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The Brandon Collection of Confederate States, Part 2 continued...

Suspension of Mail Routes
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
43 c ImageDead Letter Office, Confederate States of America, Aug. 30, 1861. Clear strike of oval datestamp with magenta manuscript "M-116-1" record notation on 3c Red on Buff Star Die entire (U27) to New York City, "Wilmington N.C. May 11" (day inverted) circular datestamp clearly struck on embossed stamp, repaired opening tears at top

FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE CONFEDERATE DEAD LETTER OFFICE HANDSTAMP ON A COVER DIVERTED AFTER THE MAIL ROUTE BETWEEN RICHMOND AND WASHINGTON D.C. WAS TERMINATED.

Northbound mail from the eastern Confederate States to the U.S. was normally carried via Richmond and Washington D.C. until May 23, 1861. The Federal military occupation of Alexandria, Virginia, closed this route on the evening of May 23, so northbound mail was diverted to the C.S.A. Dead Letter Office at Richmond from May 24 until June 1.

Fewer than ten examples of the C.S.A. Dead Letter Office marking (either type) are known. This cover is very unusual, because it originated in North Carolina before the state delegates voted for secession on May 20. It was mailed on May 11, well before the route between Richmond and Washington D.C. was closed. As a U.S. Post Office letter, it should not have been diverted to the C.S.A. Dead Letter Office. The Dead Letter Office marking is dated the day of release (August 30). Although earlier D.L.O. dates are recorded, the May 11 origin date is probably the earliest for a cover diverted to the C.S.A. Dead Letter Office.

Ex Judd (Image)

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 E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $3,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
44 c ImageMobile Ala. May 30, 1861. Double-circle datestamp ties 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) on buff cover to New York City, with enclosed printed notice from Lloyd Bowers, the Mobile Postmaster, dated May 28, 1861, regarding prepayment of U.S. and Confederate postage on domestic and foreign letters, states (in part): "...mail matter for the United States and other foreign countries will be forwarded to its address upon payment of the Confederacy postage, in money, and the foreign postage in United States stamps...", a fascinating reference to the U.S. as a "foreign" country, edgewear causing rounded corner in stamp, still Very Fine, the makings of an outstanding exhibition page (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction
45 c ImageCharleston S.C. Jun. 6, 1861. Clear strike of circular datestamp and "Paid 10" in circle C.S.A. rate handstamp, 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) applied by sender in Charleston at upper right of cover to Philadelphia Pa., passed through Nashville and Louisville, but diverted to Washington D.C. where "Dead Letter Office P.O. Dpt. Jul. 1, 1861" double-oval datestamp was applied and two strikes of "DUE 3 cts" straightline were struck tying stamp, held for postage and delivered, "REC'D/JUL. 3" ornately framed handstamp applied in Philadelphia, minor toning, stamp slightly damaged at top by opening, barely noticeable

FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF NORTHBOUND MAIL FROM THE CONFEDERATE STATES WITH MIXED CONFEDERATE AND UNITED STATES POSTAGE.

On June 12, 1861, the U.S. suspended service at the Nashville post office, which effectively closed down the last remaining northbound mail route from the Confederate States. The Nashville postmaster continued to forward northbound mail, but letters were stopped at Louisville starting on June 13. This letter reached Louisville around June 9 and was sent on to Philadelphia; however, it was diverted to the U.S. Dead Letter Office. The U.S. 3c stamp was not recognized, and the recipient was asked to remit 3c postage in order to receive the letter.

Ex Antrim. Ashbrook notation on back. (Image)

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 E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,400.00
Will close during Public Auction
46 c ImageSENT BACK TO ENGLAND/WITHOUT A REASON/FOR NON-DELIVERY. Three-line handstamp without frame clearly struck in red on cover to Richmond Va., "Charing Cross W.C. My 22 61" circular datestamp struck over gum traces where a stamp was removed (additional red backstamp), "3 Cents" debit handstamp, "New York Am. Pkt. 24 Jun 5" debit datestamp, docketed "Recd. Feb. 19, 1862"

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF TRANSATLANTIC MAIL RETURNED AFTER THE ROUTE BETWEEN WASHINGTON AND RICHMOND WAS CLOSED.

By the time this cover from England reached New York, the mail route between Washington D.C. and Richmond had been suspended (starting May 24), and mail from foreign countries was returned. In England the three-line "Sent Back to England" handstamp was applied to returned letters. The receipt docketing suggests it was subsequently sent by a blockade runner.

Ex Dr. Green (Image)

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 E. $ 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $5,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
47 c ImageSOUTHN. LETTER UNPAID. Blue two-line handstamp perfectly struck with matching "DUE 3" straightline handstamp on 3c Red on White Star Die entire (U26) to T. Jeff Tobias, care of Tobias, Henricks & Co., P.O. Box 3206 in New York City, "Charleston S.C. Jun. 11, 1861" double-circle datestamp and "Paid 10" C.S.A. rate handstamp, repaired top left corner (does not affect marking) and small edge nick and slightly reduced at right

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED "SOUTHERN LETTER UNPAID" COVERS FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, THE PLACE WHERE SECESSION STARTED AND THE FIRST SHOTS OF THE WAR WERE FIRED ON FORT SUMTER.

The U.S. May 27 suspension order prohibited post offices from forwarding southbound mail to disloyal Southern states. However, northbound mail continued to be sent via Louisville. Through June 6, northbound mails were forwarded to Louisville from Memphis or Nashville. From June 7 through 12, only the Nashville post office forwarded mail to Louisville, and Louisville continued to forward mail north.

With the resignation of W. D. McNish as Nashville's Federal postmaster on June 12 and the withdrawal of the U.S. mail agent from this route, Louisville held the mails still being sent north by the discontinued post office at Nashville. On June 24, Dr. John J. Speed, the postmaster at Louisville, was advised to forward letters from the South to the loyal states after removing postage. With approximately 5,000 such letters accumulating at Louisville by this date, Postmaster Speed employed a more practical means of invalidating postage by creating the "Southn. Letter Unpaid" handstamp.

There are 29 "Southern Letter Unpaid" covers recorded in the Special Routes book (No. 25 has been deleted as a fake since publication). The covers without the Louisville datestamp were released from Louisville on June 25. Two covers are recorded from Charleston, both dated June 11 (the other has the Louisville June 26 datestamp).

Special Routes Census No. SLU-11. Ex Weatherly (Image)

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 E. $ 15,000-20,000

SOLD for $15,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
48 c ImageMails Suspended. Oval handstamp on cover addressed to John Fraser & Co. in Charleston S.C., "P McE & C" embossed seal on backflap, "Paid at Edinburgh 5A AU 14 63" circular datestamp, large bold red manuscript "2/-" double shilling rate, red "N. York Br. Pkt. 48 Paid Aug. 26 1863" (year inverted) circular datestamp with integral 48c rate, red crayon "10" for double-rate credit

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE TRANS-ATLANTIC COVER ADDRESSED TO THE BLOCKADE-RUNNING FIRM OF FRASER & COMPANY IN CHARLESTON VIA NEW YORK LONG AFTER THE SUSPENSION OF MAIL SERVICE TO THE CONFEDERATE STATES.

Sometime in 1862 the "Sent Back to England" marking was discontinued, and the "Mails Suspended" oval was used on mail from foreign countries to the Confederate States. The marking was applied at the Washington D.C. Dead Letter Office.

With 1974 C.S.A. certificate (Image)

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 E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
49 c ImageMAILS SUSPENDED. Clear strike of straightline between two bars, matching "Nashville Ten. Jun. 28, 186?" double-circle datestamp on back of buff cover to Rockland Tenn., 3c Rose (65) tied by target cancel, "Chattanooga Ten. Jun. 8" circular datestamp, reduced at left, soiled, some insect damage to stamp and cover, still Fine appearance, very rare example of suspended mail service after the war along railroad routes in the South (Image)

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 E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $700.00
Will close during Public Auction
50 c ImageCANNOT BE FORWARDED. Framed straightline handstamp, matching "New Orleans La. Aug. 22" double-circle datestamp on backflap of 3c Pink on White entire (U34) addressed to Marshall Tex. and postmarked "Ridge 8/2" in the same hand, minor wear, sent from Ridge Tex. north to Marshall Tex., possibly 1862 use, but this could also be a post-war use before mail routes were restored along railroad lines, ex Weatherly (Image)

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 E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction
51 c Image3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Rich color, tied by mostly clear strike of "OLD STAMPS/NOT RECOGNIZED" two-line handstamp on small cover to Rev. E. Dunlap Smith on West 21st Street in New York City, partly clear strike of "Philadelphia Pa. Sep. 12, 1861" circular datestamp and "Due 3" handstamp, bottom perfs slightly creased from placement at edge of cover

FRESH AND VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE "OLD STAMPS NOT RECOGNIZED" HANDSTAMP WHICH IS RARELY FOUND TYING THE STAMP.

Philadelphia was one of the first post offices to receive the new 1861 stamps, and so the 1857 Issue and old-style embossed envelopes were demonetized by that post office earlier than at many others. The new 1861 Issue embossed envelopes were announced as available on August 8, with a five-day exchange period expiring on August 13. The new 1861 Issue adhesive stamps were announced as available on August 19, with a six-day exchange period expiring on August 25. (Source: Elliott Perry, Pat Paragraphs reprint, pp. 97, 140-141).

With copy of 1970 P.F. certificate (Image)

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 E. $ 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $8,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
52 c Image3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Used after demonetization and not recognized for postage, new-issue 3c Rose Pink (64b) affixed over 1857 stamp, both tied by grid cancel and "Bethlehem Pa. Oct. 7" (1861) circular datestamp on lady's small cover to Danville Pa., opened at right, Very Fine, scarce combination of the demonetized 1857 and new 1861 issues (Image)

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 E. $ 500-750

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction
53 c Image3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Demonetized stamp which is defective (possibly affixed that way), uncancelled and not recognized as postage after the war, used on buff cover to Chester C.H. S.C., "Held for Postage" oval framed handstamp, 3c Rose (65) tied by "Little Rock Ark. Jul. 6 '66" double-circle datestamp and target cancel, Good Samaritan "Good Will" postage label affixed to backflap, displays with flap up, minor soiling, Very Fine, extremely rare attempted use of old stamp in Arkansas one year after the Civil War, very unusual with the Good Samaritan label, listed by Dr. Daniel M. Knowles in his recent article on Good Samaritan labels (Chronicle 238) (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

 E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

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