Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions, LLC Sale

To see new sales and other StampAuctionNetwork news in your Facebook newsfeed then Like us on Facebook!

StampAuctionNetwork Extended Features

StampAuctionNetwork Channels

Civil War Postal History: Union continued...

Naval Ship Covers continued...

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

U.S.S. Brandywine, Frigate, cover addressed to "Paymaster Thos. H. Looker U.S.N., U.S. Frigate 'Brandywine', Off Fortress Monroe, Old Point, Va." franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a target cancel and a Nov 8 New York c.d.s.; includes the original three-page letter from Looker's wife, datelined Hoboken, N.J., Nov 7; somewhat roughly opened at the top, Fine to Very Fine,

Originally built in 1825 as the 44-gun frigate Susquehanna , her first task was to transport the Marquis de Lafayette back to France. She was renamed Brandywine in honor of the battle in which Lafayette was wounded while fighting with American forces. She was later recommissioned a number of times for service in various theaters, finally in October 1861, when she joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, most of the time stationed off of Fortress Monroe. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $300-400
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Brooklyn, Screw Sloop, cover with manuscript endorsement "U.S.S. Brooklyn, Pensacola Bay, Apr. 21st 63" franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a fancy circle-of-wedges with a May 5 New York c.d.s. alongside; to Salem, N.J. and including the original, easily read three-page letter which mentions "instructions for the collection of Magnolia prize money." [Magnolia was a southern steamer captured by Brooklyn while attempting to slip through the blockade with 1,200 bales of cotton] and "I do not think another attack will be made on Fort Hudson until land forces are ready.", Very Fine,

Brooklyn was commissioned in January 1859 with then-Captain David Farragut in command. She participated at New Orleans, the lower Mississippi and Mobile Bay, before joining the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. (Image) (Image2)

Get Market Data for [United States Collection]

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $450.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Brooklyn, Steam Sloop, 3¢ pink entire (U58) addressed to "Rezeau B. Pott Esqr., Third Asst. Engineer U.S.S. Richmond, Post Office New Orleans, Louisiana", canceled Williamsport, Pa., Dec 22, 1862; slight edge wear, Fine to Very Fine,

Brooklyn was commissioned in January 1859 with then-Captain David Farragut in command. She participated at New Orleans, the lower Mississippi and Mobile Bay, before joining the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States U58]

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $160.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Calypso, Screw Steamer, cover addressed to "Surgeon of U.S.S. 'Calypso', Hampton Roads, Va.", franked with a 2¢ Boyd's Local (20L18) tied by a company oval and a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a fancy oval with a partial Apr 4 New York c.d.s. alongside; reduced slightly at the right, Boyd's Local oxidized, otherwise Very Fine. An exceedingly rare use of a U.S. Local on a ship's cover.,

Calypso, an armed steamer, was captured in June 1863 by the U.S.S. Florida, while running the Union blockade off of Wilmington, N.C. She was then purchased from the prize court and commissioned in the Union Navy in October 1863, at which time she joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron patrolling the Bahamas routes to Wilmington and the Chesapeake. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 20L18]

Suggested Bid $400-600
SOLD for $425.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Cambridge, Screw Steamer, cover addressed to "Acting Master, Robert D. Eldridge, On board U.S. Steamer Cambridge, blockading Squadron, Old Point Comfort", franked with a neatly canceled 3¢ rose (65) with a red "New Bedford Mass./Paid/Dec 10" c.d.s. alongside; slight edge wear and reduced a bit at the top, Fine,

Cambridge served with the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron from September 1861 until October 1864. In February 1865 she was transferred to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron where she served for the duration of the war. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Canandaigua, Screw Sloop, cover with manuscript endorsement "U.S.S. 'Canandaigua'" franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a Port Royal, S.C. target duplex, Mar, 1864; from Joseph W. Congdon, Canandaigua's Captain, to his wife in Williamsburgh, L.I., N.Y., Very Fine,

