Lot
1618 
Confederacy, Charleston S.C. to Liverpool via Wilmington and Nassau, cover originating in Charleston S.C. to John Grimball, in care of Fraser Trenholm & Co. in Liverpool, England, left Wilmington, N.C. on the blockade runner Syren on February 25 and arrive in Nassau with light "Bahamas, Mr 1, 1864" transit backstamp applied upon arrival, sent unpaid with blue crayon "1/5 + 7 = 2/" (two shillings due) and "2/-" due rating handstamp, Liverpool (4.3) arrival cds; slight rough opening at top, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE OUTBOUND BLOCKADE-RUN COVER.
Lieutenant John Grimball's early career included service on the C.S.S. "Arkansas", an ironclad operating near Vicksburg and reputed to be the most feared ship of the C.S. Navy. The Arkansas ran aground and was burned by the crew. Lt. Grimball was assigned to service abroad on Jan. 6, 1864, and this cover was sent by Grimball's father.
The "Syren" belonged to the Charleston import & Export Company. She made 33 round trips through the blockade, the most of any blockade runner and came through the blockade to Charleston her last time on February 16, 1865, two days before Charleston fell to Union forces. She was tied up in the Ashlet River and set afire when the Feds arrived.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (27MB)
Lot
1619
Confederacy, Outgoing Blockade Cover to Liverpool, England, adversity cover made from South Carolina petition addressed to Lt. John Grimball from his father in Spartanburg, Ga., cover was either handcarried or sent under separate cover through the blockade and was sent late in the war after censorship of outgoing mail from the Confederacy was required; central cover tone band and slightly rough opening, F.-V.F. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $100
Lot
1620
Confederacy, Outgoing Blockade Cover to Liverpool, England, adversity cover made from court document addressed to Lt. John Grimball from his father in Spartanburg, Ga., cover was either handcarried or sent under separate cover through the blockade and was sent late in the war after censorship of outgoing mail from the Confederacy was required. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $180
Lot
1621
Confederacy, Spartanburg, S.C. to Liverpool via Wilmington and Nassau, cover originating in Charleston S.C. to John Grimball, in care of Fraser Trenholm & Co. in Liverpool, England, left Wilmington, N.C. on the blockade runner Will-of-the-wisp or the Edith, arrived in Nassau with "Bahamas, Ap 30, 1864" transit backstamp applied upon arrival, sent unpaid with blue crayon "1/5 + 7 = 2/" (two shillings due) and manuscript "2/-" due rating, Liverpool (5.8) arrival cds; cover wear and soiling with lower right corner repaired, F.-V.F. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Lt. Grimball left Liverpool after receiving this cover on the CSS "Shenandoah" and this cover travelled with him completely around the world, during which Lt. Grimball fired the last shot of the Civil War on a whaler in the North Pacific or Arctic Ocean.
Complete images:
View gallery or Download PDF (8.6MB)
Realized: $1,600