5c Blue, Stone 3 (4). Positions 48/8, vertical pair with horizontal gutter, crossing two transfers of the printing stone, tied by indistinct circular datestamp with manuscript date on small cover to Pine Ridge Miss., top stamp with sealed tear, appears Very Fine, scarce, any lithograph multiple crossing two transfers of the stone is very desirable, particularly from the scarcer 5c Stone 3

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5c Blue, Stone 3 (4b). Horizontal pair, large margins to full, tied by "Richmond Va. Jul. 1, 1862" First Day of 10c universal rate circular datestamp on small cover to Grayson Va., some slight top edge faults from opening which do not affect the stamps, slightly reduced at right, Very Fine

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5c Blue, Stone 3 (4). Ample to large margins including sheet margin at right, tied by "Savannah Ga. Paid Apr. 26" (1862) circular datestamp on buff Prize Court cover with "William Howe Ship Chandler" albino embossed corner card to shipping master at Charleston S.C., manuscript "in haste" at bottom, struck with "2" handstamp in Charleston (long interpreted as a ship fee, but probably an advertising fee, see below for details), carried out of Charleston on a ship which was captured by a Union blockader, cover was entered into evidence at Philadelphia Prize Court with "No. 23 H.F." case number at right written by Henry Flanders, small edge mend below the stamp where cover was opened roughly and slightly reduced

EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USE OF THE 5-CENT BLUE LITHOGRAPH FROM SAVANNAH TO CHARLESTON, CARRIED OUT ON A SHIP THAT WAS CAPTURED BY A UNION BLOCKADE VESSEL -- THE COVER WAS ENTERED INTO EVIDENCE AT THE PHILADELPHIA PRIZE COURT.

This cover, which was formerly in the Brown, Shenfield and Kohn collections, was purchased by the Kilbournes from David Kohn in 1967. All prior owners (and Charles Kilbourne) believed the 2c due handstamp was struck as a ship-letter fee, but we feel it is just as likely that this was sent in the regular mail and the 2c due was for advertising. In any event, the prior owners celebrated it simply as a choice incoming ship cover. The Prize Court case notation, which was not widely understood in the 1960's (if it was understood by anyone), is the most noteworthy aspect of this cover, but was not recognized by any of the prior owners, nor mentioned in The Philatelic Foundation's booklet which illustrates the cover on page 3. Whatever the sequence that caused it to become a Prize Court cover, it must have made it into Charleston, as the "2" handstamp is a known Charleston marking. We surmise that it was subsequently carried out of Charleston on a ship which was captured by a Union blockading vessel. We are grateful to Trish Kaufmann for her assistance in this interpretation (a copy of her Prize Court article in American Philatelist, Apr. 2018 accompanies).

Ex Brown, Shenfield and Kohn

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5c Blue, Stones 2, 3 (4). Two covers, vertical pair Stone 2, horizontal pair Stone 3 (identified as Positions 44-45), both tied by Columbus Miss. circular datestamps, the vertical pair with margins to in and stain on right margin, horizontal pair is fresh, overall Fine-Very Fine

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5c Blue, Stone 3 (4). Two singles, large margins, tied by "Greenville S.C. Sep. 3" circular datestamp on light green Greenville Baptist Female College all-over illustrated cover to Cedar Bluffs Ala., docketed at left, missing small part of top flap, Very Fine and attractive

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5c Milky Blue, Stone 3 (4). Tied by "Gordonsville Va. May ?" circular datestamp on cover to Newton N.C. with Mounted Dragoon, Sword, Verse and "Forti et Fideli nil Difficile" Slogan (Nothing is difficult to the brave and faithful) (SM-1), "to arms! to arms!" verses at top, edgewear and stamp with crease and small tear, waterstaining on back, appears Fine

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5c Milky Blue, Stone 3 (4). Tied by "Gordonsville Va. May ?" circular datestamp on cover to Newton N.C. with Mounted Dragoon, Sword, Verse and "Forti et Fideli nil Difficile" Slogan (Nothing is difficult to the brave and faithful) (SM-1), "to arms! to arms!" verses at top, edgewear and stamp with crease and small tear, waterstaining on back, appears Fine

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5c Blue, Stone 3 (4). Four, large margins to just touched, cancelled or tied by "Madisonville La. May 6" manuscript postmark on cover to New Iberia La., March 24, 1863 docketing at right which must refer to origin date (no obvious explanation for delay in reaching Madisonville post office), staining affects stamps, which are also affected from placement at edge of cover, some edgewear, otherwise Fine and attractive Trans-Mississippi use, it is unclear how this crossed the river, handstamp at lower right, with 1980 P.F. certificate

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5c Blue, Stone 3 (4). Huge margins to just in at right including part of adjoining stamps at top and bottom and left sheet margin, tied by light strike of "Orville Ala. Jun. 21" (1862) circular datestamp on yellow cover with Benjamin F. Ellis Grocer and Commission Merchant corner card to Marion Ala., stamp with some toning from gum, missing top flap, Very Fine

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5c Blue, Stone 3 (4). Large margins to just touched, crisp impression, tied by "Columbus Miss. Jun. 13" circular datestamp on adversity cover made from insurance form, to Demopolis Ala., opened for display, Very Fine and attractive

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