Canandaigua joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in August 1862. She participated in a long series of attacks on Confederate positions in Charleston, S.C., in 1863 and 1864. On February 17, 1864, she rescued 150 members of the crew of Housatonic when the latter was sunk by the attack of the Confederate submarine C.S.S. H. L. Hunley—the first successful submarine attack in history. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $400-600
SOLD for $275.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Canandaigua, Screw Sloop, cover with manuscript endorsement "U.S.S. 'Canandaigua'" franked with three 3¢ rose (65) tied by fancy Sep 5 New York duplexes; from Joseph W. Congdon, Canandaigua's Captain, to his wife in Williamsburgh, L.I., N.Y.; reduced just a tad at the left, right-most stamp slightly damaged, Fine to Very Fine,

Canandaigua joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in August 1862. She participated in a long series of attacks on Confederate positions in Charleston, S.C. in 1863 and 1864. On February 17, 1864, she rescued 150 members of the crew of Housatonic when the latter was sunk by the attack of the Confederate submarine C.S.S. H. L. Hunley—the first successful submarine attack in history. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $400-600
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Canandaigua, Screw Sloop, cover with manuscript endorsement "U.S.S. 'Canandaigua'" franked with three 3¢ rose (65) tied by Port Royal, S.C. target duplexes, Jul 25, 1864; from Joseph W. Congdon, Canandaigua's Captain, to his wife in Wickford, R.I.; damaged corners (affecting one stamp) and roughly opened at the left, about Fine,

Canandaigua joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in August 1862. She participated in a long series of attacks on Confederate positions in Charleston, S.C. in 1863 and 1864. On February 17, 1864, she rescued 150 members of the crew of Housatonic when the latter was sunk by the attack of the Confederate submarine C.S.S. H. L. Hunley—the first successful submarine attack in history. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $120.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Carondelet, Eads City-Class Gunboat, cover addressed to "Mr. Scott D. Jordan, Acting Ensign, U.S. Steamer. Carondelet, Miss. Squadron, via Cairo, Illinois", franked with a grid-canceled 3¢ rose (65) and postmarked with a partial Portland, Me. c.d.s. and at "DUE/6" in arc; reduced slightly at the right, Fine,

Carondelet was one of the seven Eads City-Class ironclad gunboats. She saw action at Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Island 10, White River, Memphis, Vicksburg and Red River. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $100.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Chippewa, Unadilla-Class Gunboat, cover with manuscript endorsement "Ships letter, Jno. W. Philip, U.S.S. 'Chippewa'", sent unfranked and handstamped with a straightline "U.S. SHIP", "Due 6" and a mostly clear Philadelphia c.d.s., Jun 8, 1862, to Warren, Conn., Fine to Very Fine,

Chippewa served in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron from December 1861 until ordered to search for the Confederate raider, C.S.S. Florida, which took her across the Atlantic to Spain and North Africa and to various ports in the West Indies. Upon her return from this unsuccessful cruise, in May 1863, she was reassigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron and operated off the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina. The Florida was finally caught in the port of Bahia, Brazil on October 3, 1864. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States Blockade]

Suggested Bid $350-500
SOLD for $425.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Colorado, Screw Frigate, cover addressed to "Fleet Surgeon Dr. G.R.B. Horner, U.S.S. Colorado, Boston, Mass.", franked with a grid-canceled 3¢ dull red (26) and postmarked with a clear Philadelphia octagonal datestamp, Jun 7, 1861—just three days after the Colorado was commissioned and 11 days before she sailed from Boston on her first assignment; upper left corner slightly nicked, otherwise Very Fine,

