Sale 1238 — Civil War Special Mail Routes
Sale Date — Wednesday, 23 June, 2021
Category — Blockade-Run Mail


VERY FINE. THERE ARE ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF BLOCKADE-RUN MAIL DIVERTED TO HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, DURING THE YELLOW FEVER EPIDEMIC IN BERMUDA.
The addressee, John Reuben Thompson (1823-73), was a publisher and poet of some renown. In 1860 he left the Southern Literary Messenger and for a short time served as editor of the Southern Field and Fireside in Augusta, Georgia. During the Civil War, Thompson spent several years in London and contributed articles to various journals. After the war he served as literary editor of William Cullen Bryant's New York Evening Post. His sister, Susan P. Quarles, wrote this letter.
This was carried on the Annie, departing Wilmington on September 6, 1864, arriving Halifax September 13. The captain of the Annie dropped it into mail in Halifax, picked up his ship fee, and the letter was rated "4" pence due (London later corrected rate to 1sh). The journey continued on the Cunarder Europa, departing Halifax on September 16 and arriving Liverpool September 26. The Annie was owned by Alexander Collie & Co. and active from February to November 1864, with 13 for 14 in successful trips. She ran aground and was captured coming out of Wilmington on November 1, 1864.
Ex Walske. See Walske's article "Tales of the Civil War Blockade: Disruption from a Deadly Virus" for a detailed discussion of the yellow fever impact on blockade mail (Chronicle 267, pp. 269-277). With 1977 C.S.A. certificate