Confederate States continued...

VERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE APPROXIMATELY 27 COVERS KNOWN WITH THE FREDERICKSBURG PROVISIONAL.

The Fredericksburg stamps on covers are more often seen with brown gum toning and deeply cut into the design. This example ranks among the five or six best of our recorded covers.

Ex Caspary (Image)

FRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE GAINESVILLE 5-CENT PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.

Less than five examples are known

EXTREMELY FINE. THE EARLIEST DATED EXAMPLE OF A GOLIAD PROVISIONAL AND ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FOUR 10-CENT TYPE II GOLIAD COVERS AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.

Of the eight Goliad 10c Type II (29X7) stamps in our records, five are used on covers, including an uncancelled stamp on a cover in the Tapling collection at the British Library, which leaves four covers available to collectors. Only three of the four covers have stamps tied by the town datestamp or "Paid" straightline. In addition to the normal 10c Type II, there are two other covers with the Type II "GOILAD" spelling error.

The earliest recorded date for any Goliad provisional is October 21, 1863, but it is our theory that the Type I provisionals were issued in 1861, followed in 1863 by a new provisional stamp printing from the Type II settings, which contain the postmaster's name and title. Therefore, this cover is more accurately described as the earliest known date for any Type II provisional.

Ex Hessel and Hill. With 1998 P.F. certificate ("genuine") (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE. FIRST DISCOVERED IN 1965, THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THE GREENSBORO 10-CENT BLACK PROVISIONAL WITH SINGLE CIRCLE POSTMARK. A GREAT RARITY.

Illustrated in the Crown book on p. 666. Illustrated and described in Confederate Philatelist Oct.-Nov. 1965. With 1965 C.S.A. certificate

EXTREMELY FINE. A VERY UNUSUAL DOWN-RATED JACKSON PROVISIONAL ENTIRE. PROBABLY UNIQUE.

The cover, originally rated for 10c, was re-rated to 5 cents for distance. It is unclear how the sender received credit for his 5c overpayment, unless the envelope was presented and handstamped on the spot at the Jackson post office. With 1984 P.F. certificate

EXTREMELY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT KNOXVILLE PROVISIONAL TIED ON COVER BY A HANDSTAMPED MARKING.

Our records indicate that approximately 22 covers are known with the 5c Brick Red Knoxville Provisional. Of these, over half are pen cancelled. Perhaps ten covers exist with the stamp tied by a handstamped marking.

Ex Emerson, Caspary, Simon (Image)

VERY FINE COVER. THE FINEST KNOWN STRIKE OF THE KNOXVILLE "PAID 5" HANDSTAMP ON THE 5-CENT PROVISIONAL STAMP. A COLORFUL COVER IN IMMACULATE CONDITION.

There are probably no more than ten covers extant with the Knoxville 5c provisional (either shade) tied by a handstamped marking -- more than half of the known covers are manuscript cancelled. The Knoxville cancellations -- the double-circle and large-circle town datestamps, and the "Paid 5" in circle -- are rarely struck clearly. This strike of the "5 Paid" provisional handstamp is exceptionally clear and well inked, making it the finest of the three recorded examples on a Knoxville adhesive.

Ex Caspary, Gallagher and Hill. With 1998 P.F. certificate as Carmine, No. 57X2. Scott Retail for 5c on cover with town cds cancel is $3,500.00 (Image)

VERY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE KNOXVILLE PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP USED TO CANCEL THE PROVISIONAL ADHESIVE.

Ex Seybold, Emerson, Brooks, MacBride and Hill. With 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott Retail $3,500.00 for a stamp on cover with town cds cancel (Image)

VERY FINE STAMP AND ATTRACTIVE COVER. PERHAPS SIX OR SEVEN FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLES OF THE LYNCHBURG PROVISIONAL EXIST ON COVER.

Of the 20 single Lynchburg provisional stamps known on cover, only six or seven have four full margins., while the majority is cut into on one side. The few known pairs demonstrate the extremely narrow spacing between stamps.

Ex Brown, Brooks (Image)

VERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT COVER, WHICH IS ONE OF FOUR RECORDED ADVERTISING COVERS BEARING THE EARLY TYPE OF MACON 5-CENT PROVISIONAL.

There are three types of Macon 5c provisionals. Based on dated examples, it appears that the Scott 53X4 design (and 53X7 on laid paper) -- with its simple line-rule border -- was the first stamp issued in Macon. Almost all of the fourteen recorded covers are dated during the first half of June 1861, including an uncancelled example originating on a cover dated June 1st, the first day of the Confederate postal system. The Macon double-circle datestamp was often poorly struck, although this strike does not show the month, the "2" is very likely to be June 2, based on the use of the "Paid" and small "5" rate handstamp in conjunction with the provisional, a marking pattern that disappears by late June.

Of the four advertising covers bearing this provisional, three have the stamp tied by a cancel. One of these three is a green oval corner card, and another is a lithographed all-over design without any illustration.

Signed Dietz and Ashbrook. Ex Emerson, Brooks, Weatherly and Hill. With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)

EXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE 26 EXAMPLES OF THIS PROVISIONAL RECORDED ON COVER.

Ex Caspary, Haas. With 1956 P.F. certificate (Image)