Colorado joined the Gulf Blockading Squadron in June 1861 taking blockade-runners and conducting raids. She was reassigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron in October 1864 and participated in the bombardment and capture of Fort Fisher at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, Wilmington, N.C., in January 1865. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 26]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $90.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Commodore Hull, Side-Wheel Gunboat, red & blue Flag patriotic cover (Weiss F-R-151 endorsed simply "Ship Letter", initially postmarked "5" in circle (due 3¢ + 2¢ ship fee), but nullified with a red grid and re-rated with an incomplete oval "U.S. (SHIP)/3 cts." (Milgram SH-13); the letter is from George Van Duzen, Acting Master of the Commodore Hull, to his wife Selah in New York; it has been somewhat refreshed and has two sealed opening tears at the top, Fine to Very Fine appearance,

Commodore Hull was a side-wheel ferryboat, built as Nuestra Señora del Regla, intended for Havana, Cuba. Purchased in 1862, she was converted to a gunboat and assigned to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron. She served in the Carolina sounds and was at the siege of Plymouth, NC. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States Blockade]

Suggested Bid $250-350
SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Commodore Perry, Side-Wheel Gunboat, clean lady's envelope addressed to "H. Augustus Phelan Executive Officer, U.S. Steamer Commodore Perry, Plymouth, N.C., Via Roanoke Isalnd", franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a circle-of-wedges with a clear New York c.d.s., Feb 23, 1863, alongside, Very Fine,

Commodore Perry was a sidewheel ferryboat acquired by the Navy and refitted as a gunboat. She was commissioned in October 1861 and in January 1862 joined the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, where she took part, only a month later, in the capture of Roanoke Island. In October 1862 she participated in the failed Army-Navy attack on Franklin, Va. During the battle four of her crewmen were awarded the Medal of Honor. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $225.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Congress, Frigate, cover with manuscript endorsement "U S Frigate Congress, Newport News," franked with a 3¢ pink (64) tied by a partial Old Point Comfort, Va. c.d.s. (docketed Oct 23, 1861), to East Boston, Mass. and backstamped Boston, Oct 26; reduced just a bit at the right, Fine to Very Fine, with a 1995 P.F. certificate as a "pink",

Congress was originally commissioned in May 1842, serving in the Mediterranean and South Atlantic. In September 1861 she joined the Atlantic Blockading Squadron. In March 1862, while part of the Union blockade of Newport News, Va., she fell under attack by the Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Virginia (formerly the U.S.S. Merrimack) and ultimately ran aground and sank with the loss of 120 men. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 64]

Suggested Bid $400-600
SOLD for $375.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Connecticut, Side-Wheel Steamer, stenciled "Ship Connecticut/ A. B. Langworthy" (Milgram No. 282) on the back of a Flag & Canon patriotic cover with the legend "Our Compromise" (Weiss F-R 419), franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a clear Feb 25 New York target duplex (docketed 1861); to Connecticut's Captain, A. B. Langworthy, Milwaukee, Wis., "Sheriff's Office" reduced slightly at the right, otherwise exceptionally clean and Very Fine.,

A.B. Langworthy was an Acting Maser's Mate on Connecticut. The addressee, his brother, was a Captain in the 1st Wisconsin Heavy Artillery.

Built in New York as the Mississippi, this side-wheel staemer was purchased by the Navy, converted to a warship and commissioned U.S.S. Connecticut in August 1861. Her first voyage was on August 25, 1861, where she delivered men and supplies to blockade ships along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts as far as Galveston, Texas. She later spent time assisting in the search for the Confederate cruiser C.S.S. Nashville, then returned to cargo duty, making five voyages similar to her first. She also captured four schooners with valuable cargo during this period. (Image) (Image2)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $1,200-1,800
SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Constellation, Frigate, "Stand By The Flag" patriotic cover (Weiss F-R 321) addressed to "Mr. Joseph F. Littlefield, U. S. Ship Constellation, Spezia, Italy, franked with pen-canceled pair of 3¢ rose and a strip of three 12¢ black (65, 69); postmarked Milford, N.H., May 24, 1862 with red crayon "36" rate, red French boxed "P.D." and Jun 10 entry c.d.s., redirected from Spezia to Genoa where it was backstamped on Jun 12; includes the original four-page letter regarding family matters; cover reduced ever so slightly at the left (letter also slightly reduced on one edge), Very Fine. An exceptional example of a Patriotic ship's cover to Europe.,

