Sale 1357 — 2025 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 June, 2025
Category — The Civil War: Expresses
Adams Express Company N-Y. Perfectly clear strike of blue double-circle handstamp (Type II with "Company" spelled out) on red and blue Col. Ellsworth Memorial Patriotic cover to Exeter N.H., Wells imprint, sent by "Freeman Conner, June 10, 1861" (in manuscript at right) and free franked by Congressman C. H. Van Wyck, red "New York Jun - 1861 Free" circular datestamp without day, backflap removed
EXTREMELY FINE AND HIGHLY EXHIBITABLE. A SCARCE ELLSWORTH PATRIOTIC DESIGN AND PROBABLY THE ONLY EXTANT EXAMPLE CARRIED BY ADAMS EXPRESS DURING THE "FOR THE REGIMENT" PERIOD AT THE START OF THE CIVIL WAR.
This northbound cover is free franked by U.S. Congressman Charles H. Van Wyck. Contrary to the common pronunciation, Van Wick, the name is correctly pronounced Van Wike. The congressional practice of franking envelopes for the troops was widespread at the beginning of the war. This is an early Civil War patriotic envelope memorializing Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth of the 11th NYV — the famous "Fire Zouaves." On May 24, 1861, Colonel Ellsworth was fatally shot while attempting to remove a Confederate flag flying over an Alexandria, Virginia, hotel. Ellsworth had clerked for Abraham Lincoln in Illinois, campaigned for him and accompanied him to Washington. While not the first casualty, Ellsworth became the first celebrated martyr for the Union cause. The death of President Lincoln's beloved assistant shocked the nation and inspired the rallying cry "Remember Ellsworth!"
Ex Dr. Robertson. Illustrated in Chronicle 244 (p. 335).
Forwarded from Leader Office, 11 Frankfort St., New-York. Oval handstamp on back of red and blue "Remember Ellsworth!" Patriotic cover to "Capt. Andrew Puntell, Co. K. Ellsworth's Zouaves, Washington D.C.", slightly reduced at left, Very Fine and extremely rare, the only recorded example of mail handled by the New York Leader newspaper, which was closely affiliated with members of the 11th New York Volunteer Regiment, the first of the so-called "Fire Zouaves", raised from the city's fire fighting companies and led by Colonel Elmer E. Ellsworth, it seems likely that The Leader used Adams Express to forward mail and newspapers to and from the Fire Zouaves, ex Hahn, illustrated in Chronicle 244 (p. 338)
24c Gray Lilac (37). Used with 1c Blue, Ty. V (24) and 10c Green, Ty. V (35), tied by blue grid cancels and matching "Louisville Ky. Aug. 20" (1861) double-circle datestamp on blue folded letter datelined "New Orleans La. 13 August 1861" from the Confederate State of Louisiana to St. Gall, Switzerland, by across-the-lines express, sender's routing "Per First Steamer" and pencil "Prus. Clos. Mail 35" (probably applied by express office in Louisville) partly covered by stamps, another pencil notation beneath stamps is difficult to read but might be an express notation, lightly struck red New York transit datestamp (Aug. 24) at right and red manuscript "12" credit, red framed "Aachen Franco" transit handstamp of Sep. 7, magenta manuscript rate at lower left for German transit, various transit and receiving backstamps
VERY FINE. A UNIQUE USE OF THIS COLORFUL COMBINATION OF 1857-60 ISSUE STAMPS TO PAY THE 35-CENT PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE ON A LETTER TO SWITZERLAND, CARRIED ACROSS THE LINES BY EXPRESS FROM CONFEDERATE NEW ORLEANS TO LOUISVILLE AND THEN BY UNITED STATES MAIL TO SWITZERLAND.
