Am. Letter Exp. Co. Nashville Ten. Jul. 1, 1861. Mostly clear strike of blue circular datestamp on backflap of 3c Red Star Die entire to Montgomery Ala., lightly inked but mostly clear strikes of "Nashville Ten. Jul. 5, 1861" circular datestamp and matching "Nashville T. Paid 5" provisional handstamp (Scott 61XU1), neatly docketed

FRESH AND VERY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE NASHVILLE CIRCULAR "PAID 5" PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP ON A THRU-THE-LINES EXPRESS COVER. THIS COVER BEARS THE RARER NASHVILLE OFFICE MARKING.

Fewer than a dozen North-to-South covers carried by American Letter Express Co. are known, and those put into the mails at Nashville usually have the "Paid" straightline in combination with "5" or "10" rate handstamps. This and the previous lot represent two of the three covers known to us with the provisional markings (the third is illustrated in Edward Brooks American Letter Express Company). It is also an extremely rare example of the American Letter Express Co. Nashville office datestamp.

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Am. Letter Exp. Co. Louisville, Ky. 307 Green. Mostly clear blue circular handstamp on backflap of cover from Harrisburg (Pa.?) to Mobile Ala., bold blue "Nashville Ten. Aug. 20, 1861" cds, matching "Paid" and "10" hs, redirected to DeSoto Miss. with bold "Mobile Ala. Aug. 23, 1861" double-circle ds and ms. "Ford 5cts", flap folded up for display

VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE AMERICAN LETTER EXPRESS USAGE - THE ONLY FORWARDED COVER SHOWING BOTH THE 5-CENT AND 10-CENT CONFEDERATE RATES.

The original letter is enclosed. Datelined "Harrisburg, Aug. 12th, 1861" (presumably in Pennsylvania), it is a brief but fascinating inquiry, "Please let me know if you think the money I have invested in Mobile is safe? Will interest money be paid? There is a colored man in Mobile, belonging to Mr. William Redwood - could you manage to find out if Mr. Redwood would sell him & on what terms, without letting him know by whose promptings you made the enquiry? The man's name is Jim Bragg, his wife belonged to me, & is now with me. I see no immediate prospects for the close of this unhappy war. I fear both parties must fight it out, until one or other is compelled to succumb." This pragmatic businessman was rightfully concerned about the security of his Southern investment, was attempting to purchase the freedom of a slave and reunite him with his wife, and correctly predicted the course of the war.

Six days after this cover and letter entered the mails in Nashville, the Federal order closing down the express operations went into effect, and on August 30th the messenger for American Letter Express Co. was arrested upon arrival in Louisville. Illustrated in Shenfield (p. 26). Ex Muzzy

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Adams Express Company N.Y. Blue double-circle handstamp on blue folded letter from New Orleans, Jun. 18, 1861, to New York City, sender's routing "Politeness of Mrs. Couves", who handed the letter to an Adams agent, 3c Dull Red (26), block of four split into vertical pairs, wide straddle-pane margin at left, minor tear at upper right, each stamp cancelled by bold grid at New York City where ms. "Due 12" was applied - New York refusing to recognize prepayment - a few minor edge tears and wear visible on face, internal splits have been reinforced with archival tape

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN EARLY THRU-THE-LINES EXPRESS USAGE AND EXTRAORDINARY MULTIPLE-RATE FRANKING.

Ex Seybold. With 1986 P.F. certificate

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Forwarded by Harnden's Express from Americus Geo. Black on orange glazed label affixed on back of buff cover to New York City, small filing pinhole ties label, bold "Americus Ga. Jul. 26" cds with matching "Paid" and "10" in oval C.S.A. rate hs, "Adams Express Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Jul. 30, 1861" cds, 3c Dull Red (26) at upper right cancelled by blue "Louisville Ky. Jul. 30, 1861" double-circle ds - this stamp was not considered valid, having originated in a Southern post office - vertical pair of 3c Dull Red (26) affixed by Adams Louisville office and tied by blue "Louisville Ky. Jul. 30, 1861" double-circle ds and grid

AN IMPORTANT THRU-THE-LINES EXPRESS USAGE, SHOWING THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE HARNDEN'S LABEL FROM ITS OFFICE AT AMERICUS, GEORGIA

The cover has been torn in half down the center and thru the 3c pair. In addition, much of the bottom stamp of the 3c pair was torn off, apparently to reveal the "10" rate handstamp. For the purpose of improving its appearance, archival tape has been used to seal the tear, and the back of the cover bearing the Harndens label has been folded up for display. Considering that this extraordinary express cover is the only recorded example of its kind, collectors are advised to overlook the condition factors.

