Two Covers Sent to the Surgeon of the Fleet G.R.B. Horner at Key West, Florida, Carried Outside of the Mails
Two covers, carried out-of-the mails, addressed to the Surgeon of the Fleet G. R. B. Horner at Key West, Florida, aboard the USS Niagara.
When the Colorado was decommissioned in 1862, Horner was reassigned to the U.S.S. Niagara, also located at Key West.
The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 - Day 3
By: Americana Stamps
終了したオークション
Jun 28, 2026 America/Los_Angeles
Americana Stamps The Philatelic Icons Sale 2026 - Day 3
Sunday Jun 28, 2026 19:00 to 23:00 America/Los_Angeles America/Los_Angeles
We are honored to present The Philatelic Icons Sale, the largest and most significant auction Americana Stamps has ever offered.
America's history lives in the letters that crossed goldfields and battle lines, in express covers that linked frontier towns to the outside world, and in the stamps that mark how a young country built its postal system from scratch. This sale brings together more than 1,500 lots that trace that story, including philatelic icons seldom offered to the public.
This auction is a natural fit for 2026, the 250th year of the United States, and for the Boston 2026 World Expo (May 23 to 30, Booth 141), the once-per-decade international exhibition where we are proud to open the sale. More than 750 lots are accompanied by Philatelic Foundation certifications, the largest concentration of certified material we have ever offered in a single sale.
As always, the sale is designed to serve both the collector and the researcher. Whenever available, you can expect:
✔ High-resolution imagery of all aspects of the item
✔ Links to reference articles and supporting research
✔ Links to philatelic certifications
✔ Census data and population insights
✔ Provenance details to trace notable histories
Whether you are pursuing a long-sought rarity or simply enjoy the chance to study material of this caliber, we invite you to explore the Philatelic Icons Sale and join us in Boston for our largest in-person preview to date.
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Showing 426 - 450 of 559
Lot #8024 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
Lot #8025 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
Soldier's Letter from Blockading Vessel, U.S. SHIP 3 Cts. Oval Handstamp
U.S. SHIP 3 cts. oval handstamp on cover to Taunton, Mass with manuscript "J.E. Vail's Letters"
This letter was mailed from a vessel on blockade duty. The letter was a Federal letter and therefore under the regulations could travel without prepayment of postage and without the private ship letter fee (2¢) being due from the recipient. It is not possible,...
Lot #8026 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
Stampless Cover Sent to Sailor Aboard U.S. Ship, U.S. SHIP 3 Cts. Circular Handstamp
Mostly clear strike of "U.S. SHIP/3cts." in circle cancel on cover to Grafton, Mass.
Mail to and from sailors and soldiers aboard gunboats and blockaders was carried and distributed by special vessels known as U.S Ships. These vessels were federal so they were not subject to the rules governing non-contract, private SHIP mail. Most mail conveyed...
Lot #8027 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
Two Covers and Letters Addressed to Mississippi River Squadron, Gunboat Winona
Gunboat Winona was part of the Western Gunboat Fleet assembled by Navy Flag Officers COM. John Rodgers and RADM. Andrew H.Foote under the jurisdiction of the War Department. The fleet was based at Cairo, IL for operations on the western waters. The fleetconsisted of all the warships operating on the Ohio, Mississippi and Red Rivers and their tributaries....
Lot #8028 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
#65 3c Rose Tied on Mourning Cover Addressed to U.S.S. Octorora Scarce Mourning Cover
The Octorora was decommissioned On August 5, 1865. In her short career, she captured nine Confederate and British blockade runners as part of Commander Collins' "Flying Squadron" of blockade runner hunters.
Lot #8029 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
#65 1861 3c Rose, Endorsed "U.S.S. Acacia Off Charleston, S.C." with Port Royal, South Carolina Circular Datestamp and "DUE 6" Handstamp on 1864 Cover to Terryville, Connecticut Only 10 Covers Recorded with "DUE 6"
Port Royal, South Carolina circular datestamp dated March 24, 1864 on cover addressed to Terryville, Connecticut with circular "DUE 6" handstamp at right. Manuscript ship endorsement at upper left reads "U.S.S. 'Acacia' Off...
