The NAPEX Sale

1863 (Mar. 29) Newbern N.C. to Sterling Mass. via Dead Letter Office, small yellow cover with pencil note on reverse indicating origin, manuscript " Ex J.M.H. " Civil War Censor's mark, two strikes of " Due 6 cts. " straightline, one ties 3¢ dull red (26) along with " Dead Letter Office, P.O. Dept " oval; cover repaired, Fine and rare use from the South, ex-Matz ; signed Ashbrook.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

As the 3¢ stamp was demonetized and not valid, the cover was rated due 6&cent (per the Act of Mar. 3, 1863) to be collected on delivery of an unpaid letter.

New Orleans La. "Cannot Be Forwarded", mostly clear framed straightline with matching partial "New Orleans La., Aug 8" cds on flap of buff cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) , couple perf flaws, tied by partial "Natchez, Miss. Jul 31 '65" duplex with four-ring to Mt. Lebanon La., sender's routing "Via Shreveport" at bottom left; small stain bottom left and top edge tear, Very Fine and scarce example of this post-war suspended-mail marking, ex-Spring .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

This post-war use was before Federal mail service was fully restored in the South.

U.S. Sanitary Commission, Department of the Gulf, printed corner card cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by four-rings, matching bold "New Orleans La., Dec 9, 1863" cds to Wilbraham, Mass.; part of flap missing, Extremely Fine and choice.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Forwarded by the U.S. Sanitary Commission, five-line imprint with description of the service on light buff cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by target duplexed with "Nashville Ten. Aug 2 '64" cds to Painesville, Ohio; reduced slightly at left and bottom right corner rounded, still fresh and Fine, a scarce Sanitary Commission use in occupied Tennessee, ex-Kantor .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Forwarded by the U.S. Sanitary Commission, type Ic circular handstamp on orange buff U.S. Sanitary Commission soldier's Letter shield corner card cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by bold "Washington D.C., Dec 19" duplex to Mountain Lake Pa.; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine, scarce marking appropriately used on prepaid soldier's letter.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

1862-64 Wisc. Vol. Soldier's Civil War Correspondence, wonderful group of 22 letters from Romanezo A. Coats of Company K, 23rd Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers to family members and friends, group consists of 12 letters with typewritten transcriptions (seven with original covers, few on patriotic lettersheets) having details of military life and 10 additional covers containing letters including some with interesting observations noted, datelines include Camp Randall Wisc., Vicksburg Miss., Holmes Plantation La. Port Covalla Tex., etc., some great war content throughout including mentioning Grant's Brilliant Successes, from Smiths Plantation La. Apr. 25th 1863 "…What was our surprise to see two steamboats close by in the morning which had run the blockade past Vicksburg…they are to take the troops across the Mississippi to the mouth of the Black River. Part of our brigade went went today and we may yet got tonight. I expect we are are preparing to to attack Vicksburg and perhaps before you get this it will be ours…", "Front of Jackson Miss., Sunday July 12 1863…I don't see hardly how a rebel was left alive in there. There was hardly a house, tree, bush, or rock but what had been riddled or smashed and the houses near the fortifications looked like a nutmeg grated on a larger scale…", from "Ciksburg Miss., Sunday, Aug. 2nd 1863…marching to got to Natchez as soon as transportation comes and our army corps is to keep the river clear between here and Port Hudson…Our Corps comprises Gen. Osterhouse, Carr, Smith and Hoveys divisions averaging perhaps 3,500 men apiece…"; from Natchitoches April 3, 1864: "A muddy tedious march which rather dissipated the romance of a soldier's life" and "It was expected the rebels would…give us a fight…but they skedadled.", Grand Ecore La. Apr. 20th 1864 "…rebels were pretty badly defeated…mother, I have gotten entirely out of postage stamps…" mailed as soldier's letter due; etc.; some typical mixed condition, F.-V.F. and Civil War correspondence.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,000 - 1,500.

Rev. R.A. Coats, son of Rev. D. N. Coats was born in Chenango Co., NY, July 3, 1842. He studied at Spring Green Academy, Wis., and served three years in the 23rd Wisc. Vol Infantry at Vicksburg, New Orleans, etc. He was converted Jan. 1, 1863, and ordained June 23, 1872. He was a pioneer of Spencer and and Clay Counties in Iowa and the first postmaster of Spencer, Iowa when it was established in 1868 with a salary of $12 a year. He moved to Idaho in 1887 and died at age 84 in 1927 in Oregon.

Ship Island, Miss. "Apr 16", two-line postmark with manuscript dating and matching "3" cent due rating handstamp on light buff cover endorsed "Soldier's Letter, M Bartlett, Chap. 14 Me." addressed back home to Norway Me.; reduced at left, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Marcus Bartlett, Co G, 14th Regt. was wounded at Antietam on September 17, 1862 and died at Smoketown, Md.

"Bowling Green, Ky. Feb. 20, 1862", origin endorsement on cover entering mails bearing faulty 3¢ rose (65) canceled by blue circular grid cancel duplexed with "Louisville Ky. Feb, 1862" cds to Athens, Ohio, Fine, ex-Gallagher, Graham .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Bowling Green was evacuated by the C.S.A. troops on February 11-13, 1862. This cover was sent to Louisville for processing probably because the Bowling Green Ky. post office had not yet reopened as a Federal post after its CSA use.

"In Line of battle near Gettysburg Pa. July 21st 1863", dateline on portion of soldier's letter, original orange cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by perfectly struck blue double-circle "Gettysburg Pa." dateless provisional postmark to East Addison, Vermont; cover reduced at left, Fine, ex-Risvold .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1864 (Nov. 2) Nashville Tenn. to Commanding Officer, 10th Regiment, Kentucky Vols., Ringgold Ga., cover addressed " To The Commanding Officer, 10th Regiment, Kentucky Volunteers " that were located at " Ringgold Ga. " at this time and address updated, entered mails with partial "Nashville Ten. Nov 2" duplex, partial " Due 4 " in circle handstamp for 2¢ drop rate plus unpaid 2¢ penalty fee, red ms. "K", carried by military courier to Ringgold; some number tallying, reduced at right with small mend, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

The 10th Kentucky Regiment was part of the Union Army. Nashville and Ringgold were under Union Control. There were no post offices operating in Georgia at this time. The addressee was most likely part of a command structure in Nashville. So the cover was treated as a drop letter in Nashville and delivered by the military to the officer in Ringgold Ga.

1866 Lawrence County, Alabama "Freedman" Marriage Bond, 7 x 8½" document, $200 marriage bond endorsed "Freedman", an emancipated slave of the Civil War period; mionr foxing and tears at corners, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.