Lot
2181 
Confederacy, 1861 (Mar. 16) Charleston S.C., Confederate States to Madeira, gray folded letter endorsed "p Brazil Mail a Lisbon" at top and "Via Lisbon" at bottom left, some interesting content "…awaiting establishment of a Confederacy…send wine direct to Charleston and not via New York as double duty would be incurred…", red "Lombard-Street, Paid, AP 8, 61" rimless cds with red manuscript "8" pence prepaid rating, Portugal blue "160" reis due handstamp for up to ½ oz., April 12th receipt docketing, Very Fine and scarce Confederate use from the south just prior to the Civil War. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
With the coming of the U.S. Civil War, southern planters required different routes to keep their supply of favored Madeira wine flowing.
References: "Mail Between the United States and Portugal via British Mails, 1840-75: Part 2", Richard F. Winter, Chronicle 269, Feb. 2021, p. 83.
Realized: $700
Lot
2182
Confederacy, 1861 (Oct. 14) Richmond, Va., Confederate States to Madeira, datelined blue folded letter endorsed "via Lisbon", red "Lombard-Street, Paid, FE 6, 62" rimless cds with red manuscript "1/-" schilling prepaid rating, endorsed "p. Mail of 7th Feby." at bottom left, Portugal "240" reis due rating for ½-¾ oz., Mar. 20th arrival docketing, Very Fine and scarce. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
By September 1861, the Federal government had completed the suspension of the regular pre-war Post Office routes between the northern states and the seceded states. As a result, this letter took over five months to arrive in Madeira.
Realized: $675