Lot
2419 
Confederacy, "Dead Letter Office, P.O. Dpt.", dateless double-oval backstamp struck on flap of 1863 cover from Richmond Va. to Revd E.A. De Schweinitz, Litiz, Lancaster Co. Pa. endorsed "Flag Truce Via Forts Monroe" at bottom left and with 10¢ blue, frameline (10) affixed to pay the Confederate postage tied by Richmond "Mar." cds and properly peeled off at the exchange point, the sender attempted to pay the U.S. postage by affixing a half-dime at the top left, the imprint of which is clearly visible (a replacement coin accompanies), none of this was accepted by the postal authorities and the cover was sent to the Dead Letter Office. "Washington D.C., Apr" double-circle datestamp struck upon release along with bold "DUE 6cts." rating handstamp for unpaid postage; minor soiling and edge nick., Very Fine and fascinating attempted through-the-lines use. C.S.A. Catalog No. UDL-01; $2,500 Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
This attempted Flag-Of-Truce use with manuscript directive was sent during the September 1862 - July 1863 period when flag-of-truce mail was suspended (see Walske-Trepel Special Routes book, Chapter 5).
Edmund Alexander de Schweinitz (1825-1887): In 1856, Edmund was consecrated as a presbyter by Bishop Peter Wolle. In 1861, Edmund and family moved to Lititz, Pa., where Edmund worked as a pastor from 1861-1864 and established the weekly journal of his church and served as editor of The Moravian, 1861-1867. He was an American bishop of the Moravian Church. His papers are housed at Lehigh University.
Realized: $900