Pensacola Fla. Jun. 1 (1861)
-- First Day of the Confederate Postal System. Beautiful bold strikes
of circular datestamp, "Paid" in circle and "5" rate handstamps on orange
cover to Vice President Stephens in Crawfordville Ga., most of backflap
intact (unusual for this correspondence), clearly docketed with 1861 year
date, very slightly reduced at topEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN FIRST DAY COVERS OF THE CONFEDERACY, OF WHICH VERY FEW EXIST FROM FLORIDA.
Ex Birkinbine. (Image)
Graniteville S.C. Jun. 1
(1861) -- First Day of the Confederate Postal System. Clearly struck
balloon-style circular datestamp with "Paid 3" in circle handstamp,
obliterated by another marking, re-rated with "Paid" straightline and ms.
"5 cts" for new Confederate rate on buff cover to Phoenix
S.C.EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLE FIRST DAY USE OF NEW CONFEDERATE RATE IN COMBINATION WITH THE OLD 3-CENT MARKING.
There is nothing on this cover to indicate when the "Paid 3" was applied, which leaves the possibility that the envelope was prepared in advance -- giving it provisional status -- and re-rated when brought to the post office for mailing. Covers showing a combination of the old and new rates are extremely rare, and we doubt more than a few exist postmarked on June 1, the first day of the Confederate postal system.
Ex Kohn and Birkinbine. (Image)