Lot
682 
Confederacy, (Blockade Related) 1861 Business Letter To J.R. Grimball, Adams Run P.O., So.Ca. Folded letter referring to shipment of goods, letter as follows: "Charleston, Dec 20, 1861, The fleet at No. Edisto [island near Charleston] has blocked the inland navigation south, for the present, but we hope the coasters [blockade runners] will be able to get home by X-mas…Mr. Prepley says he has not yet received my tidings of the Confederate Stock you subscribed for." Reverse side franked with four margin 1861 5¢ green Jefferson Davis, tied by double circle "Charleston, S.C." cds, Very Fine. Scott No. 1 Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $475
Lot
683
Confederacy, (Blockade Related) Henry Cobia & Co. Embossed cameo corner card on buff cover to Capt. Jos. Tucker in Wicasset Me., franked with U.S. 1852, 3¢ dull red, type II tied by "Charleston S.C., Paid, Oct 15" cds, with original 1853 letter, Very Fine. Scott No. U.S. 11A Estimate $200 - 300.
The firm of Cobia & Co. was a blockade runner in the Civil War. They owned the "Gem" that was active Aug. 1863 to Mar. 1865 and was 2 for 2 in successful trips.
Realized: $350
Lot
684
Confederacy, Incoming Blockade-Run Cover - Charleston, S.C./Mar. 17, 186- (1863). Cds and "Steam-Ship" in oval handstamp with pencil "22" double ship rate on cover to "Dr. A. J. DeRosset, Wilmington N.C.", clear strike of blue "Forwarded by Sawyer & Menendez, Nassau" oval handstamp at bottom left, interesting notation on inside of backflap "I shall not try sending by way of Baltimore duplicates only by way of Nassau", receipt docketing "Recd. 18 March 1863", backflaps with sealed tears and slight staining, Very Fine and rare, Ex-Ludington. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
Lovely blockade-run cover with all markings struck on the address side. Origin unknown. Carried by blockade-runner Ruby, dep. Nassau Mar. 15, 1863, arr. Charleston Mar. 17. Comes with a beautifully written up exhibit page and drawing of the vessel.
Ruby (1), a 177' iron hull sidewheel steamer, was owned by Henderson & Co.; active Feb. to Jun. 1863, 8 for 10 in successful trips; destroyed off Charleston June 11, 1863 on its last attempt.
The system of handling mail and goods inbound to the Confederacy by blockade-runners was dependent on the use of forwarding agents. This cover is a typical example, sent enclosed in an outer envelope, addressed to Sawyer & Menendez, forwarding agents in Nassau, Bahamas. After carriage by British mails it was duly delivered to the firm in Nassau. Sawyer & Menendez discarded the original envelope and arranged for the carriage of the enclosed inner cover on a blockade-runner. In the case of this cover, after being handstamped with their cachet showing service, it was delivered to the purser of the Ruby that was soon departing Nassau for Charleston with goods and mails.
Realized: $4,250
Lot
685
Confederacy, Incoming Blockade-Run Cover 1863, Blockade Run Usage From England To Milton, N.C. Via Charleston, S.C. "Charleston S.C., Mar. 17, 1863" double circle postmark and matching "Steam-Ship" oval handstamp on inbound cover from Lt. W. L. Maury in England to Mrs. Maury in Milton N.C., manuscript "Ship" endorsement and pencil "12" rate (10¢ plus 2¢ ship fee); slightly trimmed across top & small repair at lower right corner, portion of original top back flap reattached, Very Fine, ex-Seacrest, Walske; with 2004 C.S.A. Certificate. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
Carried by the blockade-runner "Ruby", leaving Nassau Mar. 13, 1863 and arriving in Charleston on Mar. 17. The "Ruby" made 8 successful trips, but ultimately was destroyed off Charleston Jun. 11, 1863.
Lieutenant William L. Maury was commander of the "C.S.S. Georgia", a cruiser in the North and South Atlantic, capturing nine United States' merchant vessels. She put into Cherbourg, France, in late October 1863 with her iron hull badly fouled by marine growth and was decommissioned as being unsuited for further use as a warship.
Realized: $1,200
Lot
686
Confederacy, Incoming Blockade-Run Cover To Charleston. Bold strike of Charleston S.C. "6" due handstamp on small cover to Cornelius L. Burckmyer, Charleston, South Carolina, Confederate States of America, contains letter numbers 40 and datelined "Paris 2nd May 1864", lengthy 4 page letter, cover with small mended internal tear, Very Fine and attractive. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A fascinating Burckmyer cover from France to Charleston via Nassau with "6" rate handstamp applied to letters delivered at the port of arrival.
Realized: $1,100
Lot
687
Confederacy, Outgoing Blockade-Run 1862, Blockade-Run Use From Savannah Ga. To Rome, Italy, Via Nassau, Bahamas. Yellow cover from the Locke correspondence (#47), originating in Savannah Ga. Dec. 29, 1862 (docketed) and addressed to Rome in care of Baring Bros. in London, carried under separate cover via Charleston to Nassau, and delivered to Baring Brother forwarders in London where posted with red "Lombard Street Paid FE 16 '63" transit and red manuscript rating, Calais (2.17) transit with black manuscript. rating, Italian arrival backstamp; flap torn, a Extremely Fine and scarce use; with 2007 C.S.A. certificate. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
Realized: $1,250
Lot
688
Confederacy, Outgoing Blockade-Run "Burckmyer Correspondence" Blockade Cover & Letter. first-hand description of the exchange of the U.S. and C.S. Officers (the Immortal 600) that had been held as prisoners and placed under the fire of enemy shells. Written from Fort Pemberton, South Carolina, dated "July 23rd, 1864" in almost "diary-style", Burckmyer keeps adding to the letter until his last "date" on the letter is August 6th. The great portion on the exchange of prisoners is dated August 4th. Confederate Captain C. L. Burckmyer, who was stationed in Charleston; contains details of the exchange set up by General Foster… he lists who some of the famous Officers were and has much other interesting content - news from Hood's Army, the killing of Union General McPherson, Lincoln's refusing to negotiate peace terms, and some very interesting comments about Captain Semmes and the loss of the Alabama., F.-V.F. Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.
The cover itself is addressed to Mrs. C. L. Burckmyer, Liverpool, datelined "Fort Pemberton, July 23, 1864", with transit cds "15 OC 64", rate markings in blue crayon; pencil notes on reverse by blockade historian indicate Blockade Runner "Will of the Wisp" left Wilmington Sept. 18, 1864 - arrived Nassau, September 21; trunk line (Cunard) from Nassau to N.Y.; "Persia" (Cunard Line) left N.Y. Oct.5, 1864- arrived Liverpool October 15; letter with full transcription, cover with ink stains on front and backflap with piece missing.
Realized: $1,000
Lot
689
Confederacy, Outgoing Blockade-Run Cover To England Via Nassau. 1863 cover from Charleston to Liverpool from the Burckmyer correspondence ("No. 13"), manuscript "Too Late" & red "Nassau/Au. 24, '63/Paid" cds at bottom left and red crayon "1/10" due marking, backstamped with Liverpool arrival marking, Walske/Trepel book states, "two 6d Bahamas stamps removed", despite a repair in the area of where stamps might have been placed, we see no evidence of stamps replaced, some aging & wear, Fine usage, a very rare Blockade cover with the "Too Late" endorsement. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $400
Lot
690
Confederacy, Outgoing Blockade-Run From Charleston S.C. To New York Via Nassau. Cover addressed to Miss Sabina E. Wells at New York City street address, entered British Mails with red "Nassau Paid SP 12 64" circular datestamp, red crayon "4" pence rate, "N. York Br. Pkt. 5 Oct. 1" integral-rate circular datestamp with 5¢ due for British Packet mail, slight toning and edge wear, couple minor creases, Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
The Wells correspondence originates in Charleston, based on New York Oct. 1, 1864, arrival date, carried on blockade-runner "Fox" which departed Charleston Sep. 9, 1864, arrived Nassau Sep. 12; then by Cunarder Corsica which departed on Nassau Sep. 25, arriving New York Oct. 1; the "Fox" was owned by Fraser Trenholm & Co.; active May 1864 to May 1865, 18 for 18 in successful trips; survived the war.
Realized: $750