Columbia S.C. to Liverpool via Wilmington, St. Georges and Halifax. Original letter datelined "Columbia Oct. 1st, 1863" from Alicia Middleton Sparks Ripley, wife of Gen. Roswell S. Ripley, with cover addressed to Miss Alice Prioleau, daughter of Charles Prioleau, president of Fraser Trenholm & Co., in care of his firm in Liverpool, entered British Mails with "St. Georges Bermuda OC 26 1863" Ty. PM-5 circular datestamp on back (13 with Bermuda transit marks recorded; 9 with this marking), unpaid with blue crayon "1/" due applied in Bermuda, corrected in Liverpool to "2/" due including penalty, Liverpool Nov. 23 receiving datestamp

VERY FINE. A RARE OUTBOUND BLOCKADE-RUN COVER TO ENGLAND VIA ST. GEORGES, BEARING A BERMUDA TRANSIT MARKING, FROM CORRESPONDENTS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE BLOCKADE-RUNNING TRADE.

Carried by the Advance, dep. Wilmington Oct. 23, 1863, arr. St. Georges Oct. 26; then Cunarder Ospray, dep. New York Oct. 27, arr. Halifax Nov. 21; then Cunarder Canada, dep. Halifax Nov. 13, arr. Liverpool Nov. 23. The Advance (sometimes written as "A. D. Vance" since it was commissioned by Gov. Zebulon Vance) was owned by the State of North Carolina, which felt that the central government would not provide sufficient arms and provisions for the North Carolina troops; active Jun. 1863 to Sep. 1864, 17 for 18 in successful trips under the command of Captain Thomas Crossan of the North Carolina Navy; captured by the U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba on Sep. 10, 1864, coming out of Wilmington, then purchased by U.S. Navy and launched as U.S.S. Advance in North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

Ex Ludington. With copies of news announcements of the Advance's arrival on Oct. 26, 1863.

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables