (1731-1796), an eminent Connecticut attorney and judge, was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775, signed the Declaration of Independence and succeeded John Jay as President in September 1779, serving until July 1781. A strong supporter of the Federal Constitution, he served as his state's Governor for a full decade from 1786 until his death.
A VERY RARE HUNTINGTON FREE FRANK AS PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS
Huntington's letter, sent under this cover sheet from Philadelphia on 26 August 1780, concerned American suspicions of George Howell, an Irish immigrant in New York operating as a British agent while posing as sympathetic to the American cause. The Long Island sound, on which Groton is located, was a crucial channel for spies of both sides, who passed easily by rowboat between rebel camps in Connecticut and British Long Island. Very few Huntington free franks are known; the Stern collection contained one, also dated 1780 (History, pl. 4, no. 7); but other than an undated example in the Hessel Collection, no other Huntington frank is recorded at auction by American Book Prices Current in the last 10 years.
Huntington (1731-1796), an eminent Connecticut attorney and judge, was elected to the Continental Congress in 1775, signed the Declaration of Independence and succeeded John Jay as President in September 1779, serving until July 1781. A strong supporter of the Federal Constitution, he served as his state's Governor for a full decade from 1786 until his death.