Athens Ga., 5c Purple
(5X1). Type I showing small "Paid", huge margins all around, deep
shade, lightly cancelled by grid, Extremely Fine Gem, ex Caspary,
Birkinbine (where it realized $2,600 hammer)
(Image)
Atlanta Ga., 5c Black entire
(6XU2). Clearly struck provisional handstamp, matching bold "Atlanta
Ga. Dec. 17, 1861" cds on red and blue Hand-Held 11-Star Confederate
Flag and "Fast Colors...warranted not to run" Patriotic cover to
Decatur Ga.EXTREMELY FINE. FEWER THAN A DOZEN PATRIOTIC COVERS ARE KNOWN WITH THE ATLANTA PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP, OF WHICH ONLY FOUR ARE THIS SCARCE HAND-HELD FLAG DESIGN.
A great rarity in superb condition (Image)
EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY FIFTEEN EXAMPLES OF THE 2-CENT BATON ROUGE ARE RECORDED, INCLUDING FIVE USED STAMPS OFF COVER.
Of No. 11X1 we record 3 unused, 4 used off cover, and 5 used on covers. Of No. 11X1a ("McCcormick" error) we record 1 unused, 1 used off cover and 1 used on cover. This example, one of five 2c stamps known used off cover, has remarkable wide margins and beautiful appearance.
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine (11X2). Horizontal strip of five -- the complete setting of
Positions 1-5 -- ample margins to just touching red ornaments at top and
bottom, used with single Position 2, large margins, tied by lightly struck
Baton Rouge circular datestamps on piece, left stamp additionally tied by
faint magenta manuscriptVERY FINE. THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE OF THE BATON ROUGE PROVISIONAL. IN OUR OPINION, ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING ITEMS OF CONFEDERATE PHILATELY.
The Baton Rouge and Greenville Ala. provisionals are the only Confederate stamps printed in two colors, and they are the first government-issued, bi-colored adhesive stamps to appear anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. [As a technical point, the Lenoir N.C. provisional was handstamped in blue on paper with orange-red background lines, and the Bridgeville Ala. and Unionville S.C. provisionals were handstamped in black within colored lines].
Multiples of the Baton Rouge provisional are extremely rare. Other than a few pairs, our records contain only this strip of five and the strip of three offered in the following lot.
Ex Caspary, Freeland and Hill. With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine (11X2). Horizontal strip of three, Positions 204, large to huge
margins all around, tied by "Baton Rouge La. Dec. 14, 1861" circular
datestamps on piece of orange cover, very slight crease at lower left,
small sealed tear at top between two righthand stampsEXTREMELY FINE. THE ONLY STRIP OF THREE RECORDED AND THE SECOND LARGEST MULTIPLE OF THE BATON ROUGE PROVISIONAL.
Ex Caspary and Freeland. (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine (11X2). Large margins all around, tied by "Baton Rouge La. Jan.
2, 1862" cds on small piece, Extremely Fine, a beautiful stamp (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine (11X2). Position 2, large even margins, tied by "New Orleans
La. Jan. 31, 1862" river-mail double-circle datestamp on buff cover to
"Captain H. M. Favrot, 'Delta Rifles', 4th Regt. La. Volunteers, Berwick
City, Louisiana", light folds, backflap removed, small edge tears and
worn spotsVERY 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 (Dec. 1861 to Carroll Hoy & Co.) was part of the Steven Brown collection.
The addressee, Captain Favrot, was a member of a prominent Baton Rouge family. The group of Baton Rouge covers addressed to Captain Favrot has been in collectors' hands for many decades.
Ex Caspary, Freeland. Scott listing based on this cover (priced at $8,000.00, 1986 Dietz $9,500.00) (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine (11X2). Top sheet margin, ample to large margins, tied by
"Baton Rouge La. Aug. 22, 1861" cds on orange cover to Pass Christian
Miss., cover expertly repaired at T.L., Extremely Fine appearance (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine (11X2). Position 4, large margins incl. top sheet margin, tied
by "Baton Rouge La. Dec. 16, 1861" circular datestamp on folded letter to
New Orleans, stamp very slightly gum toned, couple bleached spots on
letterEXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE BATON ROUGE PROVISIONAL ON COVER.
Signed Dietz (Image)
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green &
Carmine (11X2). Large to huge margins, brilliant color, certificate
notes a tear at bottom right, which is closed and possibly only a crack
caused by gum, tied by "Baton Rouge La." cds with unusual dating -- "29"
and "1861" in type and "July" in ms., then crossed out and re-dated
"August" -- on fresh cover to Vernon Miss. from the Mort
correspondence, backflap removed, Extremely Fine appearance, very handsome,
ex Hill, with 1998 P.F. certificate
(Image)