Summer 2025 | July 18-20, 2025

Michigan to New York

The cover is addressed to Mrs. George C. Palmer in Greenville, N.C. The letter is datelined Key West, Florida, April 14th, 1862, and signed by Jim, writing to his sister Clare.

Key West Florida
April 14th, 1862
Dear Sister,
I will write you a few lines this morning to let you hear from me. I am well and hope you the same. When I wrote you before I was quite sick but I am well now. We have had an awful rain hear last night our camp is almost under water this morning. I never saw it rain so hard in my life. It rained for 8 hours and the Island is almost covered with water so you can judge for your self. It is very pleasant this morning but very warm. We expect to leave here for South Carolina soon. The report is this morning is that New Orleans is taken. I hope that is so if it is so we will be home about the middle of June. We have received no pay yet but will get pay for 4 months. The first of May then there will be $36 for you at Albany. You must get it and get Johns Boddy home as soon as you can. I will send more home as soon as I get it. This letter you will see this letter will be mailed at Albany. I send it there by Benoni Rhodes he will mail it their. Tell George Palmer when he goes to Albany to go and see him. He lives 118 Hawk St.. He is the nicest man That I ever new he will tell him all about me. He has got his discharge so I will send this by him. Alex Campbell is very sick but we hope not dangerous. It is very unhealthy here now we are in hopes that we will get off from here soon. I will close. Write soon as you can. I remain your ever loving Brother Jim.
To his sister Clare.
Direct as before

Addressed to E. Hallett, Hillsdale, Mich.

Rebacked

Stamp Tied by Cairo, Ill datestamp. Cover with stains and slightly reduced at right,

Bold "Augusta, Me., Paid" circular handstamp. Letterhead dated April 26, 1864 with content regarding Navy & Marines enlistment. Very Fine and Attractive.

Manuscript ship marking “U.S.S. Lancaster, Panama Bay N.G.” at lower left with "DUE 10" straightline. Addressed to St. Joseph, Missouri. The cover with pressed edged and small sealed tear, otherwise Very Fine.

On 11 November 1864, a secret expedition of boats from the USS Lancaster captured a party of Confederate officers aboard the passenger steamer Salvador, off the Bay of Panama. They had planned to seize the Salvador for the Confederate Government and convert her into a raider to capture Union gold shipments from California. It is possible that this cover was aboard the U.S.S. Lancaster during this historic capture.

"JOHNSONS RANCH, CAL. JUN 28" double circle postmark, to Clinton, Summit Co., Ohio. The stamp with some short perfs, the cover with foxing and insect spots.

Addressed to Samuel Howard Gerrish in Vallejo, California. With a PF Certificate which states, "SINGLE, GRID CANCEL, ON PATRIOTIC COVER TO VALLEJO CA, SPRINGFIELD MA PMK AT BOTTOM LEFT. AND WE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT
IT IS A GENUINE USAGE; THE STAMP HAS TWO LIGHT HORIZONTAL CREASES THE COVER WITH A SMALL STAIN AT CENTER"

Design featuring a Zouave soldier with rifle and flag, a pointing hand, and the text "TO WASHINGTON VIA BALTIMORE" on a signpost. Addressed to Mr. John A. Holmes, Norrington, Trumbull Co., Ohio. With "Forest City, CAL APR. 11" postmark. Like Bischel 3657, W-2008va.

The stamp with grid postmark. "SALEM OR OCT 13 1862" postmark, addressed to Hawleyville, Iowa.

Only Six Recorded Patriotic Covers used from Oregon during the entire Civil War, of which, this is Certainly One of the Finer Examples.

Red, white, and blue patriotic cover with small figure leaning on shield and the verse “Let our watchword ever be, Country, God, and Liberty” with imprint of J.R. Hawley, Cincinnati below. Sent from New Bedford, Mass. Jan. 27 with red PAID postmark to Clyde River, Nova Scotia. Red arc “U. STATES” exchange marking and Shelburne, N.S. backstamp. The cover with soiling, staining, and a tear at top left.

Illustrated soldier bidding farewell to sweetheart design with blue "FORT HAMILTON, N.Y." postmark, addressed to St. John's, New Brunswick. Red arc "U. STATES" exchange office handstamp. The cover with vertical crease, edge wear, tears at top, and faults to the stamp including a tear and perf damage. Like Bischel 2316.

Ensign, Bridgman & Fanning advertising design, with "NEW YORK/MAY 21" double circle target duplex cancel. Addressed to Port Colborne, Canada West. The cover with a small stain at bottom right corner.

"If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." waving flag patriotic design, addressed to Westminster, London with red open grid cancels. The stamps paying the 24c rate.

La Crosse, Wis. "JAN 11 1862" datestamp, addressed to Norway and sent unpaid at the 46c Prussian Closed Mail rate. Scarce “Detroit Mich Am Pkt/23” transit, and carried on Allen Line’s “Hibernian” from Portland with manuscript "46" in red. Svinesund transit mark at bottom right. Despite the front having stains, this is an extremely scarce destination for patriotic covers, very few are known sent abroad, especially to Norway.

Assembled by Robert Cantor.

April 5, 1861 Savannah, Ga "Stars" circular datestamp on folded printed circular to Edward E. Hondlett, Dresden, Maine. Enclosed is the SAVANNAH REPUBLICAN PRICES CURRENT.

The stamp is plated as Relief F, Position from Row 10.

Datelined May 15, 1854, Executive Department, City of Jefferson, addressed to the Hon. Secretary of War (Jefferson Davis) in Washington, D.C.
The letter requests the delivery of eighty muskets and accoutrements from the St. Louis Arsenal to Capt. John W. Wills, with costs to be deducted from Missouri’s next arms allotment.

No gum, with light soiling and light creases.

No gum, with a tiny thin at top and a vertical crease at right.

No gum with a crease and small tear at bottom.

Diagonal creases at bottom left.