Sale 1186 — The Kilbourne Collection of Confederate States Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Thursday, 28 June, 2018
Category — 2c Brown Red Engraved
2c Brown Red (8). Complete right pane of 100 with sheet margins all around, a few h.r. with a majority of stamps Mint N.H., creases throughout from prior folding, a few thin spots mostly confined to right margin, otherwise Very Fine, Scott Retail $9,375.00 as blocks of four (without Mint N.H. premium)
2c Brown Red (8). Huge margins to touched at top left, rich color, tied by "Albany Ga. Nov. 3, 1863" circular datestamp on diminutive drop-rate cover, fresh and Extremely Fine, a superb 2c "Red Jack" on a lady's cover, ex Brooks
2c Brown Red (8). Ample margins to just in at right, tied by "Danville Va. Jul. 26" circular datestamp on pinkish-buff Danville Female College corner card cover to Nottoway County Va., stamp with faint horizontal crease, fresh and Very Fine circular-rate use, a very rare College cover with the 2c "Red Jack"
2c Brown Red (8). Huge top margin with portion of adjoining stamp, other sides full to touched, tied by "Richmond Va. Mar. 9" (1864) circular datestamp on drop-rate cover with "Office of the Commissioner of Taxes" semi-official imprint (TD-12), addressed to the "C.S. Tax Collector", docketing at right as to the disposition of the contents, Very Fine, wonderfully choice quality
2c Brown Red (8). Large and even margins, exceptional depth of color, tied by clear "Richmond Va. Mar. 16" (1864) circular datestamp on Treasury Department folded circular to Farmville Va., manuscript "OB" (Official Business) on side flap, some inconsequential toning along edge of circular which is not part of the front of the cover, Very Fine, one of the finest 2c "Red Jack" circular uses we have ever encountered
2c Brown Red (8). Large margins all around, deep shade, tied by "Fayetteville N.C. Apr. 9, 1863" circular datestamp (year date is probably in error, most likely 1864) on green, brown and violet wallpaper cover addressed locally, slight edgewear and tiny edge tearsEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE USE OF THE 2-CENT "RED JACK" STAMP ON A WALLPAPER COVER.
Both the C.S.A. and Scott catalogues list the earliest known use of the 2c Engraved as April 21, 1863. This April 9, 1863, postmark is a significantly earlier date and was identified as the earliest known use by Earl Antrim in The Confederate Philatelist (Dec. 1966). However, the Fayetteville postmarks of this period were frequently struck with a yeardate error, so this is likely an 1864 use and will not be returnable if an expertizing body declares it 1864
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2c Brown Red (8). Two 2c, huge margins to touched, used with single 5c Blue, Local (7), tied by two strikes of "Charleston S.C. Jul. 14, 1863" double-circle datestamp on gray cover to Newbern, N.C. with no indication of postage due, cover with mended nicks and tears, 2c light bendsVERY FNE APPEARING AND RARE UNDERPAID USE COMBINING THE 2-CENT ENGRAVED AND 5-CENT TYPOGRAPH ISSUES.
Ex. Dr. Brandon. With 1987 C.S.A. certificate
2c Brown Red (8). Large margins to clear at left, tied by "Richmond Va. Jul. 30" circular datestamp on buff locally addressed drop-rate cover, forwarded to "near" Gordonsville Va. with 10c Blue, Die A (11) tied by partly clear strike of Richmond circular datestamp, small sealed cut at right of cover and on side flap, band of toning on backVERY FINE. A RARE COMBINATION USE OF THE 2-CENT AND 10-CENT ENGRAVED ISSUES, PAYING DROP AND FOWARDING POSTAGE.
Acquired by the Kilbournes in 1967 for $700
2c Red Brown (8). Large margins to touched at top, tied by "Richmond Va. Feb. 18" circular datestamp, pays drop-letter postage on buff prisoner-of-war cover from Fort McHenry Prison, Baltimore Md., addressed to Rev. Samuel Rodgers, Chaplain of the 22nd Virginia Infantry, care of Col. Ould in Richmond Va., U.S. postage paid with 3c Rose (65), tied by blue target cancel with matching "Baltimore Md. Jan. 23, 1865" circular datestamp, endorsed "Care U.S. Commissioner of Exchange Fortress Monroe Va," exchanged via Richmond and since it is also addressed there the drop-letter rate applied, flap with "John Rodgers & Son Fire Engine Builders" embossed oval sealVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE PRISONER-OF-WAR COVER TO RICHMOND, BEARING THE 2-CENT ENGRAVED "RED JACK". VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
Illustrated in Antrim book on p. 45. Ex Caspary and Middendorf
2c Brown Red (8). Horizontal pair, ample margins to barely touched, intense shade, tied by blue "Greensborough N.C. Mar. 12" (1864) circular datestamp on unsealed oatmeal cover to Westbrook N.C.EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL QUALITY DOUBLE-RATE CIRCULAR WITH A PAIR OF THE 2-CENT "RED JACK". A PAIR ON COVER IS RARER THAN A STRIP OF FIVE.
The use of a pair of No. 8 by itself on a cover paying double the 2c circular rate is quite rare -- in fact rarer than a strip of five paying the 10c rate. We have encountered a few others, but none in this quality, the beauty of which is enhanced by a blue cancel.
Ex Caspary, where acquired by the Kilbournes in 1957 at the sale of his Confederate material
2c Brown Red (8). Vertical strip of five, deep rich color, large to ample top and bottom margins, sides mostly full but slightly in at places, two stamps creased, small scissors-cut between stamps, tied by "Americus Ga. Aug. 17" circular datestamp on homemade oatmeal cover to Albany Ga., backflap removedA FINE AND ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT RATE PAID BY A STRIP OF THE 2-CENT "RED JACK" IN A VERY DEEP SHADE.
Ex Dr. Green.
2c Brown Red (8). Horizontal strip of five, large margins to clear, left margin slightly affected from placement at edge of cover, second stamp small crease/bend at top, each stamp cancelled with neat manuscript "#", also tied by matching "Coatopa (Ala.) March 30th 1865" postmark on homemade oatmeal cover to Meridian Miss., small cover stain at bottom left, Very Fine, late use of the 2c "Red Jack", this was one of the earliest purchases by the Kilbournes (paid $100 in 1942)
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.EXTREMELY FINE. PROBABLY THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN COVERS BEARING A BLOCK OF THE 2-CENT "RED JACK" ISSUE.
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. Illustrated in 1986 Dietz catalog (p. 136)