The C.A. Stillions Collection of Washington D.C. Postal History

Camp Alger, Falls Church, Va., blue Sec. Alger patriotic design on cover bearing 2¢ rose carmine (279Bc) tied by "Harrisburg, Pa. Oct 6, 1898" machine cancel to Pittsburgh Pa., flap sealed with flag stickers; 2¢ torn, otherwise Very Fine and scarce Camp Alger patriotic design.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.

Camp Alger was shut down in September 1898 due to disease and lack of fresh water. Soldiers were sent to other camps such as Camp Meade.

Sec. Alger - Camp Alger, Va., overall portrait flag design on cover bearing 2¢ rose carmine (279Bc) tied by "Washington D.C., Jun 30 '98" machine cancel to Lewiston N.Y., endorsed from "O.E. Greene, 65 N.Y.V.I. in the Field", Lewiston (7.2) arrival backstamp; reduced at right, some 2¢ abrasion, otherwise Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Camp Scene with Flag, detailed patriotic design on cover bearing 2¢ rose carmine (279Bc) tied by bold "Washington, D.C. Jul 17, 98" Barr-Fyke machine cancel to Pawtucket R.I., July 18th flag machine arrival backstamp; reduced slightly at right, Extremely Fine and rare design.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

Eagle with Crossed American and Cuban Flags, fancy red and blue bordered patriotic design of Odell & Co., Fish, Poultry and Game Dealers of Washington D.C., bearing 2¢ Trans-Mississippi (286) tied by partial "Washington D.C. Station D, Sep 10 '98" duplex to Brighton Va., reverse with Washington D.C. (9.10) machine transit and Brighton (9.12) arrival cds; barely reduced at left, Extremely Fine and choice.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

Flag YMCA, incoming Army Christian Commission patriotic envelope with purple "Soldier's Letter, Without postage charge address / Chaplain" handstamp, entered mails with "Washington, D.C. Jul 18 '98" Barr-Fyke machine cancel to Bloomington Ind., "Due 2" handstamp and pencil cancelled 2¢ postage due vertical pair affixed, 1898 1/8 proprietary battleship issue affixed in return address portion, Jul. 20th receiving backstamp; small faults, Fine, ex-Hahn .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

"Hope, 1st Rhode Island, U.S. Vols.", blue anchor patriotic design on cover bearing 2¢ rose pink (279B) tied by "Washington D.C. Jul 5 '98" machine cancel to Westerly R.I., matching letterhead enclosure from Corporal with some interesting content " …we expect to move at any time, we had a good time the 4th. The 2nd Tenn. Regt. came over and all us in the morning and we the 1st R.I. went over there in the afternoon, we all dressed up… & we marched through the 2nd Tenn., 3rd N.J., 159. Ind. & 22. Tenn. Regts. We was hot stuff the Co. K boys had the haversacks on their heads and blankets on and the look like Indians and the Mascots had a big K on a pole… ", Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.

Rear Admiral Schley, blue patriotic design for Schley Home Fund on 2¢ pink entire canceled by "Washington D.C., Feb 6, 1900" Barry machine cancel to local address, "Station G Received" machine backstamp, Very Fine and scarce Spanish American War patriotic.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.

"The Red Cross, Clara Barton", blue illustrated book corner card on cover bearing 2¢ rose carmine (279Bb) tied by "Philadelphia Penn., Jan 17 '98" machine cancel to Suffield Conn., Jan. 18th arrival backstamp; tiny edge tear at left, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

U.S. Artillery, patriotic design showing crossed cannons on cover bearing 2¢ carmine (279B) tied by "Washington D.C., Sta. D, Oct 30 '99" duplex to Youngstown Ohio, Oct. 31st machine arrival; tone spot bottom left, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $150 - 200.

(Pre-Invasion) 1898 (Jul. 25) Letter Written on the Day of the U.S. Invasion of Puerto Rico, letter datelined "At Sea, on board U.s. Transport No. 30, Lat. 19° 30', North of San Juan de Puerto Rico, July 25, 1898" mentioning sailing from Charleston " …The heat was intense. When the officers could not stay in their Staterooms (and our was four to a stateroom!) You can imagine was what it was for the men down between decks…We expect to meet Gen. Miles with some troops from Santiago and some navy vessels… ", mailing cover endorsed " At Sea 60 Miles North of San Juan de Puerto Rico " bearing 2¢ rose carmine (279Bc) tied by "Port Tampa Fla. Aug 4, 1898" cds to Rosemont Pa., Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $200 - 300.

(Prisoner of War) 1898 (Aug.) Portsmouth N.H. to Ferrol, Spain, stampless cover with purple " Prisoner's Letter Censored and forwarded, Navy Department, Bureau of Navigation, Washington, D.C. " five-line handstamp, reverse with Ferrol (8.16.98) arrival cds; barely reduced at right, slightly rough opening at top, Very Fine and scarce prisoner's letter.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

Admiral Cervena's fleet left Santiago Harbor on July 3rd. It was destroyed by ships of Acting Rear Admiral Sampson and Commodroe Winfield S. Schley. Three hundred and fifty-three Spaniards were killed and one hundred and fifty-one were wounded. Santiago, on July 17th, surrendered. The day before, on July 16th, the survivors of the Spanish Fleet - 1,654 officers and men - had arrived at Norfolk Va. The Naval Officers were interned at Annapolis, while others at either Portsmouth N.H. or Brooklyn N.Y. They were all released on August 31st 1898.

This was the first time U.S. postal history the word "Censored" was used.

1900 (Mar. 16) Cavite, Philippines to Washington D.C., legal-size General Storekeeper, Naval Station, Cavite, P.I. penalty cover bearing Philippines, 5¢ blue (216) pair tied by "Mil. Sta. No. 2, Phillippine Islands, Cavite, Mar 16, 1900" duplex to Treasury Department, Washington D.C., reverse with "Washington D.C., May 2, 1900" Barry machine receiving backstamp; opening tears, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $100 - 150.

Washington D.C. - Spanish American War Camp Algers, group of 15 Camp Algers uses or patriotic designs, note Sec. Alger - Camp Alger Va. overall flag patriotic design, Soldiers with Wash. Monument in Background and "Remember the Maine Banner" two examples with slightly different Camp Alger imprints, several Camp Alger imprints including Flags designs; some mixed condition, F.-V.F. group.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

Washington D.C. - Spanish American War Patriotics 1898-1900, group of 14 patriotics including overall flag designs, President McKinley portrait design soldiers letter, "Old Glory" overall J.C. Wilson patriotic post card used from Canada, Soldiers Farewell design, Sec. Alger - Camp Alger Va. overall flag design, Lakeland Democratic Assoc. and Rear Admiral Schley Home Fund; some flaws, F.-V.F.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 600.