Sale 1159 — 2017 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 27 June, 2017
Category — The Civil War and Confederate States
Civil War Cartoon, "Oh! Massa Jeff. dis Sesesh Fever will kill de Nigger." Corner card design depicting a doctor attending to two sick slaves, back wall with signs including "Dr. Jeffys Celebrated Bond Plasters" and "The Great Southern Remedy", "Saint Louis Mo. Sep. 14" circular datestamp with "Due 3" straightline on cover to Alexandria O., soldier's endorsement at top, few minor edge nicks, Very Fine, an extremely rare postally-used example of this anti-Southern Civil War design, a Google search turned up several variations on this design, but nearly all examples printed on envelopes are unused
3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26). Well-centered, centrally placed in field of stars and tied by bold "St. Louis Mo. Apr. 23, 1861" circular datestamp on red and blue all-over Davis-Stephens 7-Star Confederate Flag Patriotic cover to Philadelphia, backflaps neatly rejoined with archival tape, top flap has small piece missingEXTREMELY FINE. A VERY EARLY USE OF THE DAVIS-STEPHENS OVERALL FLAG PATRIOTIC DESIGN-- DATED APRIL 23, ONLY TEN DAYS AFTER FORT SUMTER SURRENDERED.
Ex Dietz (signed), Nunnelley and "Sevenoaks"
Charlottesville Va. Jun. 1, 1861 -- First Day of the Confederate Postal System. Clear strikes of blue double-circle datestamp, "Paid" and "5" C.S.A. rate handstamps on cover to Madison C.H. Va., May 31 docketing and charge box notation at left, barely reduced at top and missing part of backflap, light toned specklesVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING JUNE 1, 1861, FIRST DAY COVER OF THE NEW CONFEDERATE POSTAL SYSTEM USED WITHIN VIRGINIA.
With 2000 C.S.A. certificate. Raymond W. Weill backstamp
Hendersonville N.C. June 3 (1861). Clearly-struck circular datestamp (some letters in watery ink) ties 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) on lady's small cover to Bowman's Bluff N.C., obsolete Federal stamp not recognized, blurry "Hendersonville N.C. June 5" circular datestamp and manuscript "Pd 5" Confederate rate applied two days later, neatly docketed on back "Annie -- Rec'd June 6th 1861"EXTREMELY FINE. A VERY RARE EXAMPLE OF CONFEDERATE "OLD STAMPS NOT RECOGNIZED" TREATMENT OF A LETTER PREPAID WITH UNITED STATES POSTAGE AFTER JUNE 1, 1861.
The Federal demonetization of all United States stamps issued before the new 1861 series resulted in use of "Old Stamps Not Recognized" markings on letters originating in the North with obsolete postage affixed. In the South, Federal postage stamps were not accepted as prepayment for the Confederate rates effective June 1, 1861. Markings used to reject prepayment were applied in manuscript, or letters were simply marked postage due or held for postage. This cover was mailed by a young lady (Annie) to another young lady (Harriet) on June 3 with the old United States 3c stamp affixed (upside down -- deliberately?). The postmaster at Hendersonville held the letter until the 5c required Confederate postage was prepaid. Examples such as this are extremely rare.
Ex Birkinbine and Walske
Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Aug. 14, 1861. Circular datestamp ties 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26) on censored folded letter from the Rives correspondence to New York City, blue "Charlottesville Va. Jul. 31, 1861" double-circle datestamp, matching "Paid" and "10" handstamps, 3c cancelled by Adams treated as invalid postage, second 3c applied and tied by blue "Louisville Ky. Aug. 15, 1861" double-circle datestamp and grid cancel, right stamp with replaced lower left corner, cover with small inconsequential edge tearsFINE AND RARE EXAMPLE OF CENSORSHIP BY THE ADAMS EXPRESS AGENT OF CIVILIAN MAIL BETWEEN SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN CORRESPONDENTS.
This interesting pro-Confederate letter opens with comments on reported unreliability of American Letter Express and difficulty sending letters. The writer also describes watching the Battle of First Manassas. The last portion of the letter has been censored by being crossed out with squiggles and writing in a different pen (some ink bleed-thru to front). The writer's reaction to the censorship is expressed in the letter offered in the following lot.
The opening of mail, for censorship and espionage purposes, was a sore point with the civilian population. This reference to Adams Express opening and censoring mail is a significant contemporary account.
