American Letter Express. Another folded letter from the Rives correspondence, datelined "Charlottesville Va. Aug. 10, 1861" to New York City, carried thru-the-lines to Louisville (this is the inner letter), 3c Rose (65) tied by blue "Louisville Ky. Aug. 22" double-circle datestamp and grid, the writer refers to the letter offered in the previous lot: "I do not like the espionage of Adams Express -- its dunderheaded agt. here undertook to erase certain portions of my last letter to you as contra band. You will therefore please answer me under cover to 'American Letter Express Company' Louisville Ky. enclosing 15c for postage which you will find herewith." minor wear and edge tears

VERY FINE AND RARE THROUGH-THE-LINES EXPRESS COVER BEARING POSTAGE OF THE 1861 ISSUE. THIS WAS POSSIBLE FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS IN LATE AUGUST, 1861. ALSO AN OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNT OF FRUSTRATION OVER CENSORSHIP OF CIVILIAN MAIL.

This letter was posted on August 22, four days before the August 26 prohibition of thru-the-lines express mail. Through-the-lines express covers bearing 1861 Issue stamps are very rare as there was less than a one-week window from the date of issue to the prohibition. The Walske-Trepel census records only three such covers with 1861 Issue stamps.

Walske-Trepel Cenus no. N-AX-12. Ex Knapp, MacBride, Roser and Gallagher

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables