Lot
1814 
Confederacy, (Prize Court Mail) 1861 (May 23) New Orleans La. to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, orange cover addressed to Capt. A. H. Depass of Bark Meaco bearing United States 5¢ brown (30A), 10¢ green (35) and 30¢ orange (38), all tied by two strikes of slightly indistinct "New Orleans, La. May 23" cds, prepaying the 45¢ British mail rate via G.B. with appropriate magenta "24" cent credit rating to G.B., carried by Cunard Line Europa from Boston May 29th to Liverpool arriving Jun. 8, red "London Paid JU 8 61" transit cds, then by steamer to Brazil, docketed by Philadelphia Prize Court with red "17" at left and "201. / H.F.", stamp with flaws including scissor s.e., partial flap, Very Fine. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A REMARKABLE UNIQUE 1857 ISSUE USE TO RIO DE JANEIRO, WHICH WAS LATER USED AS EVIDENCE IN THE PHILADELPHIA PRIZE COURT.
The Bark "Meaco", with Captain Depass was returning from Rio de Janeiro to New Orleans when it was captured on September 5, 1861 while anchored off Pass a L'Outre, Louisiana by the USS "Brooklyn", one of the blockaders of the mouth of the Mississippi River. The "Meaco", with its crew was sailed to Philadelphia and libeled by the Philadelphia Prize Court. The cover is docketed by Prize Court Commissioner Henry Flanders, a well-respected scholar on maritime law, with his "H.F." initials and with the red "17" denoting the court case number. Since both the "Meaco" and her cargo were found to be the property of Confederates, the "Meaco" was sold by the Prize Court for $6,000 and her cargo of 3,000 bags of coffee for $86,000.
Realized: $15,000
Lot
1815
Confederacy, (Prize Court Mail) Pendleton S.C. Jun 15, blue cds and matching "Paid / 5" rating handstamp on yellow cover to Emilio Puig, Esqr., Care of Spanish Consul, Charleston S.C., red manuscript "F no. 1 / H.H.E." court docketing at top right; some edge wear, Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
In late 1861, a new Spanish steam ferry boat "Nuestra Senora de Regla", enroute from the builder in New York to its owner in Cuba, put into Charleston S.C. for repair of damages incurred during a hurricane. The repaired ferry boat left Charleston at the end of November 1861 with Mr. Puig aboard as a passenger. The ferry boat was stopped by U.S. blockaders near Port Royal S.C. and Mr. Puig's sack of Confederate mail was found aboard. Consequently, the "Nuestra Senora de Regla" was claimed as a prize and was sent, along with Mr. Puig, to New York to be processed by the New York prize court. This case, adjudicated in favor of the blockaders, was appealed by the Spaniards all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court that reversed the findings in favor of the Spaniards, a very rare occurrence. The red manuscript "F" and "No. 1" are case number and evidence number docketing with the "H.H.E." initials below of H.H. Elliott, the New York Prize Court Commissioner.
Realized: $1,700
Lot
1816
Confederacy, (Prize Court Mail) Anderson S.C. Jul 26, slightly indistinct cds and matching "Paid" rating handstamp on orange buff cover to Emilio Puig, Esqr., Care of Spanish Consul, Charleston S.C., additional pencil "Paid E.B.S." at top right, red manuscript "F no. 11 / H.H.E." court docketing at top right; some opening tears at top, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
In late 1861, a new Spanish steam ferry boat "Nuestra Senora de Regla", enroute from the builder in New York to its owner in Cuba, put into Charleston S.C. for repair of damages incurred during a hurricane. The repaired ferry boat left Charleston at the end of November 1861 with Mr. Puig aboard as a passenger. The ferry boat was stopped by U.S. blockaders near Port Royal S.C. and Mr. Puig's sack of Confederate mail was found aboard. Consequently, the "Nuestra Senora de Regla" was claimed as a prize and was sent, along with Mr. Puig, to New York to be processed by the New York prize court. This case, adjudicated in favor of the blockaders, was appealed by the Spaniards all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court that reversed the findings in favor of the Spaniards, a very rare occurrence. The red manuscript "F" and "No. 1" are case number and evidence number docketing with the "H.H.E." initials below of H.H. Elliott, the New York Prize Court Commissioner.
Realized: $1,900
Lot
1817
Confederacy, (Prize Court Mail) 1861 (Sep. 7) Steamer Han Kow, Hong Kong to Savannah Ga. via New York and Nassau, yellow cover bearing 1¢ blue (63) and three 3¢ rose (65) singles, all tied by four strikes of New York foreign mail circular grids (Skinner NYFM 60-2) to Nassau, Bahamas at double the 5¢ treaty rate, addressed to Charles Gordon in care of H.R. Sonder and Son (sic), blue crayon "8" pence inland due rating, red oval "Forwarded by Saunders & Son, Nassau" handstamp, docketed by the Philadelphia Prize Court with red "84" at right and "No. 18. H.F. The within is marked 18. H.F.", photocopy of original letter datelined "Steamer Han Kow, Harbour of Hong Kong, Sept 7th 1861"; small cover tear, and couple small stamp flaws, F.-V.F. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
A SPECTACULAR COVER CAPTURED DURING AN ATTEMPTED BLOCKADE RUN AND USED AS EVIDENCE IN THE PRIZE COURT AT PHILADELPHIA.
The letter's writer, Engineer W. H. Shannon, a merchant mariner for 12 years, left New York on the "Han Kow" on April 13, 1861, three days before Lincoln ordered the blockade of Southern ports. The "Han Kow" arrived in Hong Kong Aug. 31st 1861 and stayed there to become a transport vessel between Hong Kong and Canton. This cover was carried privately from Hong Kong to New York, arriving almost one year later. This was carried from New York on the Cunarder "British Queen" departing Aug. 16, 1862 to Nassau arriving Aug. 20. It was forwarded by Saunders & Son with goods on the Schooner "Defiance" to Savannah, but she was captured by the barque U.S.S. "Braziliera" on Sep. 7, 1862. The "Defiance" was made a prize, and this cover was used as evidence in the Philadelphia Prize Court. The initials "H.F." at right belong to Henry Flanders, a well-respected scholar on maritime law who served as commissioner of the Philadelphia Prize Court.
Realized: $17,000
Lot
1818
Confederacy, (Prize Court Mail) 1863 (Jun. 15) Inbound blockade cover Brooklyn N.Y. to Bryan County Ga. via Nassau, cover with original enclosed letter datelined "Brooklyn June 15" /63" and addressed to Mrs. John Hines at Way Station No. 1½; red manuscript "125" at left, manuscript "No. 19, H.F." docketing at right; cover opening tear, Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
This cover was carried by English steamer "Jupiter" attempting a blockade run from Nassau to Savannah Ga. She was captured by the "USS Cimarron" on Sep. 13, 1863 six days out of Nassau with an assorted cargo and 32 persons aboard. The "Jupiter" with its crew, cargo and passengers were submitted to the Philadelphia Prize Court for adjudication. The case number "125" was assigned as docketed in red along with evidence "No. 19" and the initials "H.F." of Henry Flanders, Prize Court Commissioner.
The original letter with some interesting content, "Brooklyn is very dull now but they dont seem to feel any ill effects from the war except death of friends… Edward has a permanent birth on board a war ship on the Blockade Station… I don't know any other Southern people here but there may be some…I am told the contrabands suffer awful. Some are here, but they have no idea of working…Stonewall Jackson was highly spoken of in all our papers. What a loss to the Confederates he was. I think you have brave men and good men and I trust that it some way will all be right…I wrote you by Fortress Monroe a few lines, but that route is very uncertain…".
Realized: $1,600