CHARLESTON PENNY POST: CSA 11, 10¢ blue pair (4 large to huge margins) tied with lightly struck violet PENDLETON S.C.CDS on cover to W.G. Carrere No. 37 Radcliffe St. Charleston SC with rare sender’s directive “Care of Penny Post.” Only 5 such Charleston carriers are listed in the Siegel Census, although Charleston student Rick Calhoun says in his Charleston book that “less than 20 recorded as used during the war,” which I believe is more credible. Either way, it is a rare cover made more unusual because of the scarce violet postmark and double-rated overweight postal use. CSA Catalog type CS-01, CV $3,500.  Tiny owner’s handstamp on both front and back with which I am not familiar, doubtless European. Ex Haub. $2,750. Listed in both CSA 11 covers, section 2, and Miscellaneous, section 2.

Charleston Penny Post Service. Home delivery of mail did not exist until many years after the Civil War. In some cities, an independent mail service would deliver the mail from the post office to a street address for an additional charge. In 1849, Jno. H. Honor Jr. began a “penny post service” in Charleston. The various carrier services used small paper labels to indicate payment. These were discontinued by 1860 and only manuscript notations are known to exist during the war. By 1861, only John C. Beckman, Joseph G. Martin, and John F. Steinmeyer, Jr. still operated the Charleston Penny Post service. Although the penny post service continued through the Civil War, fewer than 20 Charleston penny post covers are recorded used during the war. Source: Charleston, South Carolina, and the Confederate Postmaster Provisionals by Richard L Calhoun, pp. 16-17.

Carrere Family: Charleston City and Business Directories of 1849, 1852, 1855, 1859, and 1861 list the addressee as W(iliam) G. Carrere, Wharfinger, Adger’s Wharf, 1 Orange Street on the waterfront, while Dr. M(aynard) E(dward) Carrere (physician, 1813-79) is shown at 37 Radcliffe, as well as Eliza Frances Rugge Carrere, widow of Charles.  Charles (1762-1829) was born in France, while Eliza was a native of London, England (1781-1876). They were Dr. Carrere’s parents. Wharfinger is an archaic term for a person who is the keeper or owner of a wharf. The wharfinger takes custody of and is responsible for goods delivered to the wharf, typically has an office on the wharf or dock, and is responsible for day-to-day activities including slipways, keeping tide tables, and resolving disputes. The term is rarely used; today a wharfinger is usually called a harbormaster. Dr. Carrere was a volunteer surgeon at the Confederate hospital in Charleston. I found Mr. Carrere listed as the owner of the property at 1 Orange Street along with Ann Brailsford by an 1861 City of Charleston Census as well as the occupant. The owner and occupant of 37 Radcliff Street was Eliza F. Carrere. Dr. M.E. Carrere was listed as owner (but not occupant) of various other homes on Radcliffe Street and well as countless other locations with other named tenants. The estate of Charles Carrere is listed as owner of some other addresses as well. William G. Carrere was born in 1805 in Charleston. Unknown date of death. Presumably Dr. Carrere’s brother.