9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Sale 850 — The Dr. Karl Agre Collection of Confederate States
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 September, 2002
Category — Postmasters Provisionals (Dalton to Emory)
Dalton Ga., 5c Black entire (20XU1). Clear strike with box charge no. and "Dalton Ga. Feb. 13, 1862" circular datestamp on cover to Tunnel Hill Ga., Very Fine and choice, ex Judd, with 1991 Green certificate
Dalton Ga., 10c Black entire (20XU2). Clear strike with "Dalton Ga. Oct. 19, 1862" circular datestamp on cover to Jonesborough Tenn., trivial edgewear, Very Fine, with 1991 Green certificate
Dalton Ga., 10c (ms.) on 5c Black entire (20XU3). With neat "Dalton Ga. Nov. 4, 1861" circular datestamp on cover to Manassas Junction Va., box charge no. at top, slightly reduced at top affecting provisional marking and circular datestamp, some edgewear, Fine and rare, only ten examples of this re-rated provisional are listed in Crown
Danville Va., 5c Red on Wove (21X1). Rectangular margins slightly into tips of ornaments, bottom right corner clipped very slightly, "Danville Ga. Oct. 4" (1861) circular datestamp -- not tied and possibly not originating on this cover -- additional strike of circular datestamp on back of homemade cover to Petersburg Va., backflap and large part of Danville backstamp have been removed, folds and light waterstains in coverFINE 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
Danville Va., 5c Black on Dark Buff entire (21XU3). Style with "Southern" curved, press-printed illustrated design on dark buff cover to Pittsylvania C.H. Va., bearing "Danville Va. Jul. 25" circular datestamp, trivial edgewearVERY 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.
Danville Va., 10c Red on dark Buff, entire (Unlisted). Unissued entire similar in design to 5c, pencil address but no indication of actual usage, Very Fine and rare, with 1991 C.S.A. certificate
Danville Va., 10c Black entire (21XU4). Provisional handstamps at left and neat "Danville Va. Dec. 14" circular datestamp on cover to Union Furnace Va., slightly reduced at left affecting provisional marking, cover cleaned to remove waterstains (lightened address), otherwise Fine, scarce, only two examples of this provisional are recorded in Crown, illustrated in Crown book
Demopolis Ala., 5c Black entire, "J. Y. Hall" (22XU2). Bold strikes of "Paid" and "5" in circle provisional handstamps with postmaster's signature, very bold "Demopolis Ala. Dec. 5" circular datestamp on orange entire to Lauderdale Springs Miss.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.
Eatonton Ga., 5c + 5c Black entire (23XU2 var). Re-rated to 10c by ms. "10", neat "Paid" handstamp and "Eatonton Ga. ? 12" double-circle datestamp on orange cover to military address at Portsmouth Va., cover repaired at bottom, Very Fine strikes, rare, of six examples recorded by Crown of the re-rated Eatonton provisional this is the only one re-rated in pen, illustrated in Crown, ex Hart, with 1993 C.S.A. certificate
Emory Va., 5c Blue (24X1). Exceptionally clear strikes, "5" above "Paid", on rectangular selvage of U.S. 1c 1857 Issue, perforated on three sides, without the usual manuscript cancel, "tied" by faint ink specks on orange-buff cover to Monterey Va., blue "Emory Va. Aug. 13" circular datestamp and matching "Paid" and "5" in circle handstamp, stamp lifted and moved slightly to right, the cover is split at folds but intact, lightened stain in addressFINE 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.
Emory Va., 10c Blue entire (24XU2). Bold strikes of blue "PAID" and "EMORY/10" in circle provisional handstamps at upper right corner of envelope to Lieut. Col. Alexander M. Davis, Prisoner of War, Johnson's Island, Ohio, with letter datelined "Emory Va. May 11th/65", from Davis's brother, explaining "I have an opportunity this morning of sending a letter to Knoxville by Mr. Handy. We have no mail communication here since before the fall of Richmond."; posted in Federal mails with 3c Rose (65), ms. cancel and "Blue Spring Grove Ky May 26" ms. pmk., received at Johnson's Island where "Ex JCB" ms. censor's mark applied, 3c moved to show provisional markingsVERY 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
Website Terms of Use and Privacy Policy