VA3352

CSA #1 Stone 2 Position 7 (4-Margin) tied by a much better than average strike of the RED Smithfield, Va CDS 1- DEC (1861). Very early use of the Stone 2 stamp with the earliest recorded use 12/2/1861. Coarse brown paper cover, which appears to be homemade, addressed to Mr. John Cocke, Portsmouth, Va. Top back flap repair not involving the front of the cover. Small sealed vertical edge tear at the top right center which does not detract from an overall Very Fine appearance. Ex Judd with his unsigned note across the top of the back flap. John Cocke (1798-1879) was a fairly wealthy merchant in Portsmouth,Virginia, with a personal value on the Federal Census of 1860 of $40,000 ($1.5m in today's money). The addressee had a son, John Nathaniel Cocke (1835-1892), who enlisted as a Private in Co K 9th Va Inf  4/20/1861. At the time of this cover, the unit was assigned to the Department of Norfolk where Smithfield is located making Pvt Cocke the very likely sender of this cover home to his father. Pvt Cocke was later detailed to the Quartermaster Department and served throughout the war.

$350.00

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 --