BROWNSVILLE / TEX // 23 / MAY with manuscript “Paid 10” on cover to “James W. Cowetz, San Marcos, Hays County Texas”, reduced at left.  $250.

“Belmont, T[e]xas Paid 10”, all in manuscript on folded business letter addressed to W. A. Menger, San Antonio, Texas, The letter is headed Belmont 29th August 1863 and written in German. A portion of the top of the letter torn away at top creating a ragged border at the top as well as an archival tape sealed tear down the center. It is docketed as from L. Cahn. A new listing in the CSA Catalog. $150.

William A. Menger: Wilhelm Menger was born in Windecken, Nanau, Hessen, Germany. In his native land, he was a cooper and brewer. He immigrated to America in 1847 and became a U.S. citizen in 1852. In 1855, he established a brewery in San Antonio. In 1868, Menger bought out Naylor's Brewery and now was called "Beer King". Much more biography may be found online athttp://www.germancontest.org/germansa/Biographies/menger_w.html

AUSTIN / TEX // SEP / 28 double circle cancel with matching PAID and manuscript 10 on cover to Mr. M. M. Young, Greensboro, North Carolina with docketing of ”Col. Tount, Sept 29/61 ““Might” claim got in hands), (Sheldon failed)”, top back flap missing, A prior owner and an auction house portrayed this as a provisional because the contents docketing is a day after the cancellation date. I do not subscribe to that theory, as there is no control marking.  $200.

TYLER / TEX // DEC / 7 cds on clean cover with matching handstamped PAID and ms “10” addressed to Sam F. Mosely Esq., Jefferson, Texas with name of J. S. L. Earle (likely sender). Moseley was the Confederate State Depositary at Jefferson. $300.

PARIS / TEXAS cds with penciled “Paid 10” on clean cover to P.T. Handy & Co., New Orleans, Lou[isiana], Very Fine.  $200.

“Athens, Texas, April 25 / 62” manuscript postmark and ms "Paid 10" on outer folded letter sheet addressed to Meriwether Lewis, Turkey Grove, N.C.. No doubt the addressee was related to or named for the Meriwether Lewis of 1804 Lewis & Clark expedition fame (and private secretary to Thomas Jefferson) as the family hailed from that part of the country. $250

SAN ANTONIO TEX // APR / 24 cds with ms. "O.B." and bold PAID 10 in arc, CSA Catalog type E with CCV $500, on fresh cover to the Enrolling Officer, Wilson County, Sutherland Springs, Texas, cover cleverly refolded at edges, Very Fine, Ex Keeling  $325

SAN ANTONIO TEX // SEP / 21 cds and bold PAID 10 in arc, CSA Catalog type E with CCV $500, on fresh blue linen-lined “money” envelope addressed to "Maj. S.G. Newton, 3rd Regt. Tex. Vol. Inftry., ‘Genl. Taylor's Command’, ‘Genl. Waterhouse's Brigade’, via Alexandria La.", Very Fine; the recipient would later become mayor of San Antonio. $650. 

Samuel Galitzen Newton (1823-1874) entered Confederate service as a captain of the Bexar County Guards, Co. H. 3rd Texas Infantry. Much more information on linked page.

VELASCO / TEX. // DEC / 11 [1863] cds with manuscript “Due 10” in pencil on cover to Mrs. J[unia]. M. Osterhout, Bellville, Texas with endorsement of J. P. Osterhout, Adjt 4th Inf, TST (Texas State Troops). $450.

John Patterson Osterhout (1826-1903) was a lawyer, collecting agent, newspaper editor and owner, officer in the Confederate Army, railroad company president, judge, postmaster, rancher and a store owner. Much more information on linked page.

ALTO / TEX // MAR / 4 neat cds with pencil “Paid 10” on cover to John W. Suttle, Esqr, Centerville, Bibb Co., Ala and notation “Fwd in haste” (Forward in haste), bottom back flap missing, Scarce, Ex Kohn. $425.

