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The Emancipator of Wisconsin.

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:60.00 USD Estimated At:120.00 - 160.00 USD
The Emancipator of Wisconsin.
Two items relating to the fascinating Col. (and later Maj. Gen.) H(albert) E. Paine, 4th Wis. Vols.: Signed, large partly printed envelope, "Forwarded by Adams Express Co., New Orleans, $500.00 Enclosed, Fr(eigh)t $3.75 paid / Soldier's Package...." Both the address to his wife and his return address in his hand, Sept. 3, 1862. To "Mrs. E.L.P. Paine, Windham, Portage Co., Care (of) T.P. Handy, Cleavland 'sic], Ohio," this technically comprising a second "Paine" signature. Three months earlier, Paine had been arrested for refusing to return fugitive slaves to their masters. 3 1/2 x 8 1/4, black on sulfur yellow, five large red wax seals. Transit marking in blue pencil, understand-able handling evidence, light soiling, four later philatelic hinges and tear where opened on verso, else good plus. Carl Schurz' antebellum law partner, Paine was "described as an idealist and a crusader. He had his own ideas of how to run a war, refusing to return 'contrabands,' and declining to obey Butler's orders to burn Baton Rouge"--Boatner. A Brig. Gen. by 1863, he lost a leg commanding at Port Hudson, La. A Radical Republican Congressman after the war; chairman of committee on contested elections and sometimes forced to answer Thaddeus Stevens' question, "Which is our rascal?" Later Commissioner of Patents, Paine instituted a then-revolutionary change: the use of typewriters by office clerks. * With patriotic cover bearing Paine's large oval portrait, hand-coloring probably of the period. Printed at top, "We swear to stand around that flag, in the battle's wildest storm." Few spots, very light toning, collector's notation in pencil c. 1970, else V.G. Weiss FP-PM-205 var. Rare. (2 pcs.)