This well-known Civil War period cover originated in Confederate New Orleans on August 13, 1861, and was sent inside an outer cover to Louisville, Kentucky, either by Adams Express Company or American Letter Express Company; noted expert Steven Walske thinks it was probably carried by American Letter Express. At the Louisville express office, it was marked "Prus. Clos. Mail 35" and stamped with 35c postage for the Prussian Closed Mail rate. The express company did not apply a datestamp to cover before putting it into the Louisville post office for transmission by U.S. mail to New York City, the port of departure. From New York it was probably carried on the HAPAG line's Bavaria, departing August 24.
After the suspension of mail service between the U.S. and Confederate States, U.S. stamps affixed to mail originating in the Confederate States were considered contraband and not accepted at the Louisville post office, which required express companies to affix stamps from their own supplies. The demonetization of old U.S. stamps in the North went into effect shortly after this cover was mailed from Louisville. The exchange period in Louisville began August 22 for three days; beginning on August 25, stamps other than the new 1861 Issue would no longer be accepted by the Louisville post office.
The Special Routes census records five foreign-bound across-the-lines express covers in the June 15-August 26 period, including three to France, one to Germany and one to Switzerland. This is the only cover to Switzerland and the only one with any of these 1857-60 Issue denominations (1c, 10c or 24c).
Special Routes census no. N-AX-11. Ex Gibson and Dr. Kapiloff. With 2008 P.F. certificate.
Forwarded by Harnden's Express from Americus Geo. Black on orange glazed label affixed on back of buff cover to Thomas Wood at 87 Maiden Lane in New York City, small filing pinhole ties label, bold "Americus Ga. Jul. 26" (1861) circular datestamp with matching "Paid" and "10" in oval C.S.A. rate handstamp, "Adams Express Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Jul. 30, 1861" circular datestamp, 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) at upper right cancelled by blue "Louisville Ky. Jul. 30, 1861" double-circle datestamp—this stamp was not considered valid, having originated in a Southern post office—vertical pair of 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) affixed by Adams Louisville office and tied by blue "Louisville Ky. Jul. 30, 1861" double-circle datestamp and grid cancel
AN IMPORTANT ACROSS-THE-LINES EXPRESS USE, 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 through 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, document repair 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. 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.
Special Routes census No. N-AD-38. Ex Nunnelley, Walske and Dr. Brandon. From the Roland H. Cipolla II collection.
Adams Express Co. Vicksburgh, Miss. Jun. 11 (1861). Red oval datestamp lightly inked but clearly struck on 3c Red on Buff Star Die entire (U27), bold strikes of Vicksburgh "PAID" straightline and "10" in circle handstamps, manuscript "Paid 2/- F. N. Hammett (?) PM" over embossed stamp, addressed to J. Watson Barr in Louisville Ky., Barr was a pro-Union abolitionist who later served as a U.S. Federal judge
VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE ADAMS EXPRESS COMPANY VICKSBURG OFFICE DATESTAMP AND A REMARKABLE SOUTH-TO-NORTH EXPRESS COVER WITH AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE VICKSBURG POSTAL CLERK.
Frank N. Hammett is listed in the 1860 Vicksburg city directory as a clerk in the post office. He later served as a sergeant in the Army of Northern Virginia, 48th Mississippi Regiment, Company G, and was among the officers who surrendered at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. This cover appears to be addressed and endorsed entirely in Hammett's hand, including the "Paid 2/-" (two bits, or 25c) express rate notation. It is not known if Hammett was employed by the Adams Express Company.
This is the only Adams Express Company Vicksburg office cover recorded in the Special Routes census (N-PRE-22). Because it pre-dates the first Adams advertisements for across-the-lines service, it is classified as a Precursor period cover. However, the elements present in this cover -- the Adams datestamp, C.S.A. and U.S. postage, and use across the lines from Nashville to Louisville -- are no different than any of the covers dated onward from June 15. The 25c express charge included 10c C.S.A. postage and the Star Die entire paid the required U.S. postage, but this cover was carried entirely outside the mails.
Illustrated in Special Routes book (p. 35). Ex Shenfield, Judd and Dr. Brandon.