The Dr. Karl Agre Collection of Confederate States continued...

FINE AND IMPORTANT CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL RARITY. ONLY EIGHT EXAMPLES OF THE DANVILLE ADHESIVE ARE RECORDED -- OF THESE ONLY FOUR HAVE RECTANGULAR MARGINS.

Our records of the rare Danville provisional stamp include eight examples, as follows. Rectangular-cut margins: 1) on piece dated Oct. 3, ex Ferrary, Caspary, 2) off-cover with bottom right corner clipped, ex Hind, reported to be on laid paper, 3) the stamp offered here, dated Oct. 4, affixed to a cover, ex Hessel and Kilbourne, 4) tied on cover, Oct. 9, ex Caspary, Lilly, Octagonal margins or cut to shape: 5) off cover, dated Oct. 3, ex Caspary, 6) tied on cover, Oct. 29, ex Emerson, 7) tied on cover, Oct. 30, ex Kimmel, and 8) cut to small oval shape, dated Oct. 11, ex Deats (P.F. photo files).

The stamp offered here is affixed to a cover, but the absence of a tying postmark and position of the stamp raise doubt in our mind as to whether it originated. Mr. Kilbourne believed that the stamp was removed from the back and placed on the front. In any case, it is the third finest rectangular-cut example of the Danville provisional stamp and one of the rarest of all Confederate provisionals, not to be confused with its more numerous counterpart from Pittsylvania Court House.

Ex Hessel and Kilbourne. Scott Retail off cover (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT DANVILLE CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL. APPROXIMATELY 20 EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.

Of the 20 or so examples that are known, several are late invalid usages with General Issue stamps. The example offered here is one of the more desirable copies. With 1990 C.S.A. certificate. (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED DEMOPOLIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ENTIRES OF ANY VARIETY, OF WHICH ONLY TWO ARE SCOTT 22XU2.

The complete story of the discovery of the three Demopolis entires is told in the Crown book (page 94). The three entires were discovered in 1899 by Robert S. Nelson among Dr. Whitfield's papers. Two, including this example, have the handstamped "5" marking and the postmaster's signature "J. Y. Hall". The third has the "Jno. Y. Hall" spelling and is listed separately as Scott 22XU1. A fourth entire was later discovered (pictured in Crown, p. 665) and listed in Scott as 22XU3, it is a third variety with "5 cts" in manuscript and signed "J. Y. Hall".

Ex Ferrary, Knapp and Hall. (Image)

FINE AND RARE. A REMARKABLE PROVISIONAL STAMP MADE FROM THE SELVAGE OF DEMONETIZED U.S. POSTAGE. ONLY NINE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED--ALL ON COVER--OF WHICH ONLY THREE HAVE THE NUMERAL OVER "PAID".

The Emory postmaster, I. C. Fowler, created his provisional issue by stamping his "Paid" and "5" rate markings in the blank selvage of demonetized 1c 1857 Issue sheets. This method is unique among Confederate provisionals and, in all of philately, there are few issues created from sheet selvage. The Philadelphia carrier stamps made from the selvage of imperforate 1c 1851 sheets are similar in concept to the Emory provisionals.

Our records contain nine covers bearing the Emory provisional (we know of no off-cover stamps), ranging in dates from June 24, 1861 thru February 11, 1862. There are three known stamp formats: Paid over 5, Paid under 5, and 5 with Paid at top and side (narrow selvage). Two of the nine recorded covers have manuscript town postmarks, and four have stamps left uncancelled.

Signed Dietz. Ex Brooks and Everett. (Image)

VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE EMORY, VIRGINIA, 10-CENT PROVISIONAL ENTIRE. A REMARKABLE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CONFEDERATE BROTHERS -- ONE A PRISONER OF WAR AT JOHNSON'S ISLAND AND THE OTHER ATTEMPTING TO SEND A LETTER IN THE MIDST OF POST-WAR TURMOIL.

Blue Spring Grove, Kentucky, where this cover entered the mails, is located in Barren County northwest of Knoxville and south of Louisville, near the turnpike and Louisville & Nashville Railroad line.

The Davis correspondence yielded this cover as well as four covers with the Emory adhesive provisional (used in 1861). This provisional envelope did not pay any postage, but it is definite proof that the markings were applied by the post office prior to sale. No other example is known.

Ex Ferrary. Illustrated in Crown book (Image)