Johnson's Island, Sandusky O. Light gray
"The Virginia Tobacco Agency, New York" overall lithographed advertising cover to Capt. C. D. Anderson, a prisoner-of-war, care of Col. C. W. Hill, at Johnson's Island,
carried by Adams Express Company, five red wax seals on back from Adams Richmond Va. office, manuscript
"$100.00" indicating money contents, manuscript
"Paid 8/- R.M.L." express charge (8 bits or $1.00, including 25c for basic express service and balance for special charges), well-struck "Prisoner's Letter Johnson's Island O. Examined G.S.B." (George S. Brown) examiner's oval handstamp, pencil notations incl.
"pd 25" on back,
"$100 -- DeWolf, 30c chgs" and
"Bills 4p" on front
AN EXTREMELY FINE AND VERY RARE EXPRESS COMPANY COVER TO A CONFEDERATE PRISONER AT JOHNSON'S ISLAND.
According to prisoner-of-war records, Captain Anderson was captured at Silvers Creek Va. and imprisoned at Sandusky on April 3, 1865, six days before Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House. He was paroled on oath on June 18, 1865. While personal necessities and sometimes money was sent to Confederate prisoners, the amount noted on this cover, "$100.00", and the delivery by Adams Express make it an exceptional use.
Ex Kimmel, Kohlhepp, Allen, Hall and Walske. Illustrated and discussed in the Chronicle 95 (Aug. 1977)
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E. 1,500-2,000