38 |
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"Prince George C.H. June 11th /61" (Virginia). Manuscript postmark and "Paid 10" C.S.A. rate on brown cover to St. Joseph Mo., green "St. Joseph Mo. Jun. 27" circular datestamp applied upon forwarding to St.
Louis, slightly age toned AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF MAIL THAT WAS CARRIED ON THE SECONDARY MAIL ROUTE AFTER ALL OTHER ROUTES BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH WERE SUSPENDED. The secondary mail route operated on the Memphis and Paducah
Railroad, linking western Tennessee and western Kentucky. This route was not suspended until August 30, but very little mail was carried on it. In this case the Missouri post offices did not assess U.S. postage, possibly out of sympathy to
correspondents in the Confederacy. Illustrated in Special Routes (p. 18). With 1989 P.F. certificate (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com |
E. 1,500-2,000
SOLD for $1,500.00
Will close during Public Auction |
39 |
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"Turner's Point Texas, June 19th". Manuscript postmark on blue folded letter datelined "Kaufman County Texas June 15th 1861" from a young man eager to join the Confederate army to his cousin at
Clifton Mills in Breckinridge County in northwestern Kentucky, no indication of C.S.A. rate or prepaid postage, blue "Paducah Ky." double-circle datestamp struck on three different days -- Aug. 29, 30 and Sep. 3, 1861 -- matching "Due 3" in
oval, one strike crossed out, a second strike at upper right, minor wear along folds expertly reinforced A REMARKABLE ACROSS-THE-LINES COVER FROM TEXAS, POSTMARKED AT PADUCAH ON THE EVE OF THE CONFEDERATE INVASION OF KENTUCKY AND THREE DAYS
PRIOR TO FEDERAL OCCUPATION UNDER ULYSSES S. GRANT. Kaufman County, Texas, lies just east of Dallas. Four days after the letter's June 15 dateline, it was postmarked at Turner's Point, also in Kaufman County. The letter made its way to the
Mississippi River, probably by a courier, then it was carried up river to Paducah, Kentucky. Although Kentucky remained neutral at this time, Paducah had strong pro-Southern elements, and its post office was closed by U.S. authorities on August
30. This letter was postmarked first on August 29, then again on August 30, and finally a third time on September 3, the day Confederate forces moved on Hickman and Columbus, Kentucky, which effectively ended the state's neutrality policy. On
the morning of September 6, some 4,000 Confederate troops moved from Columbus toward Paducah with the intention of taking this key river port. However, Ulysses S. Grant entered Paducah that morning with a small detachment of troops and proclaimed
Federal control. The Confederates were unaware of their own superior strength and turned back from Paducah after hearing of Grant's occupation. To reassure citizens who were predominantly pro-Southern and deeply suspicious of the Union army's
presence, Grant issued an eloquent proclamation that earned him the people's confidence and his superior's praise. This cover was carried on the Memphis and Paducah Railroad, linking western Tennessee and western Kentucky. This route was not
suspended until August 30. Very little mail was carried on this route, and very few covers survive. Illustrated in Special Routes (p. 18). Ex Gallagher (Image) Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com |
E. 1,500-2,000
SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction |