Lot
1720 
(Civil War) Savannah Ga. Paid Jun. 5, 1861, partly clear cds and matching C.S.A. "10" cents handstamp on U.S. 3¢ Red on Buff Star Die entire (U27) to Wilmington Del., diverted to U.S. Dead Letter Office with "Dead Letter Office P.O. Dpt. Jun 29, 1861" oval datestamp with matching "Due 3 cts." straightline, partial blue Baltimore datestamp on reverse, partial flap, Very Fine and choice use prepaid with postage from both sides, ex-Walske. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE NORTHBOUND COVER THAT CROSSED THE BORDER BETWEEN THE CONFEDERATE STATES AND UNITED STATES AT NASHVILLE JUST PRIOR TO SUSPENSION OF THIS MAIL ROUTE.
This cover was mailed from Savannah on June 5, passed through Nashville and arrived at Louisville around June 10. It was sent north without penalty, although once it reached Baltimore it was diverted to the Dead Letter Office. The 10c C.S.A. postage paid the over-500 miles rate.
Realized: $3,250
Lot
1721
(Civil War) 1861 (Jun. 8) Memphis, Tenn., Independent State to St. Louis Mo., blue folded letter sent two days after seceding from the Union bearing U.S. 3¢ dull red (26), partially removed possibly by postal authorities as not valid for postage, "Saint Louis Mo., Jun 13, 1861" backstamp when letter released, sent to D.L.O. where processed with blue crayon "1662" record number and sharp "Dead Letter Office, P.O. Dpt., Jun 20, 1861" double-oval with matching "DUE 3 cts" straightline for cost of return postage back to St. Louis, Fine and rare Civil War Dead Letter Use, ex-Wegner. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
This letter was mailed on June 8, 1861 from Memphis, Tenn. two days after seceding from the Union. It was successfully routed via Nashville and Louisville to St. Louis where it was redirected to the U.S. Dead Letter Office as it was not recognized as prepaid from a seceded state. This trip was probably the last through Louisville before the introduction of their Southern Letter Unpaid marking, which was used on mail arriving Jun. 13th and released starting Jun. 25th.
Realized: $800
Lot
1722
(Civil War) 1861 Flag-of-Truce Mail: Leesburg Va. to Washington D.C., inner cover to Washington City with original "Leesburg Nov. 9th 1861" datelined enclosure, docketed "Paid inside", manuscript "Exd J.F.a" examiner's mark (Major John B. Frothingham at Fortress Monroe) crossed out and in same hand "Rejected on Acct. of length.", bold "DUE 3cts." handstamp and "Dead Letter Office P.O. Dpt." double-oval, docketing indicates this was finally received in Jan. 1862 and answered, cover with corner wear from thick contents, tear at top and part of backflap missing, still a Fine example of civilian flag-of-truce letter through Norfolk-Old Point Comfort, ex-Walske. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $600
Lot
1723
(Civil War) Memphis Ten, Mar 4, 1862, partly-clear double-circle datestamp on reverse of cover to Springville Mich., "Held for Postage" double-oval, sent to Dead Letter Office where bold strike of large "Soldier's Letter" fancy oval struck, "Due 3" rating handstamp; some staining mostly on reverse, reduced at left, otherwise Very Fine and scarce. Estimate $200 - 300.
This fancy "Soldier's Letter" handstamp is a D.L.O. marking intended for identifying mail that had not been properly endorsed. Postal law (1861) permitted soldier's mail to pass through the mails without prepayment, although postage had to be paid by the recipient. This letter was mailed while Memphis was still in Confederate hands, falling to the Union on June 6, 1862 after the first Battle of Memphis.
Realized: $290
Lot
1724
(Civil War) 1862 Flag-of-Truce Mail: Via Norfolk Va. to Alexandria Va., inner cover to Alexandria Va. endorsed "Via Norfolk & Flag of Truce" at top, pencil "R.S.R." examiner's mark, bold "DUE 6cts" handstamp and matching "Dead Letter Office, Mar 6, 1862" cds, entered mails with "Washington D.C., Mar 6, 1862" cds; large cover tear, soiling and wear, part of flap missing, Fine and scarce D.L.O. use. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $425
Lot
1725
(Civil War) 1863 Flag-of-Truce Mail: Columbia S.C. to East Otto N.Y., inner cover sent via civilian Flag of Truce by Anna R. Tuthill of Columbia, South Carolina to her sister in East Otto, N.Y., the letter was sent to the Richmond to be censored, top left corner with manuscript examiner censor marking "Ex JMH", bearing obsolete U.S. 3¢ dull red (26) left uncanceled, cover sent to Dead Letter Office with "Dead Letter Office, P.O. Dpt." double-oval backstamp and straightline "Due 6cts" straightline tying 3¢ adhesive, entered mails with "Washington, D.C., Apr 14, 1863" cds; cover with minor soiling and wear, small piece of flap missing, Fine and rare use, a wonderful usage (Pictured in Monroe Book on p. 95), ex-Monroe; with 2009 C.S.A. certificate. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A SCARCE CIVIL WAR FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER SENT TO THE US POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT DEAD LETTER OFFICE.
This fascinating cover which originated in Columbia, S.C. was sent to the Confederate War Department in Richmond, Virginia, to be censored prior to being forwarded to Fortress Monroe, Virginia. Once past the Confederate censorship, the inner envelope was sent to Fortress Monroe where it was rejected and sent on to the US Post Office Department Dead Letter Office in Washington, DC. It may have been sent there because of the demonetized 3 cent stamp. but more likely because of non-regulation contents which were later excised from the letter. In any event, the letter was sent on to East Otto, New York, with a Washington, DC, April 14, 1863 cancellation. A handstamped "DUE 6 cts" was added to pay for the postage from Fortress Monroe to the Dead Letter Office, and from the Dead Letter Office to East Otto.
The examiner was a clerk in the War Department named John M. Higgins who ironically was imprisoned for his Union sentiments just before he was hired by the War Department to censor prisoner-of-war and civilian Flag of Truce letters.
Realized: $1,350