Sale 1129 — 2016 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 31 May, 2016
Category — Civil War: Union Patriotics
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Brilliant color, straddle-pane margin at left, cancelled by blue grid, matching "MECHANICSBURG IND." Eagle, Star and Branches fancy town handstamp with manuscript "Feb. 15" on Beardless Lincoln First Presidential Campaign cover to Greencastle Ind., original 1861 enclosure mentions that "traitors or disunionists are very scarce [in Mechanicsburg]", cover lightly cleaned at top centerVERY FINE. A REMARKABLE COVER COMBINING THE BEARDLESS LINCOLN CAMPAIGN DESIGN AND A FANCY CANCELLATION INCORPORATING PATRIOTIC THEMES. A REMARKABLE "CAMPAIGN PATRIOTIC" COVER.
Same correspondence as lot 467. Ex Matthies and Waud. With 1994 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Tied by blue circular grid cancel, matching "Mechanicsburg Ind. Apr. 16, 1862" Eagle, Star and Branches fancy town handstamp, date in manuscript, on cover to Greencastle Ind. with soldier raising American flag and trampling Confederate flag multicolored Patriotic design, small stain at left edge, minor edge faultsVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE COMBINATION OF THE MECHANICSBURG, INDIANA, FANCY EAGLE HANDSTAMP ON A PATRIOTIC COVER.
The enclosed letter to a young man who has entered college states "I think you have acted prudently as the battlefield is not a very suitable place for a man in delicate health." A Power Search review failed to find another example of the Mechanicsburg handstamp on a Patriotic cover.
Same correspondence as lot 466.
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Used with Boyd's City Express, New York N.Y., 1c Black on Blue Gray (20L18), tied by "New-York Jul. 11, 1861" circular datestamp and grid cancel on cover to Hamilton N.Y. with "That's the Bait" cartoon design depicting Uncle Sam fishing with a cannon in "Secession Pond" for Southern and Border States, each state depicted as a fish or a snake, including "Union" bait basket and "Secession Out of Breath" slogan, Berlin & Jones imprint, tiny corner nick at bottom, back with mounting paper remnantVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE BERLIN & JONES PATRIOTIC DESIGN, MADE EVEN MORE DESIRABLE BY THE USE OF THE BOYD'S LOCAL STAMP.
Of the various Civil War patriotic stationery publishers, the New York firm of Berlin & Jones produced the most elaborate cartoon designs. Used examples are rare, and this cover franked with the 3c 1857 Issue and Boyd's local may well be unique
Pro-Union Hand-Drawn Cartoon Envelope. 3c Pink on White entire (U34) cancelled by blue grid, "Franklinville N.Y. Dec. 11" circular datestamp with multicolored hand-drawn Uncle Sam and Jefferson Davis cartoon depicting Uncle Sam pouring "Union" in a mug down the throat of a gaunt Jefferson Davis, with text "Uncle Sam, don't make me take that horrid Union, you know it will be the death of me!" and "Take it jef; it may be a little hard for you, but it will be a glorious thing for your country", to Niles Mich., some overall soiling and some slight edgewearVERY FINE. A UNIQUE AND WELL-EXECUTED HAND-DRAWN CARTOON DESIGN.
Ex Walcott and Myers.
Hand-Drawn Civil War Patriotic Envelope. 3c Rose (65) tied by blue "Martinsburgh W. Va. 7 Mar. '64" double-circle datestamp on beautiful multicolored hand-drawn eagle and ribbon Patriotic cover to "Mrs. Dr. J. L. Brown" in Green Spring O., circular grid cancel at top, stamp with small scuff and tiny edge tear at bottom, minor soiling, still Very Fine and rare, each of the Green Spring hand-drawn Patriotic designs is unique and most have faulty stamps, this is one of the most beautiful designs of the small group we have encountered
1c Blue, Ty. V, 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (24, 26). Tied together by "New-York Aug. 4, 1861" circular datestamp on backflap of cover to Hudson N.Y. with multicolored Patriotic design depicting American Eagle destroying Confederate Flag and Secessionist Serpents, with Union Flag, Andrew Jackson, John C. Calhoun and Fort Sumter in background, imprint on back "The destruction of the Snake of South Carolina, Nullification and Secession, and all her progeny by the National Bird. To portray the ultimate overthrow of the evil power, which strikes at the life of the National Government, is the object of this cut" and Harback & Sons copyright notice, fresh and pristineEXTREMELY FINE. PROBABLY THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THIS SPECTACULAR UNION PATRIOTIC DESIGN.
