Lot
2721 
El Fuerte, Sinaloa, Mexico, Cover to San Francisco Mailed at the U.S. Consulate, Acapulco. Placed aboard the northbound Pacific steamer at that port, attractive consular seal in blue, mailed unpaid with the PMSS Co.'s steamer and charged 10 cents rate upon arrival at San Francisco July 4, 1862, Very Fine. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $350
Lot
2722
HAPAG Line Steamship "Germania" Maiden Return Voyage, New York September 19th - Southampton September 30th 1863. Envelope posted at Oberlin, Ohio 14th September 1863 addressed to Rio Janeiro, Brazil endorsed "via Southampton". Prepaid the 45 cents rate via England of April 1853 with stamps of the 1861 - 1863 issues using a 5 cent Scott 75, 10 cent Scott 68 and 30 cent Scott 71. Reverse bears the "NEW YORK BR PKT / PAID / SEP / 18" with a London transit for September 30th on front. A manuscript "24" cents gives the credit given to Britain. Atlantic Transit of 11 days, Very Fine and attractive, particularly used with a 5¢ red brown; with 1987 P.F. certificate. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Realized: $3,500
Lot
2723
Inman Line "Etna", New York June 6th - Queenstown June 16th 1863. Envelope posted at New York to receive the "NEW YORK AM PKT 3 / JUN / 6" 3 cent credit to Britain departure stamp. Addressed to Caledon, Ireland prepaid the 24 cents rate using a 1862, 24¢ lilac and an additiona1 1¢ blue was used to paid the local Carrier Fee within New York. Atlantic Transit of 10 days; cover expertly cleaned with a portion of backflap restored, Very Fine appearance. Scott No. 63+78 Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $575
Lot
2724
Allan Line Steamship "Hibernian", Londonderry April 3rd - Portland April 18th 1863. Envelope posted at Rickmonsworth, Hertfordshire on April 1st 1863 and routed from London via Fishguard, Pembrokeshire to Waterford and north to Londonderry to be put onto the Hibernian at Londonderry. Addressed to North Chili and prepaid the 1 shilling rate using 1862, 1sh deep green. Portland exchange office "PORTLAND PAID ME AM PKT 24 / APR 18 / 1863" was struck. The 21 cents credit to America was struck at London with on reverse a London transit of April 2nd. Atlantic Transit 15 days; small cover tears and stamp with small corner defect, F.-V.F. SG No. 89. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $250
Lot
2725
Consular Forwarded Mail, Santander, Spain to New York, 1864. Placed in the Spanish Post Office with insufficient postage (probably a 4 cuartos stamp intended to pay the domestic rate). Unable to contact the sender, the post office delivered the letter to the local U.S. consul, who removed the original stamp and added the 2 reales stamp, which effectively paid the 10 cent rate by American packet via Britain. Reposted November 28, the letter seems to have been returned to Santander and promptly reposted once again, ultimately being put upon the Inman Line's Etna at Liverpool for carriage to New York; some archival tape reinforcement at folds, Very Fine. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
One duty of U.S.consuls was to ensure that mails from American citizens falling into their hands were forwarded to the United States, The consul had the right to reclaim the postage paid from the Post Office Department, but this was rarely enforced, this cover and one other being the only two recorded examples showing the demand for reimbursement. The Santander consul endorsed the following on the reverse: "Collect 10c = The post master will collect ten cents on this letter besides the usual postage, sent paid by me to advance this letter detained by want of stamps, as provided by law. Richd. C. Hannah U.S. Consul.".
Realized: $3,750
Lot
2726
Inman Line "City of Washington", New York May 14th - Queenstown May 25th 1864. Envelope with illustrated "Girard House" corner card posted at New York receiving the "NEW YORK AM PKT / MAY / 13" and addressed to Wexford, Ireland. Prepaid 72 cents for under 1½ ounces using 1863, 24¢ grayish lilac, horizontal strip of 3. On arrival at Dublin stamped with "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID" and manuscript 4 Shillings charge for up to 2 ounces applied. Sent on to Wexford with backstamp for May 26th 1864 was applied, on delivery the addressee queried the charge and the letter returned to the Wexford office where manuscript "3/- allowed" was added with final delivery on May 30th. Atlantic Transit of 11 days; cover with internal hole repair at left of strip, F.-V.F.; with 1980 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 78a Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Realized: $1,500
Lot
2727
Allan Line Steamship "Peruvian", Quebec September 3rd - Londonderry September 11th 1864. Liberty & Shield Patriotic envelope posted unpaid at Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin on August 31st 1864. Addressed to Niederurnen, Switzerland near Zurich. Routed through the Detroit exchange office on 1st September to receive the "DETROIT MICH/3/SEP 1" exchange marking to be put onto the Peruvian at Quebec. Reverse bears the "AARAU - ZURICH / Z.14 / 15 D. / 64" transit stamps. Atlantic Transit of 8 days., Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
2728
U.S. Civil War, 1864 Blockade Run Cover Addressed to Flat Rock, North Carolina. Postmarked Wilmington with that city's matching straight line "Ship", rated "12" in manuscript, being 2 cents ship fee plus 10 cents Confederate postage to Flat Rock; small portion of backflap missing, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Run into Wilmington through the Union Blockade by the "Fannie", which docked on January 15, the mails presumably being taken off by the vessels which were run up the Cape Fear River. The Fannie made 3 successful blockade runs into Charleston and 5 into Wilmington.
Realized: $1,200
Lot
2729
Confederate Blockade Runner Lucy, Wilmington to Nassau 1864. Envelope endorsed on face "Pur Lucy sent this April 9 1864", blockade run to Nassau from where it was privately carried to Liverpool, or possibly within a packet of letters so that no postal markings would be applied; tiny cover tear at top, Very Fine. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
The Lucy was a fast 314 ton British steamer built expressly for the blockade running trade and contracted to the Confederate government agents Fraser, Trenholm & Co. She was captured November 3rd 1864 by the U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba.
Realized: $850
Lot
2730
Civil War Blockade Run Cover, Charleston to Nassau to Liverpool. Carried to Nassau outside the mails by the blockade runner Mars, entered the mails and double-arc "Bahamas" applied June 4, 1864, arrived Liverpool June 26,where it was rated "over ½ ounce" and charged 3 shillings due. Interesting lengthy contents by an English volunteer serving with the Confederacy; couple light vertical file folds, Very Fine. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Realized: $1,600