Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — Confederate States: Postmasters' Provisionals
Madison Court House Fla., 3c Gold on Bluish (3AX1). Large to huge margins, clear strike of "Madison C.H. Flo. Feb. 21" (1861) circular datestamp, deep thin and tiny pinholeEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE OF THE FIVE RECORDED OFF-COVER MADISON COURT HOUSE, FLORIDA, POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONALS.
The Madison Court House Provisional was the subject of a definitive article by Patricia A. Kaufmann in the American Philatelist and the Confederate Philatelist (the article, with updates, can be viewed at http://www.trishkaufmann.com/madison.php ). The Madison Provisional is one of six stamps that the Scott Catalogue now lists separately as "3c 1861 Postmasters' Provisionals". They are distinct from the 5c and 10c Confederate Provisionals in that the postmasters who issued the stamps were still technically under the control of the U.S. Post Office Department, and were remitting postal receipts to the Department (and were avoiding ordering new U.S. stamps in anticipation of a final change in administrative control of their offices). The 1861 Provisionals are all 3c adhesives or handstamps, reflecting the then-current U.S. letter rate. One of the recorded Madison Court House examples bears a manuscript "(P)aid in (Money)" in the handwriting of Postmaster Samuel J. Perry.
Only six examples of Scott 3AX1 are recorded, including four with the normal "CENTS" spelling (one is known only from an old photocopy at The Philatelic Foundation), the unique "CNETS" error, and the only recorded on-cover example. There is also the unique Madison 5c Provisional press-printed entire, listed in the regular C.S.A. Provisional section (137XU1).
Ex Judge Philbrick, Sir William Avery, Ferrary, Lapham, Moody and Dr. Briggs. With 1996 C.S.A. certificate.
12c Black, Plate 3 (36B). Intense shade, cancelled by clear strike of "Mobile Ala. Jan. 27, 1861" Independent State double-circle datestamp, fresh and Fine post-secession use of the 12c 1859 Issue, with 2016 P.F. certificate, Scott value with no premium for the Independent State use
24c Gray Lilac (37). Tied by "Mobile Ala. May 30, 1861" Confederate State double-circle datestamp and red "19" credit handstamp on small blue piece, vertical crease at right, Very Fine appearance, scarce Confederate use of the 24c 1860 Issue from Mobile, ex Saadi, with 1994 P.S.E. certificate, Scott value with no premium for the Confederate State use
Athens Ga., 5c Purple (5X1). Type I showing small "Paid", huge margins all around, deep shade, lightly cancelled by gridEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE ATHENS GA. 5-CENT PURPLE PROVISIONAL STAMP.
Ex Caspary, Birkinbine and our sales 810 and 853. With 2003 P.F. certificate
Baton Rouge La., 2c Green, “McCcrmick” Error (11X1a). Position 7 according to Richard L. Calhoun’s plating studies, manuscript “X” cancel, clear margins just touching a few ornaments, few thin spots and pinholes do not affect appearanceVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE BATON ROUGE 2-CENT “McCCRMICK” ERROR, OF WHICH THIS STAMP IS THE ONLY ONE CANCELLED OFF COVER. A MAJOR RARITY OF CONFEDERATE POSTMASTERS’ PROVISIONALS.
Our records contain three examples of the 2c “McCcrmick” error:
1) Unused, ex Worthington, Col. Green and D.K. collection
2) Manuscript “X” cancel, ex Ferrary, Hessel and Sharrrer, the stamp offered here
3) Tied by Nov. 30, 1861 datestamp on cover to New Orleans, ex Caspary, Lilly, Dr. Graves and D.K. collection
Ex Ferrary, Hessel and Sharrer. With 1976 P.F. certificate
Baton Rouge La., 5c Green & Carmine, Maltese Cross Border (11X2). Large margins to clear, rich colors, neat strike of circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine and choice, with 2005 P.F. certificate
Danville Va., 5c Red on Wove (21X1). Cut to octagonal shape, margins clear to just in at left and bottom, neat strike of Danville Oct. 3 circular datestampVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE SOUND EXAMPLE OF THE DANVILLE CONFEDERATE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL. ONLY NINE ARE KNOWN.
Our records of the rare Danville provisional stamp include nine examples, as follows.
Rectangular-cut margins:
1) On piece dated Oct. 3, ex Ferrary, Caspary
2) Laid paper (Scott 21X2), off-cover with bottom right corner clipped, ex Hind (Sale 954, lot 3199)
3) Dated Oct. 4, affixed to a cover on which it may not have originated, ex Hessel, Kilbourne, Dr. Agre (Sale 933, lot 919)
4) Tied on cover, Oct. 9, ex Caspary, Lilly
Octagonal margins or cut to shape:
5) Off cover, dated Oct. 3, ex Caspary, the example offered here
6) Tied on cover, Oct. 29, ex Emerson, Weatherly and Dr. Brandon (Sale 1073, lot 230, realized $28,000 hammer)
7) Tied on cover, Oct. 30, ex Kimmel
8) Cut to small oval shape, dated Oct. 11, ex Deats, Sale 1104, lot 2112)
9) Cut to shape, December Danville postmark (Sale 1002, lot 4111, realized $1,500 hammer)
Ex Caspary. With 2006 P.F. certificate.
Goliad Tex., 5c Black on Gray (29X6). Type II with Clark's name printed at left, margins touching ornaments on three sides, slightly in at right, short manuscript cancel, small closed tear at left, tiny thin spot at bottom, light toningFINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL RARITY. ONLY ONE PAIR AND TWO SINGLES ARE RECORDED OF THE 5-CENT GOLIAD TYPE II ON GRAY PAPER.
Despite the Scott Catalogue listings, which indicate that this stamp is of lesser rarity than the 5c Type I, only five examples of the 5c Type II with Clark's printed name are recorded, versus eight of the Type I. It was probably issued in 1863 or 1864, during a shortage of regular issues. At that time the basic letter rate was 10c, explaining the great rarity of 5c stamps.
Our records contain four examples of 29X6 (5c Black on Gray) and a single example of 29X8 (5c Black on Dark Blue). The 29X6 stamps are:
1-2) pair with one stamp showing the "GOILAD" error, ex Caspary
3) pen cancel, 1998 Rarities sale, the example offered here
4) pen cancel, small repair at bottom left, ex Hessel and Dr. Brandon (Sale 1073, lot 249, realized $21,000 hammer).
No 5c Type II Gray Paper stamps are known on cover.
With 1997 C.S.A. and 1998 P.F. certificates
History of the Goliad provisionals: http://siegelauctions.com/enc/pdf/GoliadTX.pdf
Knoxville Tenn., 10c Red on White, Cut to Shape (47XU3). Large margins, rich color, wonderful impression showing every detail of the press-printed engraving, light central strike of "Knoxville Ten. Mar. 1, 1862" double-circle datestampVERY FINE. THE UNIQUE KNOXVILLE 10-CENT RED POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON WHITE PAPER. ONE OF THE GREAT CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL RARITIES AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS USED FOR A PRESS-PRINTED POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
The discovery of this 10c envelope design, which is similar to the 5c, is discussed in an article by Peter Powell in the Jan.-March 2005 issue of the Confederate Philatelist. He quotes the Redfield Stamp Weekly of April 30, 1910: “Mr. W.H. Legg has turned up a Knoxville 10 cent red, of the same design as the 5 cent blue. His copy is on white paper and Mr. John Luff, in the course of investigating the specimen, succeeded in discovering a copy of the same stamp on orange.” Legg was an early dealer who passed away in 1915. Powell traces ownership to the famous Worthington collection, then to Lichtenstein. The Red on White next appeared at auction in the Caspary sale, and again in the 1987 auction of Scott Gallagher’s Tennessee collection. The Red on Orange appeared in the 1933 Hind sale. Mr. Powell successfully united both the unique white paper and orange paper examples for the first time since 1917 when Lichtenstein purchased them as part of the Worthington collection.
