BE158

North-to-South POW Cover from Point Lookout, Md to Nelson Station, Va. CSA #12 (AD) and USA #65 to pay both the Union and Confederate postage. Target Cancel on the Union stamp with the Point Lookout, Md CDS 8 AUG (1864) cancelling the CSA stamp. The cover transitted Richmond, and the Richmond, Va CDS 26 AUG (1864) was placed directly over the Point lookout CDS also cancelling the CSA stamp. “By flag of truce boat” at upper left. “Prisoners Letter Examined” octagonal handstamp from Point Lookout dated Aug 8, 1864 (Type IIb or Type C in the new CSA catalog) which is the earliest recorded date of use for this handstamp according to Galen Harrison’s book on POW mail. The addressee had a son at Fort Delaware -- Pvt James Alexander Tompkins of Co I 5th Va Cav. Pvt Tompkins was captured as a POW at Yellow Tavern, Va 5/11/1864. Records show that he Died of Disease at the prison a few weeks later and is buried in the prison Confederate cemetery. Pvt Tompkins could not have sent this letter. One can speculate that perhaps a fellow POW from the same unit wrote to Pvt Tompkin’s mother to inform her of his death at the prison. It was not unusual for family members to find out that their loved ones had died weeks or even months earlier. This cover is featured on Page 219 of the Collector’s Guide to Confederate Philately Second Edition. Extremely Fine. Ex- Everett.

SOLD $3,000.00