Aberdeen Miss., 5c Black
entire (1XU1). Clear strikes of "Aberdeen Mi. 5" and "Paid" provisional
handstamps, bold "Aberdeen Miss. Jan. 20" (1862) circular datestamp on
orange entire to Greensboro Ala.EXTREMELY FINE. THE FINER OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE ABERDEEN POSTMASTER'S 5-CENT PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
The Crown survey and our own records contain just two examples of 1XU1, the 5c provisional entire: 1) Sep. 13 (1861) datestamp on white entire to Miss Sallie Spann, Macon Miss., Crown book, p. 11, and 2) Jan. 20 (1862) datestamp on orange entire to A. S. Nelson, Greensboro Ala., the example offered here, discovered before 1900 and sold to Ferrary, then to Knapp. There is also one example of the 5c entire re-rated 10c (Scott 1XU2).
Ex Ferrary and Knapp. (Image)
Atlanta Ga., 5c Black entire
(6XU2). Matching "Atlanta Ga. Jun. 18, 1861" circular datestamp on
cover to Alexander Stephens at Crawfordville Ga., backflap removed as usual
for this correspondence (trace of blue embossing remains), docketing
regards someone wanting position as Commissary, fresh and Very Fine (Image) 
Atlanta Ga., 5c Black entire
(6XU2). Matching "Atlanta Ga. Jun. 27, 1861" circular datestamp on
cover to Quitman Ga., Very Fine (Image) 
Atlanta Ga., 10c on 5c Black
entire (6XU3). Well-struck provisional handstamp and "Atlanta Ga. Nov.
7, 1861" circular datestamp on buff cover to Alexander H. Stephens in
Richmond Va., docketing on back reads "J.A. Stewart Atlanta Ga. 8th Nov.
1861 -- On the state of the country -- Advocates a return to the Union to
stop the war. Is in favor of reconstruction. Wants the South to offer terms
of peace. Says there is a growing discontent which will soon break out in
open resistance.", top flap removed on opening as usual for this
correspondence and with full docketing, trivial repaired tear at top right,
otherwise Extremely Fine and choice provisional usage, only four examples
are recorded by Crown, with 1998 C.S.A. certificate
(Image) 
Atlanta Ga., 10c Black entire
(6XU6). Matching "Atlanta Ga. Aug. 23, 1861" circular datestamp on
orange cover to Alexander Stephens at Richmond Va., backflap removed as
usual for this correspondence, docketing reads "Mr. A. Austell, Atlanta
Georgia August 23, 1861. Wishes to receive appointment as chief collector
for Georgia.", minor nick at top edge, Very Fine and choice, with 1976
C.S.A. certificate (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 2c Green
(11X1). Calhoun Type B, huge margins all around including bottom sheet
margin and part of adjoining stamp at top, bright shade on fresh white
paper, still affixed to piece and cancelled by "Paid"
straightlineEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THE FINEST OF THE SIX RECORDED OFF-COVER BATON ROUGE 2-CENT PROVISIONAL STAMPS. AN OUTSTANDING 2-CENT PROVISIONAL RARITY OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES.
Of No. 11X1 we record 3 unused, 5 used off cover or on piece, and 5 used on covers. Of No. 11X1a ("McCcrmick" error) we record 1 unused, 1 used off cover and 1 used on cover. This sound stamp with enormous margins is the finest of the off-cover examples.
Ex Worthington and Hind. (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine (11X3). Large part original gum, two large margins, green
ornaments slightly cut in at right and bottom but well clear of red
criss-cross border, remarkably fresh and rich colors, small tear at upper
right corner reinforced with hingeVERY FINE DESPITE TINY TEAR. THE ONLY RECORDED BATON ROUGE 5-CENT CRISS-CROSS BORDER (SCOTT 11X3) WITH ORIGINAL GUM. ONLY ONE OTHER UNUSED COPY KNOWN (AND IT IS REPAIRED). A GREAT CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL RARITY.
Ex Crocker, Caspary, Lilly and Freeland. Scott Retail $3,000.00 does not reflect true rarity of this stamp with original gum. (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine (11X2). Calhoun Type B, ample margins to slightly in, tied by
"New Orleans La. Dec. 15, 1861" river-mail double-circle datestamp
on cover to Carroll Hoy & Co. New Orleans, usual pinholes, slightly reduced
at top and part of backflap removed, slight wear and creasing not affecting
stampVERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE BATON ROUGE PROVISIONAL CANCELLED AT NEW ORLEANS.
This cover travelled 129 miles down river from Baton Rouge and entered the mails at the New Orleans wharf office where the double-circle datestamp was used. Based on surviving covers, it is evident that the postmasters in New Orleans and Baton Rouge would accept stamps on letters coming off river boats. A second example of the Baton Rouge provisional cancelled at New Orleans (Jan. 1862) was sold in our Sale 810 (lot 1845) for $18,500 hammer, which established the current Scott value of $20,000.
Ex Brown. (Image)
Beaumont Tex., 10c Black on
Yellow (12X1). Position with comma after "Beaumont", full to large
margins, neatly cancelled by ms. "X" with matching "Apl 9th/64"
postmark on adversity cover made from lined paper, addressed to Mrs. Mary
P. Watson at San Augustine Tex., the cover was turned and addressed to
"Mrs. Maggie L. Watson, Sabine Pass, Texas", "Paid" and "10"
handstamps (no town marking), some excess glue from flapsAN EXTREMELY FINE BEAUMONT 10-CENT PROVISIONAL ON YELLOW PAPER -- ONE OF FIVE KNOWN EXAMPLES OF THIS RARITY -- USED ON A TURNED ADVERSITY COVER. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED EXAMPLE OF ANY BEAUMONT PROVISIONAL.
The Beaumont provisionals were issued on Pink (two shades) and Yellow paper. Only 21 of any kind are recorded, including the unique Large 10c on Yellow (on cover), 5 of the Small 10c on Yellow (each on cover), and 15 of the Small 10c on Pink (12 covers, 3 off cover). Most of the recorded covers are faulty, and only four have postmarks of any kind tying the stamps.
The five Small 10c Yellow covers we record are as follows: 1) ms. "X" cancel, not tied, ms. Apr. 9, 1864 date, to Mary J. Watson, San Augustine Tex., turned and addressed to Sabine Pass, the cover offered here, ex Hind, 2) tied by rimless town with ms. Jun. 11 (1864) date on turned cover to Mary J. Watson, San Augustine Tex., ex Caspary, Weatherly, Kilbourne (our Sale 815, realized $52,500 hammer), 3) uncancelled, used on turned cover to Mrs. Wm. B. Duncan, Liberty Tex., ex Caspary, Lilly, 4) ms. "X" cancel, not tied, used on cover to Cypress City Tex., Siegel Sale 226, and 5) ms. "10" cancel, not tied, rimless town with ms. Nov. 12 (1864) date on cover to James C. McKnight, Palestine Tex., 1864 docketing, ex Ferrary.
Although the Dietz catalogue identifies the June 11 cover (No. 2 above, ex Kilbourne) as the earliest known use in 1861, it is actually the second earliest use in 1864. The earliest cover is the one offered here, dated April 9, 1864.
The addressee at Sabine Pass is Mrs. Maggie L. Watson, wife of C. S. Watson, who was part of the Texas Marine Department. The June 11 cover (No. 2 above, ex Kilbourne) is addressed to C. S. Watson with the C.S. Steamer Sachem, one of two Federal gunboats captured by the Confederates at the famous Battle of Sabine Pass in September 1863. Sachem became part of the Texas Marine Department and served the Confederate army at Sabine Pass. In the spring of 1864, she was turned into a blockade runner under the command of John Davidson.
Ex Duveen and Hind. (Image)