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Sale 77: Confederate States of America

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Prisoner of War Covers, Northern Prisons

Lots 1630-1639 Lots 1640-1649 Lots 1650-1659 Lots 1660-1665

Lot 1640    

Confederacy, Fort Delaware, Delaware City Del., orange Prisoner's cover bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by "Delaware City, Del., Jan 24" duplex and addressed to Mr. Jas. E.A. Gibbs at Lowman's Mill Va., in combination with 1863, 10¢ blue, rich color, tied by "Richmond, Va., Feb 18" cds, no examiner's marking, endorsed "Per Flag of Truce Boat Via Fortress Monroe"; minor cover scuffs, clean and Very Fine.
Scott No. 11+U.S. 65    Estimate $750 - 1,000.

Sent by Private George E. Gibbs to his father. Gibbs enlisted March 18, 1862 in the 24th Va. Battalion Partison Rangers and transferred to the Va. King William Light Artillery on June 6th. He was captured as a POW at Spotsylvania Court House Va. on May 20, 1864 and confined at Fort Delaware until his Oath of Allegiance and release June 14, 1865.

Realized: $800

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Lot 1641    

Confederacy, Fort Delaware, Delaware City, Del., circa 1865 orange Prisoner of War cover addressed to Mrs. Mary E. Douglas, Fisherville Va. bearing for C.S.A. postage 10¢ dark blue (12) with four large margins showing part of stamp at bottom, and for U.S. postage 3¢ rose (65), each tied by "Delaware City, Del, Jan 31" duplex with target cancel and "Richmond Va. Feb. 10" cds, endorsed "Care of Comg Officer Fortress Monroe By Flag of Truce" at lower left, Extremely Fine; signed Kimbrough.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A CHOICE NORTH TO SOUTH PRISONER OF WAR COVER, PARTICULARLY SCARCE WITH A KEATINGE AND BALL STAMP.

There were no examiner's marking as Fort Delaware discontinued them in Nov. 1864. This cover was sent by Lieut. John A. Douglas of Co. B 30th Va. Battalion Sharpshooters to his wife. Lieut. Douglas was captured as a POW at Winchester Va. Sep. 19th 1864 and held at Fort Delaware until signing the Oath of Allegiance and released Jun. 16th 1865.

Realized: $1,100

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Lot 1642    

Confederacy, Fort Delaware, Delaware City Del., prisoner cover to Hayneville, Ala. bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by "Delaware City, Del., Jan 24" cds and target duplex, in combination with 1863, 10¢ blue, rich color, tied by "Richmond Va., Feb 17" cds, no examiner's marking, endorsed "Per Flag of Truce", Very Fine, a choice dual franking usage from Fort Delaware; with 2017 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. U.S. 65+12    Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,100

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Lot 1643    

Confederacy, Fort Warren, Boston Harbor Mass., 3¢ pink (U58) entire with "Fayetteville N.C. 'Dec 31' " cds and manuscript dating addressed to Eugene A. Maffitt, Prisoner of War, "Fort Warren", Boston Harbor Mass. return address of John L. Maffitt; torn from opening and stained, accompanied by second cover from same correspondence and same "Dec 31" dating with part of address excised, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Fort Warren was one of the better run Civil War prisons with a much lower casualty rate than most others during that time. Midshipmen Eugene Maffitt, formerly C.S. Navy, was the son of legendary Confederate Navy Lt. John N. Maffitt, Commanding Officer of the CSS "Florida". Maffitt served at Fort Beauregard at Beaufort S.C. and then under the command of Admiral Raphael Seemes on the CSS "Alabama" from the start of its operations against U.S. shipping until its sinking in Cherbourg, France by the USS "Kearsarge". Maffitt and his shipmate CS marine Lt. R. Howell (brother-in-law of President Jefferson Davis) were captured on an English steamer when it docked in Portland Me. on Dec. 6th 1864, and were imprisoned at Fort Warren in Boston Harbor where Maffitt received this letter from his half brother. Maffitt was released from Fort Warren on Jan. 10th 1866.