Lot #8030 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
Two Covers Sent to the Surgeon of the Fleet G.R.B. Horner at Key West, Florida, Carried Outside of the Mails
Gustavus Horner, Surgeon of the Fleet (1861 - 1863) spent his Civil War career posted to several successive Flag Ships located in
and around Key West, Florida. Specifically, his postings were:
Flag Ship Colorado, 1861
Flag Ship Niagara, 1862
Flag Ship St. Lawrence, 1862 - 1863
These two covers were...
Lot #8031 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
Cover Carried Out-of-the Mails, to the Surgeon of the Fleet G. R. B. Horner at Key West, Florida, Aboard the USS St. Lawrence.
Cover, carried out-of-the mails, addressed to the Surgeon of the Fleet G. R. B. Horner at Key West, Florida, board the Colorado.
The U.S. S. Colorado was commissioned on June 3, 1861, and Fleet Surgeon Horner was assigned to the Colorado shortly thereafter. The vessel was decommissioned on June 28, 1862 at...
Lot #8032 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
Cover to USS Benton, "U.S.SHIP 3 CTS" Very Clear Strike
Clear strike of "U.S. SHIP/3cts." in circle cancel on cover to New Haven, CT. The marking "U.S. Ship 3 CTS" was applied aboard ship to letters collected from other vessels and carried by the ship to a Federal post office for handling and distribution.
A notation on the back of this cover indicates that it was mailed from the gunboat USS Benton. This vessel took an active part...
Lot #8033 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
#64 1861 3c Pink, Tied by Target Cancel with "U.S. SHIP" Straightline on Cover to Providence, Rhode Island
Lot #8034 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
#65 1864 3c Rose, Tied by Grid Cancel on Cover to the USS Emma, North Atlantic Blockading Squadron Addressed Aboard a Captured Confederate Blockade Runner Commissioned into Union Service
Addressed to "W. H. Manning, Emma, U.S. Steamer North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Norfolk Navy Yard, Va." The USS Emma was originally a Confederate blockade runner captured off Wilmington, North Carolina on July 24, 1863, and purchased by the United...
Lot #8035 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
#65 1861 3c Rose, Tied by Target Cancel with Lynn, Massachusetts Circular Datestamp on Cover to the USS New Ironsides, South Atlantic Blockading Squadron Addressed Aboard the Ironclad Flagship Stationed Off Charleston
3c rose tied by target cancel, with black Lynn, Massachusetts circular datestamp struck alongside. Small buff cover addressed to "Mr. John B. Osborne, U.S. Steam Ship New Ironsides, Off Charleston, S.C."
The USS New...
Lot #8036 - civil war postal history Union Civil War Mail River Gunboat and Costal Blockade Squadron
Bombardment of Port Royal Engraved Illustration
Engraved print for the 1863 Edition of Abbott’s Civil War: The History of The Civil War In America; Comprising a Full and Impartial Account of the Origin and Progress of The Rebellion, and of the various Naval and Military Engagements, and the Heroic Deeds Performed in the Field, the Camp, the Hospital; by John S.C. Abbott; Illustrated with Maps, Diagrams, and Numerous Steel Engravings of...
Lot #8037 - civil war postal history Prisoner of War
Civilian Prisoner of War Cover, #65 3c Rose Tied by 1862 Fort Warren Handstamp to Baltimore
Envelope from a civilian Prisoner of War, which originated at Fort Warren, a Federal Prison in Boston Harbor, and was carried by hand from the prison to the Boston Post Office. It is endorsed with a manuscript, "Fort Warren/NOV 14/1862" and addressed to Miss Wallis at Baltimore, Maryland.
S. Teackley Wallis, who sent the letter, was a...
Lot #8038 - civil war postal history Prisoner of War
Civil War Prisoner of War Cover, 1865 Norfolk Virginia, to Wounded POW Richard C. Taylor, Point Lookout Maryland
Civil War prisoner of war cover addressed to Richard C. Taylor, identified as a wounded POW at Point Lookout, Maryland, on a 3c pink entire cancelled by cork and tied by a clear NORFOLK VA JAN 1 ’65 black double circle datestamp. Manuscript docketing dated January 1, 1865.
Point Lookout served as one of the largest...
