Lot
2075 
Van Buren, Ark, addressing on cover franked with U.S. 1857, 3¢ dull red (26) tied by grid handstamp, matching "Hamilton, Ohio, Jun 6" origin cds, reverse with partial red "Cincinnati, O., Jun 7" transit cds of the First Day of the 1861 Suspension of U.S. Post Office Across-the-Lines Routes via Louisville and Tennessee and sent to Washington D.C., large "Dead Letter Office, P.O. Dept. Aug 5, 1861" oval datestamp additionally tying stamp and "DUE 3 cts" straightline, sender's address "Robt Harper, Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio" written on face by D.L.O.; cover with partial backflap and some overall soiling, F.-V.F.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
A RARE CIVIL WAR USE FROM HAMILTON, OHIO TO VAN BUREN, ARKANSAS THAT WAS DIVERTED TO THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE AFTER THE LOUISVILLE AND TENNESSEE MAIL ROUTE WAS SUSPENDED ON JUNE 7, 1861.
According to the Walske-Trepel book, the southbound mails from the United States to western CSA was normally carried via Louisville and Tennessee until the June 7th U.S. postal discontinuance notice, which prohibited mail postal communications with the CSA. Mail on this route was diverted to the Unites States dead letter office in Washington D.C. At the dead letter office, the diverted mail was opened to ascertain the sender address, which was written on the face. The diverted letters were postmarked by the Dead Letter Office and handstamped with "Due 3 cts" straightline before returning to sender.
Current Opening Bid: $750