The February Sale

Mails Suspended, clear strike of oval handstamp on cover bearing uncanceled U.S. 3¢ dull red (26) top row single, light corner crease, attempted demonetized use on cover to Lynchburg Va., Very Fine.

Scott No. 26   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

A VERY RARE USE OF THE "MAILS SUSPENDED" MARKING ON A LETTER INTENDED TO REACH CONFEDERATE VIRGINIA.

(Free Frank - Lincoln's Private Secretary) Jonathan G. Nicolay, free frank " Jno. G. Nicolay " as Private Secretary to President Lincoln on "from the President of the United States" imprint cover addressed in his hand to Joseph H. Bradley, New York City, "Washington D.C., Oct 7" cds, docketed "John Hay, Oct 8th" at left, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

John George Nicolay (1832-1901) was a German-born American author and diplomat who served as private secretary to U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and later, with John Hay, co-authored Abraham Lincoln: A History, a ten-volume biography of the 16th president. He was a member of the German branch of the Nicolay family.

John Milton Hay (1838-1905) was Lincoln's junior private secretary and later served as United States Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.

Campbell Hospital, Washington DC, imprint on yellow cover with additional printed "Soldier's Letter" at upper left manuscript endorsed by Chaplain, entered mails with "Washington D.C., Jun 26" cds and matching "Due 3" straightline to Kelloggsville, Michigan; flap tears, Very Fine and scarce.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Great Central Fair, to be held at Buffalo, N.Y., On Washington's Birth Day, Feb. 22, 1864, Ladies' Christian Commission, eight-line framed imprint with additional line at bottom "Mrs. W. G. Fargo, Pres." on light buff cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) , small flaws, tied by "Buffalo N.Y. Jan. 29, 1864" duplex with circular open grid to Mrs. Hale of Godey's Lady Book magazine in Philadelphia; slightly reduced at top, Very Fine and rare Buffalo Sanitary Fair use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $500 - 750.

U.S. Sanitary Commission, Soldier's Letter, Jefferson Hospital, Jeffersonville, Indiana, imprint on yellow cover signed by chaplain bearing 3¢ rose (65) , s.e. at left, tied by circular grid cancel, matching "Jeffersonville Ind. Aug 22" cds to Laphamville Mich.; reduced at right, Very Fine and scarce Jefferson Hospital Sanitary Commission use.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

(General Bank Division) "G.B.D. / Oct. 7", two-line postmark with small "Due 3" handstamp on "Death to Traitors" cannon and flag patriotic soldier's cover endorsed "Silas Colgrove, Col. 27th REgt. Ind. Vol" to Edinburg Ind. where perfect strike of huge " DUE 3 " probably applied; reduced slightly at right, F.-V.F. and rare, only two recorded examples .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

References: James Milgram, "A New Federal "Due 3" Postmark", Chronicle 227, Aug. 2010, p. 221, fig. 1.

(General Bank Division) "G.B.D. / Oct. 15", two-line postmark with small "Due 3" handstamp on George Washington patriotic soldier's cover endorsed "John Mehringer, Major 27th Regt. Ind. Vol" to Edinburg Ind. where huge " DUE 3 " probably applied; reduced a bit at right, F.-V.F. and rare, only two recorded examples .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

References: James Milgram, "A New Federal "Due 3" Postmark", Chronicle 227, Aug. 2010, p. 222, fig. 2.