Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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U.S. Stamps, U.S. and C.S.A. Postal History, Foreign Stamps and Covers continued...

Confederate States (Trans-Mississippi Express, Blockade Mail, Groups)

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

1743

E. W. Black's Trans-Mississippi Express. Ms. "Paid $1.00" with matching endorsement "Soldier's Letter, Alex E. Spence Capt., Co. `B' 1st Ark. Regt., Cleburne's Division, Army of Tenn." on homemade cover to Arkadelphia Ark., "Washington Ark. Oct. 12" circular datestamp and "10" due handstamp, letter which no longer accompanies was datelined "Camp 1st Ark. Regiment on the Atlanta & West Point R. Road near Palmetto Geo, Sep. 25th 1864", and begins "I have just learned of an opportunity of sending letters to Arks..."

VERY FINE. ONLY FOUR COVERS ARE KNOWN THAT WERE CARRIED BY ONE OF THE ARKANSAS EXPRESS OPERATIONS ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Elias W. Black was a soldier in the 4th Arkansas Regiment who was discharged for disability in June 1862. He operated an express between Arkansas and McNair's Arkansas Brigade of the Army of Tennessee. He charged $1.00 on letters to Arkansas, but return letters were apparently free. He carried his westbound letters to Washington, Arkansas, where he sent them onward in the Confederate mails. Return letters to the Brigade were sent under cover to his attention at Hampton, Arkansas (see Stefan T. Jaronski, "Another Private Trans-Mississippi Express Service Uncovered", Confederate Philatelist, No. 241). Certain covers from the Spence correspondence previously thought to have been carried by E. W. Black are now attributed to Barksdale's Express (see Sale 988, lot 282). (Image)

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E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $1,800.00
Will close during Public Auction

1744

E. H. Cushing Express. Black on gray newsprint label, Walske-Trepel Type III (Similar to Dietz Ty. III but with different wording in second half), torn and with about -1/4 missing, dated Jul. 4, 1864 and affixed to back of cover originating west of the Mississippi with "Jul. 24" dateline, carried by Cushing's express and franked with 10c Greenish Blue, Die A (11c), full margins to touched at bottom, ms. cancel, cover with stain at lower left, stamp with tiny corner flaws, appears Fine, a scarce Cushing Trans-Mississippi Express use, with 1977 C.S.A. and 1978 P.F. certificates, Cushing was publisher of the Houston Daily Telegraph, he 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, he established routes with pony riders and other means of conveyance necessary to cross the Federal lines and his agents affixed labels to the backs of envelopes carried by express, they were intended to inform patrons and advertise the service, approximately 20 examples (of all varieties) are believed to exist, this example illustrated in Special Routes (p. 110) (Image)

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E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $1,900.00
Will close during Public Auction

1745

Elyton Ala. Apr. 9 (1864). Ms. postmark with matching "Paid 40 cts." rate on brown cover to Lamartine Ark., some minor wrinkling

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE WESTBOUND 40-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI POST OFFICE EXPRESS COVER.

Unlisted in the Krieger book which does list a second cover from this correspondence sent from Montgomery Ala. (E28). With 1994 Brian Green certificate (Image)

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E. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1746

"Via Confederate Goverment Mail, Shrevesport, La." Manuscript route designation and "paid 40 cts" rate on blue folded cover addressed in another hand to "Doug. J. Carter, 19th La. Regt., Gibson's Brigade, Stewarts Division" with "Richmond Va." added as a fifth line in the same hand as Trans-Mississippi routing and rate, crossed out and, in a third hand, redirected to "Army of Tenn.", which routed the cover to Jonesborough Ga., reinforced with document repair tape along top and bottom folds (slight staining)

VERY FINE AND THE ONLY RECORDED COVER WITH THIS "CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT MAIL" ROUTE DESIGNATION.

Douglas John Carter was enlisted with the 3rd Regiment Texas Cavalry in 1861 and transferred to the 19th Louisiana Infantry in June 1862. Carter served as its Chief Musician until the unit's surrender in May 1865. Carter's residence was in DeSoto Parish La., and this cover probably originated there in August 1864. Historical background is provided in "An Unusual Trans-Mississippi Express Mail Cover" by Brian and Patricia Green, Confederate Philatelist, May-June 1973.

Illustrated in Krieger book (No. W40) and Special Routes (p. 105). Signed Brian Green. Ex Murphy. (Image)

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E. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction

1747

Liverpool to Charleston S.C. via Nassau. Cover addressed to "Theo. D. Wagner Esq., Messrs John Fraser & Co., Charleston So. Ca.", the letter (which no longer accompanies) datelined Liverpool June 5, 1863, from C. Prioleau, manager of Fraser Trenholm & Co. office, the addressee, Theodore Wagner, was president of the parent company John Fraser & Co., carried entirely outside mails with enigmatic notation "Baltic", slight toning, Very Fine, carried on Cunarder Scotia, dep. Liverpool Jun. 6, 1863, arr. New York Jun. 15, then Cunarder Corsica, dep. New York Jun. 20, arr. Nassau Jun. 24, then blockade-runner Raccoon, dep. Nassau Jul. 15, arr. Charleston Jul. 19, on this trip the Raccoon ran aground off Sullivan's Island, but the crew and mail were saved (they burned the ship), this was the first Fraser, Trenholm & Co. departure after June 24, 1863, which would have been used by a Fraser & Co. representative, the Raccoon active Dec. to Jul. 1863, 2 for 3 in successful trips (Image)
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E. 300-400

