Lot
895 
(1846-1848 Mexican-American War) 1846 (Feb. 14) Jalapa, Mexico ALS Letter From U.S. Minister John Slidell, ALS datelined "Jalapa, 14 Febry 1846" with some interesting content "…Since I left the Capital on the 17 inst. nothing has occurred to indicate any possible change in the attitude of this government…I am anxiously awaiting my definitive instructions from Washington. Should appearances be to an amicable arrangement of the Oregon question, it is not impossible that I may yet return to Mexico. If there be a prospect of war between the United States & Great Britain. I have no hope that your flattering anticipation of the result of my mission will be realized." and signed "John Slidell"; carried privately to the United States and entered mails with "Pensacola Flor. Mar 2" cds and manuscript "10" rating to Philadelphia Pa.; some internal fold splitting and aging, Very Fine and remarkable historical Slidell Mission letter. Estimate $500 - 750.
John Slidell (1793-1871) was an American politician, lawyer, and businessman. A native of New York, Slidell moved to Louisiana as a young man and became a staunch defender of slavery as a Representative and Senator. He served as minister plenipotentiary to Mexico from 1845-1846.
Prior to the Mexican-American War, Slidell was sent to Mexico, by President James Knox Polk, to negotiate an agreement whereby the Rio Grande would be the southern border of Texas. He also was instructed to offer, among other alternatives, a maximum of $25 million for California by Polk and his administration. Slidell warned Polk that the Mexican reluctance to negotiate a peaceful solution might require a show of military force to defend the border by the United States. Under the command of General Zachary Taylor, U.S. troops were sent into the disputed area between the Rio Grande and Nueces Rivers. The Mexican government, in a state of chaos at the time, rejected Slidell's mission. After Mexican forces repelled a U.S. scouting expedition, the United States declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846.
Realized: $900
Lot
896
(Spanish-American War) Remember the Maine, Co. E, 20th Kansas Inft., U.S.V., red and blue flag patriotic design on cover bearing 2¢ Trans-Mississippi (286) tied by quartered cork duplexed with "Presideo, Cal. Aug 7, 1898" cds to Garnett, Kansas, purple "Catholic Truth Society" circular handstamp, Very Fine; with 2010 P.F. certificate. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $130
Lot
897
(Spanish-American War) 1898-1901, Spanish American War Patriotics, group of 28 mostly different including desirable designs, better noted 1¢ Trans-Miss. #285 pair on "On to Cuba, Remember the Maine" flag and soldiers boarding ship design, Second Oregon Volunteer Inf. showing Eagle and Shield from Manila Philippines; 1¢ and 2¢ Trans-Miss. #285, 286 solo uses on all-oval flag designs; #279 (2) on two-sided all-over flag design of American Flag on front and Cuban flag on reverse; 5¢ Pan-Am #298 on Commodore Watson design, #279B on Lieutenant R.P. Hobson eagle and flag portrait deisgn, "On Guard in the "Sunny South" and "Mustered Out" Camp Witherill S.C. uses; three different Camp Thomas designs, several different Flag designs, etc., one is a front, F.-V.F. and wonderful group. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
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Realized: $725
Lot
898
(Spanish-American War) Despatch to Spain or Spanish Colonies Prohibited on Account of War, label on 1898 cover bearing 1¢ blue (264) and 2¢ pink (267) tied by "New York, Apr 26 '98" machine cancel on 2¢ green entire to Bilbao, Spain, purple "Do Not Post Again this Envelope or Wrapper" New York return-to-sender pointing-hand handstamp, Very Fine and choice Spanish-American War use. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $575
Lot
899
(Spanish-American War) Despatch to Spain or Spanish Colonies Prohibited on Account of War, label on greenish 1898 cover bearing 10¢ dark green (273) tied by "New York, Apr 20 '98" duplex with preprinted address to Havana, Cuba, printed "Via Tampa" endorsement at upper left, purple "Do Not Post Again this Envelope or Wrapper" return-to-sender pointing-hand handstamp, Very Fine and choice Spanish-American War use. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $500
Lot
900
(World War I Prisoner of War) 1918 Internment Camp Hot Springs N.C., 1¢ postal card (UX22) uprated with 1¢ Jamestown (328) tied by "Hot Springs, N.C., Jul 25" machine cancel to Detroit Mich., endorsed "U.S. Internment Station, Hot Springs, N.C., Albert Ebel, Bar. 6., 16. Juli 1918" at top left, purple "Censored, U.S. Department of Justice, Hot Springs, N.C." three-line handstamp and additional "Jul 16 1918" handstamp below, Very Fine and rare WWI German Internee mail. Estimate $300 - 400.
May 1917, the town of Hot Springs had a population of 650 but soon the number would increase with the addition of almost 2200 German prisoners. This would be the largest World War I prison camp in the United States at the time. The Mountain Park Hotel had been a thriving business until the outbreak of WWI when travel to the hotel slowed considerably. The owner Col. Rumbough negotiated a contract with the War Department to house Germans, most of whom were civilians and comprised of the crews of the German commercial ships which had taken cover in American ports when Great Britain declared war on Germany in 1914. Included in the group were members of a German orchestra as well as the crew of the world's largest ship, the "Vaterland." Because they were civilians, they could not be called "prisoners-of-war" but were named "enemy aliens" by the Department of Immigration. Consequently, 2200 passengers, officers and crew members came by train to Hot Springs and spent the remaining 19 months of the war in the internment camp.
Realized: $375
Lot
901
(World War I) General John J. Pershing, A.E.F. Office of the Commanding General, corner card on soldier's letter cover with signature of General Pershing below imprint, sent from A.P.O. No. 6 located in Chaumont, Haute-Marne, France to El Paso, Texas, with "U.S. Army Postal Service, Nov 7, 1917" duplex and censor handstamp at lower left, resealed on reverse with Post Office Seal 1917 black (OX18) tied by purple "Received at El Paso, Texas, in Bad Condition" handstamp; rough opening tear at left, otherwise Very Fine, a rare A.E.F. cover from General Pershing. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $220
Lot
902
(A.E.F. - Siberia) U.S. Postal Agency, Siberia, Jan 7, 1919, duplex postmark on "War Department, Post Exchange, Manila, P.I." penalty envelope with location typed out and "27th Infantry Exchange, A.E.F. Siberia" added, to San Francisco with countersign at bottom left (no censor handstamp), Very Fine and choice (photo on web site). Estimate $150 - 200.
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Lot
903
(A.E.F. - Siberia) U.S. Postal Agency, Siberia, Jan 17, 1919, partial duplex postmark on "War Department, Headquarters American Expeditionary Forces, Siberia" corner card cover to Washington D.C., box "A.E.F. Siberia, Censored" handstamp; cover slightly reduced at right, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
Lot
904
(A.E.F. - Siberia) 1922 Cover to Marine in Vladivostok, Siberia, franked with 2¢ red tied by "Bellingham, Wash., Jul 5, 1922" machine postmark and addressed to private in "Vladivostok, Siberia, Russian Island" with U.S.M.C. endorsement; cover wear, soiling and torn open at right, Fine appearance, cover to AEF and Marines in Siberia are extremely rare. Estimate $300 - 400.
The Marines were based on Russian Island in Vladivostok harbor to monitor events after the withdrawal of Army troops in early 1920. The Marine detachment left on November 19, ending the four year American presence in Siberia.
Realized: $400