Auction Detail

"Major General Wool & Eagle", Hunckel & Son patriotic cover, depicting the Major General framed by battle scenes and flags, from the Dr. Angell correspondence to Vienna, Austria, franked with 1861 1c, 2c, and 12c, tied by black circle of wedges, the 2c tied by neatly-struck red "N. York 12 Brem. Pkt. Paid" c.d.s. (5 Nov), blue "America / Uber Bremen / Franco" three-line transit and Vienna c.d.s. arrival backstamp (8 Dec), some light edge wear at top, the 12c with a few short perfs, and the Black Jack having been lifted and replaced, not detracting from the tremendous visual appeal of this rare patriotic cover; with 2020 Philatelic Foundation certificate.  (Weiss PM-270, Walcott unlisted). John Ellis Wool (1784-1869) was a New York lawyer and bookseller. Upon the outbreak of the War of 1812, he enlisted and served with distinction, as he did later in the Mexican-American War (1846-48). In the Civil War he commanded the Department of the East, and, as commander of the Department of Virginia, secured control for the Union of Fort Monroe. The Fort remained in Union hands for the remainder of the war, and served as a major supply point for the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. Wool was promoted to Major General for his role in leading the recapture of the Gosport Shipyard at Norfolk, Virginia, retiring in 1863, after more than fifty years of service.

"Our Army and Navy, Gen. Butler, Com. Stringham," olive green and black full-front design, with Upham imprint on reverse, franked with 3c rose tied by black "Washington D.C. / Oct / 21" c.d.s., to South Hadley, Massachusetts, adhesive with two repaired tears, not detracting from the visual appear of this exceptional patriotic cover; with 2021 Philatelic Foundationxa certificate. (Walcott 373, Weiss PM-275)
Benjamin Butler (1818-93) was a politician, lawyer, and businessman from Massachusetts. He is best known as a political Major General of the Union Army, a role from which he was dismissed after his failures in the First Battle of Fort Fisher). He is also remembered for his later leadership role in the impeachment of  President Andrew Johnson. He was a colorful and often controversial political figure, and ran several campaigns for Governor of Massachusetts  before his ultimate election to that office in 1882. Silas  Stringham (1798-1876) was a US Navy officer who saw active service during the War of 1812, the Second Barbary War, the Mexican-American War, at the outset of the Civil War, when, as Rear Admiral, he commanded the Atlantic Blockading Squadron.
 

"Soldier & Sweetheart" bicolored Wells patriotic cover, franked with 3c rose, cancelled by four-ring target, "Hudson NY / May / 24" c.d.s. adjacent, to New York City, J.G. Wells imprint on back flap, the odd trivial wrinkle, a beautiful cover. (Weiss SC-NB103, Walcott L-844).

"Trees-on a hard road to travel" patriotic caricature, depicting the Devil leading Confederate soldiers, franked with 3c rose, tied by four-ring target cancel and postmarked with Philadelphia c.d.s. (February, 1863), to Boston, Massachusetts, adhesive quite off-center showing fair portion of adjacent stamp, much fresher than typical for used examples. (Weiss CD-20, Walcott L-1136).