U.S. Mail Steamer Marion. 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), two, tied by blue grid cancels, matching "Chicago Ills. Jul. 31" (1861) circular datestamp on bright buff cover to Lieut. William Montrose Graham, 1st Regt. U.S. Artillery, at Fort Jefferson, Tortugas, Florida, sender's route and ship-name directive "via Havana. By the U.S. Mail Steam-ship Marion to sail from New York August 3d", redirected to the care of the Adjutant General, Washington D.C., "U.S. Ship 3 cts." oval handstamp applied by route agent, "Washington D.C. Dec. 7, 1861" circular datestamp on back, Very Fine, scarce use from the start of the Civil War, Fort Jefferson was occupied by federal forces on Jan. 18, 1861, but the post office was not opened until October, ex "Sevenoaks"

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U.S. Yard Boat Adolph Hugel. 3c Rose (65) tied by grid cancel, "Castine Me. Apr. 24" circular datestamp (date in manuscript) on red and blue Washington and Union Flag Patriotic cover to a sailor "on board the U.S. yard boat Adolph Hugel, Alexandria Va.", part of side flap trimmed and repaired corner fault, still Fine and presentable, the schooner Adolph Hugel was commissioned in 1862 and served in the Mortar Flotilla during the bombardment of New Orleans and further action against Mobile

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"U.S. Brig 'Bainbridge' New York". Sender's manuscript endorsement on colorless embossed General McClellan and Flag Patriotic cover to Newton Mass., 3c Rose (65) tied by grid cancel, "Brooklyn N.Y. Jul. 2, 1862" double-circle datestamp, red and blue trim on flaps, stamp with small piece out at left from separation by sender, otherwise Very Fine, built in 1842 the Bainbridge was commissioned at the start of the war to protect Union shipping through Panama and in 1862 joined the Gulf Blockading Squadron

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"From U.S. Barque Eathan Allen." Sender's manuscript endorsement on cover to Charlestown Mass., clearly struck "U.S. Ship 3 cts." in circle handstamp, red "Charlestown Mass." straightline handstamp, Very Fine incoming naval ship letter, the bark Ethan Allen I patrolled the Gulf of Mexico from 1861 to 1863, cruised along the New England coast June-October 1863 and then joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron in November 1863

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USS Housatonic. Three covers from the Congdon correspondence to Williamsburgh N.Y., each with a pair of 3c Rose (65), all related to the U.S.S. Housatonic, first tied by target cancel and "New-York 7 Oct." double-circle datestamp with printed "U.S.S. Housatonic" ship endorsement, some slight wear and toning; second tied by segmented cork cancel, "Old Point Comfort Va. Feb. 17" (1864) double-circle datestamp with manuscript "U.S.S. Housatonic" endorsement, used the day the ship was sunk; last with manuscript "U.S.S. Canandaigua" endorsement, "Phila Pa. Sep. 17, 1864" duplex datestamp with "U.S. SHIP" handstamp, Very Fine and extraordinary group, the last in the series was mailed by a survivor of the Housatonic sinking, who was picked up by the Canandaigua

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Naval Letter Endorsements. Two covers with very scarce properly executed naval letter endorsements, different ships and officers' signatures, each with "U.S. Ship 3 cts." in circle handstamp, the first with pencil docketing date "Dec. 24, 1862" to New York City, sender's endorsement "from U.S.S. Huntsville" and "Naval Letter, Thos. R. Harris (?), 1st Lieut." officer's endorsement, second to Elizabeth N.J., sender's endorsement "From the U.S. Gunboat 'Kittatinny'" and "Naval Letter, H. Jackson, Ex. Officer" officer's endorsement, blue Pension Office Jun. 1, 1863 oval filing datestamp, red wax seal with profile figure wearing helmet adorned with dragon (intact and very unusual), small stain spots, Very Fine pair of covers from Union blockading squadron vessels and especially desirable with the officers' endorsements (accompanied by Naval History and Heritage Command histories of each ship)

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"U.S. Steam Gun boat Katahdin". Sender's manuscript endorsement on buff cover to Cambridgeport Mass., clear strikes of "Boston Mass. Jul. 24" double-circle datestamp, "SHIP" and "Due 3 cents." straightline handstamps, the Unadilla class ("90-day gunboat") Katahdin I served in Farragut's fleet during the assault on New Orleans, she then operated on the Mississippi River and in 1863 joined the blockade of the Texas coast, the Boston "Ship" marking is scarce on naval mail

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"FLAG SHIP, So. Atl. Bl. Squadron". Two-line imprint from the US Flagship Lehigh on cover with beautiful printed address to Mary L. Forrest in Baltimore from her husband, Lt. Moreau Forrest, 3c Rose (65) tied by target cancel with "Port Royal S.C. Apr. 13, '64" double-circle datestamp, with original letter datelined "Lehigh, April 8, 1864" , stamp torn at left from separation, slightly reduced at left, otherwise Very Fine cover, the Lehigh was a single-turret monitor which participated in major campaigns during the war, Moreau's biography and other letters may be seen at https://moreauforrest.wordpress.com/

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USS Macedonian. Small cover addressed to a midshipman on board the USS Macedonian at Gardiner's Bay, "via Greenport, Long Island", "Norwichtown Ct. Aug. 24" (1864?) circular datestamp and "FREE" handstamp, franked "L F S Foster", neat receipt docketing at left, Very Fine, from the beginning of 1864 the frigate USS Macedonia was stationed at Gardiner’s Bay for naval practice and patrol along the Long Island Sound

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"U.S. Gunboat Marmora, Mississippi Squadron". Two-line imprint on cover to Waterboro Me. with 3c Rose (65), straight edge at right, tied by target cancel and "Cairo Ill. Mar. 1 '64" circular datestamp, few small stained spots, Very Fine, the Marmora was a stern wheel steamer in the Mississippi Squadron, notably she participated in operations against the Confederate stronghold at Vicksburg and in the attack on Fort Hindman, Arkansas -- this is a very rare naval imprint

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