The APS Sale

1860 (Nov. 16) Charleston S.C. to Paris, France, printed circular bearing 1¢ blue (24) horizontal pair tied by black "Charleston SC Nov 17" cds, carried by Cunard Line Persia transatlantic, French (12.3) receipt and "15c" due rating, excellent content in French describing the crisis due to Lincoln's election and his abolitionist stance, and what it will mean for the south, including the states ready to Secede, sent just five weeks before South Carolina secession; small address hole, fresh and Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

1861 (May 16) Paris, France to Confederate New Orleans La., folded letter bearing France 80c Napoleon tied by diamond of dots and "Paris 2e/16 Mai 61"; double-circle datestamp, red "PD" and "Br Service" framed handstamps, red "Boston 'Paid 15' Jun 1" credit exchange, " due 10 " straightline handstamp applied at New Orleans for Confederate postage, extensive erosion from writing ink that needs some restoration, otherwise Fine and extremely rare inbound transatlantic, ex-Gunter .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

1861 (May 18) Liverpool, England to Confederate Richmond Va., folded printed market report with letter and additional printed market report enclosure with "Richmond, MY 18, 61" cds and "19/Cents" debit handstamp, addressed to D. H. London in Richmond Va., carried on the Cunard Line America from Liverpool May 11th to Boston arriving May 31st, "Boston, Br. Pkt. '24' 1 Jun" debit exchange cds, diverted to the U.S. Dead Letter Office where " Dead Letter Office P.O. Dept. No. __ July 29 " large oval datestamp was applied, blue "Baltimore Md. Jul 30" cds on back and "Due 3" in circle handstamp on front for U.S. postage paid upon release to addressee; slight age toning and separations along edges, Very Fine, ex-Dr. Green, Walske .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE TRANSATLANTIC LETTER FROM ENGLAND TO CONFEDERATE VIRGINIA, WHICH WAS DIVERTED TO THE UNITED STATES DEAD LETTER OFFICE AFTER THE WASHINGTON-RICHMOND MAIL ROUTE WAS SUSPENDED. ONLY THREE SUCH COVERS ARE REPORTED.

On April 27, 1861, the regular water route to Richmond was suspended by the United States government, leaving only the Orange & Alexandria Railroad open for mail via Richmond. The last route through Virginia was suspended on the evening of May 23. The cover offered here was received in Boston on May 31st, then diverted to the U.S. Dead Letter Office and held there until called for on July 29. The 24¢ transatlantic postage plus an additional 3¢ was collected from the addressee or his agent when the letter was released.

The addressee, Daniel H. London, was a prominent Richmond merchant and pro-slavery, states' rights advocate, who served as president of the Southern Rights Association of Richmond. This letter and enclosures were sent by the British firm of Eyre Evans & Co.

"Old Stamps Not Recognized", manuscript postmark cancels 3¢ red (U26) star die entire, "Saint Louis, Mo. Sep 6" and " Due 3 " to Cutchogue, Long Island, pencil "Sept 4" 1861" endorsement at left; reduced a bit at ends, Very Fine and rare.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $4,000 - 6,000.

THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS ST. LOUIS MO. MANUSCRIPT "OLD STAMPS NOT RECOGNIZED" MARKING.

After the U.S. Post Office Department declared its demonetization policy for stamps issued prior to the new 1861 Issue, Federal post offices throughout the country were instructed to set expiration dates for the exchange of old for new issues - generally, the exchange period was six days from the date of receipt of new stamps. After which, cities marked mail held for postage. The "Old Stamps, Not Recognized" handstamp markings are well-known from New York N.Y., Chicago Il., Harrisburgh Pa. and Philadelphia Pa. Other cities employed a variety of markings, but this manuscript marking from St. Louis is rather unusual.

1861 (Sep. 28) Incoming Philadelphia Ship Letter to Perth Amboy N.J., 3¢ red (U26) star die entire sent from Paymaster James Parker Jr. from his blockading station originally addressed to New Orleans La., crossed out prior to sending and readdressed to his wife at Perth Amboy N.J., entered mails with "Philadelphia Pa., Sep 28, 1861" cds with three strikes of "Ship" handstamp and matching "2" rating handstamp, pencil "Rec'd Sep. 30th 1861." docketing at left; edge tear at top and partial flap, Very Fine and unusual demonetized use of the 3¢ Star Die entire on an incoming Philadelphia ship letter.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

Philadelphia was one of the first post offices to receive the new 1861 Issue embossed envelopes, announced as available on August 8, with a five-day exchange period expiring on August 13. However, they seemed to have tolerated old stationery and generally did not mark them obsolete like stamps with the famous "Old Stamps Not Recognized" two-line marking.

