Sale 1146 — U.S. and Confederate States Postal History
Sale Date — Thursday, 15 December, 2016
Category — Civil War: Confederate Postmasters Provisionals
Athens Ga., 5c Purple (5X1). Two, both Type I, large to huge margins, rich color (one with reddish ink), grid cancels, "Athens Ga. Paid Jan. 3" (1862) circular datestamp on cover to Yorktown Va., Cobb correspondence, left stamp light corner crease, some light toning at top leftEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A SUPERB DOUBLE-RATE FRANKING WITH THE ATHENS PROVISIONAL.
Ex Hall. With 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott value for a pair on cover is $7,500.00
Athens Ga., 5c Purple, Tete-Beche Pair (5X1a). Types I and II in foot-to-foot vertical pair, large margins to in at right of one where piece out, unusual dark line of printing color towards top of the left stamp, cancelled by grid, "Athens Ga. Paid Nov. 14" circular datestamp with high "a" of "Ga." on cover to Capt. George Hillyer, 9th Regiment Georgia Vol., Manassas Va., cover professionally restored and cleaned, stamps professionally cleanedFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY FOUR RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE ATHENS PROVISIONAL TETE-BECHE VARIETY. THIS IS THE EARLIEST RECORDED USE ON COVER.
Only four post offices are known to have produced tete-beche provisional varieties: Athens, Macon, Memphis and Nashville. In each case the tete-beche multiple was created by the work-and-turn printing method, as opposed to an inverted cliche among subjects on the plate. All are extremely rare. Of the Athens 5c tete-beche, our records contain four covers, three of which are listed in Crown
1) Nov. 14 (1861) to Capt. George Hillyer, the cover offered here
2) Nov. 25 (1861) to Dr. E. D. Newton, ex Brooks, Jack Solomon, and D.K. Collection (Siegel Sale 1022, lot 1005, realized $15,000 hammer)
3) Dec. 2 (1861) to Capt. Porter King, ex Brooks, Weatherly, Kilbourne and D.K. Collection (Siegel Sale 1022, lot 1005, realized $17,500 hammer)
4) Jan. 6 (1862) to A. H. Stephens, ex Ferrary
There are three additional off-cover tete-beche pairs: 1) large margins, ex Caspary; 2) severely cut into (Siegel Sale 280); and 3) top of Type II clipped off down to oval, originally on a cover to Dr. E. D. Newton, ex Walcott, the pair was removed and offered off cover in the Meroni sale.
With 2013 C.S.A. certificate.
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green & Carmine (11X2). Large margins to just touched, tied by light strike of "Baton Rouge La. Jan. 30" (1862) circular datestamp on cover to a member of the Delta Rifles, 4th Regiment La. Volunteers at Berwick City La., missing top flap, stamp with some translucencies from gum, vertical file fold well away from stamp, otherwise Very Fine
Charleston S.C., 5c Blue (16X1). Ample to large margins showing large part of dividing lines, tied by "Charleston S.C. Dec. 11, 1861" circular datestamp on small cover to Abbeville C.H. S.C., closed cover tear at right edge, otherwise Very Fine, ex Warren
Charleston S.C., 5c Blue entire (16XU1). Bold "Charleston S.C. Sep. 14, 1861" circular datestamp on cover to Flat Rock N.C., expert repaired tears at top left corner and at top barely into datestamp, backflap reattached, Extremely Fine appearance, a remarkably fresh and attractive example of this rare press-printed provisional entire, ex Felton
Charleston S.C., 5c Blue on Amber entire (16XU2). Woodcut press-printed provisional at upper right, bold strike of "Charleston S.C. Oct. 11, 1861" circular datestamp and used to Greenville S.C., some slight wrinkling and staining not affecting the indicia or datestamp, Fine
Columbia S.C., 5c Blue entire (18XU1). Clear strike of the provisional marking, "Columbia S.C. 15 ?" circular datestamp and "Paid" handstamp on cover to Anderson C.H., large sealed tear on front and slightly cleaned, Very Fine appearance
