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The Steven Walske Collection of North American Blockade Run Mail continued...

Civil War, Blockade from and to Bahamas via Wilmington
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
2444   Image10c Blue, "TEN" (9). Three huge margins, slightly in at right, tied by "Wilmington N.C. Oct. 23" (1863) circular datestamp with matching "SHIP" straightline and manuscript "Due 2" for ship captain's fee only, on small blockade-run cover front to Mr. George Washington at Fayetteville N.C., neat 1863 receipt docketing, sealed tear across center, creasing and small nicks, discreetly sealed with archival tape and affixed to a set of backflaps, quite presentable and attractive

THE ONLY RECORDED BLOCKADE-RUN USE OF THE "TEN" STAMP. ALSO ONE OF THE FEW EXAMPLES OF BLOCKADE-RUN MAIL ON WHICH CONFEDERATE POSTAGE BEYOND THE PORT OF ARRIVAL WAS PREPAID, WITH ONLY THE 2-CENT SHIP CAPTAIN'S FEE CHARGED TO THE ADDRESSEE.

This was carried by the blockade runner Fannie from Nassau on Oct. 13, 1863, arriving Wilmington Oct. 22. The "TEN" stamp paid the postage from Wilmington to Fayetteville, but the 2c ship fee was due from the recipient. One other blockade-run cover from the Washington correspondence, bearing a 10c Blue Paterson Lithograph, is recorded (Walske collection). Both were offered in our 337th Sale (June 26, 1968, lots 749-750). As a "TEN" use and as a blockade-run letter franked with Confederate postage outside the borders of the Confederacy, this is a most important item (Image)

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E. $ 5,000-7,500

SOLD for $3,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
2445 c ImageLondon to Augusta Ga. via Nassau and Wilmington N.C. Folded letter datelined London Sep. 23, 1864, sent under cover to Martin & Co. at Nassau (instructions in letter), carried from Liverpool by the Cunarder China, arriving New York Oct. 5, then by Cunard branch line to Nassau, departed on Oct. 20 aboard the blockade runner Lucy, arriving Wilmington Oct. 24, manuscript "6" at top right for in-port ship rate, forwarded to Augusta with large-margined 20c Green (13) tied by "Wilmington N.C. Oct. 25" circular datestamp, stamp covers all but the top of the prior "6" marking, cleaned

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE INCOMING BLOCKADE-RUN COVER FRANKED WITH THE CONFEDERATE STATES 20-CENT GENERAL ISSUE FOR DOUBLE-WEIGHT FORWARDING POSTAGE TO AUGUSTA.

This letter is addressed care of Major Benjamin Franklin Ficklin, who helped start the Pony Express and was in charge of war supply for the Confederacy (and who also purchased Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in 1864 before it was confiscated at the end of the war). Ficklin presumably paid the 6c in-port ship rate, then addressed the letter to Augusta and applied the 20c stamp for double-rate postage. This is one of only two blockade-run covers with a 20c General Issue stamp listed in the Special Routes census (both forwarded uses).

Ex Everett. Illustrated in Shenfield book on p. 57 (Image)

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E. $ 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $5,250.00
Will close during Public Auction
2446 c ImageCuba to Charleston via Nassau and Wilmington N.C. Cover originating Feb. 1863 in Cuba, red "Forwarded by Adot Spalding & Co. Havana" double-oval backstamp, endorsed "Via Nassau" for Cunarder British Queen, Departing Feb. 12 and arriving Feb. 14, in Nassau it was forwarded twice with bold strike of red "Forwarded by Saunders & Son, Nassau" double-oval on back and equally clear strike of blue "Forwarded by Sawyer & Menendez Nassau" oval handstamp on front, put on the blockade runner Britannia on Mar. 11 and arrived Wilmington with Mar. 16 circular datestamp, "SHIP" straightline and pencil "12" for 10c rate to Charleston plus 2c ship fee, some minor edge toning, backflap tears barely extend to front at top

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EXCEPTIONAL INCOMING BLOCKADE-RUN COVER FROM CUBA WITH THREE SEPARATE FORWARDER MARKINGS.

