Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions, LLC Sale

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Civil War Postal History: Union continued...

Naval Ship Covers continued...

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

121

U.S.S. Wachusett, Screw Sloop, cover addressed to "Acting Master Fred D. Stuart, U.S. Flag Ship Wachusett, West India Squadron, Rear Admiral C. Wilkes Commanding, Care of U.S. Consul, Havana, Cuba", franked with a 10¢ green (68) tied by an illegible town cancel with a red "New Paid York" c.d.s., Feb 2 (1862) and an oval "NA1" (1 real due) handstamp, backstamped Havana on Feb 10; reduced just a hair at the top, Very Fine,

Wachusett, with a complement of 123, was designated flagship of the West Indies Blockading Squadron in 1862. She searched for Alabama and Florida, capturing the latter in the neutral harbor of Bahia, Brazil, in 1864. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 68]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $200.00
Will close during Public Auction

122

U.S.S. Warren, Sloop of War, cover with manuscript endorsement "U S Ship Warren, Bay of Panama, U S of Columbia [sic]", franked with a 10¢ green (68) tied by a "N. YORK/STEAMSHIP" circle with a handstamped "Due 10", to Captain Thomas Brown, George Town, DC; reduced just a tad at the left, Very Fine. This usage would have been between September 1861 and January 1863 when Warren was sold. The 10¢ due reflects the 20¢ rate from Panama.,

The fourth Warren launched in 1827. She started her career in the Mediterranean, successfully protecting American shipping. She served in the Brazilian, West Indies and Pacific squadrons, then became a Store Ship for the Pacific Fleet at the Bay of Panama in the 1850s. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 68]

Suggested Bid $350-500
SOLD for $450.00
Will close during Public Auction

123

U.S.S. William G. Anderson, Bark, cover with manuscript endorsement "From USShip W.G. Anderson, West Gulf Blkdg Squadrn", franked with a grid-canceled 3¢ rose (65) and postmark Old Point Comfort, Va., Oct 10 (faintly docketed at left "Aug.(?!) 26, 1862"); reduced just a tad at the left, Very Fine,

William G. Anderson operated with the West Gulf Blockading Squadron. She captured the privateer Beauregard and took eight prize ships during the war. She was decommissioned in 1866 and sold. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $650.00
Will close during Public Auction

124

U.S.S. Wissahickon, Unadilla-Class Gunboat, small cover with manuscript endorsement "From U.S.S. 'Wissahickon'", franked with a 3¢ rose (65) and postmarked with a straightline "U. S. SHIP", to Taunton, Mass., the stamp tied by the fancy Shield killer of Taunton (Skinner-Eno PS-ST 18); "7/21/63" penciled date on reverse, Fine to Very Fine,

Wissahickon participated in the capture of New Orleans, bombardment of Grand Gulf, and two runs past the Confederate fortifications commanding the river at Vicksburg. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $160.00
Will close during Public Auction

125

U.S.S. Young Rover, Bark, Sailor with Eagle, Flag & Shield and "The Pride of the Nation" patriotic cover (Weiss M-F 72 var. - unlisted verse) with manuscript endorsement "from the U S S Yong [sic] Rover ", franked with a 3¢ rose (65) tied by a rimless Annapolis, Md. c.d.s., Mar 6 (1863); reduced just a bit at the right, Fine to Very Fine. Annapolis is an uncommon entry point for ship's mail, but the date corresponds to the time Young Rover would have been in transit to Baltimore for repairs prior to joining the Potomac River Flotilla.,

Young Rover, with a complement of 48, served with the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and the Potomac Flotilla. Her last assignment was guarding the approaches to Delaware bay against Confederate raiders. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 65]

Suggested Bid $500-750
SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

Blockade Covers

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

126

Confederate States, Blockade Mail - Outgoing, cover from the Locke Correspondence from Savannah to London and forwarded to Rome, Italy; sent under cover to Nassau, via the blockade-runner Hansa out of Wilmington, N.C., on Oct 19, then by British West Indies Line's Corsica to New York where it was posted unpaid on Nov 16 and sent on Cunard's Persia to Queenstown, arriving on Dec 11, and on to London (Dec 14); the cover was then redirected to Rome by way of Paris (Dec 15), arriving on Dec 21; multiple handstamped and manuscript rates; open on three sides, Fine to Very Fine. Walske/Trepel census number BO-Nas-48, Ex-Walske, signed Kimbrough. (Image) (Image2)

Get Market Data for [United States Dec 14]

