Lot
4367 
Confederacy, 1863 (Aug. 18) Inbound Blockade cover from Westminster, England to Charleston, cover with original 1863 enclosure addressed to Major John Mallett at either Charleston or Macon, carried by Fox into Charleston, entered mails with "6" rating handstamp for post of arrival rate, sent to Macon with "Charleston S.C. Sep 28" cds and rate deleted in pencil and re-rated "12" for the beyond port rate, meaning of additional pencil "2" unknown, original; some edge wear, separated three sides, F.-V.F., Walske No. BI-Ch-45. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
AN IMPORTANT INBOUND BLOCKADE COVER FROM THE MALLET CORRESPONDENCE WITH SOME INTERESTING CONTENT.
Major John Mallet was the brilliant English chemist appointed by Gorgas to head the Central Laboratory at Macon, Ga. In the autumn of 1861 he enlisted as a private in a troop of Confederate Cavalry, but almost immediately was chosen as aide-de-camp on the staff of General Robert E. Rodes. He was transferred to the artillery in May 1862 and by 1865 became lieutenant colonel and then superintendent of the ordnance laboratories of the Southern States.
Letter from his father reads in part, "…The news from the seat of war during the last three weeks, as we get them from Northern channels, looks gloomy enough, however it is not all to be credited. In any case, with the united heart and head of the South, 'de pepublican non desperandum Estimate" but I think it may be predicted as but too probable, with all its waste and carnage, will be prolonged at least to the term of Lincoln's going out of office draws near, and then it is hoped that the anarchy and dissension will so paralyze the North that peace will somehow come about…". He also describes the difficulty with getting the mails into the South by 1864.
Realized: $1,400