Items for Sale - Blockade-Run Mail

Item# 13234

Price: $2,500

Outgoing blockade-run use:  Charleston S.C. to New York via Havana, Cuba and Nassau, Bahamas. Narrow cover to Mrs. Sarah J. Davega (?), No. 419 Fourth Str, New York, United States. Entered Bahamas mails with red "Nassau Paid NO 7 61" circular datestamp, crayon "4" pence rate, manuscript "(2)" (meaning unknown), New York "5" in circle due handstamp, absolutely fascinating 3-page original letter enclosed which admonishes all Southerners residing in the United States to return to the South immediately or risk having their property taken in sequestration. “…all Southerners residing in the United States should have commenced their journey homewards since the 30th August last unless able to prove that either sickness or something of an extraordinary nature prevented them from so doing and in that event they should use every possible effort to get home or out of the present United States as soon as they can…such persons who may go to Canada & should let their friends in Charleston known can do so by writing to Havana and enclosing a letter for Charleston which letter can be sent from Havana by frequent opportunities…Friday Night Oct 11 1861…Having just learnt that a gentleman is going to Havana tonight in a small schooner in haste I have written this to let you know how things stand.” Signed Jacob Ottolenghi. He mentioned any number of people who “should leave and come into the Southern Confederacy or go to Canada.” Cover with edge repairs at sides, Very Fine appearance, with 1984 P.F. certificate states “Stampless cover from Charleston SC Oct 11 1861 via Havana and Nassau Nov 1 to New York”. It is listed in Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War by Steven Walske and Scott Trepel as BO-Nas-1. The year date in the Nassau postmark appears to be 1864. Either it is wrong or the correspondence is mixed as it does appear in the same hand and ink.  $2,500.

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