Athens Ga., 5c Dark Purple
(5X1). Type II showing large "Paid", huge margins all around, unusually
deep shade, lightly cancelled by grid, bold strike of "Athens Ga. Paid Dec.
7" (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Col. John B. Lamar at Macon Ga.,
cleaned to removed stains, restored at bottom right corner, stamp has
sealed tear and small scuffs, otherwise Extremely Fine
(Image) 
Athens Ga., 5c Purple
(5X1). Horizontal pair with reversed configuration of Type II Large
"Paid" at left and Type I Small "Paid" at right, from two separate
impressions of the two-subject plate, full margins all around, tied by
lightly struck grids, partly readable "Athens Ga. Paid Jan. 10" (1862)
circular datestamp on small cover with Lucy Cobb Institute blue corner
card, addressed to an officer with Cobb's Legion at Yorktown Va.,
backflap removedEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED MULTIPLES OF THE ATHENS PROVISIONAL WITH THE REVERSED ARRANGEMENT OF TYPES. AN OUTSTANDING COVER OF GREAT PHILATELIC SIGNIFICANCE AND OVERALL BEAUTY -- PROBABLY THE FINEST OF THE ATHENS PAIRS ON COVERS.
The Athens provisionals issued by Postmaster T. Crawford were printed from a two-subject plate. An impression from the plate normally shows the small "Paid" (Type I) at left and the large "Paid" (Type II) at right. Because multiple impressions were made on each sheet, it is possible to have pairs with the type arrangement reversed -- Type II at left and I at right. However, these are extremely rare. A survey of auction catalogues and collections produced only two others: a pair on cover to Dr. Edwin D. Newton, Richmond, ex Moody, and a horizontal strip of four on cover to Vice President Stephens in Richmond, ex Caspary and Kimmel. The Crown census confirms our own.
Ex Tara. Signed Ashbrook. (Image)
Atlanta Ga., 5c Black entire
(6XU2). Perfect bold strike of provisional handstamp on grocer's
blue corner card cover to Griffin Ga., "Atlanta Ga. Nov. 9, 1861"
circular datestamp, tiny scrape in address, Extremely Fine, only six or
seven advertising covers are known with the Atlanta 5c provisional
handstamp (Image) 
Atlanta Ga., 10c Black entire
(6XU6). Clear strikes of provisional handstamp and "Atlanta Ga. Oct. 7,
1861" circular datestamp on buff cover to Vice Presidernt Stephens in
Richmond, docketing on back "...in case the Govt. will furnish him with
vessel and cargo to go to the W. Indies & return with a cargo of
cotton...", flap removed as usual for this correspondence, Very Fine (Image) 
Albany Ga., 5c Greenish Blue
entire (3XU1). Clear strike on cover to Savannah Ga., "Albany Ga. Sep.
7, 1861" circular datestamp at right, some minor edge improvements and
lightly cleaned, attractive and Very Fine, approximately eighteen known (Image) 
Autaugaville Ala., 5c Black
entire (10XU1). Remarkably sharp strike of the brass provisional
handstamp showing the postmaster's name "A. W. McNEEL PM" and "PAID/5" in a
field of stars, clear "Autaugaville Ala. Nov. 27" (1861) circular datestamp
on cover to Montgomery Ala., slightly reduced at right, lightly cleaned to
remove stain from upper leftVERY FINE. THE FINEST OF THE THREE RECORDED COMPLETE COVERS BEARING THE AUTAUGAVILLE POSTMASTER'S DISTINCTIVE BRASS-DIE PROVISIONAL.
Autaugaville, situated on the Alabama River about 25 miles west of Montgomery, had a Civil War population of less than 1,500. Its postmaster, Albert William McNeel, seized all U.S. Post Office Dept. property and turned it over to the Confederacy. Postmaster McNeel used two different handstamped markings to make provisional envelopes. The earlier type is Scott 10XU2, of which one example is recorded, dated Oct. 8, 1861, and last sold for $12,100 in our Sale 801. The brass handstamp seems to have followed, with four examples recorded as follows in date order: 1) Nov. 21, 1861, to Willis Todd, Benton Ala., ex Worthington, Hessel, 2) Nov. 27, 1861, to J. Hodges Golsan, Montgomery Ala., ex Freeland, the cover offered here, 3) Nov. 28, 1861, to Elder H. Talbin, Marion Ala., ex Emerson, Caspary, Weatherly, and 4) Jan. 10, 1862, approximately one-half of cover, ex Walcott, Lilly. The brass engraving is similar in design to the Athens adhesive provisional. The postmaster's son is on record saying that his father used printer's ink on the hand-held die and gently tapped the device onto each envelope. The impressions from the hard metal die are usually blurred and incomplete -- the clarity of this impression is remarkable.
It is noteworthy that the Kilbourne, Hill and Haas Confederate postmasters' provisionals collections were missing the Autaugaville.
Ex Freeland. With 1982 P.F. certificate. (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine, Maltese Cross Border (11X2). Position 5 (Calhoun Type C), full
to large margins all round, bright colors, tied by lightly struck "Baton
Rouge La. Dec. 17, 1861" circular datestamp on cover to Mount Lebanon La.,
blue printed return card of George A. Pike, lightly cleaned, mended
flap tear and small mended nick at top left, light vertical foldVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF FIVE RECORDED BATON ROUGE PROVISIONAL COVERS WITH THE PRINTED RETURN CARD.
George A. Pike was the publisher of the local Baton Rouge newspaper Comet and Gazette. He was also a job printer and is believed to have printed the Baton Rouge provisionals. (Image)
Canton Miss., 5c Black entire
(14XU1). Neat strike on buff cover to Carroll Hoy & Co. New Orleans,
"Canton Miss. Sep. 20, 1861" circular datestamp, vertical file fold clear
of markings, Very Fine example of this ornate handstamp
(Image) 
Chapel Hill N.C., 5c Black
entire (15XU1). Bold strikes of provisional handstamp, "Paid" and
"Chapel-Hill Nov. 4" (1861) circular datestamp on buff cover to
Hillsborough N.C., with original enclosure, slightly reduced at
topVERY FINE. ONLY FIVE EXAMPLES OF THE CHAPEL HILL POSTMASTER'S 5-CENT PROVISIONAL ENTIRE ARE RECORDED -- A MUCH UNDERRATED RARITY.
Our records contain only five examples of Scott 15XU1, including three on patriotic covers. (Image)