SR19

Pre-Blockade Cross-Border Cover from Mexico to New Orleans, La. This folded letter complete (1 page business letter) took a round about way from Mexico to New Orleans and took almost 2 months to reach its destination. The letter is datelined "Estate Andria Decr 27th 1860." The cover was sent with no Mexican postmarks or forwarding agent's marks. Therefore, it would have been carried either privately or under separate cover most likely to Havana, Cuba through Vera Cruz, Mexico. On arrival in Havana, the cover, possibly still under separate cover with multiple other letters, was placed into the mail system on the Havana-New York contract steamship mail run. We know this because the "Steamship 10" handstamp is not a New Orleans mark but a New York mark used at this time on incoming unpaid mail from the Havana-New York steamship contract mail run indicating 10c due on delivery. Steamship mail could be sent unpaid at this time, but strictly internal overland US Mail was required to be pre-paid. The cover was then sent from New York to New Orleans overland where on arrival in New Orleans it received the New Orleans CDS 21 FEB (1861) US Mail Service to Confederate Louisiana. The route would easily account for the almost 2 month transit time. Not known why this cover took such a round about route as this is an unusally long transit time. Very Fine. Ex Kaufmann.

$500.00

If you wish to order this cover, send me an E-mail or use my secure Confederate Order Form. Clicking on my Confederate Order Form link below will open the order form in a new window or tab which can be kept open while you browse the remainder of the listings. JLKCSA@aol.com -- Confederate Order Form --