Lot #8039 - civil war postal history Prisoner of War
Civil War Prisoner of War Patriotic Cover, #65 3c Red Tied, to Lieut Joseph Logan, 12th Illinois Cavalry, Camp Douglas Paroled Union Prisoner of War at Camp Douglas,
Civil War patriotic cover with mounted officer, sent from Williamsport, Maryland to Lieut. Joseph Logan, Co. G, 12th Illinois Cavalry, Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois with manuscript "Prisoner of War" notation. The addressee was a paroled Union prisoner returned from the...
Lot #8040 - civil war postal history Prisoner of War
Civil War Prisoner of War Cover Front, Point Lookout, April 9 1865 Postmarked Three Days After the Surrender of Appomattox
#65 3c Red Tied by April 12, 1865 Alexandria, VA handstamp, three days after the surrender at Appomattox, C.H. on April 9, 1865. "G" manuscript written in blue crayon, initial of Prisoner Benjamin Goode. The original enclosed letter had been written by “Cousin Hattie.”
Mail received at Point Lookout Prison was...
Lot #8041 - civil war postal history
Adams Express Co., Blue Oval Company Handstamp of Augusta, GA on Piece of 3c Star Die Entire with Confederate "PAID 10" Straightline and "2" for Express Rate Through the Lines A Beautiful Strike of Adams Express Co. Through the Lines
3c star-die cut square tied by "AUGUSTA Ga JUL 18 1861" datestamp on piece, beautifully struck blue oval of "ADAMS EXPRESS CO AUGUSTA GA JUL 18 1861" as well as Confederate "PAID 10" rating and 2/ (two bits...
Lot #8042 - civil war postal history
Old Point Comfort "Due 3" Handstamp on 1863 Civil War Soldier's Letter, From Virginia to New Hampshire
Old Point Comfort "Due 3" handstamp on cover originating at Newport News, Virginia, March 12, 1863, addressed to Mr. George P. Wheeler, New Ipswich, New Hampshire. Written by a soldier of the 6th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, then stationed at Newport News, Virginia, February 11 through March 26, 1863. Writer was attached to the...
Lot #8043 - civil war postal history
Old Point Comfort "Due 3" Handstamp on Civil War Soldier's Letter to Groveland, Massachusetts
Lot #8044 - civil war postal history
#68 1861 10c Green and #76 1863 5c Brown, Both Tied by Target Cancels on 1864 Cover from Union-Occupied New Orleans to Bordeaux, France via Steamer New Orleans to France
10c Green (68) and 5c Brown (76), tied by target cancels on April 15, 1864 cover from New Orleans, Louisiana to Madame Veuve Cessac, 179 Route de Toulouse, Bordeaux, France. Black "New Orleans, La. Apr 15 64" double-circle datestamp. Manuscript "via Steamer" at upper...
Lot #8045 - civil war postal history
Civil War Stampless Cover, "U.S. Christian Commission" Scroll Corner Card with Due 3 Handstamp to Spartanburg, Indiana
Stampless soldier's cover with printed "U.S. Christian Commission" scroll corner card at upper left, blue "DUE 3" handstamp and with Washington, DC circular datestamp, addressed to Mrs. Catherine Knox, Spartanburg, Ind. Manuscript endorsement at right. Similar to Bischel 5765, Walcott 3091 variety. Light toning and edge...
Lot #8046 - civil war postal history
#26 1857 3c Red on Cover Capt. Charles F. Packard, 27th Maine Regiment
Addressed to “Mr. Charles F. Packard, Alexandria, 27th Maine Regt. Co. A,” with “Bedford, Me. Mar 13” circular datestamp at left. Capt. Packard would later serve with the 102nd United States Colored Troops.
Lot #8047 - civil war postal history
Post-Civil War Soldier's Letter, #65 3c Rose with Pen Cancel on 1866 "United States Sanitary Commission. Soldier's Letter." Corner Card Cover to Rhode Island
United States Sanitary Commission. Soldier's Letter. printed corner card cover with manuscript postmark "Woodhaven Nov 27 1866" (N.Y.), addressed to James Harris, Green, Kent Co., R.I. A post-war use of the Sanitary Commission stationery. Cover with edge faults, staining, and rough...
Lot #8048 - civil war postal history confederate states
Confederate Patriotic, Embossed 11-Star Confederate Flag, Used by Southern Sympathizer in Connecticut, #653c Rose Tied by Circle of Wedges Very Fine and Seldom Seen Usage
Clear "Danbury Ct. Feb. 17 1863" circular datestamp.