Fredericksburg Va., 10c Red on Thin Bluish (26X2). Unused (no gum), large margins all around, few small flaws often associated with this fragile paper, Very Fine appearance, only approximately 35 copies known and most have faults, none are known genuinely used
Jackson Miss., 5c Black entire (43XU1). Beautifully bold strike of provisional handstamp, "Jackson Miss. Jun. 5" (1861) circular datestamp on buff cover to New Orleans, Carroll Hoy correspondence, couple staple holes as typical for this correspondence including one in datestamp, Very Fine, ex Dr. Brandon
Knoxville Tenn., 5c Black entire (47XU5). Provisional handstamp with "5" above "Paid", pencil manuscript "Due 5" on homemade cover to Christianburg Va., no town postal markings as almost always, original Oct. 4, 1861 enclosure a notarized demand for payment from Exchange & Deposit Bank Knoxville, some minor soiling and missing backflap, otherwise Very Fine example of this rare provisional entire, the Crown survey contains only five examples and there are probably not more than a half-dozen more, with 1987 C.S.A. certificate
Lake City Fla., 10c Black entire (96XU1). Provisional handstamp with "E. R. Ives" straightline handstamp on bottom flap, "Lake City Fla. Apr. 14" circular datestamp, on cover to Sparta Ga., minor wear. Fine and rare, only six are recorded in Crown (four from this correspondence). Ex Dr. Agre and Dr. Brandon, with 1987 C.S.A. certificate
Laurens Court House S.C., 5c Black entire (116XU2). Clear strikes of "Paid" without frame and "5" handstamps, "Laurens C.H. S.C." control handstamp on back with bold "Laurens C.H. S.C. Jun. 28" circular datestamp on faulty cover to Newberry C.H. S.C., corner missing and staining, still with complete and clear markings, extremely rare, the Federal and re-appointed Confederate postmaster at Laurens C.H. was Edward Anderson, only a small number of his provisional covers are known, we have offered only one other of this type since keeping computerized records, ex Weill Brothers' Stock
Lenoir N.C., 5c Blue & Orange (49X1). Large right margins, top and bottom framelines touched, just slightly in at left, unusual gap in orange background lines at right (from the edge of the sheet), cancelled by manuscript "X", partly clear blue "Lenoir N.C. Oct. 20" circular datestamp on cover addressed to "Capt. Thomas I. Lenoir, 25th Reg N.C.V. (Clingman's), Wilmington N.C.", neat receipt docketing at left "From W. W. Lenoir in 1861"VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY FRESH AND CLEAN COVER BEARING THE BI-COLORED PROVISIONAL STAMP OF LENOIR, NORTH CAROLINA. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE MILITARY ADDRESS TO A MEMBER OF THE LENOIR'S NAMESAKE FAMILY.
James Harper (1799-1879) served as postmaster of Lenoir from 1841 until sometime in 1862 or 1863. His son, George Washington Finley (G. W. F.) Harper (1834-1921), was the assistant postmaster and, according to the written affidavits, was responsible for carving the woodcut die used to make the provisional stamps and envelopes (see Crown book, pp. 172-178, 651-652). In 1862, G. W. F. Harper enlisted as a private in Co. H, 8th Regiment, N.C. Infantry, and eventually earned the rank of major.
The Lenoir adhesive stamp is one of three bi-colored provisionals issued by Southern postmasters (the others were issued at Baton Rouge La. and Greenvile Ala.). Approximately 29 covers bearing the Lenoir adhesive stamp are known. The same woodcut device was applied directly to envelopes, as evidenced by the one recorded cut square with the single 5c impression (Scott 49XU1) and the unique 5c plus 5c entire (Scott 49XU2).
Thomas Isaac Lenoir and Col. Joseph Cathey assembled a company of North Carolina mountaineers into a fighting unit he called the "Haywood Highlanders." On July 18, 1861, Captain Lenoir led the Haywood Highlanders to Asheville to join the war, and they were eventually absorbed into the 25th N.C. Infantry under the command of Thomas Lanier Clingman. Clingman's Brigade fought at Goldsboro, Battery Wagner, Drewry's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Globe Tavern, Fort Fisher and Bentonville.
