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Sale 92: The Summer Sale

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Prisoner of War Covers, Northern Prisons

Lots 2472-2481

Lot 2472    

Confederacy, Point Lookout Md, mostly clear strike of "Prisoner's Letter, Aug 8, 1864, Examined" octagon handstamp (CSA type C, EKU), U.S. 3¢ rose (65), natural s.e., and C.S.A. 10¢ greenish blue (12c), large margins except close at upper right, both stamps tied by duplex target and "Point Lookout Md. Aug. 8 '64" double-circle datestamp and by "Richmond Va. Aug 26" cds on fresh orange-buff cover addressed in blue manuscript to Nelson Station Va., endorsed "By flag of truce boat", fresh and Extremely Fine combination use, ex-Everett.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A CHOICE POINT LOOKOUT MS. PRISONER OF WAR COMBINATION USE TO VIRGINIA.

According to Galen Harrison's book, this is the earliest strike of the "Prisoner's Letter, Examined" type c handstamp.

Realized: $1,350

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Lot 2473    

Confederacy, Johnson's Island, orange buff cover with oval "Prisoner's Letter, Examined G.S.B., Johnson's Island, O." censor's handstamp and bearing U.S. 3¢ Rose (65) tied by target with "Sandusky O. Oct 25 '64" double-circle datestamp also tying C.S.A. 10¢ blue (12), large margins to clear at left, part strike of "Richmond Va. Nov 6" cds, addressed to Mt. Pleasant N.C., endorsed "Per Flag of Truce" but without prisoner's name, Extremely Fine and choice combination, ex-Weatherly, H. Green.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Cover most likely from Pvt. James F. Litaker of Co. F 57th N.C. Inf. who married Catherline L. House after the war. He was captured as a POW at Rappahannock Station Va. Nov. 7th 1863 and was confined at Johnsons Island until his release Jun. 12th 1865.

Realized: $450

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Lot 2474    

Confederacy, Allegheny City Penitentiary, buff cover bearing 3¢ Rose (65) tied by circular grid cancel duplexed with "Pittsburgh Pa. Feb 3, 186" double-circle datestamp to Miss Namie Lyne at Keene Ky. from one of Morgan's Raiders, Lieut. Van J. Sellers, manuscript "Examnd" examiner's mark at left, original letter datelined "Allegeny City Feby. 1st 1864." with some interesting content "…I received a letter from Wallace, the first for more than a month. Two days since she has been sojourning among the Buckeyes even in the Godless city of Cincinnati and makes that an excuse for not writing sooner … I do not want for books such as they are, tho the prison library is pretty well stocked with Bibles, and (is it not horrible) novels, beside friends of the prisoners send books often…" and signed at bottom "Van J. Sellers", Very Fine from one of the officer's in the celebrated Morgan's Raiders, ex-Gallagher.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Sellers was first captured in May of 1862 and was released six months later in a prisoner of war exchange. He immediately joined Morgan's Raiders. In June and July 1863, General John Hunt Morgan led 2,460 confederate cavalry over a thousand miles on a trail of terror through Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. when Morgan's Raiders were finally captured in 0hio in late July, Sellers was one of the Confederate prisoners held for approximately eight-months between 1863 and 1864. The Allegheny City Penitentiary held only 112 of the captured Morgan's Raiders; no other confederate prisoners. According to another letter by sellers to Lyne, "There are here confined 112 prisoners of war. These occupy cells on the first and second corridors of the center building of the prison. On the first or lower corridor are four double cells about 20 x 16 x 8 feet in dimensions. ln each of these five prisoners are confined. The remainder are confined in single cells of half the above size, two in each cell." According to Rich Gigler in an article in the Pittsburgh Press Roto, the routine operations of the prison were assigned to the provost marshal Captain E. S. Wright, Mail was apparently censored and out-going letters were restricted to one and one-half pages. By November 1863, the local residents and some Union officers were questioning the outrageous expense of 46¢ a day to feed each of the prisoners. Gigler noted that Sellers was eventually was moved to Point Lookout, Maryland.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 2475    

Confederacy, Camp Morton, Indianapolis, Ind., prisoner-of-war use of U.S. 3¢ pink (U34) entire cancelled by blue "Indianapolis, Ind. 5 Nov '64" duplex to Madisonville Tenn., endorsed "Via N & Ch R R Tenn" at top left, unusually clear strike of black oval "Prisoner's Letter Examined Camp Morton, Ind." handstamp (CSA PWH-15), original P.O.W. letter from Private William S. Brown datelined "Camp Morton Ind. Nov 4th 1864" to his cousin, Very Fine and scarce. C.S.A. Catalog No. PWH-15 $500.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $350