The "Snake of South Carolina" envelope is one of the most spectacular of all pro-Union patriotic designs. We have encountered only a few postally-used examples, and this cover is probably the finest extant.
With 1999 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Tied by bold strike of "Washington D.C. Apr. 10, 1862" circular datestamp on back of envelop with multicolored Magnus Patriotic overall design, depicting "U.S. Naval Expedition No. 7", with soldier lowering the American flag and cannons, accompanying certificate notes small toned spots in the cover's margins, which are utterly inconsequential, Very Fine, a rare and outstanding Magnus design, ex Matthies, with 2004 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Four singles, tied by two strikes of "REGISTERED" handstamp, "Philadelphia Pa. Nov. 13" circular datestamp on blue and red Standing Liberty and Flag Patriotic cover to New York, bold "R" handstamp, 1863 docketing on back indicates sent from Edward Cogan, a well-known printer of patriotic covers, magenta manuscript at bottom is receipt registration marking, two stamps with small creases from placement at edge of coverVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL PATRIOTIC COVER BEARING FOUR EXAMPLES OF THE 3-CENT 1861 ISSUE, SENT VIA REGISTERED MAIL.
The four stamps pay 4-times the 3c rate. The registry fee was paid in cash. Ex Haas, Myers and Mitchell. With 2003 P.F. certificate
3c Rose (65). Radiant color, cancelled by target, "Washington D.C. Mar. 22, 1864" double-circle datestamp on Statue of Seated Washington Magnus Multicolored Patriotic cover to West Yorkshire N.Y., barely reduced at right, stamp with two small tears, minor edgewear including small repair along right side well away from the stampVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS SPECTACULAR MAGNUS DESIGN IN USED CONDITION.
With 1994 P.F. certificate
12c Black, Plate 3 (36b). Two singles arranged as a vertical pair, lower stamp has double frameline at right, tied by bold strike of "Reading Pa. Jul. 6, 1861" circular datestamp on red and blue "Nationality and Protection" Eagle, Shield and Flag Patriotic cover to Ireland, red "19" credit, receiving backstampVERY FINE. A REMARKABLY BEAUTIFUL AND IMMACULATE PATRIOTIC COVER TO IRELAND WITH THE 12-CENT 1857 ISSUE.
Ex Haas, Kapiloff and "Sevenoaks"
12c Black (69). Crisp impression, used with 3c Rose (65), tied by segmented cork cancels, red "N. York Paid Hamb. Pkt. 10 Sep. 5" credit datestamp on three-panel Magnus Patriotic cover depicting Gen. Sturgis, Maj. Gen. Shields and Gen. Reno, and addressed to Vienna, Austria, from the Angell correspondence, "Levi Bartlett & Co., Wholesale Grocers, No. 2 Long Wharf, Boston" embossed return address on top flap, neat "FRANCO" handstamp, Hamburg and receiving backstampsVERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL PATRIOTIC COVER FROM THE ANGELL CORRESPONDENCE DEPICTING THREE UNION GENERALS.
Dr. Henry C. Angell was an optometrist who spent a considerable amount of time in Europe. Covers are known sent to him in France, Italy, England, Germany and Austria, plus a very few forwarded to other destinations. He was an art collector and undoubtedly appreciated the wide variety of Civil War patriotic envelopes mailed to him while he travelled abroad. In a New York Times article (March 6, 1897), Dr. Angell's name is mentioned in connection with the loan of seven works of art to an exhibition in Boston at Copley Hall, including two works by Corot.
Ex Matthies and Risvold. With 2010 P.F. certificate