Adams Express Company retained the Harnden name at certain offices in Georgia, because of the Harnden firm's reputation there. The Harnden oval handstamps used at Macon and Savannah are very rare. This cover was evidently sent by Adams (Harnden) messenger from Americus, Georgia, to the office at Louisville. As required by regulations, Confederate postage was prepaid, but in this unusual instance the Confederate post office at the originating point applied its town marking. The Adams office at Louisville correctly applied new stamps - it is not clear why the letter was re-rated 6c rather than 3c - and they put it into the regular Federal mails for New York City.

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Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Jul. 27, 1861. Date inverted, mostly clear cds on 3c Red Star Die entire to Wilmington Vt., blue "Paid" and "10" handstamps of Nashville Tenn. without town marking, 3c Dull Red (26) tied by grid and "Louisville Ky. Jul. 27, 1861" double-circle ds, slight bend thru stamp from contents, fresh and Very Fine, an unusual South-to-North express usage, a rare instance in which the Nashville post office did not apply its town marking

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Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Jul. 10, 1861. Bold circular datestamp (day inverted) on July 5th blue folded letter from New Orleans to New York City, pencil "35/" at upper left, two 3c Brownish Carmine (26) tied by blue "Louisville Ky. Jul. 11, 1861" double-circle ds and duplex grid, file folds (vertical stationery fold does not affect stamp), a choice and Very Fine double-rated thru-the-lines cover with all markings clearly struck, with 1986 P.F. certificate

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FREE./For the Regiment/ADAMS EXPRESS CO./Per HOEY. Four-line handstamp in greenish blue fully struck on back of red and blue "Death to Traitors" Flag Patriotic cover to member of 71st Regt., N.Y. State Militia, Washington D.C., part of flap torn, opened for display, fresh and Very Fine, a rare early express marking used on mail carried free of charge between New York and regiments guarding the capital under Lincoln's authority during the beginning of the war - only thirteen or fourteen examples of the Hoey marking (either type) are known, and only one other genuine patriotic cover is recorded

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Adams Express Company N.Y. Perfectly clear blue double-circle handstamp on red and blue Col. Ellsworth Memorial Patriotic cover to Exeter N.H., Wells imprint, sent by "Freeman Conner, June 10, 1861" (in ms. at right), free franked by Congressman C. H. Van Wyck who franked a large quantity of mail for soldiers around the Washington D.C. area, red "New York Jun - 1861 Free" cds without day, backflap removed

EXTREMELY FINE AND HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE. A SCARCE ELLSWORTH PATRIOTIC DESIGN AND PROBABLY THE ONLY EXTANT EXAMPLE CARRIED BY ADAMS EXPRESS.

Federal troops surrounding Washington D.C. at the beginning of the war relied on Adams for transmission of mail and valuables. This cover was carried by Adams to New York City and put into the mails for New Hampshire.

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The Adams Express Co. Boston Jun. 5. Well-struck circular datestamp on red and blue Washington and Flag Union Patriotic cover to member of 5th Regt., Mass. Vol. Militia, at Washington D.C., slightly reduced at right, lightly soiled, otherwise Very Fine, scarce early express usage via Adams Boston office, Federal troops gathered around Washington D.C. relied on Adams for transmission of mail and valuables

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Adams Express, Champlain N.Y. Five red Adams wax seals on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to Columbia Pa., red and blue Eagle and Shield Patriotic design, May 10, 1861 docketing, ms. "Paid 2/" (two bits or 25c) charge, ms. "$55.50" indicating contents, Very Fine Northern express usage during the war

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Internal Revenue Paid./Forwarded by the Adams Express Co. from New Orleans, Louisiana. Black on orange glazed label on yellow cover to Post Mills Vt., ms. "Coll" (Collect) and "1.25 + .15 = 1.40" express charge notation, red wax seals on back, fresh and Very Fine, the revenue surcharge on express packages was short-lived and the use of the "Internal Revenue Paid" label is rare

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Adams Express Company Soldier's Package. Legal-size cover with imprint, address to Atwater Station O. from a lieutenant in 6th Ohio Vol., red wax seals on reverse, money content indicated, Fine

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Adams Express Company. Printed red package receipt with 2c Express Imperforate ms. cancelled Mar. 2, 1863, military liability waiver surprinted in black, frayed edges and folds, scarce

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Adams Express Company, Burnside Expedition. Beautiful illustrated advertisement with four horses drawing cart, in dark purple on buff cover to Bradford N.H., 3c Rose (65) s.e. tied by blue "Norfolk Va. Oct. 6 '63" double-circle ds, immaculate condition, Extremely Fine, rare design

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