Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

Confederate States Stamps and Covers continued...

**Trans-Mississippi Express:**
Lot	Sym.	Lot Description	Est/Cat	Realized
541		10c Dark Blue, Die A, Keatinge & Ball (11b K&B). Two vertical pairs, originally a block of four, huge margins all around, intense shade and proof-like impression, tied by "Newnan Ga. Dec. 27" (1864) circular datestamp on brown cover to Noland's River Tex., soldier's endorsement "From J. H. Hart, Co. J, 18th Tex. Cav." and routed "Per Express Mail Via Meridian, Mississippi", pencil "2" at upper right, very slightly reduced at right EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS COVERS EXTANT. ONLY A FEW ARE KNOWN WITH THE DISTINCTIVE 10-CENT KEATINGE & BALL PRINTING. The majority of 40c Trans-Mississippi Express covers have stamps with faults or margins cutting into part of the design, and the covers are usually stained and faulty. The condition of the stamps and overall quality of this cover are extraordinary. Ex Simon. With 1997 P.F. certificate. (Image)	E. 10,000-15,000	7,500.00
542		10c Greenish Blue, Die B (12c). Horizontal strip of four, ample margins, carefully cut to shape at corners, tied by "Camden S.C. Mar. 7" (1864) circular datestamp on East-to-West turned 40-cent Trans-Mississippi Express Rate cover to Collinsburgh La., sender's routing "Per express mail via Brandon Miss.", inside used first to Camden, "Collinsburgh La. Sep. 9" circular datestamp and ms. "Paid 10", blue "Columbia S.C. Sep. 22" circular datestamp and matching "Missent" straightline, one side flap removed, small opening nick at right VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL TURNED USAGE COMBINING THE REGULAR 10-CENT RATE, A MISSENT AUXILLIARY HANDSTAMP AND THE 40-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS RATE. Listed in Krieger as E19 (page 44). Ex Birkinbine. With 1975 C.S.A. certificate. (Image)	E. 5,000-7,500	3,500.00
543		10c Greenish Blue, Die B (12c). Horizontal strip of three and single, large margins, tied by faint "Lumpkin Ga." circular datestamp on East-to-West 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Rate cover to Natchitoches La. with sender's routing "Via Meridian Miss.", with original enclosure dated Dec. 22, 1863, re legal matters but comments "No war news of any interest since the defeat of Bragg at Missionary Ridge", letter reinforced with tape (stained), the cover is missing part of backflap and has slight wear along edges, small lightened stained spot in strip FINE APPEARING AND VERY RARE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS COVER -- REPUTED TO BE THE ONLY ONE WITH ITS ORIGINAL LETTER. According to a notation by A. Earl Weatherly, this is the only 40c Trans-Mississippi Express cover with its original letter, but cannot verify this claim Illustrated in Shenfield book and listed in Krieger as E11 (page 41). (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000	2,500.00
544		10c Dark Blue, Die B (12d). Vertical strip of four, large margins except touching at left, deep shade, tied by "Richmond Va. Feb. 9" (ca. 1865) circular datestamp on East-to-West 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Rate bluish gray cover to Washington La., clearly endorsed "By Express mail via Meridian, Miss." and "Trans-Mississippi", the cover in its present state has faults incl. slight erosion along inked lines, small piece out of top left, edge wear and creasing -- out of view is a large piece of scotch tape on back -- the tape and these other relatively minor condition problems could be easily remedied by a professional paper conservator, restoring this cover to beautiful appearance A FINE STRIP ON AN ATTRACTIVE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS COVER. USE OF THE TERM "TRANS-MISSISSIPPI" IN THE ADDRESS IS UNUSUAL AND DESIRABLE. Listed in Krieger as E42. (Image)	E. 3,000-4,000	2,000.00
545		20c Green (13). Horizontal pair, slightly irregular margins touching at sides, affixed over two "Paid" straightline handstamps and cancelled by "Eufaula Ala. Oct. 24" (ca. 1864) circular datestamp, matching strike on East-to-West 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Rate cover to Monroe La. "via Shreveport", ms. charge box notation at top (thus marked paid and stamps applied by post office), edge wear and nicks, backflap mostly removed, small edge faults slightly impinging on top margin of pair A FINE AND ATTRACTIVE COVER. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT GREEN ENGRAVED STAMP USED TO PREPAY THE 40-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS RATE. No more than twenty covers with a pair of the 20c Green paying the 40c Trans-Mississippi Express rate are known (see The Trans-Mississippi Mails After the Fall of Vicksburg, Richard Krieger). Of these only five or six are in reasonably clean and sound condition, the majority is heavily stained and damaged. This cover is listed in Krieger as E34 (page 49). (Image)	E. 4,000-5,000	2,600.00
546		10c Greenish Blue, Die B (12c). Horizontal strip of four, expertly repaired where insects have eaten thru paper, tied by "Bastrop Texas Nov. 17" circular datestamp on West-to-East 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Rate cover to Bay Spring Miss., turned with inside addressed but carried outside the mails, wrinkles and toning, Very Fine appearance, a presentable example of this rare West-to-East express usage, listed in Krieger as W47 (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	1,100.00
547		Agency Post Office Dept., Trans-Miss., Official Business, Agent. Dietz Ty. I signed by Jas. H. Starr on 3c Red Star Die entire to the assistant postmaster of Shreveport La., no postmark -- carried outside the mails -- fresh and Extremely Fine, very rare and in superb condition (Image)	E. 1,500-2,000	950.00
548		20c Green, Diagonal Half Used as 10c (13c). Left diagonal half, ample margins, small unnoticeable tear at top, tied by "Shreveport La. Mar. 23" (1864) double-circle datestamp on brown patterned cover endorsed in ms. "Office Chief of TMD, Official Business" Trans-Mississippi Department, to San Antonio Tex. FRESH AND VERY FINE COVER. EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 20-CENT GREEN BISECT ON OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE WESTERN OFFICE OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT AND TEXAS. Ex Meroni and Kimmel. With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $2,000.00 for bisect on normal cover. (Image)	E. 2,000-3,000	2,400.00