Suggested Bid $1,500-2,000
SOLD for $900.00
Will close during Public Auction

127

Confederate States, Blockade Mail - Incoming, small cover carried by the British blockade-runner Banshee, handstamped "SHIP" with a manuscript "12" (cents due), addressed to "Major Daniel E. Huger, Hendersonville, N. Carolina, C.S. America", postmarked with a partial May 29 Wilmington, N.C. c.d.s. and endorsed "favoured by Capt. Stiles"; top flap missing, repaired tear at the top, Fine. Capt. Stiles would have been a misidentification of Banshee's Capt. Steele, making the year 1863, signed Kimbrough,

Banshee made seven successful blockade runs between the Caribbean and Wilmington before she was captured in November 1863. She was purchased by the Navy from the New York Prize Court, converted to a Gunboat and commissioned U.S.S. Banshee in June 1864. She served in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and the Potomac River Flotilla. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States Blockade]

Suggested Bid $1,000-1,500
SOLD for $700.00
Will close during Public Auction

Adversity Covers

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

128

Confederate States, Twice-Used Adversity Cover, the first use is from Macon, Ga. to Mrs. John McIntosh Kell in Darien, Ga. and is franked in the upper right corner with a 10¢ light milky blue, stone Y (2e) tied by a partial Macon c.d.s. with a manuscript "Nov 17" date; the second use is from Riceboro, Ga. to Mrs. Kell in Macon and is franked with a pair of 5¢ green, stone 2 (1) tied by two undated Riceboro, Geo. circles, Fine to Very Fine. Most unusual having two usages on the same side of the cover.,

John McIntosh Kell was 1st Lieutenant and Executive Officer of the commerce raider C.S.S. Alabama. He later served as Adjutant General of Georgia from 1887 until his death in 1900. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 2e]

Suggested Bid $600-800
SOLD for $425.00
Will close during Public Auction

Flag of Truce Covers

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

129

Confederate States, "By Flag of Truce", manuscript endorsement on a folded letter datelined Charlotte, N.C., Christmas 1864, and franked with a pen-canceled 10¢ greenish blue and sent to Union-occupied Norfolk, Va.; the letter should have entered the U.S. Postal System at Old Point Comfort, Va., but is without the required U.S. stamp—most unusual; the letter, which is from H. Ashton Ramsey, Chief Engineer on the C.S.S. Virginia to his wife, lamenting their separation as she cares for her sick father; has some repaired internal separations, but is otherwise Fine and quite readable, signed P.A. Kaufmann,

H. Aston Ramsey was the chief engineer on the USS Merrimack. With the war, he resigned his commission, joined the Confederate Navy and was intrumental in the conversion of Merrimack to CSS Virginia. He then served as her chief engineer. With the imminent fall of Norfolk, he was ordered to move the shipyard to Charlotte, NC, where he commanded the yard and the 1500 workers there. (Image)

Suggested Bid $750-1,000
SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction

Letters & Documents

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

130

Confederate States, Soldier's Letter, wonderful five-page letter datelined "Magnuts Hill [La.], May 1st 64", written by Private J. A. Frierson, describing, in part, an engagement with "2 Gun Boats and 3 transports." The lead gunboat passed but "we bursted the boiler of one transport so we captured her, we crippled another which the other Gun Boat towed up the River…"; he also notes that nearly 200 "negroes" died from scalding when the boiler on the first transport burst and "we had fine fun (if so it might be termed) shooting the yankees as they would jump off the transport and move up the bank."; includes the cover of transmittal to Kingston, La. endorsed "Private - J. Alison Frierson, Co. G. 27th Regt. La. Vol.", franked with a pen-canceled 5¢ blue (7) and postmarked with a clear May 6 Mansfield, La. c.d.s., Very Fine,

Commodore Thomas Selfridge in his report identifies the five boats as the gunboats Cricket, Juliet and Fort Hindmen with two transports, the Champion #3 and #5. Champion #3's boiler exploded killing the captain and 193 others. The lead gunboat, Cricket, with Rear Admiral Porter on board suffered 60% casualties including the pilot. Porter took over under fire, guiding the severely damaged boat out of danger. The other gunboats were also heavily damaged by the 20 Confederate artillery pieces. (Image) (Image2)

Get Market Data for [United States Blockade]

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

131

Confederate States, Mississippi River Flotilla - Battle of Sabine Pass, letter datelined San Augustine (Texas), Oct 5, 1863, from one Samuel Wilson, recounting the battle, which took place a month earlier on Sep 8, the relevant passage, "We have had a fight latterly, at Sabine Pass, killed about 50 yankees & took 300 prisoners & two gun boats, & we never lost a man"; includes the cover of transmittal, franked with a pair of 5¢ Davis tied by an Oct 30 Canton, Miss. c.d.s. and addressed to Sunny Side P.O., Va.; cover missing bottom flap, both the cover and the letter with edge wear, Fine. The cover was apparently hand-carried across the Mississippi and entered the mails at Canton,

