Collecting Civil War Covers

The collecting of Civil War Patriotics actually began during the war, and one design actually promotes the collecting of the covers! It is said that some publishers continued printing and selling covers after the war ended, but rumors of modern production of these designs are, mostly unfounded.Northern manufacturers were the main publishers of civil war covers. 

The Civil War was serious business to American citizens, even if they chose to express their sentiments in a humorous way via the mail.  Patriotic covers were enormously popular in 19th Century America.  Then, as today, when a ‘serious business’ like war created a need for smartly worded, visually compelling political expression…a different kind of business emerged to meet the need:  political publishers.  Records indicate that at least 200 different publishers and printers produced patriotic designs.

Since collecting was a popular pastime, it was only natural that citizens began to collect Civil War patriotic covers.  Special albums were created and sold during the war that made it easy for collectors to mount the envelopes. Today these albums can command as much as $1,000 at auction.

Artists and designers worked with political activists to stir support and sentiment.  To do so, they used patriotic symbols including the American Eagle, the American flag, stars, and the Liberty Bell.  Depictions of soldiers were common as were symbols of ‘Lady Liberty.’  

Designs were predominately printed in red and blue (also to inspire patriotism!) but exist in a wide range of colors, The most highly prized hand-colored designs were produced primarily by the Charles Magnus Company, the F.K. Kimmel Company, and Berlin &  Jones.Very little colored envelope stock was used most covers will be found on white. 

Twenty-five years ago, the lowest-priced unused Civil War patriotic covers could be purchased for a quarter or less.  The affordability of this fascinating branch of collecting makes it extremely accessible to novice collectors and appealing to Civil War enthusiasts.    Even covers that have been posted are offered in the $10-$20 range if their quality is relatively poor or their subject is common.  Rarer designs, however, elicit bids of many thousands of dollars. 

What’s on the design A-List when it comes to Civil War patriotic covers?The Rose of Washington publisher by Magnus is by far the most popular, while the more expensive ones are of Abraham Lincoln.