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The Benjamin Wishnietsky Collection of Confederate States Postal History continued...

Cushing's Express, Blockade and Mexico Cross-Border Mail
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
351 c ImageE. H. Cushing Express. Black on white newsprint label, Type III with Aug. 17 date (Type C in the new C.S.A. catalogue), affixed to back of cover originating west of the Mississippi River, 20c Green (13) affixed on front at upper right and uncancelled, addressed to a Captain T. T. Clay in the 5th Texas Volunteers, Gregg's Brigade, Longstreet's Corps, Richmond Va., cover slit at sides for display and with some wear and small edge tears, the label is intact

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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 E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
352 c ImageFrance to Spartanburg S.C. via Charleston S.C. Clear strike of "Charleston S.C. Mar. 18" circular datestamp with oval "Steam-Ship" handstamp and pencil "12" rate (10c plus 2c ship fee) on blockade-run cover originating Jan, 24, 1864 in France to L. B. Grimball in Spartanburg S.C., enclosure no longer accompanies but the origin is known from others in the correspondence, top flap tear, Very Fine, Special Routes census no. BI-Ch-48, ex Kohn (Image)

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 E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction
353 c ImageNew York to Aiken S.C. via Nassau, Bahamas and Charleston S.C. "Charleston S.C. Dec. 3" double-circle datestamp, pencil "12" rate (10c plus 2c ship fee) on blockade-run cover originating Aug. 19, 1864 in New York City, lengthy letter enclosure relates in part to a prisoner, part of top flap missing, minor edge nicks, Fine and scarce North to South blockade cover, carried on the Laurel from Nassau, Special Routes census no. BI-Ch-75 (Image)

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 E. $ 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $800.00
Will close during Public Auction
354 c ImageLondon and Liverpool to Richmond Va. via Bermuda and Wilmington N.C. Partly clear strike of "Wilmington N.C. Dec. 7" (1863) circular datestamp with matching "SHIP" straightline and manuscript "12" rate (10c plus 2c ship fee) on blockade-run folded letter from London and Liverpool to William Gray in Richmond Va., letter contains two different messages, one datelined June 23 from London, the other from Liverpool, including discussion of blockade breaking and the death of Stonewall Jackson, it also took more than five months to reach Wilmington, Very Fine, carried on the Dee from Bermuda, Special Routes census no. BI-Wm-41 (Image)

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 E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
355 c ImageMatamoros, Mexico, to Washington Texas via Port Lavaca and Concrete Texas. 10c Blue, Die B (12) with large to huge margins, tied by bold strike of "Concrete Tex. Jul. 2" (1864) circular datestamp on yellow cover to Washington Texas, clear "H. MATAMOROS JUNIO 10" boxed datestamp with "FRANCO" straightline handstamp indicating prepayment of Mexican postage, narrow piece of top flap missing

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)

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 E. $ 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $24,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
356 c ImageAGUASCALIENTES/ FEBRERO 27. Framed two-line datestamp on folded cover to Jose San Roman in Brownsville Texas, Mexico 2r Orange (23), overprinted sub-consignment nos. 20. 1865 and 11. 1865 and district "AGUASCALIENTES.," large "O" cancel, paying internal postage, 1865 docketing on flap, sent by private courier across the Rio Grande to Brownsville, Very Fine, scarce trans-Rio Grande cover with Mexican adhesive franking, Jose San Roman was a prosperous merchant and blockade runner, as well as a banker and broker in the contraband cotton trade of the Civil War (Image)

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 E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $4,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

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