Special Postal Routes Across the Lines During the American Civil War: The Philatelic Exhibit

In every generation, there are exhibitors whose exhibits stand out for their comprehensive approach, well-chosen materials, important historical and contextual information, and original research that contributes to the philatelic knowledge base. With these components, the biggest challenge is to tell a cohesive, structured, and logical story in which every element on every page contributes to the exhibitor's goal for the exhibit.Steve Walkse is one of these exhibitors. He’s been awarded the Grand Prix and the “Best in Show” at an International Show four times. His exhibits demonstrate the highest level of treatment of the material, personal research, rarity, and presentation. He’s a world-class exhibitor with world-class exhibits.This exhibit, Special Postal Routes Across the Lines During the American Civil War, offers a comprehensive treatment of an important, specialized subject and serves as a valuable philatelic reference.During the Civil War, when regular North-South Post Office routes were suspended by the USA in mid-1861, they were replaced by a complex array of special postal routes. These routes carried mail between the North and the South, between parts of the Confederate States separated by Federal forces, and between the Confederacy and other countries. Steve tells this story in seven chapters:1) Post Office Routes from December 1860 to August 1861.2) Express Routes used by private express companies, June through August 1861.3) Flag-of-Truce Routes from September 1861 to the end of the war.4) Smuggler Routes used by private enterprises.5) Trans-Mississippi Routes used by the Confederate trans-Mississippi expresses after the Union army cut the Confederacy in two.6) Blockade-Runner Routes between the Confederacy and neutral West Indies ports, from May 1862 to June 1865.7) Trans-Rio Grande Routes between Texas and Mexico used to circumvent the Federal blockade.Thanks to Steve, we now have this exhibit that presents the information in a comprehensive, accessible format. This volume, which can serve as a masterclass in combining philately and history in a philatelic exhibit, is one of Steve’s many exhibits published by Exhibitors Press. Collectors, exhibitors, historians, and postal history researchers can now study and enjoy these materials. Read more