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Sale 63: The Donald Richardson Collection of U.S. Postal Rates 1851-1863

Table of Contents

Foreign Mail - To Africa

Lot 1171    

1861 (Apr. 1) Brunswick Me. to St. Paul de Loando, West Coast of Africa, cover addressed to the Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins on the U.S.S. Mohican, bearing 3¢ dull red (26) and 10¢ green (35) pair and single, all tied by circular grid cancels, matching "Brunswick Me Apr 1 1861" cds and "Paid" straightline handstamp, red "Boston Br. Pkt. 'Paid' Apr 3" exchange backstamp and matching "28" cent credit handstamp, carried by Cunard Line Canada from Boston Apr. 3rd to Queenstown arriving Apr. 15th, Liverpool (4.16) transit backstamp, docketed as received Jun. 9th on reverse; right 10¢ trivial perf tear at top, fresh and Extremely Fine.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

A RARE AND CHOICE USE OF THE 1857 ISSUE ON A COVER TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY SLOOP-OF-WAR MOHICAN, WHICH WAS PATROLLING THE WATERS OFF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA IN SEARCH OF SLAVE-TRADING VESSELS.

St. Paul de Loando was the capital of the Portuguese colony of Angola and a known area of activity for slave traders. The letter is addressed to Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins on the U.S.S. Mohican, which was patrolling the waters off the African coastline. Later this same year the Mohican captured the slave-carrying ship Erie, whose captain, Nathaniel Gordon, was hanged in 1862, the first man condemned under an 1820 Federal law declaring slave-trading a form of piracy. In August 1861 she departed the African coast to take part in the Battle of Port Royal and blockade duty in the Civil War.

Realized: $11,000

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