Realized: $210

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Lot 1644    

Confederacy, Fort Warren, Boston Harbor, Mass., cover franked with uncanceled U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose and addressed to CSA Vice President Alexander H. Stephens at Fort Warren, with "App'd to be delivered, By comd of Maj Genl Hooker, Chas. O. Joline, A.D.C." endorsement at top, reverse with "R.M. Johnson, 25 July, 65" docketing, Very Fine, Stephens was imprisoned for five months at Boston's Fort.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Stephens was taken into custody on May 11, 1865 at Crawfordville, shortly after Jefferson Davis and his party were captured at Irwinville Ga. Transported to Fortress Monroe with the Davis party, Stephens and Postmaster General Reagan were sent on to Boston arriving on May 24th. On August 20th he was moved to more comfortable quarters and permitted greater freedom. His release was supported by Senators Sumner and Wilson, Generals Grant and Thoms, and Secretaries Seward and Stanton, and many others. President Johnson released him on October 13, 1865.

Realized: $800

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Lot 1645    

Confederacy, Immortal "Confederate 600", Fortress Monroe, Va., cover franked with four margin 1863, 10¢ greenish blue tied by "Richmond, Va., Sep 11, 1863" cds on cover to "Mr. James P. Irwin, Charlotte, North Carolina", addressee has been crossed out and "Mr. T. W. Dewey" substituted, this is an inside cover from across the lines use as the pencil contents docketing indicates "[9-2-63 Fortress Monroe, Va]", the family correspondence had across the lines prisoner correspondence from Drury Lacy, 23rd VA Infantry, to Thomas W. Dewey., Very Fine.
Scott No. 11c    Estimate $200 - 300.

Lacy was wounded at Chancellorsville May 2, 1863. He was wounded and captured multiple times. Ultimately, he was one of the Immortal 600 confined to Fort Delaware where he was transferred to be held captive under friendly fire as retaliation for the same treatment of Union prisoners. This use is from an unidentified northern prison before confinement to Fort Delaware.

Realized: $170

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Lot 1646    

Confederacy, Johnsons Island, Sandusky, O., incoming cover addressed "Lieut Col. Inser, Prisoner of War, Care Major Pearson, Johnsons Island", franked with 1861, 3¢ rose (natural s.e.) cancelled by target, matching "San Francisco, Cal. Mar 29, 1864" cds and straight line "Registered" handstamp, manuscript "Due 10¢" and matching "2531" registry number tying stamp, endorsed "$150 draft, Hill" in pencil at left additionally tying stamp, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

A VERY RARE REGISTERED LETTER FROM SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. TO PRISONER AT JOHNSON ISLANDS.

Registered mail service was available in the United States during the war years of 1861 to 1865. Registered letters known to prisoners contained money and by registering the letters, they were guaranteed delivery to the prisoner.

The registered mail fee of 20¢ was to paid in cash, however the sender may have had only half of the necessary fee in which the Post Office accepted and dued the cover the remaining 10¢ fee. In any case, this cover is being offered on it's own merits (as is).

Realized: $475

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Lot 1647    

Confederacy, Johnsons Island, Sandusky, O., Prisoner cover with "Prisoner's Letter, Johnson's Island, O., F.W.R., Examined" oval censor's backstamp of Pvt. Frank W. Rittman, bearing U.S. 3¢ rose (65) tied by partial "Sandusky O. '64" duplex with four-rings cancel to Mrs. M. L. Douglas, Blackstock, Chester District S.C., endorsed "From T. L Douglas. Lieut C.S.A., Prisoner of War, Johnsons Island, Lake One, Ohio" with directive "Care of Maj. Gen. Butler U.S.A., Commanding Dept Va. & N.C., via Fortress Monroe Va." at bottom left, entered Southern mails with "Richmond Va. Jan 21" cds and matching "Due 10" rating handstamp at top, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Johnson's Island housed mostly CSA officers.

Realized: $325

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Lot 1648    

Confederacy, Johnsons Island, Sandusky, O., Prisoner cover bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by "Sandusky, O, Feb 6, '64" duplex to Cartersville, Ga., officer endorsement and "For Flag of Truce via Fortress Monroe & City Point, Va.", manuscript "Ex D.D." examiner's marking, entered Southern mails with "Richmond, Va., Feb 25" cds additionally tying stamp and matching "Due 10" rate handstamp, Very Fine.
Scott No. U.S. 65    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $220

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Lot 1649    

Confederacy, Johnsons Island, Sandusky, O., Prisoner cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose tied by blue "Sandusky, O, May 17, '65" duplex to Frankfort, Ky., oval "Prisoner's Letter, Johnsons Island O., Examined, J. Jordan" oval examiner's handstamp (type I), Very Fine.
Scott No. U.S. 65    Estimate $150 - 200.

Realized: $120

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Lots 1630-1639 Lots 1640-1649 Lots 1650-1659 Lots 1660-1665

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