1861 (Oct. 16) Edinburgh, Scotland to Confederate Warrenton Va. via Portland Me., cover bearing G.B. 2d blue, 4d rose tied by "Edinburgh, OC 14, 61" duplex with "131" barred canceler, short paid with Liverpool "3/Cents" debit handstamp, missed the sailing of Anglo Saxon and put on Allan Line Jura departing Liverpool Oct. 24th to Quebec arriving Nov. 4th, franking ignored and "Portland, Am. Pkt. '24' Nov 4, 1861" debit exchange cds, the cover was undeliverable due to the Civil War and sent to Dead Letter office with " Dead Letter Office " double-oval backstamp, two strikes of red boxed " Sent back to England without a Reason for Non Delivery " on front and back; 2d small tear, Very Fine and choice.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,500 - 2,000.

A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE "SENT BACK TO ENGLAND" HANDSTAMP ON A COVER SENT TO VIRGINIA VIA THE PORTLAND EXCHANGE OFFICE.

The June 12th 1861 British Post Office notice from Rowland Hill announced mails to Southern States were suspended after notification from the U.S. Post Office. The notice also reads "Nevertheless, as this suspension of the Postal Service is stated to be only temporary, the Postmaster-General will continue to forward in the General Mails…any letters addressed to the States referred to which may be posted in the United Kingdom, assuming such a course is desired by the writers." Two types of the "Sent Back to England without Reason for Non Delivery" marking are known.

1862 (Aug. 14) New York N.Y. to Nassau, Bahamas, attempted blockade run to Confederacy, yellow cover bearing 1¢ blue (63) and two 3¢ rose (65) singles, and 5¢ red brown (75) , deep shade, tied by "New-York, Aug 14, 1862" duplex datestamp with four-ring target cancel, addressed to Charles Gordon, in care of "H. R. Sonders & Son", carried by Cunard Line British Queen from New York Aug. 16th to Nassau arriving Aug. 20th, Bahamas blue crayon "4" pence due rating, red "Forwarded by Saunders & Son, Nassau" handstamp, sent on the schooner Defiance to Savannah, but she was captured by the barque U.S.S. Braziliera on Sep. 7th 1862 and made a prize, docketed by Philadelphia Prize Court with red "84" at left and "No. 17. H.F. The within is marked 17th. H.F." at right; few stamp faults including 1¢ small piece out at bottom, Very Fine and exceptionally rare.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $12,000 - 15,000.

A SPECTACULAR COVER CAPTURED DURING AN ATTEMPTED BLOCKADE RUN INTO THE CONFEDERACY AND USED AS EVIDENCE IN THE PRIZE COURT AT PHILADELPHIA.

This cover was used as evidence in the Philadelphia Prize Court with the red "84" denoting the court case number. The cover is docketed "H.F." at right by Prize Court Commissioner Henry Flanders, a well-respected scholar on maritime law who served as commissioner of the Philadelphia Prize Court.

1865 (Mar. 1) New York N.Y. to Matamoros, Mexico, docketed blue folded cover with blue "Forwarded by E. A. Hussey & Co., Shipping Merchants, 115 Pearl St., New York" double-line oval handstamp, sender's directive "per Steamer 'Rio Grande' ", flap with "M. Echeverria & Co., New York, Mar 1, 1865" double-circle sender's datestamp, Very Fine and scarce.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

This was sent late in the Civil War when various express companies operated between Mexico and the northeastern states.

American Union Commission, Philadelphia Pa., imprint on yellow cover franked upside down with 1¢ blue (63) pair tied by "Philadelphia Pa., Nov 23" cds duplex to Anderson's Mills Pa.; right stamp creased, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

The American Union Commission, like the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, was called into existence by the emergencies of the War. It's work involved relief and restoration.

Banks' Division, Mar 25, blue cds with matching "PAID" handstamp on 1862 orange cover to Lyons, Ohio, original "Winchester Va Ma 24th/62" datelined " I survived " letter from Wagon Master Erwin Welsh of 67th Ohio Volunteer Infantry after the Battle of Kernstown near Winchester Va. Mar. 22-23, 1862, he starts "I set down once more after a hard batle… there was not any of Co. I hurt they all come out right ther was 5 of their canon taken, one 42 pounder, the 67 lost a considerable many…", a Very Fine and early Banks Division letter from the front lines, ex-Graham .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

In the Battle of Kernstown, General James Shield's Div. Dept of the Rappahannock repulsed CSA Stonewall Jackson's attack.

G.B.D. Sep. 28, two-line postmark with matching light "Due 3" rating handstmap on circa 1861 cover endorsed "Soldier's letter, J.A. Matthews, Mjor, 46th Rgt. P.V." to Alton N.Y.; reduced at right, small edge tear, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Joseph Ard Mathew was appointed Major of the 46th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry officially on Sept. 27th 1861, the day before this cover was postmarked. Appointments of officers to Civil War Regiments were often dated well after they assumed their posts.

North Atlantic Squadron, Flag-Ship "Malvern", printed corner card with manuscript "Wilmington N.C." endorsement on cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by segmented corkm matching Old Point Comfort, Va. Mar 2" cds to Newark N.J.; reduced slightly at right into 3¢, otherwise Very Fine and scarce blockading ship stationery.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

U.S. Christian Commission, addressed to William E. Dodge, Chairman, New York City on 1¢ blue on manila (W21) wrapper cancelled by "Philadelphia Pa. Jun 6" cds, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.