Trans-Mississippi Express:

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

Est/Cat

Realized

541

10c Dark Blue, Die A, Keatinge & Ball (11b K&B). Two vertical pairs, originally a block of four, huge margins all around, intense shade and proof-like impression, tied by "Newnan Ga. Dec. 27" (1864) circular datestamp on brown cover to Noland's River Tex., soldier's endorsement "From J. H. Hart, Co. J, 18th Tex. Cav." and routed "Per Express Mail Via Meridian, Mississippi", pencil "2" at upper right, very slightly reduced at right

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS COVERS EXTANT. ONLY A FEW ARE KNOWN WITH THE DISTINCTIVE 10-CENT KEATINGE & BALL PRINTING.

The majority of 40c Trans-Mississippi Express covers have stamps with faults or margins cutting into part of the design, and the covers are usually stained and faulty. The condition of the stamps and overall quality of this cover are extraordinary.

Ex Simon. With 1997 P.F. certificate. (Image)

E. 10,000-15,000

7,500.00

542

10c Greenish Blue, Die B (12c). Horizontal strip of four, ample margins, carefully cut to shape at corners, tied by "Camden S.C. Mar. 7" (1864) circular datestamp on East-to-West turned 40-cent Trans-Mississippi Express Rate cover to Collinsburgh La., sender's routing "Per express mail via Brandon Miss.", inside used first to Camden, "Collinsburgh La. Sep. 9" circular datestamp and ms. "Paid 10", blue "Columbia S.C. Sep. 22" circular datestamp and matching "Missent" straightline, one side flap removed, small opening nick at right

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL TURNED USAGE COMBINING THE REGULAR 10-CENT RATE, A MISSENT AUXILLIARY HANDSTAMP AND THE 40-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS RATE.

