Image: Louisville Kentucky 1861 cover+3c

Description: US Postage on a cover addressed to a "William C Rives Jr Esqr" formerly of Boston, forwarded to Caldwell, N.J., with Louisville, Ky. and Adams Express Company postmarks, 1861. When mail was no longer delivered between the North and South after the Civil War began, express companies would instead carry the mail across the lines. The three major express companies were Adams Express, American Letter Express, and Whiteside's Express. This would continue for about two months before the U.S. Post Office ordered an end to mail delivery to the Confederate States, effective August 26, 1861. Thereafter, mail had to be sent by Flag-of-Truce mail, although express companies continued to do some illegal business.
Title: Louisville Kentucky 1861 cover+3c
Credit: U.S. Post Office Smithsonian National Postal Museum Photo image obtained/rendered by Gwillhickers.
Author: U.S. Post Office
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No