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Sale 1104 — Civil War and Confederate States
Sale Date — Wednesday, 24 June, 2015
Category — Postmasters Provisionals: Macon Ga. Thru Memphis Tenn.
Macon Ga., 5c Black on Light Blue Green Wove (53X1). Huge margins to clear incl. right sheet margin, tied by "Macon Ga. ? 7" double-circle datestamp on cover to Athens Ga.VERY FINE. AN IMPRESSIVE SHEET-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE FOUR-LINE 5-CENT MACON POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON COVER.
Ex Weatherly.
Macon Ga., 5c Black on Light Blue Green Wove (53X1). Three large margins, just in at right, tied by light strike of Macon Ga. circular datestamp on cover to Knoxville Ga. and forwarded to Culloden Ga., pencil manuscript "Forward 5c" at top center, red "Knoxville Ga. Oct. 14" circular datestamp at left, with original 1861-dated enclosure, toned and soiled, expertly repairedFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE MACON FOUR-LINE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON A FORWARDED COVER.
The Macon provisional with "Post Office, Macon, Ga." added to the setting is very rare on cover (Peter W. W. Powell reported 24 on cover in the Confederate Philatelist, Sep.-Oct. 2000). We have only been able to locate one other which was forwarded (ex Kilbourne)
Macon Ga., 5c Black on Yellow Wove (53X3). Large margins, tied by "Macon Ga. Jul. 15" double-circle datestamp on yellow cover to Butler Ga., light vertical fold clear of stampEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE MACON 5-CENT FLORAL BORDER PROVISIONAL STAMP. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES KNOWN ON COVER.
The person most likely to be the Macon postmaster who issued the provisional stamps is Dr. Edward L. Strohecker, a graduate of the Medical College of South Carolina, who was elected three times as Macon's mayor. He helped to organize the Georgia Medical Association, and travelled to visit and treat Confederate troops during the war. Another postmaster and possible stamp issuer is Washington Poe, a relative of the poet, who also served a term as mayor and was elected as a Union delegate to the Georgia Secession Convention in Milledgeville.
All of the Macon provisional stamps were printed from typeset forms. The 2c and two of the three 5c settings simply state the denomination and nothing else, and they were the first stamps printed. These were followed by the four-line "square" stamp, which includes the words "Post Office" and "Macon, Ga." The order of issue is confused by the Scott Catalogue listings.
Ex Caspary.
Macon Ga., 5c Black on Yellow Wove (53X4). Large margins, neat strike of "Macon Ga. Jun. 11" (1861) double-circle datestamp, Very Fine, especially desirable with the clear date showing in the cancel, based on dated examples, it is certain that the 5c with plain border was the first stamp issued in Macon, despite its Scott listing as 53X4, almost all of the recorded covers are dated during the first half of June 1861, including an uncancelled stamp on a cover dated June 1, the first day of the Confederate postal system
Macon Ga., 5c Black entire (53XU1). Strike of provisional marking at top right, "Macon Ga. ? 17" circular datestamp on cover to Starkville Ga., minor overall wear, Very Fine, approximately half a dozen are known, ex Hart
Macon Ga., 5c Black entire (53XU1 var). Partial strike of "5" over "Paid" provisional marking, light strike of circular datestamp on cover to Buck Eye Ga., additional "Paid" at right, with original Aug. 26, 1861-dated enclosure which touches on the war, minor wear, Fine
Marietta Ga., 5c Black entire (54XU1). Clear strike of provisional marking at upper right, "Marietta Ga. Feb. 4" circular datestamp on blue-lined cover to military address, with original 1862-dated enclosure, slightly reduced at right, opened for display at left, Very Fine strike and an attractive cover
Marion Va., 10c Black (55X2). Dry original gum, large margins to clear, 3mm paper restoration across bottom with lower portion of frame drawn inVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT MARION, VIRGINIA POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL. A PHENOMENAL RARITY.
James H. Francis was appointed U.S. postmaster of Marion on December 31, 1859, and he was reappointed as Confederate postmaster on July 16, 1861 (Richard L. Calhoun, The Postmaster Provisionals of Virginia).
Our records now contain seven covers with the Marion 10c provisional, plus a repaired stamp affixed to the back of a cover noted in the Crown book as part of the Worthington collection. The most recent discovery of a Marion provisional occurred in March 2000 when a nearly complete cover surfaced in an auction of the R. G. Hunter estate in Virginia (sold in our 2000 Rarities sale, Sale 824, lot 443). In addition to the seven stamps on covers, there are two unused singles (the one offered here and the other ex Ferrary) and perhaps one or two off-cover singles.