SOLD for $300.00
Will close during Public Auction

1748

Blockade Run, Charleston S.C. to New York via Nassau. Narrow cover addressed to Miss Sabina E. Wells at New York City street address, entered British Mails with "Bahamas DE 21 1863" circular datestamp, "N. York Br. Pkt. 5 Jan. 28" integral-rate circular datestamp with 5c due for British Packet mail, some light soiling, Fine outbound blockade run cover, the Wells correspondence originates in Charleston, carried on blockade-runner Lucy, departing Wilmington Dec. 17, 1863, arriving Nassau Dec. 21, it was too late for the Dec. 21 steamship to New York, carried on the Cunarder Corsica, departing Nassau Jan. 18, 1864 and arriving New York Jan. 22 (datestamp with "28" may be an error, the clerk could easily mistake an "8" slug for a "3"), Special Routes census no. BO-Nas-54 (Image)

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E. 500-750

SOLD for $1,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1749

Charleston S.C. to Liverpool via Wilmington and Nassau. Small cover addressed to Mrs. C. L. Burckmyer, in care of Fraser Trenholm & Co. in Liverpool, England, entered British Mails with "Bahamas AP 10 1864" circular datestamp, prepaid 1sh with red crayon "11" credit, endorsed for the blockade-runner Syren, Bahamas stamps missing and some slight edge wear, otherwise Very Fine, endorsements on outgoing mail are much rarer than incoming, incl. original letter (No. 28) as well as additional letter (No. 39) which has become separated from its cover, both written in two directions as usual for this correspondence, sent from Charleston to Wilmington forwarder and carried on the Syren, departing Wilmington Apr. 2, 1864, arriving Nassau Apr. 6, Bahamas agent put three 4p stamps on it and mailed it Apr. 10, carried by the Cunarder British Queen, departing Nassau Apr. 12, 1864, arriving New York Apr. 16, then by Cunarder Africa departing Apr. 22, arriving Queenstown May 3, carried to Liverpool then sent under cover by Fraser Trenholm & Co. to Mrs. Burckmyer in France, Ex Ludington (Image)
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E. 1,000-1,500

SOLD for $900.00
Will close during Public Auction

1750

Blockade Run, Savannah Ga. to Rome (Italy) via Charleston and Nassau. Docketed Savannah Oct. 10, 1863 on cover to Mrs, John Lorenzo Locke in Rome, in care of two forwarders incl. Baring Brothers, unnamed forwarder in Bahamas held the letter and mailed it Nov. 16, marked 2sh due, comprising 1sh packet postage plus 1sh penalty (accounting at upper right, retained 7p of 2sh), some edge wear, otherwise Very Fine, carried by the Pet, departing Wilmington Oct. 28, 1863, arriving Nassau Nov. 1, carried on Cunarder Corsica, departing Nassau Nov. 23, 1863, arriving New York Nov. 27, then by Cunarder Persia, departing New York Dec. 2, arriving Queenstown Dec. 11, Baring Bros. paid 2sh, crossed out their name and re-mailed the cover on Dec. 14 at local post office on Lombard Street, prepaid 1sh10p (double 11p to Italy via France), received at Rome on Dec. 28, the Pet was active Mar 1863 to Feb. 1864, it was 16 for 17 in successful trips and was captured by the U.S.S. Montgomery on Feb. 16, 1864, heading into Wilmington (Image)

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E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction

1751

Blockade Run, Savannah Ga. to Rome (Italy) via Charleston and Nassau. Docketed Savannah Jan. 22, 1864 on cover to Mrs, John Lorenzo Locke in Rome, in care of two forwarders incl. Baring Brothers, unnamed forwarder in Bahamas dropped it unpaid into the Bahamian mails on Feb. 1, marked 2sh due, comprising 1sh packet postage plus 1sh penalty (accounting at upper right, retained 7p of 2sh), some edge wear, otherwise Very Fine, carried by the Alice, departing Wilmington Jan. 27, 1864, arriving Nassau Feb. 1, carried on Cunarder Corsica, departing Nassau Feb. 15, 1864, arriving New York Feb. 20, then by Cunarder China, departing New York Feb. 24, arriving Queenstown Mar. 7, Baring Bros. paid 2sh, crossed out their name and re-mailed the cover on Mar. 8 at local post office on Lombard Street, prepaid 1sh10p (double 11p to Italy via France), received at Rome on July 14, the Alice was owned by the Importing & Exporting Co. of South Carolina and was active May 1863 to Mar. 1865, it was 24 for 24 in successful trips and survived the war (Image)

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E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $900.00
Will close during Public Auction

1752

Blockade Run, Savannah Ga. to Rome (Italy) via Charleston and Nassau. Docketed "Sav." on cover to Mrs, John Lorenzo Locke in Rome, in care of Baring Brothers, entered mails with Liverpool ship letter marking Sep. 6 (long trip), "6" pence ship fee, carried by the blockade-runner Minnie, departing Wilmington Apr. 11, 1864, arriving St. George's Apr. 15, then by a non-contract ship to England, Baring Bros. sent under cover to Rome, the Minnie was owned by the Albion Trading Co. and was active Jan. to May 1864, it was 3 for 4 in successful trips and was captured by the U.S.S. Connecticut on May 9, 1864, coming out of Wilmington (Image)

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E. 750-1,000

SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction

1753

Brownsville Tex. Mar. 20 (1863). Rimless circular datestamp and "Paid 10" straightline C.S.A. rate handstamp on blue folded letter datelined "Matamoros March 19, 1863" to San Antonio Tex., rate handstamp struck over light strike of blue "Droege Oetling & Co. Matamoras" forwarders handstamp, receipt docketing on back, corner repair and some edge splitting, still Fine appearing and scarce Trans-Rio Grande cover carried from Mexico (Image)

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E. 500-750

SOLD for $1,100.00
Will close during Public Auction