Lot
3166 
Confederacy, Winchester Prison, Winchester Va., cover from Asst. Surgeon Josiah L. Brown, 116th Ohio Inf. to his wife, "Mrs. Mary Brown, Green Spring, Ohio", on printed Official Business envelope (manuscript obliterated), franked with 1861, 3¢ rose (65, defective) tied by "Washington, D.C. Jul. 24" cds, reverse with manuscript "Examined by D.B. Bridgeford, Major & Pro Mar A.N.V." (David B. Bridgeford, P.M. Army of Northern Virginia) with additional "Exd J.M.H." (John M. Higgins, Clerk at the War Dept., Richmond, Va.), rejected at Fortress Monroe and sent to the Dead Letter Office with bold double oval "Dead Letter Office P.O. DPT" handstamp, reduced at right, Very Fine, Illustrated on page 105, "Prisoners' Mail From The American Civil War" by Galen Harrison.Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
AN OUTSTANDING USAGE AND A MAJOR RARITY OF WHICH ONLY THREE COVERS ARE RECORDED. THE PRISONERS WERE HELD IN THE LOCAL COURT HOUSE.
This may have been sent to the Dead Letter Office as the Post Office may have thought this was an attempt to re-use a stamp.
Current Opening Bid: $750