This cover to Thomas Lenoir was addressed by his brother, Walter Waightstill Lenoir. In 1862 Walter was commissioned into Co. H, 58th N.C. Partisan Rangers. He was promoted to captain and transferred to Co. A, 36th N.C. Infantry on July 18, 1862. A battlefield wound in September 1862 resulted in the amputation of his right leg, and he returned home.
Illustrated in Crown book (page 175). Ex Manning, Brooks, Weatherly and D.K. Collection. With 1972 P.F. certificate
Lenoir N.C., 5c Blue & Orange (49X1). Margins showing framelines all around, cancelled by single manuscript stroke, stamp was affixed upside down (lifted and replaced right side up), blue "Lenoir N.C. May 3" circular datestamp on small homemade cover to Greensboro N.C., slightly reduced at left, minor gum staining around stampVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE COVER BEARING THE BI-COLORED PROVISIONAL STAMP OF LENOIR, NORTH CAROLINA.
James Harper (1799-1879) served as postmaster of Lenoir from 1841 until sometime in 1862 or 1863. His son, George Washington Finley (G. W. F.) Harper (1834-1921), was the assistant postmaster and, according to the written affidavits, was responsible for carving the woodcut die used to make the provisional stamps and envelopes (see Crown book, pp. 172-178, 651-652). In 1862, G. W. F. Harper enlisted as a private in Co. H, 8th Regiment, N.C. Infantry, and eventually earned the rank of major.
The Lenoir adhesive stamp is one of three bi-colored provisionals issued by Southern postmasters (the others were issued at Baton Rouge La. and Greenville Ala.). Approximately 29 covers bearing the Lenoir adhesive stamp are known. The same woodcut device was applied directly to envelopes, as evidenced by the one recorded cut square with the single 5c impression (Scott 49XU1) and the unique 5c plus 5c entire (Scott 49XU2).
Ex Worthington, Engel and Dr. Brandon. With 1971 C.S.A. certificate
Macon Ga., 5c Black on Yellow Wove (53X3). Top sheet margin single, large margins all around, tied by "Macon Ga. Jun. 28" (1861) double-circle datestamp, second strike at left, on yellow cover to Mrs. Callie King in Marion Ala.EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE MACON 5-CENT FLORAL BORDER PROVISIONAL STAMP KNOWN ON COVER.
Ex Caspary, Lehman, Haas and D.K. Collection. With 1956 P.F. certificate
Macon Ga., 5c Black Entire (53XU1). Clear strike with "Macon Ga. Nov. 7" double-circle datestamp on cover to Griffin Ga. with green grocery dealer fancy embossed oval cameo corner card, "Fears & Pritchett" with second name crossed out and "Swanson" in manuscript, slightly reduced at left but does not affect the corner card and portions of letters "A" and "D" of "Paid" drawn in, Very Fine appearance, ex Dr. Brandon, with 2016 P.F. certificate
Memphis Tenn., 2c Dark Blue, 5c Red (56X1, 56X2). Two items on exhibit page, first is bottom right corner block of six with sheet margin of 2c including partial print with manuscript notation in selvage "postage stamp issued by city of Memphis between time of rebellion...", 5c block of four with top left corner selvage and similar notation in selvage, few faults, Very Fine appearance, album page notes these were seized by a "Yankee" and sent up north
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Huge top margin including significant portion of adjoining stamp, other sides full to just in at bottom, tied by partly clear strike of Memphis circular datestamp on small cover to Camden Ark., Dec. 4, 1861 docketing, stamp with light pre-use crease, Very Fine, ex Dr. Brandon
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Two covers, vertical and horizontal pairs tied by Memphis Ten. circular datestamps on buff covers to Paul C. Cameron in Hillsboro N.C., both pairs with faults including horizontal pair nicked and cut in, otherwise Fine, these are from an original correspondence and have never appeared on the market before, for information on the Cameron family see http://finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/00133/
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