The Steven C. Walske Collection of Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War continued...

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VERY FINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED EXPRESS COVERS CARRIED ACROSS THE LINES WITH CONFEDERATE POSTAGE PAID BY THE MONTGOMERY POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.

The original letter enclosure is datelined at Prattville Ala., from a Southern lady to her sister in Connecticut, expressing confident anti-Union sentiments: "I think if some of the Abolitionists could visit the South now & see how quietly things are going on...they would despair of starving us out. What a pity it is, those that have been the cause of the War could not be the only ones to suffer by it." The writer also mentions sending this letter by express from Montgomery and that "we miss our Northern papers since the mails stopped..."

Very few covers are recorded with Confederate provisional stamps or markings used in conjunction with across-the-lines express service. This group includes the provisionals of Atlanta (handstamp), Houston (handstamp), Lynchburg (press-printed entire), Memphis (adhesive), Mobile (adhesive), Montgomery (handstamp), Nashville (adhesive and handstamp) and New Orleans (adhesive). The four Montgomery provisional covers have the same 10c handstamp and 3c 1857 adhesive (Census Nos. N-AD-20, 37, 40 and 50).

Illustrated in Special Route (p. 59). Ex Emerson, Antrim and Malpass (Image)

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AN IMPORTANT ACROSS-THE-LINES EXPRESS USAGE, SHOWING THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE HARNDEN'S LABEL FROM ITS OFFICE AT AMERICUS, GEORGIA.

The cover has been torn in half down the center and thru the 3c pair. In addition, much of the bottom stamp of the 3c pair was torn off, apparently to reveal the "10" rate handstamp. For the purpose of improving its appearance, document repair tape has been used to seal the tear, and the back of the cover bearing the Harndens label has been folded up for display. Considering that this extraordinary express cover is the only recorded example of its kind, collectors are advised to overlook the condition factors.

Adams Express Company retained the Harnden name at certain offices in Georgia, because of the Harnden firm's reputation there. The Harnden oval handstamps used at Macon and Savannah are very rare. This cover was evidently sent by Adams (Harnden) messenger from Americus, Georgia, to the office at Louisville. As required by regulations, Confederate postage was prepaid. The Adams office at Louisville correctly applied new stamps -- it is not clear why the letter was re-rated 6c rather than 3c -- and they put it into the regular Federal mails for New York City.

Special Routes Census No. N-AD-38. Ex Nunnelley (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. THE FINER OF TWO RECORDED COVERS CARRIED BY EXPRESS ACROSS THE LINES WITH CONFEDERATE POSTAGE PAID BY THE ATLANTA POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP.

Very few covers are recorded with Confederate provisional stamps or markings used in conjunction with across-the-lines express service. This group includes the provisionals of Atlanta (handstamp), Houston (handstamp), Lynchburg (press-printed entire), Memphis (adhesive), Mobile (adhesive), Montgomery (handstamp), Nashville (adhesive and handstamp) and New Orleans (adhesive). Two Atlanta provisional covers are recorded: the cover offered here (Special Routes Census No. N-AD-42) and the cover last sold as part of the Gallagher collection (Siegel Sale 801, lot 71, Census No. N-AD-72). The cover offered here is not only more desirable due to its condition and the presence of the original label, but it might be the only cover extant. The ex-Gallagher cover was stolen from a dealer, Stanley M. Piller, and was not among the material later recovered.

Information about the addressee, Dr. Lyman Brooks, can be found at http://vermontcivilwar.org/units/16/brooks-ng.php. Dr. Brooks was a distinguished physician in Acworth, New Hampshire. The agent's endorsement "Brooks" appears on this and other express covers, all of which originated at or passed through Atlanta. The fact that the address and agent's notation are in the same hand, and that they share the surname Brooks, strongly suggests a family relationship.

Special Routes Census No. N-AD-42. Illustrated in Shenfield book (p. 21). Ex Brooks, "Stonewall" (Kuphal), Haas and Birkinbine. Featured on the cover of a 1960 Samuel C. Paige auction catalogue and in the Siegel 1967 Rarities of the World sale. (Image)

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FINE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY'S CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, OFFICE OVAL HANDSTAMP AND, FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A POSTAL STATIONERY COLLECTOR, A VERY RARE ACROSS-THE-LINES EXPRESS USE OF THE NESBITT ENTIRE.

