Auction Detail
3070 – ERIVAN X
"Great Seal of Maryland" patriotic cover, handstamped "FREE" in blue and postmarked "Baltimore Md. / Jul /4" in blue, to the Honourable Wm. G. Steele in Washingon D.C., including fascinating enclosure, being a printed form letter from a citizen of Baltimore encouraging the Congressman to avert war with the South by supporting the Crittenden Compromise, the cover adhered to black backing card, the enclosure with some separation along folds, yet a fascinating glimpse into the conflicting political lobbying taking place at this crucial juncture in the early stages of the Civil War. (Weiss FT-60, Walcott L-269dv). William Gaston Steele was a Democratic politician who represented New Jersey's Third Congressional District from 1861-5; he ultimately voted against the Thirteenth Amendment.
"Head-Quarters, Baxter's Fire Zouaves", Seventy-Second Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, patriotic cover depicting Colonel Baxter, Upham imprint on reverse, franked with 3c rose and tied by oval Adamstown datestamp (December 31, 1861), to Philadelphia, mount adhesions to reverse and piece torn from back flap, some light edge staining, a scarce patriotic. (Weiss PM-36a, Walcott L-452U).
"Jefferson Davis & General Scott" caricature patriotic, depicting the two playing billiards, Scott declaring that he will beat Davis "badly before the game is through", franked with ovelapping 1c blue and 2c black, the former with straight edge at left, cancelled with four-ring targets, tying the 2c, postmarked "Williamsport Pa. / Aug / 4 / 1861" with year in manuscript, to Freeburg, Snyder County, Pennsylvania, Magee imprint at left, some toning to cover and adhesives, cover adhered to black backing card, scarce. (Weiss CPJ-26, Walcott unlisted).
"Lincoln & Davis in 5 Rounds, 2nd Round" from the Champion Prize Envelope series, ornate full-back patriotic cover depicting a fight between Abraham Lincoln and Confederate President Jefferson Davis, surrounded by soldiers and political leaders, with the Capitol building in the background, Tingley imprint at bottom, reverse franked with 3c rose, tied by black grid cancel and postmarked with "Princeton NJ / Oct / 14" c.d.s., to Oxford, New York, the odd unobtrusive tone spot, reverse with some small adhesion marks from prior mounting, not detracting from the exceptional appeal of this rare Union patriotic. (Weiss AL-193, Walcott L-164). Only one complete set of used covers of this series has been recorded, with even individual used examples rarely offered. An important Lincoln cover.
"Liberty, Flag, & White House", Magnus hand-colored patriotic cover, franked with 3c rose, tied by indistinct c.d.s., to Hollisterville, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, slight tone spots at upper left and the odd trivial edge tear, adhesive with straight edge at right, a charming patriotic cover.
"Long Bridge, Washington, by Moonlight, No. 3", hand-colored Magnus patriotic design, showing the main bridge crossing the Potomac River from Washington to Virginia, franked on reverse with 3c rose, tied by Washington D.C. c.d.s., to Saco, Maine, some light wrinkles, cover reduced at right well clear of design. (Weiss SC-NB 38, Walcott unlisted)
"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" red and blue bicolor cover, depicting General McClellan and Admiral Farragut, surrounded by patriotic and military motifs, franked with 3c rose, tied by indistinct Pennsylvania c.d.s. in blue, to Little York, New York, Upham imprint on back flap, cover reduced at left and adhered to black card, yet an exceptionally attractive patriotic illustration of great scarcity.
"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.
"Our Zouaves, Col. Birney, Col. Baxter, and Col. Goslam", overall patriotic design, franked with 3c rose, cancelled with boxed PAID, adjacent red Boston c.d.s. in red (11 May), to Philadelphia, Upham imprint on reverse (Weiss PM-289a, Walcott L-558U), a few trivial marks to address, a beautiful cover, with clear 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate; ex Walcott.
“Romeo & Juliet”, Civil War Valentine, franked on reverse with bisected 3c, each half used to seal back flap and tied by four-ring target cancel, adjacent "New Orleans LA / Feb / 21 / 186?" c.d.s., to Swanville, Maine, entire beautifully illustrated with romantic scene of a soldier bidding goodbye to his sweetheart, with Cupid looking on, with patriotic "I Dream of Thee" enclosure depicting a soldier's tent draped in a flag, piece torn from back flap, the odd trivial bit of edge wear, a lovely and scarce Civil War era Valentine; with 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate.
"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).