Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Aug. 14, 1861. Circular datestamp ties 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) on censored folded letter from the Rives correspondence to New York City, blue "Charlottesville Va. Jul. 31, 1861" double-circle datestamp, matching "Paid" and "10" handstamps, 3c cancelled by Adams treated as invalid postage, second 3c applied and tied by blue "Louisville Ky. Aug. 15, 1861" double-circle datestamp and grid cancel, right stamp with replaced lower left corner, cover with small inconsequential edge tears

FINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF CENSORSHIP BY THE ADAMS EXPRESS AGENT OF CIVILIAN MAIL BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN CORRESPONDENTS.

This interesting pro-Confederate letter opens with comments on reported unreliability of American Letter Express and difficulty sending letters. The writer also describes watching the Battle of First Manassas. The last portion of the letter has been censored by being crossed out with squiggles and writing in a different pen (some ink bleed-thru to front). The writer's reaction to the censorship is expressed in the letter offered in the following lot.

The opening of mail, for censorship and espionage purposes, was a sore point with the civilian population. This reference to Adams Express opening and censoring mail is a significant contemporary account.

Walske-Trepel Cenus no. N-AD-66. Ex Gallagher. With 2005 C.S.A. certificate

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