Most blockade-run covers were expedited by forwarders in the ports of departure, although the forwarders typically did not mark the letters. Each of these Havana and Nassau forwarder markings is scarce and desirable used alone on a blockade-run cover. To find a cover with all three is remarkable (Image)

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E. $ 5,000-7,500

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
2447 c ImageLondon to Richmond via Nassau and Wilmington N.C. Folded letter datelined London Apr. 8, 1864, departed Liverpool on the Cunarder Australasian on Apr. 9, arriving New York Apr. 20, then by branch line to Nassau, forwarded at Nassau by G. Chambers & Co. with their embossed oval and endorsed "p Tristram Shandy," carried on that blockade runner departing May 6, arriving Wilmington May 10, rated "32" cents due for triple rate to Richmond plus 2c ship fee

VERY FINE. A RARE INCOMING BLOCKADE-RUN COVER ENDORSED TO AND CARRIED BY THE TRISTRAM SHANDY, WHICH WAS CAPTURED FIVE DAYS AFTER DELIVERING THIS COVER AT WILMINGTON.

The Tristram Shandy, built in Greenock, Scotland in 1864, took her name from the novel "The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman." She had a short life as a blockade runner, which accounts for the rarity of covers carried by her. The trip that carried this letter was her second blockade run. After unloading cargo and mail from that trip, she departed Wilmington carrying new cargo, including $50,000 in Confederate money. On May 15 she was captured by the U.S.S. Kansas after heavy pursuit and taken to Massachusetts. The Union Navy converted her to a gunboat and she became a blockader, with captures including the blockade runner Blenheim (Image)

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E. $ 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
2448 c ImageLondon to Richmond via Nassau and Wilmington N.C. Folded letter datelined London Feb. 28, 1862, an account of sales from a tobacco merchant, addressed to Richmond Va., carried by Cunarder China from Liverpool on Nov. 22, arriving New York Dec. 5, then by Cunard branch line to Nassau where it was placed aboard the blockade runner Giraffe for Wilmington N.C., arriving with Dec. 29 circular datestamp, "SHIP" straightline and "52" cents due for quintuple rate to Richmond plus 2c ship fee

VERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED WILMINGTON POSTMARK ON AN INCOMING BLOCKADE-RUN COVER AND ALSO THE HIGHEST-RATED DUE MARKING.

The Giraffe was sold to the Confederate States Navy, renamed the Robert E. Lee and continued blockade-run trips until she was captured in 1863 and condemned as a prize at Boston. She was subsequently renamed the U.S.S. Fort Donelson and sent for duty in North Atlantic Blockading Squadron (Image)

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E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $3,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
2449 c ImageLondon to Richmond via Nassau. Folded letter datelined London Dec. 9, 1863 (copy) from John Gilliat & Co. regarding tobacco, addressed to Richmond Va., Gray correspondence, carried by Cunarder China from Liverpool on Jan. 30, 1864, arriving New York Feb. 11, then by Cunard branch line to Nassau where placed aboard the blockade runner Annie on Mar. 1, arriving Wilmington Mar. 4, manuscript "X" examined mark by provost marshal at Wilmington, "Wilmington N.C. Mar. 5" circular datestamp and manuscript "42" rate for quadruple the 10c rate to Richmond plus 2c ship fee, Very Fine, a scarce censored incoming blockade-run cover with a high rate for weight, with 1981 C.S.A. certificate (Image)

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E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
2450 c ImageNassau to Hendersonville N.C. via Wilmington N.C.. Small cover endorsed "foward by Capt. Stiles" (Captain's name was Steele) and carried from Nassau on May 24 aboard the blockade runner Banshee (I), arriving Wilmington May 28 with "Wilmington N.C. May 29" circular datestamp, "SHIP" straightline and "12" rate for 10c to Hendersonville plus 2c ship fee, expertly sealed backflap tears including one that extended to front at top, Extremely Fine appearance, the Banshee (I) made seven round trip voyages between the Bahamas or Bermuda and Wilmington before she was captured by the U.S.S. Grand Gulf on Nov. 21, 1863, after prize court adjudication she was re-commissioned the U.S.S. Banshee (Image)

