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