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SEMMES, PAUL J.

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
SEMMES, PAUL J.
(1815 - 1863) Confederate brigadier general who commanded a brigade at Seven Pines and in the Seven Days, defended Marye's Height at Fredericksburg, and was killed at the Wheatfield at Gettysburg. Exceptionally rare war date signature in the form of a Confederate cover mailed to: "Mrs. Paul J. Semmes, Washington, Georgia”, bearing a Confederate 5 cent stamp, with the date and location positively established by the postal cancel as being “Richmond, Va., May 10, 1862”. The postal cancel, with the exception of the ”Y” in “May”, is extremely strong, and in the context of the cover, establishes the date and authenticity of the signature beyond question. It is interesting to note that Semmes sent the letter to his wife with postage due! Semmes is rare in any form, and war date material is virtually unheard of, this being the first example known to us. Some soiling, minor tears on the envelope well away from the signature, otherwise very good.