Lot
2558 
Confederacy, (Adams Express Across-the-Lines) 1861 (Jun. 16) New Orleans La. to Bordeaux, France, blue folded cover with part letter and origin docketing, embossed Rochereau New Orleans corner card to Bordeaux, France, carried north by Adam's Express to New York City, entered mails with U.S. 5¢ brown (30A) and 10¢ green (35), straddle-line margin, minor perf toning, tied by New York foreign mail grid cancels, red "New York 'Paid 12' Jun 25" credit datestamp, carried by Cunard Line Arabia from Boston Jun. 26th to Queenstown arriving Jul. 6th, red "Etats-Unis Serv. Br. Pkt., Calais, 9 Juil. 61" transit datestamp and matching "P.D." in frame, Paris (6.9) and Bordeaux (6.10) backstamps, Very Fine and colorful, ex-Noel, Walske; signed Ashbrook. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A CHOICE COVER SENT FROM CONFEDERATE NEW ORLEANS TO FRANCE USING ADAMS EXPRESS TO CROSS THE LINES.
This letter was from Albin Rochereau, a merchant and battalion chief in the French Legion. The Legion was an organization of French citizens in New Orleans who defended the city during the Civil War.
Although Adams Express Company typically put mail into the post office at Louisville, there are examples of mail that was carried by Adams all the way to New York City. This cover does not have express markings since it was carried inside another envelope.