Judge John W. and Mary (Goodwin) Suttle were early pioneers of Centreville. Much more information on linked page.

ALTO / TEX. // MAY / 23 CDS with day in ms. on cover, manuscript “Due 5” on small cover to Mrs. A. A. Brooks, Cameron Texas, with soldier's endorsement of John W. Brooks Private, Capt Furmans Co (D) 1st Reg Carters Command; couple tiny edge tears, scarce town marking. Note on the back that this was the 1932 Dietz listing cover for Alto, Texas – noted in the late Bill Bogg’s handwriting who handled the Dietz collection. $350.

Texas cds partially struck off cover with manuscript “due 10” on cover addressed to his sister. Miss Mollie A. Nicholson, Bastrop, Texas with mandated endorsement of [Private] William Nicholson, Terry’s Texas Rangers, Wharton’s Division, Harrison's Brigade 8th Texas Cavalry. See http://www.terrystexasrangers.org The illustrious Rangers distinguished themselves throughout the war by their skill and willingness to fight. Because of their abilities, and the arms they carried, they were regarded as a "charging regiment," frequently called upon to act as a form of shock troops. Cover a bit roughly opened at left, pencil docketed July 28, 1863. Wonderful piece of postal history. $200

William Nicholson served in the illustrious Terry’s Texas Rangers. Much more information on linked page.

MARLIN / TEX // 1 Sept [1863] small cds with manuscript “Paid 10,” listed in CSA catalog with asterisk, thus a legacy listing not hitherto seen by the editors, folded LETTER from W. Killebrew to J[osé] San Román, Brownsville, Texas, a well-known cotton broker, regarding shipment and payment for cotton. Scarce use from Falls County, Texas. CCV $500. Ex Kathleen Staples. $500.

José San Román was a merchant, banker and broker in the contraband cotton trade of the Civil War. Detailed on him and Bartlett and Killebrew shown on linked page.

SAN ANTONIO / Tex // NOV / 19 [1861] neatly struck green CDS with lovely contrasting red PAID 5 rating (CSA Catalog type C, CV $750), addressed to “C.H. Hutchinson, Uvalde, Texas,” with “Chg Box 111” at upper left, slightest reduction at letter, original business letter enclosed headed San Antonio Nov 15/61 and signed by James Vance in which he says that at that time he does not wish to enter into any new branch of business, “believing that in a short time we will have conquered an honorable peace.” Obviously, that didn’t happen. Ex Camina Collection of Texas Postal History (Siegel, lot 866). $650.

James Vance was a merchant tailor along with brothers William and John, under the name Vance & Brothers, sons of an Irish immigrant. In 1860, James Vance was also president of the board of trustees of San Antonio Female College.

BROWNSVILLE TEX JUL 15, transit CDS with matching PAID 10 rate handstamp on folded lettersheet to Messrs Avendaño Bros., New Orleans, La. from Matamoros, Mexico, with manuscript "via Berwick's Bay" early routing endorsement at top and greenish-blue "A. Uhde & Co., Matamoros" oval company sender’s handstamp, with Matamoros, Julio 8, 1861 docketing on inside flap; light corner wear and some toning along file fold, ex Weatherly. THE ONLY KNOWN TRANS-RIO GRANDE MAIL USE BEARING THE "VIA BERWICK'S BAY" ROUTING DIRECTIVE. Listed in both Miscellaneous-1 and Texas sections. $1,600.

SAN ANTONIO TEX NOV 18 green CDS on fresh cover to Otto Brinkman(n) Esq. Comfort, Kerr Co., Tex. with additional red PAID 5 in circle handstamp (CC type C, CV $750); slightly reduced at right, Very Fine and quite colorful use. $600.

Heinrich Ludwig Otto Brinkmann did civilian contract work for the Confederate Army. Short bio on linked page.