Lot
1816 
Confederacy, (Prize Court Mail) Anderson S.C. Jul 26, slightly indistinct cds and matching "Paid" rating handstamp on orange buff cover to Emilio Puig, Esqr., Care of Spanish Consul, Charleston S.C., additional pencil "Paid E.B.S." at top right, red manuscript "F no. 11 / H.H.E." court docketing at top right; some opening tears at top, otherwise Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
In late 1861, a new Spanish steam ferry boat "Nuestra Senora de Regla", enroute from the builder in New York to its owner in Cuba, put into Charleston S.C. for repair of damages incurred during a hurricane. The repaired ferry boat left Charleston at the end of November 1861 with Mr. Puig aboard as a passenger. The ferry boat was stopped by U.S. blockaders near Port Royal S.C. and Mr. Puig's sack of Confederate mail was found aboard. Consequently, the "Nuestra Senora de Regla" was claimed as a prize and was sent, along with Mr. Puig, to New York to be processed by the New York prize court. This case, adjudicated in favor of the blockaders, was appealed by the Spaniards all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court that reversed the findings in favor of the Spaniards, a very rare occurrence. The red manuscript "F" and "No. 1" are case number and evidence number docketing with the "H.H.E." initials below of H.H. Elliott, the New York Prize Court Commissioner.
Realized: $1,900