Sale 1291 — United States Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 25-26 July, 2023
Category — Flag-of-Truce and Prisoners' Mail
Libby Prison, Richmond Va., Covers from the Capt. Leonard B. Blinn Correspondence. 26 covers sent by Captain Blinn of the 100th Ohio Infantry to his wife in Ohio, most originate as a prisoner-of-war from Libby Prison in Richmond Va. from Sep. 1863, a few in late 1864 are from prison in Charleston S.C. after Blinn was transferred, most with Old Point Comfort Va. double-circle datestamps and due handstamps, all but five are accompanied by a photocopy of the original letter, with lots of good war content, typical faults to be expected but the vast majority are Very Fine and collectible condition, only about five are defectiveA FASCINATING GROUP OF COVERS FROM A UNION PRISONER AT LIBBY PRISON, RICHMOND VA.
Leonard Blinn was a captain in the 100th Ohio Infantry when he was captured at Telford Station in September, 1863. He was sent to Libby Prison and the covers to his wife offered here begin the same month. In May 1864 he was transferred to Macon and then to Charleston and Columbia S.C. During his captivity he escaped three times, being recaptured twice and finally making it to Union lines after the third escape. This lot includes a photocopy of a letter written by Blinn in 1922 at age 82, two years before his death, describing his capture and captivity and stating that his first two escapes resulted in his being "recaptured by the dogs and men". After his successful third escape, Blinn made it to Washington D.C. and witnessed the assassination of Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater.
