This neat, uncommon cover(with a neat letter from the addressee's father!) was sent on December 21, 1868, from Lowell, Massachusetts, to Annapolis, Maryland, addressed to a Midshipman N.J.K. Patch, U.S. Naval Academy! Midshipman Nathaniel J. K. Patch would graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1869. He served on the U.S.S. Sabine, Worster, Richmond, Wabash, Powhatan, Kearsarge, Charleston, Alliance, Celtic and Montgomery! He reached the rank of Captain early in 1900. He was retired in June of that year on his own application receiving the rank of Commodore. During the war with Spain he was supervisor of the Port of NY City and in July and August of 1898 was on the Steamer St. Louis.

To continue, as for the pink, 3-Cent, "Washington," postal stationery envelope(Scott# U59), outside of a very small part of its left side having been trimmed off upon the opening of the envelope, it's in excellent condition! The black CDS and fancy, bullseye cancel from the Lowell P.O. are pretty nice!

Lastly, as for the envelope, itself, it's in very good condition! It's quite clean! It has been reduced a bit at the left side due to having been opened there. There is a small tear in the bottom left corner connected to how the envelope was opened there so long ago. The back flap is 90-95% intact! This is one attractive piece of U.S. Naval postal history connected to the future U.S. Naval Commodore, Nathaniel J. K. Patch!