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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN OUTSTANDING COMBINATION OF THE RARE CUSHING TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS LABEL AND THE 20-CENT GREEN ISSUE.
E. H. Cushing, publisher of the Houston Daily Telegraph, commenced his express service after New Orleans fell to Federal forces in April 1862. In an effort to improve communications between Texas regiments in the East and their relations at home, as well as secure safe lines for news transmission, Cushing established routes with pony riders and other means of conveyance necessary to cross the Federal lines. Cushing's agents affixed labels to the backs of envelopes carried by express. These were intended to inform patrons and advertise the service. Approximately 20 examples (of all varieties) are believed to exist. (Image)
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EXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB AND EXTREMELY RARE BLOCKADE-RUN COVER THROUGH MATAMOROS, MEXICO, TO WASHINGTON, TEXAS, VIA PORT LAVACA AND CONCRETE, TEXAS. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED INCOMING BLOCKADE COVERS VIA PORT LAVACA.
Port Lavaca in Matagordo Bay was first blockaded in 1862-63 and then occupied by the U.S. from December 1863 until June 1864. Its remote location meant that blockade runners only connected with Mexico, and very few covers are known. The Walske census lists only two, the other example stampless and postmarked at Victoria Texas. Mail via Port Lavaca entered the Confederate mails farther inland in Texas, at Victoria or in the case of this cover, Concrete. Surviving covers were sent under cover to a forwarder in Texas, so they carry no ship markings or 2c ship fee assessments (Special Routes p. 139). A cover from the same correspondence as this one, with similar markings, though not in as choice condition, was in the "Camina" collection (Siegel Sale 757, lot 976). The Camina cover sailed on the Alice from Havana and was routed through Matamoras, Galveston and Houston, before going on to Washington, Texas.
Special Routes Census no. BI-PL-2 (listed as Jul. 1 in error) (Image)