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E. $ 1,500-2,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
2451 c ImageEngland to Forestville N.C. via Nassau and Wilmington N.C. Folded letter datelined "Crowle Bawtry" on Mar. 25, 1863, carried on Cunarder Africa from Liverpool on Mar. 28, arriving New York Apr. 11, Cunard branch line to Nassau where handled by forwarder G. Chambers & Co, and endorsed "p Banshee", carried on that blockade runner on May 10 from Nassau, arriving Wilmington May 13, some minor edge cosmetic improvements, Very Fine, the Banshee (I) made seven round trip voyages between the Bahamas or Bermuda and Wilmington before she was captured by the U.S.S. Grand Gulf on Nov. 21, 1863, after prize court adjudication she was re-commissioned the U.S.S. Banshee, accompanied by an illustration of the ship (Image)

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E. $ 2,000-3,000

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
2452 c ImageIncoming to Richmond Va. via Nassau and Wilmington N.C. Small undated cover (late 1864) addressed to James Timberlake at "Eastern District Military Prison" (Castle Thunder), light pencil endorsement "St. Banshee" and carried on that blockade runner from Nassau on Nov. 30, 1864, arriving Wilmington Dec. 4, manuscript "12" cents due for 10c to Richmond plus 2c ship fee, missing part of backflap with tears extending to front at top and top left, otherwise Fine and scarce blockade run cover endorsed to this ship, the Banshee (II) was delivered at Bermuda on Sep. 15, 1864 and, unlike its earlier name-sake, survived the War in Confederate hands, the recipient served in the 1st Va. Reserves and was detailed as a clerk at Castle Thunder Prison (Image)

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E. $ 500-750

CLOSED
Will close during Public Auction
2453 c ImageCharleston to New York via Wilmington N.C. and Nassau. Yellow internal cover, original letter (no longer accompanies) datelined at Charleston on Jan. 21, 1864, carried from Wilmington on blockade runner Wild Dayrell on Jan. 24, arriving Nassau Jan. 28, red manuscript "4" rate, red "Nassau Paid AP 9 64" circular datestamp and held by Nassau forwarder until Apr. 11 when the Cunarder Corsica departed, arrived New York with bold strike of "N. York Br. Pkt. 5 Apr. 15" due circular datestamp, tiny edge nick

VERY FINE BLOCKADE-RUN USE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH VIA NASSAU, ON THE FINAL OUTBOUND TRIP OF THE WILD DAYRELL.

The Wild Dayrel ran aground near Wilmington N.C. on Feb. 1, 1864, on the return from this trip to Nassau. She was found by the U.S.S. Sassacus which was aided by U.S.S. Florida. The Union ships tried for three days to re-float the prize, and during their salvage efforts the crews were harassed by Confederate riflemen, who were eventually driven off by fire from the Union ships. Finally, the ship was set ablaze and destroyed by shelling (source: Wikipedia). Part of the burned wreckage survives today (Image)

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E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $900.00
Will close during Public Auction
2454 c ImageCharleston to Philadelphia via Wilmington N.C. and Nassau. Cover docketed "Ellen Keogh Charleston" on back, carried from Wilmington on blockade runner Pet, departing Dec. 10, 1863 and arriving Nassau Dec. 14, prepaid for outgoing packet postage with Bahamas, 1863, 4p Rose (13; SG 26), tied by "A05" oval grid, "Nassau New-Providence DE 15, 1863" rimless circular datestamp on back, carried from Nassau on Cunarder Corsica, departing Dec. 21 and arriving New York Dec. 26, "N. York Br. Packet 5 Dec. 26" due circular datestamp ties corner of stamp (3c inland plus 2c ship fee), in Philadelphia the recipient could not be found, which was reflected in four different ways including "ADVERTISED/JAN 2?" two-line handstamp, pencil "Not in the Navy", "Not called for/no such person can be found" script two-line backstamp, and finally Feb. 6 (1864) Philadelphia Dead Letter Office circular datestamp, Sep. 14 1864 docketing on back in same hand as "Charleston", minor edgewear

VERY FINE AND RARE BLOCKADE-RUN USE FROM THE CONFEDERACY TO PHILADELPHIA VIA NASSAU, WITH BRITISH PACKET POSTAGE PREPAID WITH A BAHAMAS 4-PENCE 1863 ISSUE STAMP.

Illustrated in Special Routes book on p. 142, which records fewer than ten blockade-run covers prepaid with a Bahamas stamp (Image)

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E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $5,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

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