The addressee, Commodore Robert F. Stockton, was a delegate to the unsuccessful Peace Conference of 1861 that attempted to settle the secession crisis, instead the American Civil War began later that year. In 1863, he was appointed to command the New Jersey militia when the Confederate Army invaded Pennsylvania. He died in 1866.

Special Routes Census No. N-AD-19 (illustrated on p. 46). Ex Shenfield (and illustrated in his book, p. 22) and Simon. Shenfield note on back "Only example known of Charlotte Adams office. Never saw another 1855 envelope used this way". Accompanied by a 1942 Stamps article by Lawrence L. Shenfield announcing the discovery of this cover. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED COVERS WITH THE 5-CENT NASHVILLE ADHESIVE PROVISIONAL USED IN COMBINATION WITH UNITED STATES POSTAGE.

Very few covers are recorded with Confederate provisional stamps or markings used in conjunction with across-the-lines express service. This group includes the provisionals of Atlanta (handstamp), Houston (handstamp), Lynchburg (press-printed entire), Memphis (adhesive), Mobile (adhesive), Montgomery (handstamp), Nashville (adhesive and handstamp) and New Orleans (adhesive).

This South-to-North express cover is one of six recorded with the 5c Nashville adhesive provisional and U.S. stamps used together. Five are listed in the Special Routes book (Census Nos. S-AD-38, N-AD-48, 73, 81, 83). A sixth cover recently came to light, which has a "The Southern Express Company" oval handstamp (both the marking and the cover were unknown to the authors at the time the Special Routes book was published). In addition to the 5c covers, there are two Nashville 10c provisional combinations carried by Adams. Two of the six covers, including the one offered here, are from the Knowles correspondence to Rhode Island. Two other northbound covers have Adams and Louisville post office markings with identical dates (Aug. 21 and 22), one is addressed to Minnesota and the other to Kentucky. The fifth cover is a North-to-South usage to Cleveland Tenn., dated July 27 at Louisville. Adams was required to pay Confederate postage, but letters never actually entered the mails at Nashville.

Special Routes Census No. N-AD-48 (illustrated on p. 48). Ex Weatherly and Simon. (Image)

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VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY COVER CARRIED ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS BETWEEN OFFICES IN NASHVILLE AND LOUISVILLE.

Special Routes Census No. N-AD-31. Ex Solomon and Birkinbine (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY COVERS ORIGINATING IN LYNCHBURG AND CARRIED ACROSS THE LINES, OF WHICH TWO HAVE UNITED STATES STAMPS.

The three recorded covers originating in Lynchburg that were handled by Adams Express Company are listed in the Special Routes book as Census Nos. N-PRE-23 (Precursor period), N-AD-58 and N-AD-75 (the cover offered here). Ex Myerson (Image)

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RARE DOUBLE-RATE EXPRESS USAGE. THE EARLIEST RECORDED -- AND EVIDENTLY THE FIRST EXPRESS -- FROM RICHMOND.

The letter, datelined at Richmond, July 6, 1861, contains a significant commentary on express service from Richmond: "By private is our only chance now of writing to any of our friends north of the Potomac...We do not know at present how or when we shall get these lines off. The Express Company here is forbid the privilege of taking letters." Second page dated July 10, the writer continues "Not having been able to find a carrier for the annexed lines of the 6th inst. we open it for the purpose of acknowledging the receipt of yours...", content otherwise refers to blockade, difficulties with commerce, and draft enclosed.

This letter documents a ban on letter express service in Richmond prior to July 12, 1861. No other express covers are known from Richmond prior to or on this date (one posted on July 13 is recorded). Based on the contemporary first-hand account in this letter, we feel justified in describing this as the first letter express out of Richmond.

Special Routes Census No. N-AD-24. Ex Gallagher (Image)

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VERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND CHOICE COVER SENT FROM CONFEDERATE NEW ORLEANS TO FRANCE, USING ADAMS EXPRESS TO CROSS THE LINES.

Although Adams Express Company typically put mail into the post office at Louisville, there are examples of mail that was carried by Adams all the way to New York City, without any express markings. Such covers can only be identified as Confederate in origin by the contents, as in this prime example.

Signed Ashbook (Image)

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