10c Green, Ty. V (35). Vertical strip of three, used with 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), tied by "Augusta Me. Mar. 15" (1860) circular datestamps on cover to the Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins aboard the U.S.S. Mohican at St. Paul de Loando, West Coast of Africa, with original 1860-dated enclosure, interesting contents, missing top flap

VERY FINE. A RARE 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 cover is addressed to Third Assistant Engineer James Atkins on the U.S.S. Mohican, which was patrolling the waters off the African coastline, and was written by his brother. 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.

Ex "Sevenoaks" and "Angel".

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