Chicago “Blues” from the Large Bank Note Period

161 – Chicago “Blue” going to the Netherlands 10c Brown tied by full strike of “Negative A with- out 3” Chicago “Blue” cancel to full cover (Berg No. NAO-20 late use). Red Paid All Br. Transit mark on front, black 157+161 – Chicago “Blue” going to London 2c Brown and 10c Brown tied by full strike of “Negative A with 3” Utbecht receiving mark on the back. Fantastic cover! (PH82-10) $275.00 Chicago “Blue” cancel to full cover (Berg No. NA3-16). Double rate. 158 – Shoenfeld Red 1874 London receiving mark on face, red “Chicago Ill Paid All” Bros. & Co. Com- marking on the back. Stunning cover with great eye appeal. (PH82- mission Mer- 09) Ex-Stiss $275.00 chants 3c Green tied by near complete strike of “check- erboard” Chicago “Blue” cancel on cover slightly reduced at right (Berg No. CB-52), also includes illus- trated letterhead, datelined: May 29, 1876. (PH82-11) Ex-Stiss $75.00

158 – Chicago “Blue “cross 158 – Chicago “Blue” going to Oglesby, 3c Green tied by full 3c Green tied by full strike of bold “Crossroads” Chicago “Blue” strike of “Maltese cancel on full cover (Berg No. CR-1), small portion of back flap Cross” Chicago “Blue” missing. Fresh, clean cover! (PH82-12) $100.00 cancel to cover, just slightly reduced at the right (Berg No. M-9). Fresh, clean cover! (PH82-13) $100.00

157+U153 Chicago “Blue going to Denmark 2c Brown and 3c Green entire tied by double strike of “C” Chicago “Blue” cancel on full cover (Berg No. LC-1). Red Chicago, Ill Paid All transit mark on front, black Slagelse receiving mark on the back. Ashbrook notes in pencil on the back (Blue Chicago “C” killer Red Chicago Ill Paid All). (PH82-14) $175.00

158 – S.H. Greenbaum & Co. corner card 3c Green tied by bold full strike of “Geometric” Chicago “Blue” cancel on full cover (Berg No. GEO-53). Large well centered stamp, small edge tear, small amount of paper loss on back. Im- print on the back for the 158 – Home for the Friendless Great Inter-State Exposi- 3c Green tied by full strike of unlisted “Geometric Diamond” tion of 1875 in Chicago. Chicago “Blue” cancel on full cover. Two minor edge tears at (PH82-16) $200.00 top. (PH82-15) $75.00

James E. Lee’s Philately • Whole No. 82 • 5 Civil War: Western Gulf Blockading Squadron Postal History

Introduction I had the good fortune to acquire the balance lots in the Siegel sale of the Steven Walske Blockade Run Mail collection. Four cov- ers were needed for my collection related the Sound. The balance of the covers is being offered here. Not since the sale of Dick Graham’s collection several years ago has there been such a nice array of U.S, Naval covers come to the market. These ships were an important part effort to win the . They were responsible for shutting down all of the southern ports along the Atlantic Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. 65 – U.S. S. “Augusta” – Inbound Jenkintown Pa, July 11 (1864). Sent via the U.S.S. “Union” a supply and dispatch ship, screw steamer, operating between the Gulf and after January of 1863. Ex-Walske (PH82-17) $150.00

65 – U.S. S. “Richmond” – Inbound Portsmouth, NH, Nov. 7, 1864. The “Richmond” was a wood- en, stream, sloop of war, assigned to the Squadron at the time of this letter. Ex-Walske (PH82-18) $150.00

65 - U.S.S. “Sebago” – Inbound Norfolk, Va, March 8, 1865. The “Sebago” was a large sidewheel steamer that was part of the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron oper- ating off of Mobile, at the time of this letter. She participated in the Battle of Mobile Bay. Ex-Walske (PH82-19) $175.00

65 – U.S.S. “Sea Bird” – Inbound Four times rate, letter docketed: “ Dec 1st 1863”. USS Sea Bird was a captured Confederate schooner (by the U.S.S. “DeSoto”) purchased by the from the prize court at Key West, Florida in July 1863. She was assigned to the Gulf of Mexico to pursue blockade run- ners. Ex-Walske (PH82-20) $200.00

65 – U.S.S. “James L. Davis” - Inbound , DC, Aug 7, 1864. The “Davis” was a bark, which was trans- ferred to the Eastern Gulf in mid-1862. Her primary responsibility was the pursuit of swift blockade runners operating out of southern Florida. Ex-Walske (PH82-22) $150.00

65 – U.S.S. “Oneida” – Outbound , LA, August 4, 1862. Includes a partial letter from Albert May to his brother in North Ware, NH. By August of 1862, the “Onei- da”, a screw sloop of war, had moved from the to the Gulf off New Orleans and Mobile. “Seven sailors and one marine from Oneida were awarded the for their actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay.” Ex-Walske (PH82-21) $200.00

6 • James E. Lee’s Philately • Whole No. 82 Civil War: South Atlantic Blockading Squadron Postal History

”Free” – U.S.S. “Phila- delphia” – Inbound Washington, DC “Free”, March 23, 1865. Letter send under the “Free” frank of Senator James Harlan, of Iowa to Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren aboard the flag ship “”, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron at Charleston, SC. EX-Walske (PH82-24) $200.00 65 – U.S.S. “Isaac Smith” – Outbound New York, Nov 29, 1862. A steamer assigned to the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off the Florida coast. On January 30, 1863 she was disabled by enemy fire on the Stono River and captured. The “Smith” became the “Stono” as part of the Confederate Navy and served as a blockade runner. She was the only U.S. ship to be captured by Confederate land forces. Ex-Walske (PH82-23) $275.00 Due 6 – U.S.S. “Nor- wich” – Outbound Philadelphia, June 8, 1865. The “Norwich” served in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. Sailor’s letter, endorsed by the executive officer, A.H. McCormick. 65 – U.S.S. “Nipsic” – Outbound “U.S. Ship” and New York, May 19 (1864). The “Nipsic” was a , arrived off Mor- “Due 6” marking. ris Island, South Carolina, on November 5, 1863 to join in the blockade Ex-Walske (PH82-26) of Charleston, where she served until the end of the war. On June 27, $200.00 1864, she took the schooner “Julia” as the blockade-runner attempted to enter port. Ex-FDR & Walske (PH82-25) $175.00 U35 – U.S.S. “Wabash” – Outbound Philadelphia, Oct 24, 1863. A steam screw which served in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron off Port Royal, in 1863. She captured five Confederate blockade runners during her service. Letter sent North by U.S. ship and entered the mails at Philadelphia. Ex-Walske (PH82-27) $195.00 65 (x2) – U.S.S. “Mingoe” – Out- bound Philadelphia, Mar 16 (1865). An ironclad, steam gunboat, she joined the South Atlantic Blockading Squad- ron, on August 13, 1864, and served off Charleston until the end of the war. Letter sent North by U.S. ship and entered the mails at Philadelphia. Ex-Walske (PH82-28) $195.00 65 – U.S.S. “Acacia” - Outbound Old Point Comfort, VA, Apr 28, (1864). Steam- powered tugboat assigned to the South Atlantic 65 – U.S.S. “Wissahickon” – Outbound Blockading Squadron. On Old Point Comfort, VA, Sep 4, (1863). She was a Unadilla- 12- 23, 1864 she captured class gunboat In March–June 1863, Wissahickon destroyed the Confederate blockade one blockade runner (the SS Georgiana) and helped to runner, “Julia”. The “Ju- destroy another. During the summer, she bombarded Forts lia” was taken to the prize court in Key West. Letter Wagner and Sumter, off Charleston, South Carolina. Letter sent North by ship and sent North by ship and entered the mails at Old Point Com- entered the mails at Old fort, VA. Ex-Walske (PH82-29) $175.00 Point Comfort, VA. Ex-Walske (PH82-30) $175.00 James E. Lee’s Philately • Whole No. 82 • 7 NY Postmaster Provisional Proofs & ABNCo. Essays

ABNCo. Design with blank tablets Die essays on India paper, engraved lathwork frame with Bald, Cousland & Co. engraved Washington vignette, blank labels and numeral areas, first state of the die. Brown or Black. (EP82-40) $250.00 each

9X1-E1a 5c Green & Scarlet trial color die essays pulled on India paper and die sunk on card blotters. Reduced by an inch on all four sides, scarce still affixed to the original card blotter. (EP82- 36 & 37) $750.00 each

9X1TC5 Green complete plating The nine plated positions from the sheet of nine. All copies exhibit full margins. Not easy to duplicate in this condition. (EP82-38) $2,000.00

American Bank Note Co. Die essay Completed die in black and pulled on In- dia paper. Note the spots on the die (nicks and rust) along with one vertical line. Ex-Finkelburg (EP82-39) $150.00

8 • James E. Lee’s Philately • Whole No. 82