Post-Revolutionary War to Civil War
1861 Adams Express Company $50,000 Bond with U.S. Govt. to Conduct Business at Port Royal, South Carolina
November 27, 1861-Dated Civil War Period, 3-page Partially-Printed Document, $50,000 Bond put up by the Adams Express Company with the U.S. Government to conduct business at Union occupied Port Royal, S.C., Signed by Adams Express Co. President William B. Dinsmore, and other notables & Treasury Officials, Choice Very Fine.
This Document, pledging not to conduct business with any Rebel State, or supply info to any "disloyal" person. Important and of note, this document is Signed by Adams Express Co. President William B. Dinsmore, and other notables & Treasury Officials. Measuring 8" x 12-3/4", 3 pages, in which the Adams Express Company and 2 sureties, hold themselves bound to the United States of America in the amount of $50,000, in connection with a permit granted to Adams Express Company to establish a branch office at Port Royal, South Carolina. About a 1" trivial fold split at right edge of each page and partial fold splits along the spine, yet nice in appearance and easily readable, choice for display.
Signed by William B. Dinsmore, President of Adams Express Co., and by two sureties, each of whom claims to be worth $50,000: Rufus B. Kinsley and Edwards S. Sanford (a VP with Adams Express, he was Commissioned Colonel at the start of the Civil War, and served as Military Supervisor of Telegraphic Messages for the Union Army; Brevet Brig. Gen. in 1865 for meritorious services). Also, Signed by U.S. District Attorney Edward Delafield Smith, and Collector of the Port of NY, Hiram Barney, approving the bond and the sureties.

Two Treasury Department officials have signed on the back, approving the Bond: George Harrington, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury (following Lincoln's assassination, he was put in charge of planning the Washington DC funeral for the slain President and served as Grand Marshal), and Edward Jordan, Solicitor of the Treasury Dept.
Here, Adams Express is promising to obey at all times the laws of the U.S. and all the Regulations of the Treasury Dept. and all Orders of the War Department, "which may from time to time be found necessary for the defence and government of the military station at Port Royal".
It further promises to confine their business to that of a Common Carrier and not to engage in buying or selling on commission and not to convey any goods or merchandise to any part of South Carolina or "to any other State in insurrection against the United States, and shall not supply any person or persons who are disloyal to the United States with any information or any aid or comfort of any kind whatsoever"
KEYWORDS:
Postal History, Adams Express Postage, Civil War Mail