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Sale 92: The Summer Sale

Table of Contents

Prisoner of War Covers, Southern Prisons

Lot 2462    

Confederacy, Libby Prison, Richmond Va., orange inner prisoner-of-war cover endorsed "Weston Rowand, 1st Va Cavalry U.S.A., Prisoner of War" at left, sent by flag-of-truce entering U.S. mails with "Old Point Comfort Va., Mar 1" cds and matching "Due 3" rating handstamp to Allegheny City Pa., original letter datelined "Libby Prison, Richmond Feb 21st/63" with some interesting content "…This will assure you that I was not one of the stampede who escaped from this building a short time since. When we meet again, I will explain why I was not … Many officers here are cursing our Gov. for not effecting an exchange. Many will leave the service therefore when released. We hear today that our Flag Boat returned to Fortress Monroe with our boxes…"; accompanied by "C.S. Military Prison, Richmond, July 8 1863" part-printed receipt for $25 that would be returned upon release from prison signed "E.W. Ross, Clk of Prison", Very Fine and choice, ex-Walske.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

A WONDERFUL PRISONER OF WAR FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER FROM LIBBY PRISON IN RICHMOND.

With the largest Union prisoner population in the C.S.A., Richmond was forced to use a number of facilities as prisons. Northbound mail was processed through Richmond, but virtually all known covers from Richmond prisons are inner envelopes which do not have C.S.A. frankings or Richmond postmarks, and entered the U.S. mails at Old Point Comfort.

Libby Prison opened in March 1862 to receive transferred prisoners from Ligon's, Mayo's and Taylor's Warehouses. It re-opened in mid-1863, and quickly grew to over 4,000 inmates by the end of 1863. It was evacuated on the fall of Richmond in April 1865. Eight flag-of-truce covers are known from the via Norfolk period, and five are known from the via Petersburg period. More than 160 covers are known from the via Richmond period.

Realized: $800

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