Officials on Cover continued...

ONE OF SIX NAVY DEPARTMENT COVERS TO FOREIGN DESTINATIONS RECORDED IN THE CAMPBELL CENSUS, THIS BEING THE ONLY ONE TO ITALY. AN OUTSTANDING OFFICIAL COVER.

In an article on Navy Department stamp usages, Alan C. Campbell wrote: "Despite the obvious need for regular communication with station squadrons in foreign waters, little foreign mail from the Navy Department has survived. I record only six covers, of which three were in the Starnes collection stolen in 1983 and may have been lost to philately forever. These were the celebrated pair to Commodore Caldwell (24c to Uruguay, 12c, 30c combination to Brazil) and a 2c, 3c combination on an 1875 cover to Italy." ("Usages of Navy Department Stamps", Alan C. Campbell, Chronicle No. 193, Feb. 2002, pp. 44-58). The 2c and 3c Navy stamps on this cover pay the basic U.P.U. rate (at the time of mailing in 1875, it was the G.P.U., General Postal Union). (Image Magnifier)

THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED 15-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT STAMP ON COVER. ONE OF THE "KEYS" TO A REPRESENTATIVE COLLECTION OF OFFICIALS ON COVER.

In the 1880's George H. Newton was a promoter of whale attractions and "Captain Commanding" of the Pioneer Inland Whaling Association. His papers are located in digital form at http://www.mysticseaport.org/Library/initiative/CRegister.cfm?BibID=35302

In the 2002 Campbell census (Chronicle No. 193) this is identified as the only 15c Navy cover. The Scott Catalogue does not list the 15c on cover, presumably because it was believed unrecoverable and lost to philately. (Image Magnifier)

ONE OF THREE RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE 24-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT STAMP, INCLUDING TWO TO URUGUAY. THIS COVER FROM THE COMMODORE CALDWELL CORRESPONDENCE IS REGARDED AS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING OFFICIAL COVERS EXTANT.

In an article on Navy Department stamp usages, Alan C. Campbell wrote: "Despite the obvious need for regular communication with station squadrons in foreign waters, little foreign mail from the Navy Department has survived. I record only six covers, of which three were in the Starnes collection stolen in 1983 and may have been lost to philately forever. These were the celebrated pair to Commodore Caldwell (24c to Uruguay, 12c, 30c combination to Brazil) and a 2c, 3c combination on an 1875 cover to Italy." ("Usages of Navy Department Stamps", Alan C. Campbell, Chronicle No. 193, Feb. 2002, pp. 44-58). This cover was also listed as No. 20 in Campbell's census of high-value Official stamps on cover (Chronicle 188, Nov. 2000, pp. 287-299).

Commodore Charles H. B. Caldwell was the commander of the U.S. Navy's South Atlantic Station (the flagship was the U.S.S. Richmond). As a lieutenant during the Civil War, commanding the U.S.S. Itasca, Caldwell captured the Confederate schooner Lizzie Weston off Florida en route to Jamaica with a cargo of cotton. The following year, the Union Mortar Flotilla under his command opened the bombardment of the Confederate works at Port Hudson, Louisiana.

At the time of mailing, Uruguay was not a U.P.U. member. There were two rates to Uruguay: 23c by U.S. Packet via Brazil and 27c by British mail (effective 7/1/1875 to 7/1/1880). The April 1877 U.S. Postal Guide only lists the 27c rate with a note that U.S. Packet service was infrequent and unreliable. The 27c rate via G.B. included 5c for the U.S. and a 22c credit to G.B. for carrying the letter to Uruguay (the credit is expressed in centimes, as per the U.P.U. regulations). Although underpaid 3c for the 27c rate, this Navy Department cover was treated as fully prepaid. (Image Magnifier)

THIS MAGNIFICENT "COMMODORE CALDWELL" COVER IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 30-CENT NAVY DEPARTMENT STAMP ON COVER AND ONE OF TWO 12-CENT NAVY COVERS. WIDELY REGARDED AS ONE OF THE "TOP TEN" OFFICIAL COVERS EXTANT AND CERTAINLY THE UNDISPUTED HIGHLIGHT OF THE STARNES COLLECTION.

In an article on Navy Department stamp usages, Alan C. Campbell wrote: "Despite the obvious need for regular communication with station squadrons in foreign waters, little foreign mail from the Navy Department has survived. I record only six covers, of which three were in the Starnes collection stolen in 1983 and may have been lost to philately forever. These were the celebrated pair to Commodore Caldwell (24c to Uruguay, 12c, 30c combination to Brazil) and a 2c, 3c combination on an 1875 cover to Italy." ("Usages of Navy Department Stamps", Alan C. Campbell, Chronicle No. 193, Feb. 2002, pp. 44-58). This cover was also listed as No. 23 in Campbell's census of high-value Official stamps on cover (Chronicle 188, Nov. 2000, pp. 287-299).

Commodore Charles H. B. Caldwell was the commander of the U.S. Navy's South Atlantic Station (the flagship was the U.S.S. Richmond). As a lieutenant during the Civil War, commanding the U.S.S. Itasca, Caldwell captured the Confederate schooner Lizzie Weston off Florida en route to Jamaica with a cargo of cotton. The following year, the Union Mortar Flotilla under his command opened the bombardment of the Confederate works at Port Hudson, Louisiana.

The 42c postage pays the double 21c rate to Brazil via Great Britain. At this time Brazil was not a member of the U.P.U. Therefore, the U.S. retained 5c of the 21c postage and credited G.B. with 16c for carrying the letter to Brazil. The double credit (32c) is expressed in centimes, as required by the U.P.U. regulations. (Image Magnifier)