Items for Sale - CSA 12, 10¢ Blue Intaglio - Type II on Cover - Section Three - Item#16503
16503 Click on image to enlarge.
Item# 16503

CSA 12, 10¢ dark blue (4 large margins) tied at top with grid which, at first, smells like an Army of Northern Virginia field cancel but can’t find a listed one to match up. Addressed to G[ustave] A[dolphus] Myers, Esq, Richmond, Va. with initials “W.C.” at lower left. “Box 321” at top. British envelope is commercially made laid paper with imprint under flap of “Partridge & Cozens, 192, Fleet Street” (British quality stationers) with beautiful blue embossed flap tip “Virtutis Fortuna Comes,” Offset of a circular datestamp on verso as well. Speculation email between Kaufmann and Walske that this could be a hand-carried blockade cover (known Bermuda-run correspondence) but there is no proof. Interesting and attractive mystery cover! $325.

Gustavus Adolphus Myers was born 9 August 1801, the son of Samuel Myers and Judith (Hays) Myers. He was a lawyer in Richmond and served as president of Richmond Publishing Co., and director of Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad and Mutual Assurance Society. He was member of Richmond City Council. He married Anne Augusta (Giles) Conway and was father of artist, William Barksdale Myers. Myers died 20 August 1869 and was buried in Hollywood Cemetery. He was considered Richmond's most prominent Jewish citizen.

The Latin motto: Translating Latin depends greatly on context, both literal and historical. The word "virtus" in Latin has numerous translations. To the ancient Romans, it was the quality that made a "vir" ("man"), so it meant to them something like "manly excellence, virtue, honor, courage," etc. But in an early Christian context, it meant "virtue" as in faith. "fortuna" is either fortune or good luck. Fortune sounds better being less verbose. "comes" is a companion, friend, or escort. "Virtutis Fortuna Comes" most definitely does not mean "Fortune favors the brave," which is a different quote entirely (Fortes fortuna adiuvat, and other variations). I see that this quote is associated with military units and family mottos, so it's a tough call, though it appears that in the military context it's "Fortune is the companion of valor," though any of the first three translations you gave above aren't incorrect (but the fourth is). (Source: various Internet sources)

Price: $325