Listed in Krieger as E19 (page 44). Ex Birkinbine. With 1975 C.S.A. certificate. (Image)

E. 5,000-7,500

3,500.00

543

10c Greenish Blue, Die B (12c). Horizontal strip of three and single, large margins, tied by faint "Lumpkin Ga." circular datestamp on East-to-West 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Rate cover to Natchitoches La. with sender's routing "Via Meridian Miss.", with original enclosure dated Dec. 22, 1863, re legal matters but comments "No war news of any interest since the defeat of Bragg at Missionary Ridge", letter reinforced with tape (stained), the cover is missing part of backflap and has slight wear along edges, small lightened stained spot in strip

FINE APPEARING AND VERY RARE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS COVER -- REPUTED TO BE THE ONLY ONE WITH ITS ORIGINAL LETTER.

According to a notation by A. Earl Weatherly, this is the only 40c Trans-Mississippi Express cover with its original letter, but cannot verify this claim

Illustrated in Shenfield book and listed in Krieger as E11 (page 41). (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000

2,500.00

544

10c Dark Blue, Die B (12d). Vertical strip of four, large margins except touching at left, deep shade, tied by "Richmond Va. Feb. 9" (ca. 1865) circular datestamp on East-to-West 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Rate bluish gray cover to Washington La., clearly endorsed "By Express mail via Meridian, Miss." and "Trans-Mississippi", the cover in its present state has faults incl. slight erosion along inked lines, small piece out of top left, edge wear and creasing -- out of view is a large piece of scotch tape on back -- the tape and these other relatively minor condition problems could be easily remedied by a professional paper conservator, restoring this cover to beautiful appearance

A FINE STRIP ON AN ATTRACTIVE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS COVER. USE OF THE TERM "TRANS-MISSISSIPPI" IN THE ADDRESS IS UNUSUAL AND DESIRABLE.

Listed in Krieger as E42. (Image)

E. 3,000-4,000

2,000.00

545

20c Green (13). Horizontal pair, slightly irregular margins touching at sides, affixed over two "Paid" straightline handstamps and cancelled by "Eufaula Ala. Oct. 24" (ca. 1864) circular datestamp, matching strike on East-to-West 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Rate cover to Monroe La. "via Shreveport", ms. charge box notation at top (thus marked paid and stamps applied by post office), edge wear and nicks, backflap mostly removed, small edge faults slightly impinging on top margin of pair

A FINE AND ATTRACTIVE COVER. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 20-CENT GREEN ENGRAVED STAMP USED TO PREPAY THE 40-CENT TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS RATE.

No more than twenty covers with a pair of the 20c Green paying the 40c Trans-Mississippi Express rate are known (see The Trans-Mississippi Mails After the Fall of Vicksburg, Richard Krieger). Of these only five or six are in reasonably clean and sound condition, the majority is heavily stained and damaged. This cover is listed in Krieger as E34 (page 49). (Image)

E. 4,000-5,000

2,600.00

546

10c Greenish Blue, Die B (12c). Horizontal strip of four, expertly repaired where insects have eaten thru paper, tied by "Bastrop Texas Nov. 17" circular datestamp on West-to-East 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Rate cover to Bay Spring Miss., turned with inside addressed but carried outside the mails, wrinkles and toning, Very Fine appearance, a presentable example of this rare West-to-East express usage, listed in Krieger as W47 (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

1,100.00

547

Agency Post Office Dept., Trans-Miss., Official Business, Agent. Dietz Ty. I signed by Jas. H. Starr on 3c Red Star Die entire to the assistant postmaster of Shreveport La., no postmark -- carried outside the mails -- fresh and Extremely Fine, very rare and in superb condition (Image)

E. 1,500-2,000

950.00

548

20c Green, Diagonal Half Used as 10c (13c). Left diagonal half, ample margins, small unnoticeable tear at top, tied by "Shreveport La. Mar. 23" (1864) double-circle datestamp on brown patterned cover endorsed in ms. "Office Chief of TMD, Official Business" Trans-Mississippi Department, to San Antonio Tex.

FRESH AND VERY FINE COVER. EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE 20-CENT GREEN BISECT ON OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE WESTERN OFFICE OF THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT AND TEXAS.

Ex Meroni and Kimmel. With 1997 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $2,000.00 for bisect on normal cover. (Image)

E. 2,000-3,000

2,400.00