POW217

Two Covers -- Civilian Flag of Truce South-to-North and Blockade Cover North Carolina to Massachusetts (same correspondence) (not POW). First Cover - Kidder Correspondence - Civilian Flag-of-Truce which originated in Wilmington NC addressed to E. H. Kidder Care of Gilbert Potter, 181 Front, New York (City). The cover is from Edward Kidder, a prominent merchant in Wilmington NC, to his son in New York City. This would be the inside envelope with the Union postage affixed with a USA #65 stamp. The outside envelope paying the CSA postage from Wilmington NC to Richmond would have been discarded at the transfer point. "Flag of Truce" at the top. Marked "Ex J. M. H." in pencil is the known censor marking of John M. Higgins at the War Department in Richmond. Union examiner's mark "Ex & Appd R. W. Shenk, Maj 135 P. V. (Pennsylvania Volunteers)" aboard the Kennebec (Flag-of-Truce transfer boat) with the cover entering the US mail at Annapolis, Maryland 14 OCT 1862. Maj Shenk was only in this position for two weeks before being relieved of duty (reason unknown). According to Galen Harrison's research, this is believed to be the only recorded Civilian Flag of Truce cover to use this route. Minor reduction at the right where opened, otherwise Very Fine. Ex- Galen Harrison Exhibit. Second Cover - Kidder Correspondence - Blockade Cover which originated in Wilmington NC addressed to Mr. Edw H. Kidder, Cambridge, Mass. The handwriting is somewhat different from the first cover but from the same family in Wilmington to Edward Kidder's son in Cambridge, Mass (the son had the same name as the father). The only marking on the cover is the "New York Ship Letter (Due) 5" CDS 11 JUN (1863 by receiving docketing at the left). This cover is not listed in Walske-Trepel but another cover from the same correspondence is listed with the same New York Ship Letter mark and a Nassau transit mark. That cover went to Nassau via a Charleston blockade runner. This cover would have taken the same route through Nassau (either by a Charleston or a Wilmington blockade runner) and entered the US mails in Nassau. Since no other marking is on the cover, the cover would have made it to Nassau most likely under a separate cover perhaps containing multiple letters through a forwarding agent. Rough opening on the right involving the ship mark. Ex- Harrison Exhibit. Edward Hartwell Kidder (the father) (1805-1885), born in New Hampshire but relocated to Wilmington NC and became a very prosperous merchant (lumber). He had family and much business interests and holdings in New England. Edward Hartwell Kidder (the son) (1840-1921) was a student at Harvard when the war began and graduated in 1863.

$2,500.00 Two Covers

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 --