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Sale 108: The Westpex Sale

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Prisoner of War Covers

Lots 2598-2602

Lot 2598    

Confederacy, Camp Chase, Ohio, manuscript endorsement on buff Prisoner of War cover bearing uncancelled 3¢ rose (65) to Benton, Arkansas, additional "Lt. Col. Miller 11th Regt Arks, Prisoner of War" and "Politeness of Mrs. Clark" endorsements, Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Cynthia Charlotte "Lottie" Moon (1828-1895) was born in Danville, Virginia on August 10, 1828. She and her sister, Virginia "Ginnie" Moon are best known for their role as Confederate spies during the American Civil War. As spies for the Confederacy, Lottie and Ginnie smuggled information and medicine from North to South.

After the fall of Fort Donelson, Lottie heard that one of her brothers was at Camp Chase and she traveled there. Upon discovering that none of her relations were incarcerated at Camp Chase, Lottie Clark remained at the prison to improve the Southerners' condition. According to the Virginia Historical Society, she also volunteered to serve as courier by taking prisoners' mail to Richmond, Virginia, and allowing Confederate authorities to distribute it from the capital to the captives' native states. For some reason, a large group of 170 letters mostly slated to be carried by Lottie Clark did not connect with her and ended up in Ohio long-term storage. 112 of the letters made their way to the Virginia Historical Society, and only a few are held in private hands.

References: Kaufmann, Trish, "Confederate Mail Runner and Spy, Lottie Moon Clark", The Confederate Philatelist, 4th Qtr 2016, pp. 4-19.

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Lot 2599    

Confederacy, Elmira Prison, N.Y., buff Prisoner-of-War cover addressed locally to "Mr. C.C. Hall, Corresponding Sect., Young Man's C, Elmira N.Y." with "Prisoners Letter, Examined, Elmira, N.Y." oval examiner's handstamp, entered mails with bold "Elmira, N.Y, Jan 5" cds and manuscript "Due 4" rating for 2¢ local rate plus 2¢ penalty; ms. "1863" date in cds, edge faults and wear, Fine and unusual local POW use.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $280

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Lot 2600    

Confederacy, Elmira Prison, N.Y., cover addressed to Saint Paul, N.C. and endorsed "Via Fortress Monroe By Flag of Truce" at lower left, franked with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Elmira, N.Y., Sep 14, 1864" cds with oval "Prisoner's Letter Examined, Elmira N.Y." examiner's handstamp alongside, entered the C.S.A. mails with 1863, 10¢ blue tied by "Richmond, Va., Sep 27" cds; overall cover soiling and 3¢ stamp with small flaws, Fine appearance, ex-R. Brandon; with 2014 P.F. certificate.
Scott Nos. 11    Estimate $250 - 350.

Realized: $475

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Lot 2601    

Confederacy, Elmira Prison, N.Y., prisoner of war cover addressed to Houstonville N.C. with faint oval "Prisoner's Letter Elmira, N.Y., Examined" examiner's handstamp at center, franked with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Elmira, N.Y., Mar 3, 1865" cds, manuscript "Via Flag of Truce" endorsement at top, entered the C.S.A. mails with 1863, 10¢ blue tied by "Richmond, Va., Mar 15" cds; some contemporary notations on reverse and small reduction at left with slightly clipped corner, F.-V.F., ex-Walske.
Scott Nos. 12    Estimate $500 - 750.

Realized: $650

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Lot 2602    

Confederacy, Elmira Prison, N.Y., orange buff cover bearing 3¢ rose (65) tied by "Elmira N.Y. Apr. 12, 1865" double-circle datestamp to Butler Ga., clear strike of "Mails Suspended" handstamp and matching "Nashville Ten. Jun 28, 1865" cds backstamp, with original contents datelined "Office, Commandant of Prison, Elmira N.Y. April 6th 1865", a reply to an inquiry received about a prisoner, James G. Turner, and states he died of pneumonia after an extended hospital stay and that "he received every attention that could be bestowed on a prisoner of war", signed by Lt. Col. Stephen Moore; cover opened roughly at right, some soiling, otherwise Very Fine and rare use mails suspended use from a prison, ex-B. Green.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

It was unusual for the commandant to write with news of a prisoner's death, the "Mails Suspended" marking reflected the difficult conditions in sending mail during the last days of the war.

Realized: $325

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Lots 2598-2602

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