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Sale 55: United States Postal History

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Prisoner of War Covers - Northern Prisons (Alton to Elmira)

Lots 2471-2480 Lots 2481-2485

Lot 2471    

Confederacy, Alton Military Prison, Alton, Ill., U.S. 1861, 3¢ entire cancelled by blue target with matching partial "Alton, Aug 30, 1862" cds on cover from prisoner Hervey Brown to his wife in Jackson Tenn. with "Care Commandant of Post Jackson Ten.", manuscript "Exmd, F.W.C" examiner's endorsement; top repaired, no flap, original enclosed letter datelined "Alton Military Prison, September 1, 1862" (sender or postmaster off by day) noting "…the Prisoners of War are jubilant at the early prospect of exchange…More Tennessee citizens are being added to our list", and is carefully devoid of opinion; Fine and scarce, Only 12 covers were recorded by Harrison.
Scott No. U.S. #U34    Estimate $300 - 400.

By the end of summer 1862, both Memphis and Nashville had fallen to the Federals that gave the Union control of the Western and Middle sections of Tennessee. This was occupied as a Federal strongpoint to control railroads and keep down guerilla action. Thus, the cover could travel to destination entirely in the Federal mail system, subject to the willingness of the Federal military at Jackson to turn the letter over to the addressee.

Realized: $475

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Lot 2472    

Confederacy, Camp Boyd Military Prison, Louisville, Ky., prisoner cover franked with United States 1861 3¢ rose, tiny hidden flaws, tied by blue "Louisville, Ky./Feb. 12, 1865" duplex with target cancel, addressed to Cave City, Ky. with manuscript censor endorsement at left "Examined, W.C. Wells, Hospital Steward, Mil. Prison Hospital, Louisville, Ky.", flap torn, Very Fine, two recorded covers, one incoming and this being the sole example used from the prison.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

THIS CIVIL WAR RARITY WAS DISCOVERED IN MARCH 1996, AND IS THE ONLY KNOWN COVER FROM CAMP BOYD PRISON.

Camp Boyd Military Prison in Louisville, Kentucky, was in operation as early as September 1862. This is documented by a letter written on September 18, 1862, from Kentucky Governor Robinson to President Lincoln who alleged that many innocent citizens of his state were being held in the prison. Governor Robinson requested that a commission be established to investigate and release those Kentucky citizens found to be innocent.

Camp Boyd Prison was located on Broadway near Tenth Street and was meant to be a temporary facility with its primary mission as a prisoner receiving depot. Most of the captives were temporarily housed and quickly transferred to more permanent prisons such as Rock Island Barracks, Rock Island, Illinois. December 1863, marked the high point of operations when 6,666 prisoners passed through Camp Boyd Prison. The prison population, which occasionally included women and children, never exceeded 438 on any given day. Records indicate that the hospital was separate from the prison but within the main prison enclosure. Prison operations ceased in July 1865.

References: Pictured in Harrison Book on pg. 141 and Monroe Book on pg. 104.

Realized: $1,900

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Lot 2473    

Confederacy, Camp Chase, Columbus, Oh., orange cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose, exceptionally well centered, tied by prison bars fancy cancel and addressed to Dr. Alfred Hughes at Wheeling Va., matching "Columbus O. Aug 8" cds, manuscript "Exmd, CWB Allison Col", barely reduced at left, Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Colonel Allison was commander of the Chase Prison Camp from July 16, 1862 to September 1862.

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Lot 2474    

Confederacy, Camp Chase, Columbus, Oh., prisoner's U.S. 3¢ pink entire addressed to "Jesse Middleton, Camp Chase, Ohio" and cancelled by blue "Bridgeport Ky Jun 14" cds, endorsed "A prisoner of war", Camp Chase crossed out and noted "not at Camp Chase"; reduced slightly at right, Very Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Private Jesse Rowan Middleton was captured at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. He was a member of the 4th Kentucky Infantry.

Realized: $110

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Lot 2475    

Confederacy, Camp Dennison, Miami, Oh., Prisoner cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose cancelled by target and addressed to Miss Lisa Clifford at Oberlin, Ohio, "Miamiville P.O., Camp Dennison, O. Apl 13" double circle date stamp, F.-V.F., A scarce use of "APL" in datestamp.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

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Lot 2476    

Confederacy, Camp Dennison, Miami, Oh., yellow cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose, faulty, cancelled by four rings duplexed with "Miamiville P.O., Camp Dennison, O. Mar 21 '64" cds, addressed to Sycamore Ohio; reduced slightly at right and tiny edge tear, Very Fine.
Scott No. 65    Estimate $100 - 150.

Realized: $100

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Lot 2477    

Confederacy, Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., yellow prisoner's cover bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by blue target cancel duplexed with "Chicago Ill, Jul 29, 1863" cds to Keene Ky., pencil "Ex C.W." examiner's marking; Very Fine, This is the only example of the "C.W." examiner's marking recorded by Harrison (date incorrect in book).
Scott No. U.S. #65    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $180

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Lot 2478    

Confederacy, Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., orange prisoner cover bearing 1861, 3¢ rose tied by grid cancel duplexed with "Chicago, Ill., RA, Nov 3" cds to St. Louis Mo., reverse with partial "Camp Douglas, Examined, Prisoner's Letter" (type I) oval handstamp, original enclosed letter datelined "In Prison Camp Douglas, Chicago Ill Novr 2" 63" with some interesting prison content: "We are all doing as well as we could expect, get an abundance to eat. The greatest deficiency in Camp Douglas is our barracks, but the Authorities say that they will soon be repaired, Some of the prisoners are much in need of clothing & blankets: contributions from Ky & other places come in almost daily & I hope the most destitute will very soon be supplied with needfuls enough to prevent suffering…", letter separated, some faults, F.-V.F.
Scott No. U.S. #65    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $180

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Lot 2479    

Confederacy, Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., yellow cover bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by blue grid duplexed with "Chicago Ill, RA, Oct 13" cds to Rough & Ready Ky., strong strike of "Camp Douglas, Examined, Prisoner's Letter" (type I) oval examiner's handstamp at left; reduced at left, F.-V.F.
Scott No. U.S. #65    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $145

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Lot 2480    

Confederacy, Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., buff cover bearing U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose tied by blue "Chicago, Ill. cds and grid duplex addressed to Mr. Silvester Johnson in New Haven Ct., "Camp Douglas, Examined, Prisoner's Letter" oval handstamp on reverse; no flap and light stain at lower right, F.-V.F., ex-Milgram.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

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Lots 2471-2480 Lots 2481-2485

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