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Sale 55: United States Postal History

Table of Contents

Transpacific Mail

Lot 1031    

1866 (Jan. 20) Washington D.C. To Macao, China Via Hong Kong, legal size cover with Navy Department imprint and "Wm. Faxon" free frank endorsement as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, addressed to Commander Robert Townsend of the U.S.S. Wachusett, East India Squadron in Macao, China, "Washington D.C. Free Jan 20" origin cds, returned for postage as frank was not valid on overseas mails, bearing 5¢ brown (76), 10¢ green (68) and 30¢ orange (71), all tied by matching quartered corks duplexed with "Washington D.C. Jan 22" cds, partial red "N. York 'Paid' 24 Jan" exchange cds, carried by Cunard Line Scotia from New York Jan. 24th to Queenstown arriving Feb. 2nd, red London (2.5) transit cds and red crayon "1" pence colonial credit, Hong Kong (4.10) transit backstamp; cover faults, Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A REMARKABLE NAVY DEPARTMENT COVER TO MACAO, CHINA AT THE 45¢ BRITISH MAIL RATE.

Captain Robert Townsend (1819-1866) was a Civil War-era ship Captain in the United States Navy. He served twice, once before the war and then again during the war. He saw active combat while serving aboard three ships, most notably as commander of the USS Essex from 1863-1864, an ironclad gunship on the Mississippi River. After relinquishing command of the Essex, Townsend was given command of the "Wachusett", which was outfitted as a gunboat and used by the Navy as part of the Union blockade of the Confederate States. On February 17, 1865, the ship was given orders to proceed to the East India Station by way of the Cape of Good Hope. There, she joined "Wyoming" and "Iroquois" in an effort to track down the Confederate commerce raider CSS "Shenandoah".

While in China the ship was engaged in efforts to track down outlaws and pirates who were harming American interests. In mid-August the ship sailed up the Yangtze River in this mission. The heat was reportedly 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 °C) in the shade and the ship made difficult passage up the river. On August 15, 1866, four months after arrival of this letter, Robert Townsend died of heat stroke. The executive officer John Woodward (Jack) Philip, who was later Admiral, assumed command of the "Wachusett" and sailed it down river with the goal of making it to Japan for the health of the crew. That evening the ship anchored by the consulate in Shanghai and held a funeral for their commander.

Realized: $8,000

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