Constellation, the last sail-only warship designed and built by the U.S. Navy, was commissioned in July 1855. She spent most of the war in the Mediterranean gathering intelligence on Confederate raiders and activities. (Image) (Image2) (Image3)

Get Market Data for [United States 69]

Suggested Bid $1,200-1,800
SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Constitution, Frigate, cover addressed to "Midshipman Frederic G. Hyde, U.S.S. Constitution, Newport, Rhode Island", franked with a cork-canceled 3¢ rose (65) and postmarked Norwichtown, Ct., Jan 15 (1864), Fine to Very Fine,

Constitution, "Old Ironsides", was built in 1797 and is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. In 1857 she was moved to dry dock at the Portsmouth Navy Yard for conversion into a training ship, being refitted with classrooms and reducing her armament to only 16 guns. In August 1860 she was moved to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Then in April 1861, at the outbreak of the War, after threats were made against her by Southern sympathizers, Constitution, along with the Naval Academy itself, was moved north to Fort Adams in Newport, R.I., for the duration of the war. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Constitution, Frigate, cover addressed to "Act. Mid. Louis E. Fagan, U.S. Ship Constitution, Annapolis, Md.", franked with a grid-canceled 3¢ dull red (26) and postmarked Philadelphia, Feb 16, 1861,

Constitution, "Old Ironsides", was built in 1797 and is the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. In 1857 she was moved to dry dock at the Portsmouth Navy Yard for conversion into a training ship, being refitted with classrooms and reducing her armament to only 16 guns. In August 1860 she was moved to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. Then in April 1861, at the outbreak of the War, after threats were made against her by Southern sympathizers, Constitution, along with the Naval Academy itself, was moved north to Fort Adams in Newport, R.I., for the duration of the war. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 26]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $250.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Cumberland, Frigate, cover with manuscript endorsement "Ship letter, U.S.S. 'Cumberland'", cover franked with a 3¢ dull red (26) tied by an incomplete Old Point Comfort, Va. c.d.s., Sep 11 (1861), to Fort Snelling, Minn.; upper left corner of stamp nicked, Fine to Very Fine. A very scarce Civil War Cumberland ship letter,

Cumberland, a sail-only frigate, was launched in November 1842 and served as Flagship for the Pacific, European and Home Squadrons. She was Perry's Flagship during the Mexican-American War. She was rammed and sunk in an engagement with the Confederate ironclad C.S.S. Virginia (formerly the U.S.S. Merrimack) at Newport News, Va., on March 8, 1862. The engagement, on the first day of the Battle of Hampton Roads, is considered to be a turning point in the history of naval warfare, as it demonstrated the advantage of steam-powered, armored ships over sail-powered, wooden-hulled ships. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 26]

Suggested Bid $300-400
SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction

U.S.S. Curlew, Tinclad Stern-Wheel Gunboat, cover with printed endorsement "U.S. Steamer 'Curlew', Miss. Squadron" (Milgram 324), franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a Cairo, Ill. target duplex, Apr 30, 1864, to Camden, O.; reduced slightly at the left, otherwise Very Fine. Cairo, at the junction of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, was an important supply base for the Mississippi River Squadron.,

Curlew, also known as Tinclad No. 12, was launched as the Florence at Pittsburgh in early 1862. She was purchased by the Navy in December 1862 and commissioned as the Curlew in February 1863. She operated as part of the Mississippi River Flotilla on the Mississippi and her tributaries, her eight howitzers making her ideal for bombardment of Confederate positions. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $300-400
SOLD for $600.00
Will close during Public Auction