Adams Express Co., Burnside Expedition. Imprint and four-horse team pulling wagon illustration in purple, 3c Rose (65) tied by "New Bern N.C. May 26, 1862" double-circle datestamp on cover to Bradford N.H., Nesbitt imprint on flap, Very Fine, the Burnside Expedition was a series of engagements fought along the North Carolina coast between February and June 1862, the expedition was part of General Scott's Anaconda Plan, aimed at closing blockade-running ports, the campaign was carried out primarily by New England troops under Brig. Gen. Burnside and assisted by the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Adams Express had special envelopes printed by George Nesbitt, ex Risvold, with 2010 P.F. certificate

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Adams Express Co., Newbern, N.C. Imprint and four-horse team pulling wagon illustration on orange-buff cover to "Elbridge Howe, Co. I, 24th Regt. Mass. Vol. Steamer Guide", Nesbitt imprint on flap, original letter from sister datelined at North Brookfield (Mass.) Jan. 11 (1863), slightly reduced at right and minor edge wear, still Very Fine express cover to Union soldier in occupied Southern territory, the April 10, 1863 New York Times lists the Adams steamship Fahkee sailing to New Bern

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Adams Express Co. Memphis Feb. 26 (1863). Oval datestamp ties 2c Express, Blue, Imperforate (R9a), large margins to in at left, on buff cover from Lester B. Waid on board the U.S. Gunboat Baron de Kalb on the Mississippi River, addressed to Meadville Pa., manuscript "Enclosed $20.00", "Exp 2/-" (25c) and "1.35" express charge, two original lettersheets (one written both sides), including one with Patriotic Eagle and Flag design in red and blue and one noting the serial number of the $20.00 Treasury note enclosed, red express wax seals on back, cover edge nicked at lower left

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF UNION MILITARY PERSONNEL MAIL CARRIED NORTH FROM OCCUPIED TERRITORY BY ADAMS EXPRESS, WITH A U.S. REVENUE STAMP PAYING THE TAX ON THE EXPRESS FEE.

The 2c Express stamp underpaid the 5c tax for an express charge exceeding $1.00. This is a scarce early matching use of the Express stamp, which is more commonly found on express receipts rather than envelopes. The 2c express tax was replaced by a 2c ad valorem tax on express receipts.

This cover was the subject of an article by Scott Trepel ("An Adams Express Company Usage From Federal Forces on the Mississippi," Chronicle 158)

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Forwarded by the Adams Express Co. from Paducah, Ky. Black on yellow label on cover to East Clarendon Vt., pencil "Pd 4/-" and "Pd 12/- thro" express rates, manuscript "2 oz." weight notation, red wax seals, accompanied by Adams receipt from same correspondent dated Jan. 29, 1862, a bit worn and minor edge faults, still Fine and scarce, ex Hahn

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Forwarded by Adams Express Co. from Baton Rouge, La. Black on yellow label on 3c Pink entire (U34) to Providence R.I., manuscript "4/- Paid" (four bits, or 50c), with original letter from T. N. Colwell, datelined at Baton Rouge on Aug. 30, 1863, interesting contents including reference to General Banks being an "upright honest man", description of cotton seizures in New Orleans and "all the Negroes have quit work and the Government is feeding a great portion of them...their business is stealing," label has minor corner creases, Very Fine, Baton Rouge was occupied during the war beginning in May 1862, and this is a desirable wartime express use, the Adams Baton Rouge label is very rare

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Internal Revenue Paid. Forwarded by Adams Express Co. from New Orleans, Louisiana. Orange label affixed with mucilage to bottom left of cover from C. Babbidge, a chaplain with the 26th Massachusetts Regiment to Groton Mass., "$150" money notation and "Frt & Ins. 2.75 Paid" express charge, March 4, 1862 original enclosure accompanies, red wax express seals on back, cover tear at right and reduced at right, still Very Fine and scarce, the Adams New Orleans office is the only one known to include "Internal Revenue Paid" in the label

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Internal Revenue Paid. Forwarded by Adams Express Co. from New Orleans, Louisiana. Orange label affixed to upper left corner of 3c Pink (U58) entire to Mobile Ala., Southern Express Company Aug. 10, 1869 black on red "Three Gatherings" label for unclaimed letters affixed to back, manuscript "Paid 25" express notation and "Rec'd June 5/1865" at top, slightly reduced at left, appears Very Fine, the Adams New Orleans office is the only one known to include "Internal Revenue Paid" in the label, ex Judd, Dr. Skinner and Hahn

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Forwarded by Parker's Express Company From Memphis Tenn. Orange label on 3c Pink on Buff entire to Little Rock Ark., endorsed "Pilot of the Steam Tug Essex", manuscript "Paid 2/-", (two bits, or 25c) some wear, label affixed over edge and opened for display (faults), Fine and scarce express use, probably sent during early post-war period (possibly during Federal Occupation of Memphis and Little Rock), Parker's Express had an office on Markham Street in Little Rock and served U.S. forces in the area, the firm was later sold to Adams Express, with 1975 P.F. certificate

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Parker's Express Co. "P X Co Jan 28 '64". Manuscript cancels on each of two 3c Rose (65), manuscript "Pd 2/-" (two bits, or 25c) express charge on cover to Sutler of 3rd Missouri Cavalry at Searcy Ark., remnants of express label on back, both stamps creased and scissors-trimmed before use, upper left corner of cover clipped, otherwise Fine, a most unusual use and certainly very rare, ex Gallagher

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Forwarded by Parker's Express Company. From Baton Rouge, La. Orange label on front of buff cover to Memphis Tenn., Parker's red printed corner card at top and red manuscript "Parkers Ex Aug 12 x 30c" express charge, back with large orange "Southern Express Co. O.H." unclaimed label -- so-called "Three Gatherings" label, in which undelivered express letters were assembled and advertised after the war -- original letter enclosure datelined at Baton Rouge on August 8, 1865 (letter split), cover with some edge wear, still Very Fine

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Southern Express Co. "Three Gatherings". 10 covers, nine with large red "Unclaimed" labels on backs, one with "Forwarded by Adams Express Co. from New Orleans, Louisiana" black on orange label on front, several are 3c Pink entires and one franked with 3c Rose (65), mixed condition with faults to be expected as usual for these post-war express covers, in the wake of the war much of the government mail service was disrupted or not in operation in the South and the gap was filled by private express companies, by 1869 a large amount of unclaimed mail had accumulated in the Southern Express Company offices, the covers were ordered sent to Memphis in three collections in April, June and August, these "Three Gatherings" covers were labeled as they arrived, 60 years later the ones that could never be delivered were discovered in an old basement

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