Savannah Ga. to Rome, Italy via Nassau, Bahamas. Buff cover from the Locke correspondence, originating in Savannah on Jul. 24, 1863 (docketed), addressed to Rome in care of Baring Bros. in London, carried from Charleston on the blockade-runner Margaret & Jessie, departing Aug. 1, 1863, arriving Nassau Aug. 4, held by forwarder until next sailing for New York, backstamped "Bahamas AU 22 1863 B", carried from Nassau to New York, then by Cunarder China (Aug. 26) to Queenstown (Sep. 4), manuscript "Postage 1/-" plus "Fine 1/- Colonial claim", total "2/2" due, docketing across top indicating Sorrento as final destination, small edge wrinkles and tears, Very Fine, Census No. BO-Nas-36

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Blockade-Run Cover from Wilmington N.C. to Heidelberg, Germany. Watson correspondence, carried under cover via Nassau to Liverpool forwarder (probably Fraser Trenholm), then by mail to Heidelberg, transit datestamps applied at Liverpool (June 27, 1864), London (June 28), Calais (June 28), Paris (June 29), Strasbourg (June 29) and Heidelberg (June 30), blue manuscript "33" rate, red rate marking overstruck by numeral grid, some slight toning, Very Fine and attractive blockade-run cover

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Forwarded by Saunders & Son, Nassau. Red double-line oval handstamp clearly struck on inbound blockade-run folded letter from Liverpool, England, to Richmond Va., letter from John K. Gilliat & Co. datelined "Liverpool 13th February 1863" and addressed to William Gray in Richmond Va., "Charleston S.C. Mar. 16, 1863" circular datestamp and "STEAM-SHIP" in oval handstamp, pencil "12" rate for ship fee plus 10c postage to Richmond, contents relate to tobacco shipments per steamer Pleiades, toning on backflap

VERY FINE AND SCARCE BLOCKADE-RUN COVER FROM LIVERPOOL TO RICHMOND WITH THE SAUNDERS & SON NASSAU FORWARDER'S HANDSTAMP.

This was carried from Nassau on the blockade-runner Gertrude, which was active from February 1863 to April 1864. She was 2 for 3 in successful trips and was captured by U.S.S. Vanderbilt (flagship of the Flying Squadron) on April 16, 1863 near the Bahamas.

Special Routes Census No. BI-Ch-24. With 1979 C.S.A. certificate

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Tours, France to Charleston S.C. via Nassau. Incoming blockade-run cover to Cornelius L. Burckmyer at Charleston, bold "6" rate handstamp for ship letter to port of entry, contains three letters (numbers 52, 54 and 55) datelined at Tours between Sep. 5 and Oct. 9, 1864, lengthy content from Mrs. Burckmyer written in diminutive script but not cross-written like others from this correspondence, missing most of backflap, minor edgewear, Very Fine and fascinating incoming blockade-run cover with extensive content, this is unlisted in the Special Routes census, but would be the latest recorded Burckmyer cover into Charleston

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Liverpool, England to Columbia S.C. via Nassau. Incoming blockade-run folded letter from the Royal Bank of Liverpool to the South Western Railroad Bank of Charleston and forwarded to Columbia S.C., contents contain financial entries dated from Jul. 16, 1862 to Jan. 13, 1863, "6" rate handstamp for incoming ship letter to port of entry, forwarding required 10c postage so horizontal pair 5c Blue, Local (7) applied and tied by "Charleston S.C. Feb. 14, 1863" circular datestamp, ample margins to touched, slightly toned file fold creases left stamp

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SCARCE USE OF CONFEDERATE STAMPS ON AN INCOMING BLOCKADE-RUN COVER.

This was carried on the Ruby from Nassau, which was owned by Alexander Collie & Co. She was active from February to June 1863 and was 8 for 10 in successful trips. She was destroyed off Charleston on June 11, 1863.

Special Routes Census No. BI-Ch-20. Ex Everett

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Nassau to Wilmington N.C. Incoming blockade-run cover addressed to Dr. De Rosset in Wilmington N.C., perfect strikes of red "Forwarded by Saunders & Son, Nassau" and blue "Forwarded by Sawyer & Menendez, Nassau" ovals, "SHIP" straightline handstamp and pencil "6" cents due for delivery at port of entry, no incoming circular datestamp but pencil "Feby 5/63" docketing confirms the period of use (Wilmington did not begin adding its circular datestamp to incoming blockade-run covers until mid February), some minor edgewear

EXTREMELY FINE STRIKES AND A RARE COMBINATION OF THESE TWO NASSAU FORWARDER OVAL HANDSTAMPS ON AN INCOMING BLOCKADE-RUN COVER TO WILMINGTON.

Most blockade-run covers were expedited by forwarders in the ports of departure, although the forwarders typically did not mark the letters. Both of these Nassau forwarder markings are scarce and desirable used alone on a blockade-run cover. To find a cover with both in red and blue is remarkable. Only one other is listed in the Walske-Trepel Special Routes book.

Census No. BI-Wm-6. With 1967 C.S.A. certificate

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10c Dark Blue, Die B (12). Large to huge margins including sheet margin at bottom, tied by "Charleston S.C. Aug. 3 '64" circular datestamp on buff cover most likely originating in England and addressed to A. A. Bell at Liberty Va. with blockade runner ship-name endorsement "per Genl. Whiting", matching "Triplicate", accompanied by photocopy of letter to the Mayor of Charleston from Major General Samuel Jones expressing concern about yellow fever that might have been carried on the General Whiting on this trip

EXTREMELY FINE AND VERY RARE BLOCKADE-RUN COVER WITH SHIP'S NAME AND CONFEDERATE STAMP FOR INTERNAL POSTAGE.

This cover was carried from Nassau on board the blockade-runner General Whiting, arriving Charleston Aug. 3, 1864. An earlier and nearly identical cover from the Steven Walske collection (Siegel Sale 988, lot 325, realized $4,000 hammer) was carried on the Lucy from Nassau to Wilmington N.C. and handled by a forwarder. This cover was almost certainly handled the same way.

Walske-Trepel Census BI-Ch-60. Ex Karras

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Charleston S.C. to New York via Wilmington and Nassau. Small cover from Private Edward L. Wells addressed to his aunt, Mrs. Thomas L. Wells, at New York City street address, entered British Mails with Bahamas 1863 6p Lilac, Perf 12-1/12 (14c), trivial gum toning, tied by "A05" oval grid, "Bahamas MY 8 1864" circular datestamp on back, "5" in circle handstamp applied at New York for postage due on British Packet mail

VERY FINE. BLOCKADE-RUN COVERS WITH FOREIGN STAMPS ARE EXCEEDINGLY RARE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE BAHAMAS 6-PENCE USED ON A BLOCKADE-RUN COVER.

The letter that was contained in this envelope (which no longer accompanies) is datelined "In Camp" on Jan. 12, 1864, from Private Edward L. Wells, a private in the Charleston Light Dragoons, Co. J., 4th S.C. Cavalry (he published a history of the unit in the 1880's).

Carried on blockade-runner Lucy, dep. Wilmington May 1, 1864, arr. Nassau May 7; then Cunarder Corsica, dep. Nassau May 9, arr. New York May 13. The rate from the Bahamas to New York was 4p, but in this case the forwarder in Nassau applied a 6p stamp. It is the only recorded blockade-run cover with this value. The Lucy was owned by Fraser Trenholm & Co.; active Nov. 1863 to Nov. 1864, 21 for 23 in successful trips; captured by U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba on Nov. 3, 1864, off Wilmington. A detailed history of the C.S.S. Lucy appears in the Confederate Philatelist, May-June 1972.

Ex Birkinbine, Walske and Felton. With 2003 P.F. certificate

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Charleston S.C. to New York, Blockade-Run. Small cover with "Approved By Order H. W. Feilden" on inside of top flap, bold "5" rate handstamp, "Bahamas JY 3, 1864" circular datestamp, to New Rochelle N.Y., Bahamas stamp missing at right and cover repaired in that area, Fine appearance, a scarce censored blockade cover, Col. Henry W. Feilden was a British citizen who joined the Confederacy, he served as assistant adjutant general on Beauregard's staff, accompanied by biographical information on Feilden, with 2004 C.S.A. certificate

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Blockade-Run Cover from Wilmington N.C. to Heidelberg, Germany. Watson correspondence, carried under cover via Nassau to Liverpool forwarder (probably Fraser Trenholm), then by mail to Heidelberg, transit datestamps applied at Liverpool (June 27, 1864), London (June 28), Calais (June 28), Paris (June 29), Strasbourg (June 29) and Heidelberg (June 30), blue manuscript "33" rate, red rate marking overstruck by numeral grid, some slight toning, Very Fine and attractive blockade-run cover

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