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Lot 2476    

Confederacy, Elmira Prison, Elmira, N.Y., prisoner cover bearing U.S. 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Elmira, N.Y, Oct 10, 1863" cds on yellow cover to Franklin Tenn., "Prisoner's Letter, Elmira, N.Y., Examined" examiner's oval handstamp; edge wear, accompanied by CDV of the Elmira prison camp, Fine.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $260

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Lot 2477    

Confederacy, Johnson's Island, Sandusky O, Incoming cover to prisoner-of-war from Hadensville Va., endorsed "By Flag of Truce, Care of Hon, Robert Ould, Richmond Va.", mixed franking with C.S.A. 10¢ Blue, Die B (12), deep shade, tied by indistinct strike of "Hadensville Va. Feb 7" cds, and U.S. 3¢ rose (65), corner faults, tied by quartered cork, matching "Old Point Comfort Va. Mar 27" cds, docketed "Apr. 6 1865" at top, reverse with two strikes of "Prisoner's Letter, Johnsons Island, Examined, J. Jordan" examiner's oval handstamp (used from Apr. 3-May 5, 1865); some light soiling, otherwise Very Fine, ex-Walske; with 1994 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A SCARCE JOHNSON'S ISLAND FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER THROUGH RICHMOND AND OLD POINT COMFORT.

Robert Ould, who handled this cover in Richmond, was well-known as a Confederate agent for the "Dix-Hill Cartel", which was an 1862 agreement between the C.S.A. and U.S. on prisoner exchange

References: Illustrated in Special Routes on p. 71.

Realized: $750

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Lot 2478    

Confederacy, Old Capital Prison, Washington, D.C., yellow prisoner of war cover to Henry Harper, Beverly, Randolph Co. W.V. bearing U.S. 3¢ rose (65), tied by quartered cork duplexed with partial "Washington D.C., Apr 26" cds, remarkable bold strike of "Passed W. P. Wood, Military Prison" circular censor's handstamp (Type I); accompanied by CDV of the Old Capitol Prison, Very Fine and choice strike of this censor handstamp.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Old Capitol Prison was the building that served as a temporary Capitol after Washington, D.C. had been burned during the War of 1812. W. P. Wood was the Superintendent and was also a special agent of the government. Much intelligence information was gathered by him from the prisoners for the Union.

Old Capitol Prison was used mostly for disloyal citizens and spies, such as Belle Boyd and Rose O'Neel Greenhow, as well as captured sailors who had been running the blockade. It was the first Federal prison to hold Confederate prisoners. About a score of prisoners captured at First Bull Run (Manassas) were sent there in July 1861. The largest number of prisoners there at one time was 1,414. By war's end, 397 Confederate prisoners were buried in Washington, D.C.

Realized: $675

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Lot 2479    

Confederacy, Point Lookout, Md., unsealed orange prisoner-of-war cover bearing U.S. 3¢ rose (65) tied by target cancel duplexed with "Point Lookout Md. Oct 10 '64" double-circle datestamp to Lexington Va., manuscript prisoner "S.M. Dunlop, Co. "II" 4th Va. Inft" and "By flag of truce Boat" endorsements, "Prisoner's Letter Examined." octagonal censor handstamp (Ty. IIa), exchanged via Old Point Comfort and Richmond with "Due 10" straightline for Confederate postage, "Due 2" handstamp overstruck with grid cancel, Very Fine, ex-Brandon.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Samuel M. Dunlop was captured at Gettysburg and one of three brothers in the war, the others being W.E. and R.K. R.K. was wounded at 2nd Manassas and Chancellorsville.

Realized: $325

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Lot 2480    

Confederacy, Point Lookout, Md., "Provost Marshal's Office, District St. Mary's, Point Lookout, Md." printed corner card on cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) cancelled by four-rings duplexed with "Point Lookout Md., May 1 '65" cds to Winchester Va.; with original enclosure on Provost Marshal's printed stationery informing mother of her son's death from chronic diarrhea and his interment in the military cemetery, signed by "A.G. Brady" Major & Prov. Marshal; staining affecting stamp, Fine.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Realized: $850

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Lot 2481    

Confederacy, Northern Prison Mail, group of 3 covers comprising two from Elmira N.Y. with oval "Examined" handstamps, and third addressed to Col. J.M. Stone at Camp Chase Prison No. 1 forwarded to Johnson's Island with pencil "Due 3¢ and "Examined" backstamp, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

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Realized: $400

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Lots 2472-2481

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