Sabine River Pass was the most lopsided Confederate victory of the war. Forty-four Confederate gunners who had been sent to the abandoned Fort Griffin as punishment defeated Banks' expeditionary force of 5000 men, 18 transports and four gunboats. The Navy lost the gunboats Sachem and Clifton. Banks withdrew leaving 50 dead and 300 prisoners. The Confederates had no casualties. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States Texas]

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

132

Confederate States, Folded Letter from New Orleans to Spain, July 2, 1861, datelined New Orleans and carried by Adams Express Co. to New York (no Express markings) where it was delivered to forwarding agents Galway, Casado & Teller (blue oval handstamp on the reverse) who took the letter to the Post Office and paid the NEW YORK Br. Pkt. rate (partial red Jul 17 c.d.s.); carried by Cunard's Persia and backstamped London (Jul 27), handstamp "4.Rs." due and backstamped Junquera (Jul 30) and Reus (Jul 31); letter is in Spanish and sent to the Director of Cotton Manufacturing in Reus, Very Fine,

Adams Express Co. normally put mail into the Post Office at Louisville, so Confederate mail from New Orleans through New York is quite rare. (Image)

Suggested Bid $200-300
SOLD for $550.00
Will close during Public Auction

Naval Ship Covers

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

133

Confederate States, C.S.S. Palmetto State, Ironclad Ram, cover addressed to "Mr. A.T. Smythe, C. S. St P. State, Charleston, So Ca", franked with a 10¢ blue (11) tied by a partial Richmond c.d.s. (Oct 15, 1863?); bit of paper clip rust at the top, Fine to Very Fine. Very rare.,

Palmetto State was a Richmond Class ironclad Ram built in Charleston in 1862. They had a complement of 180 and were slow and difficult to steer. Her most notable action was the ramming of the Mercedita. She was sunk to prevent capture September 27, 1864. Augustine T. Smythe was a Signal Officer. He was present at the firing on Fort Sumter. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 11]

Suggested Bid $400-600
SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

134

Confederate States, C.S.S. Palmetto State, Ironclad Ram, cover addressed to "A.Z. Smythe, Esq, Signal Officer 'Palmetto State', Charleston, So Ca", franked with a 10¢ blue (11) tied by a partial blue Aug 23 Columbia, S.C. c.d.s., Fine to Very Fine. Very rare.,

Palmetto State was a Richmond Class ironclad Ram built in Charleston in 1862. They had a complement of 180 and were slow and difficult to steer. Her most notable action was the ramming of the Mercedita. She was sunk to prevent capture on September 27, 1864. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States 11]

Suggested Bid $400-600
SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction

135

Confederate States, C.S.S. Wave, Side-Wheel Steamer, homemade cover addressed to "Capt. McKenny, of Steamer Wave, St. Martinville", franked with a 5¢ blue (7) tied by a mostly clear New Iberia, La. c.d.s., Feb 18 (1865), endorsed "O.B." for Official Business and "pr. Laurie" (a Bayou Teche steamer?); unobtrusive central vertical file fold, Fine to Very Fine. A rare cover from the captured U.S.S. Wave, in the service of the Confederacy for only a few months. The 5¢ is either an underpayment of the normal 10¢ rate, or, since New Iberia and St. Martinville are only six miles apart and connected by the Bayou Teche, it may be an overpayment of 2¢ for a drop letter plus the 2¢ ship fee., with a 2003 C.S.A. certificate,

Wave (Tinclad 45) was ordered as Argosy 2. She entered service in early 1864 and served less than five months before being captured at Calcasieu River. She was refit as a cargo steamer and probably destroyed in 1865 by retreating Confederates. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States (Confederate States) 7]

Suggested Bid $400-600
SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction

Ship Covers

LotNo.

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

136

U.S.S. Alaska, Sloop of War, cover with a purple handstamped "U. S. S. ALASKA" corner card, to West Philadelphia, Pa. and franked with a 5¢ blue (185) tied by a neat New York Station "I" duplex, Oct 16, 1881; minor opening flaws at the bottom, otherwise Very Fine, Ex-Knapp,

Alaska was commissioned in 1869 and sailed to the Far East where she joined the Asiatic Squadron in a visit to Korea to secure a treaty on opening the Kingdom to the West. She participated in the Battle of Ganghwa, helping to secure three Korean forts after they fired upon American vessels. She served in the European Squadron from 1873 to 1876 and the Pacific squadron from 1878 to 1883 and finally carried out hydrographic surveys and sounding of the Alaska Deep and Alaska Rise. She was decommissioned and sold in 1883. (Image) (Image2)

