United States and Confederate States Postal History continued...

VERY FINE. THIS REMARKABLE COVER WAS CARRIED BY ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY AFTER THE SUSPENSION OF MAIL SERVICE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CONFEDERACY.

The letter, written by John R. Gilliat in Liverpool, is an articulate and insightful commentary on the outbreak of the American Civil War, the hope for neutral arbitration by European powers and the potential effects of a Northern blockade on the tobacco and cotton markets. It begins by expressing concern that the disruption of mail routes might prevent correspondence between the parties.

Express companies such as Adams began handling an increasing volume of mail during the months of March, April and May 1861, prior to the official suspension of mail service on May 31. Based on current studies of covers in this period, it appears that Adams used alternate routes to ensure the safe and timely transportation of mail, generally between businesses in major Southern cities and their commercial correspondents in New York City and Europe. As service along specific routes was gradually terminated during the final weeks of May, regular mail from the North was sent to the Dead Letter Office. On May 20 the Confederate Congress voted to move the capital from Montgomery Ala. to Richmond. Once this news reached Washington, the southern route was closed at Alexandria, probably on May 23 (based on research by Steven C. Walske).

This cover from Liverpool was carried outside the mails by Adams. There are remnants of a paste-up envelope adhering to the back of the letter, which was almost certainly a 3c U.S. entire required to meet the obligation to pay U.S. postage on express mail. Adams had a Richmond office, but for some unknown reason its agent put the letter into the post office and paid the 2c drop rate, rather than deliver it to William Gray. It is one of two recorded examples of an Adams cover with the Confederate drop rate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND VERY RARE BLOCKADE-RUN COVER, ENDORSED WITH THE SHIP'S NAME AND TREATED AS A DROP LETTER IN CHARLESTON, EACH OF WHICH IS A NOTEWORTHY ELEMENT.

The Little Hattie (W. S. Lebby, Master) made 12 attempts at running the blockade with 10 successful voyages from June 1864 to February 1865. This cover was carried thru the blockade into Charleston, but the absence of a date makes it impossible to determine which trip was involved. Although blockade-run covers addressed to the port of arrival are usually rated 6c, in this case the letter appears to have been carried by someone and brought to the post office where 2c was paid for the drop-letter rate. We know of no other example of this usage. (Image)

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USE OF THE SAWYER & MENENDEZ FORWARDER'S OVAL ON A BLOCKADE-RUN COVER RATED 6-CENTS DUE AT CHARLESTON.

Illustrated in Dietz (Image)

VERY FINE. A RARE LOUISIANA RELIEF COMMITTEE COVER WITH THE 2-CENT RED JACK PAYING DROP-LETTER POSTAGE.

During the Federal occupation of New Orleans from May 1862 to the end of the war, there were many residents of the city who wished to continue corresponding with family and associates in the Confederate States. To circumvent the Federal post office, letters were smuggled out of New Orleans to Mobile where the Louisiana Relief Committee was situated. Provost Marshal J. C. Denis, a member of the committee and the officer responsible for official flag-of-truce mail through Mobile, endorsed at least some of the covers smuggled to and from New Orleans. In this case, the letter was addressed in care of a local Mobile firm, and it was put into the mails as a drop letter.

Ex Everett (Image)