Lot
1813 
Confederacy, Charleston S.C. to Liverpool via Wilmington and Nassau., adversity cover made from State of South Carolina printed form originating in Charleston S.C. to John Grimball, in care of Fraser Trenholm & Co. in Liverpool, England, Bahamas (12.20.64) transit backstamp, sent unpaid with blue crayon "1/5 + 7 = 2/" (two shillings due), red London (2.5) backstamp and manuscript "2/-" due rating, Liverpool (2.6) arrival cds, Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE OUTBOUND BLOCKADE-RUN ADVERSITY COVER.
We have only recorded three blockade-run adversity covers, all from the Grimball correspondence. This cover was carried on blockade-runner "Fannie", departing Wilmington Nov. 3, 1864, arr. Nassau Nov. 7; then Cunarder "Corsica", dep. Nassau Nov. 23, arr. New York Nov. 27; then by Cunarder "Persia", dep. New York Dec. 2, arr. Queenstown Dec. 11. The "Fannie" was owned by the Importing & Exporting Company of South Carolina (William C. Bee) and was active May 1863 to Apr. 1865, 20 for 20 in successful trips and survived the war.
Lieutenant John Grimball's early career included service on the C.S.S. "Arkansas", an ironclad operating near Vicksburg and reputed to be the most feared ship of the C.S. Navy. The Arkansas ran aground and was burned by the crew. Lt. Grimball was assigned to service abroad on Jan. 6, 1864, and this was probably sent by Grimball from England on Feb. 17, 1864. He was appointed to the famed C.S.S. "Shenandoah" on Oct. 8, 1864. The Shenandoah's exploits continued months after the end of the war, as she captured whalers for prize. Lt. Grimball was present when the first and last shots of the war were fired.
Realized: $2,100