Walske-Trepel Cenus no. N-AD-66. Ex Gallagher. With 2005 C.S.A. certificate
American Letter Express. Another folded letter from the Rives correspondence, datelined "Charlottesville Va. Aug. 10, 1861" to New York City, carried thru-the-lines to Louisville (this is the inner letter), 3c Rose (65) tied by blue "Louisville Ky. Aug. 22" double-circle datestamp and grid, the writer refers to the letter offered in the previous lot: "I do not like the espionage of Adams Express -- its dunderheaded agt. here undertook to erase certain portions of my last letter to you as contra band. You will therefore please answer me under cover to 'American Letter Express Company' Louisville Ky. enclosing 15c for postage which you will find herewith." minor wear and edge tearsVERY FINE AND RARE THROUGH-THE-LINES EXPRESS COVER BEARING POSTAGE OF THE 1861 ISSUE. THIS WAS POSSIBLE FOR ONLY A FEW DAYS IN LATE AUGUST, 1861. ALSO AN OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNT OF FRUSTRATION OVER CENSORSHIP OF CIVILIAN MAIL.
This letter was posted on August 22, four days before the August 26 prohibition of thru-the-lines express mail. Through-the-lines express covers bearing 1861 Issue stamps are very rare as there was less than a one-week window from the date of issue to the prohibition. The Walske-Trepel census records only three such covers with 1861 Issue stamps.
Walske-Trepel Cenus no. N-AX-12. Ex Knapp, MacBride, Roser and Gallagher
Micanopy Fla., 5c Black entire (105XU1). Bold strike of "Micanopy, Fla. Paid 5" circular provisional handstamp, "Micanopy Flo. Apr. 21" (1862) circular datestamp on small pink cover to "Judge Castleberry, Monimia P.O., Clay County Ga.", original enclosure reports the death of Abner's wife, who left seven children including an infant, also states "I do not think of visiting Georgia this summer, I think our Negroes here are unsafe, the enemy being near on either side.", small piece out at top right of cover which just nicks the provisional marking, edge soilingFINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ENTIRES FROM MICANOPY, FLORIDA.
Joseph T. Colding was commissioned the Micanopy postmaster on July 25, 1861, replacing the pre-war postmaster, Thomas J. Leonard. The "Monimia" address on this cover was not actually a post office, but rather the name of the daughter of the plantation owner to whom the cover was sent. There are two recorded examples of the Micanopy Provisional. The other has a "Paid 5" handstamp in addition to the 5c provisional rate marking, apparently for the over-500 miles 10c rate. It was offered in our recent sale of the Dr. Deane R. Briggs collection (Siegel Sale 1153, lot 2096), where it realized $15,000 hammer.
Ex Bogg.
5c Green, Stone 1-2 (1). Four margins, tied by "Richmond Va. Nov. 26 1861" circular datestamp on unlisted War Department, Engineer Bureau semi-official imprint cover to the presiding justice at Cumberland C.H. Va., enclosure on the same War Department letterhead states in part "Required, For work on the defenses of Richmond City, Fifty (50) able bodied free Negroes to be assembled at Cumberland C.H. on Thursday the 4th of December where they will be received and mustered into the service of the State...", signed by Alfred L. Rives, Acting Chief of the Engineer Bureau, also includes a separate written authorization to receive "free Negroes" and a long list of names of those receivedVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING COMBINATION OF THE 5-CENT LITHOGRAPH ISSUE ON AN UNLISTED SEMI-OFFICIAL IMPRINT COVER WITH CONTENTS DESCRIBING THE ENLISTMENT (COERCION) OF FREE AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN FOR WORK ON THE DEFENSES OF RICHMOND.
Both enslaved and free African Americans were routinely pressed into service on behalf of the Confederacy, performing manual labor for the Army and various branches of government. Almost none of it was voluntary. Slaves were often hired out by their owners, but even free black men were coerced to perform manual labor. This is an outstanding and scarce contemporary written example of that system
2c Green (3). Large margins to just in at right, tied by blue Charlottesville Va. double-circle datestamp (possibly Jan. 9, 1863) on re-used U.S. 3c Red on White Star Die entire (U26), manuscript "Paid 2" underneath stampVERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL AND RARE USE OF THE 2-CENT GREEN JACKSON ISSUE ON AN OBSOLETE UNITED STATES ENTIRE, PAYING THE DROP RATE.