Get Market Data for [United States 185]

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

137

U.S.S. Canandaigua, Screw Sloop, cover addressed to "Surgeon, Edward Shippen U.S.N., U.S. Ship 'Canandaigua'" in care of Jno. Munroe & Co. in Paris, France, franked with 2¢, 3¢ & 10c 1861-66 Issues (73, 65, 68) tied by target cancels and postmarked Belvidere, N.J., Aug 10, 1866; there is a faint Aug 11 New York exchange office c.d.s., an Aug 22 Calais entry c.d.s., and a boxed "PD", all in red, and a faint Aug 25 Paris backstamp; the onion skin envelope is remarkably well-preserved, missing just a tiny piece of the upper left corner on the front, Fine to Very Fine, and quite attractive,

Canandaigua served with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron during the Civil War. She participated in the long series of attacks on positions in Charleston harbor during 1863 and 1864. From 1865 to 1869 she cruised with the European Station. She served in the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico with the North Atlantic Station from 1872 until 1875, when she was decommissioned. (Image)

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

138

U.S.S. Hartford, Screw Sloop of War, cover addressed to "Lieut. Fred G. Hyde, U.S. Navy, U. S. Flag Ship Hartford, Care U. S. Consul, Rio Janeiro, Brazil", franked with a pair of cork-canceled 5¢ blue (185) and postmarked Oakland, Cal., Feb 27 (1879) with a red Mar 4 "London/Paid" transit c.d.s. and an Apr 14 Rio backstamp, Very Fine,

Hartford served admirably during the Civil War. In July 1865 she became the flagship of the Asiatic Squadron and served until 1868. She was recommissioned to join the Asiatic Squadron in 1872 and served there until 1875. In 1882 she became flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron, then cruised in the Pacific until decommissioning in 1887. She was rebuilt and recommissioned in October 1899, then transferred to the Atlantic coast to be used as a cruise ship for training midshipmen until October 1912 when she was transferred to Charleston, for use as a station ship. She was decommssion in 1926 and eventually towed to Norfolk Navy Yard where she sank at her berth. (Image) (Image2)

Get Market Data for [United States 185]

Suggested Bid $150-200
SOLD for $120.00
Will close during Public Auction

139

U.S.S. Hartford, Screw Sloop of War, blue double-lined circle handstamped corner card "U.S.SHIP./HARTFORD", illustrated with a full-rigged three-masted ship on a small cover with manuscript endorsement "Ship's Letter" and postmarked with a clear New York "Due/5/Cents" binocular handstamp, Dec 20, 1878, to Washington D.C. (to the wife of Lt Cmdr. (later Rear Admiral) Purnell Frederick Harrington) and backstamped with a purple Dec 21 "Carrier" c.d.s. An exceedingly rare illustrated ship's handstamp,

Hartford was the flagship of Farragut's West Gulf Blockading Squadron at New Orleans, Mobile Bay and on the Mississippi up to Vicksburg. Twelve of her crewmen were awarded the Medal of Honor. She was flagship of the Asiatic Squadron from 1872 until 1875, the North Atlantic Squadron until March 1884, and in the Pacific until decommissioned in 1887. She was later rebuilt and recommissioned, serving variously as a training and cruise ship for midshipmen, and a station ship at Charleston. She was decommissioned 1926 and eventually towed to Norfolk Navy Yard where she sank at her berth. (Image)

Get Market Data for [United States Blockade]

Suggested Bid $1,000-1,500
CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction

140

U.S.S. Lancaster, Screw Sloop of War, blue "rope"-framed oval handstamp "U.S. FLAG-SHIP/LANCASTER/JUN 25 1871" on a cover to New Haven, Ct. postmarked with a Jun 28 "N.Y. STEAMSHIP/10" c.d.s.; there is an additional, not-quite-complete strike of the blue oval on the reverse; most of top flap missing with a small sealed tear at the top, Fine to Very Fine,

Lancaster was the flagship of the Pacific Squadron during the Civil War. After the war she served in the North Atlantic, then was flagship of the European Squadron from 1881 until 1889. In 1891 she served in the Far East on the Asiatic Squadron and in 1895 she was moved to the South Atlantic Squadron. In 1898, at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, she was recommissioned to serve as a station ship at Key West. Later she served as a gunnery training ship, then as a receiving ship in Philadelphia and finally as a quarantine detention ship for U.S. Public Health. (Image) (Image2)

Get Market Data for [United States Blockade]

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

Civil War Postal History: Union continued...

Civil War Postal History: Confederate

Post-Civil War