Civil War Envelope Addressed to Confederate Jewish Merchant Moses Mordecai

A Civil War-era envelope addressed to a Southern Jewish merchant. Measuring 5.25" x 3", postmarked Charleston, South Carolina, dated June 20, (no year), addressed to Miss Minnie Mordecai and Hon. M. C. Mordecai in Columbia. With a 13¢ Jefferson Davis stamp. Expected wear and soiling to the cover. Very good overall.

Moses Cohen Mordecai (1804-1888) was an American businessman, politician, and synagogue administrator. He became "the most prominent Jewish Charlestonian of the 1850s and 1860s" and owned the Mordecai Steamship Line, which he used to import fruit, sugar, tobacco, and coffee. He also served as a member of the South Carolina Senate. During the Civil War, Mordecai supported the Confederacy and loaned his vessels out to the Confederate Navy. His steamer "Isabel" became a famous blockade runner. Ironically, the "Isabel" had previously been used to transport Major Robert Anderson and his staff from Fort Sumter to the awaiting Union fleet after the fort was bombarded in the initial attack of the Civil War.

Rachel "Minnie" Mordecai (1839-1913) married Edgar Marks Lazarus and Moses put Edgar in charge of the family business during the war. After the war, she and her husband moved to Baltimore to escape the oppressive Reconstruction government and were able to integrate themselves into Baltimore society. The couple would go on to have eight children.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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