It is not unusual to find the more common Confederate General Issue stamps or semi-official imprints used on obsolete U.S. entires, since paper shortage was such an acute problem in the Confederacy. However, the use of the scarce 2c Jackson Lithograph on such an entire is remarkable. We could not locate another using Power Search.
Scott Retail for 2c used on normal cover $3,500.00
10c Carmine (5a). Vivid color, large even margins all around, tied by clear strike of blue "Charlottesville Va. Aug. 5, 1863" double-circle datestamp on buff cover to New Hope Va., minor backflap tearEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 10-CENT CARMINE ON COVER.
Ex Emerson, Brooks and Shenfield
10c Carmine (5a). Brilliant color, ample to huge margins, tied by clear strike of "Troy Alabama Aug. 20, 1863" circular datestamp on buff cover to Greensboro Ala., small cover repairs at top and top left which do not affect the stamp or the town markingVERY FINE AND CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE ELUSIVE 10-CENT CARMINE ON AN ATTRACTIVE COVER.
With 2002 C.S.A. and 2017 P.F. certificates
2c Brown Red (8). Block of four and pair, block with large margins to touched at top right, with portions of adjoining stamps at bottom, top left stamp with unusual printer's thumbprint (from handling the wet sheet), pair with ample margins to touched, small scissors-cut in bottom stamp, tied by dark blue "Charlottesville Va. May 25, 1863" double-circle datestamps on back of small overpaid cover to Forest Depot Va., front side with some minor mounting remnants which could no doubt be removedEXTREMELY FINE. PROBABLY THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN COVERS BEARING A BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT "RED JACK" ISSUE.
We have offered a cover with a block of eight and a pair (double 10c rate) but it is large size, heavily pen-cancelled and faulty. Apart from that we have not offered any other blocks on cover since keeping computerized records. This is also unusual in its 2c overpayment of the 10c rate.
Ex Pratt and Brooks. Accompanied by a 1949 letter from Stanley B. Ashbrook stating that Brooks paid $700 for the cover in the 1920's
10c Milky Blue, "TEN" (9a). Large even margins all around, lovely Milky Blue shade, tied by bold strike of "Charleston S.C. Sep. 21" circular datestamp on cover to Columbia S.C., docketing at top leftEXTREMELY FINE GEM EXAMPLE OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES 10-CENT "TEN" ISSUE ON A FRESH COVER. SUPERB IN EVERY RESPECT.
With 2017 P.F. certificate
10c Blue, Frameline (10). Original gum, large margins to ample including full frameline at left and parts at top and bottom, fresh color and completely soundVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE SOUND, ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES 10-CENT FRAMELINE ISSUE.
This is the rarest Confederate States General Issue stamp in original-gum condition (apart from the Carmine shade of Scott 5). We have offered only about a dozen in any shade since keeping computerized records and the vast majority of those had faults of varying degrees.
With 1985 P.F. and 2017 P.S.E. certificates
10c Blue, Frameline (10). Unused (no gum), complete framelines at top and bottom, nearly complete at right and a portion present at lower left, rich colorVERY FINE UNUSED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT FRAMELINE ISSUE. RARELY SEEN WITH FRAMELINES ON FOUR SIDES.
With 2009 C.S.A. certificate
20c Green (13). Huge even margins all around with traces of adjoining stamps at sides, deep rich color, neat strike of red Petersburg Va. circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING USED EXAMPLE OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES 20-CENT GREEN CANCELED IN RED. THIS EXCEPTIONAL STAMP HAS BEEN AWARDED THE GRADE OF SUPERB 98 BY P.S.E. -- THE HIGHEST GRADE AWARDED.
Used examples of this issue are considerably more difficult to obtain in such superb condition. Multiples of the unused stamp from remainders exist and can be cut down. Used examples are scarce, and were often hurriedly cut apart. To find one with this size margins and cancelled in red is truly remarkable.
With 2002 and 2009 P.F. certificates. With 2013 P.S.E. certificate (Superb 98; SMQ $3,900.00). P.S.E. does not publish Population Reports for Confederate States but they inform us that this is the only stamp graded 98, with the next highest a single example at 95