Camp Lucas (St. Louis), Missouri to Warren Court House, Pennsylvania: 1847. Unbound. This one-page stampless folded letter measures 15.5” x 10” unfolded. It is dated “Camp Lucas May 30th 1847.” The cover must have been delivered by hand, outside of the postal system, as it is unfranked and bears no... More about One-page Mexican-American War letter from a newly appointed ensign in the Missouri Volunteers as...

Dunkirk, France: 1918. Letter and envelope are both lightly toned. The envelope has been postmarked with an APO #2 (Paris) flag machine cancellation and has some old tape repairs. Lasher was assigned to the U.S. Naval Air Station at Dunkerque, a seaplane station from which naval aviators attacked U-boats going... More about World War One Naval Seaplane Pilot's Letter with Posted Envelope - 24 April 1918

Vicksburg, Mississippi: Company K, 57th Georgia Regiment, Jun 25 [1863]. This stampless cover was mailed by Miller from Vicksburg to a friend back home in Georgia. He has annotated it along the left edge, “From A J Miller / Co. K 57th Ga Rgt”. It bears a 25mm double-circle Vicksburg... More about A stampless cover from an officer in the 57th Georgia Infantry Regiment posted at Vicksburg,...

Gonzales, Texas: 1840. Unbound. This four-page folded letter measures 15.5” x 10” unfolded. It was sent by Nathan Watkins from Gonzales, Republic of Texas on 6 December 1840 to Joseph Watkins at Pendleton, Anderson Des, South Carolina. It has a manuscript annotation in the lower left corner that reads, “Favor... More about Letter describing Texas from the birthplace of the Texas Revolution as it was finally being...

At sea and Bombay, India: 1817-1818. Unbound. Four-page folded folio-sized sheet to Betsy Putnam of Danvers, Massachusetts signed by E. S. Nichols. Three separately dated letters are on the sheet: 31 Dec 1817, On board the Ship Saco; 2 Feb 1818, Off the coast of Ceylon; 30 Apr 1818, Bombay... More about Early 19th century American missionary correspondence from the Ship Saco and India

Stalag IIB (Hammerstein, Germany): 17 June 1944. Unbound. This German Kriegsfangenenpost Postkarte (prisoner of war mail postcard) is addressed to Jodice’s girlfriend in Watertown, Massachusetts. It bears an indistinct German town postmark and purple handstamp from Stalag IIB. A U.S. censor’s handstamp that was applied before delivery is in the..... More about World War II U.S. Prisoner of War Mail from Germany

Chicago: circa 1865. Unbound. This postally used cover promotes Artificial Leg Depots operated by Dr. Robert Bly in conjunction with the U.S. Government. It includes an illustration of the Bly artificial leg. The envelope bears an undated circular Chicago postmark and is franked with a 3-cent Washington stamp cancelled by... More about Postally used envelope promoting Civil War Artificial Leg Depots established by Dr. Douglas Bly...

mid-1860s to 1871: Various locations including Copenhagen, La Spezia, Naples, Portsmouth, Trieste, etc. Envelope or Cover. These covers (none include content) span six or seven years in the career of Lieutenant S.P. (Simon P.) from the mid-1860s until 1871 when see left the U.S. Navy to pursue a banking career..... More about A small archive of 12 U.S. and world-wide covers (including Denmark #2) from the estate of a...

New York: 1895. Unbound. This postally used envelope features two nicely drawn pencil sketches. One is of a braying donkey in evening dress with a caption that reads, “1 A.M. – Just in from the Box Social. Very tired and sleepy.” The other is of a court jester holding a...... More about Hand-drawings of a finely dressed donkey and court jester on a postally used envelope with a...

New York: 1814. Letter. This important three-page folio-sized manuscript letter reports on the American actions at the Siege of Fort Erie during September of 1814 including a detailed description of the sorties attacking British artillery batteries and the death of General Daniel Davis, the leader of the New York Militia... More about War of 1812 American Militia Letter - The Siege of Fort Erie

Naples: 1810. Unbound. This two-page stampless folded letter measures approximately 14.5” x 10” unfolded. It was sent by Olphert Tittle in Naples to Olphert Tittle (his father) in Beverly, Massachusetts. The letter is dated “March 11th 1810,” and its salutation begins “Honor’d Mother.” It bears a weak red strike of..... More about Letter from a U. S. mariner held captive in Naples after his ship was captured and condemned...

Clay Center, Kansas: 1898. Envelope or Cover. The envelope features an illustration of a man hanging by his feet from a parachute attached to an ascending hot air balloon. It is addressed to “Secy of Fair. McPherson, Kansas.” The letterhead contains illustrations of “The Balloon Ascending, Leaving the Balloon, Parachute..... More about Illustrated advertising envelope and letter promoting “Professor” Edward Rush’s balloon...

Louisville, Kentucky: 1929. This small 2” x 3” typewritten advertisement was enclosed in the accompanying envelope with a printed return address that reads, “Presbyterian Colored Missions, Incorporated, 314 South Hancock Street, Louisville, KY.” The advertisement reads, “EXTRA ****** WANTED—TEACHERS At the Presbyterian Colored Missions, 314 S. Hancock St. Won’t YOU..... More about Job advertisement for teachers to work at the Presbyterian Colored Missions in Louisville, Kentucky