With 1997 C.S.A. certificate
Memphis Tenn., 2c Blue (56X1, 56X1a). Five singles and a pair, Positions 5, 17, 18, 38, 47, 49-50, the pair and a corner margin single with partial print, unused (no gum), one with plate crack, range of shades, few faults, appear Fine-Very Fine
Memphis Tenn., 2c Blue (56X1). Ample margins to just in where tiny nick at upper left, bold strike of circular datestamp, small tear at top, Very Fine appearance, with 1995 P.F. certificate
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Two unused singles, two used singles and a used pair, some faults, appear Fine-Very Fine
Memphis Tenn., 2c Dark Blue (56X1). A very distinctive shade described by specialists as "Cobalt Blue", full margins to just in at bottom left, tied by well-struck "Memphis Ten. Dec. 8, 1861" circular datestamp on rebacked cover front only used locally, some overall wearFINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 2-CENT MEMPHIS PROVISIONAL IN A DISTINCTIVE DARK SHADE AND NICELY TIED ON A LOCALLY-ADDRESSED PIECE. ONLY FIFTEEN COVERS RECORDED BY CROWN.
This is the most intense shade we recall seeing on this issue. Ex Boshwit. Scott Retail $12,500.00 as full cover.
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Large margins to just in incl. part of adjoining stamp at right, tied by "Memphis Ten. Oct. ?" circular datestamp on red and blue 12-Star Confederate Flag and Verse Patriotic cover to Bashi Ala., bold "DUE/5" handstamp, slightly reduced at right affecting stamp, few light vertical file folds, one barely affecting stampFINE APPEARANCE AND EXCEEDINGLY RARE USE OF THE 5-CENT MEMPHIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON A 12-STAR CONFEDERATE FLAG PATRIOTIC COVER.
Ex Walcott, Antrim and Pope. Illustrated in 1959 and 1986 editions of the Dietz book. With 1986 P.F. certificate
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Large margins to just in incl. part of adjoining stamps at top and left, tied by "Memphis Ten. ? 12, 1861" circular datestamp on embossed Commission Merchant's corner card cover to Lamar Miss., manuscript "yr freight is at Lamar W. Hull", minor soiling, Very Fine, with 1988 P.F. certificate
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Large margins to clear, tied by bold strike of "Memphis Ten. Aug. 2?, 1861" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Jonesborough Miss. and forwarded to I-U-Ka Miss., "Jonesborough Miss. Sep. 4 Paid 5" manuscript pmk., expertly cleaned and restored along top edge, Very Fine appearance, ex Pope and Hill
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Two singles originally forming a horizontal pair, large margins to just in, tied by "Memphis Ten. Sep. ?, 1861" circular datestamp on buff cover to Manassas Va. and forwarded to Lewisburg Va., "Tudor Hall Va. Sep. 14, 1861" circular datestamp also ties one stamp, forwarding instructions with military signature, thus no additional postage necessary, recipient is care of Cpl. W. W. Gordon, who resigned Oct. 14, 1861, forwarding docketing from A. J. Grigsby, who resigned Nov. 19, 1862 after feeling passed over for promotion, probably due to his penchant for excessive swearing, slightly reduced at sides, top flap replaced, some edge flaws also affect stamp, still Fine, ex Matz
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Two, margins to in, tied by "Memphis Ten. Dec. ?" (1861) circular datestamp on buff cover to Evergreen Va. and missent to Evergreen La., large red "Evergreen La. Dec. 14" circular datestamp with day in manuscript, also with "missent and Forwd", stamps with few light wrinkles mostly from gum, cover with minor edgewear, Fine, with 1976 P.F. certificate
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Two, cut to shape, margins clear to in, tied by "Memphis Ten. Sep. 20, 1861" circular datestamp on embossed Commission Merchant's corner card cover to Richmond Va. and forwarded twice, first to Tazewell C.H. Va. and then to Wytheville Va., neat "Richmond Va. Sep. 29, 1861" circular datestamp and "Forwarded 5" in frame, manuscript "Due 10c", for second forwarding, some slight wear and few expertly mended edge flaws, still Fine and very unusual twice-forwarded use, covers such as this sent thru southwest Virginia are rarely seen since the area was usually in great turmoil, ex Meroni, Pope and Corwin
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Four singles, large margins to just in, each a distinctly different shade and so possibly from different sheets, tied by "Memphis Ten. Oct. 1, 1861" circular datestamps on cover to New Baltimore Va., slightly reduced at top and missing part of top flap, few expert mends also affect second stampVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE COVER BEARING FOUR SINGLES OF THE 5-CENT RED MEMPHIS PROVISIONAL, APPARENTLY FROM FOUR DIFFERENT SHEETS.
20c frankings such as this are rare. Ex Caspary and Matz.
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red on Amber entire (56XU2). Bold "Memphis Ten. Sep. 12, 1861" circular datestamp, addressed to La Grange Tenn., light vertical fold at center not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE. AN IMMACULATE EXAMPLE OF THE MEMPHIS PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
Ex Hind, Emerson and Brooks. With 2000 P.F. certificate.
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red on Amber, Cut Square (56XU2). 29 x 32mm, neat strike of "Memphis Ten. Aug. 17, 1861" circular datestamp, Very Fine, a very early use, ex Matz
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red on Orange entire (56XU3). Cancelled by "Memphis Ten. Jan. 10, 1862" circular datestamp and used to Athens Tenn., minor wearVERY FINE AND SCARCE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT MEMPHIS PROVISIONAL ON ORANGE ENTIRE.
Ex Matz
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