Ex Legg (discoverer), Worthington, Lichtenstein, Caspary, Gallagher and Powell. With 2015 P.F. certificate
Knoxville Tenn., 10c Red on Orange, Cut to Shape (47XU4). Large margins except where just in at bottom, rich color, unobtrusive strike of circular datestamp (the rim just shows at lower right), small thin spotsVERY FINE APPEARANCE. THE UNIQUE KNOXVILLE 10-CENT RED POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON ORANGE PAPER. ONE OF THE GREAT CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL RARITIES AND ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS USED FOR A PRESS-PRINTED POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
The discovery of this 10c envelope design, which is similar to the 5c, is discussed in an article by Peter Powell in the Jan.-March 2005 issue of the Confederate Philatelist. He quotes the Redfield Stamp Weekly of April 30, 1910: “Mr. W.H. Legg has turned up a Knoxville 10 cent red, of the same design as the 5 cent blue. His copy is on white paper and Mr. John Luff, in the course of investigating the specimen, succeeded in discovering a copy of the same stamp on orange.” Legg was an early dealer who passed away in 1915. Powell traces ownership to the famous Worthington collection, then to Lichtenstein. The Red on White next appeared at auction in the Caspary sale, and again in the 1987 auction of Scott Gallagher’s Tennessee collection. The Red on Orange appeared in the 1933 Hind sale. Mr. Powell successfully united both the unique white paper and orange paper examples for the first time since 1917 when Lichtenstein purchased them as part of the Worthington collection.
Ex Luff (discoverer), Worthington, Lichtenstein, Hind and Powell. With 1992 P.F. certificate
Macon Ga., 5c Black on Yellow Laid (53X6). Enormous margins all around, including top right corner sheet margins, neatly cancelled by “Macon Ga. Jun. (30)” 1861 double-circle datestamp, sharp dark impression on brightly colored paper with clearly defined laid linesEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONLY EIGHT EXAMPLES OF THE MACON 5-CENT FLORAL BORDERED PROVISIONAL ON YELLOW LAID PAPER (SCOTT 53X6) ARE RECORDED. THIS SUPERB CORNER-MARGIN STAMP IS ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES.
This stamp was removed from its cover (addressed to Howell Cobb) and identified as the rare Laid Paper variety, Scott 53X6. The original cover accompanies.
Our records contain eight examples of the 5c Floral-Bordered design on Yellow Laid paper:
1) Unused (no gum), tiny corner crease, “W.H.C." (Colson) backstamp, ex Lilly, Sale 954, lot 3208
2) Tied by Jul. 2 datestamp on piece, ex Caspary
3) Tied on cover to Edward Atkinson, Flemington Fla., Sale 546, lot 581
4) Tied by Jun. 21 datestamp on cover to Martha Nesbitt, Marietta Ga., Siegel 1981 Rarities sale, lot 483
5) Tied by Jun. 24 datestamp on cover to Mrs. Judd King, Marion Ala., ex Emerson, Brooks, Siegel 1982 Rarities sale, lot 36
6) Top right corner sheet margins, tied by Jul. 2 datestamp on cover to Montfort & Co., Butler Ga., Siegel 1983 Rarities sale, lot 315
7) Tied on cover to A. H. Grier, Oglethorpe Ga., Siegel 1984 Rarities sale, lot 35
8) Top right corner sheet margins, Jun. 30 datestamp (removed from cover to Howell Cobb, Athens Ga.), ex Myerson and Sharrer, the stamp offered here
Ex Myerson and Sharrer. With 2002 and 2007 P.F. certificates (the latter as an off-cover stamp)
Marion Va., 5c Black (55X1). Large margins to in, light strike of circular datestamp cancelFRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE MARION, VIRGINIA, 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
The Marion Va. 5c and 10c provisional stamps, with their distinctive "Check" label at top, were issued by Postmaster James H. Francis in 1861. The stamps were printed in two steps: first, the typeset form containing the border and words "P. Office, Marion, Va., Check. Paid" was impressed; then the value, "5" or "10" was handstamped on the blank center. Postmaster Francis described his stamps in a January 1880 letter to August Dietz, and he offered to make more from the "die" which he still possessed. Various "reprints" made from the typeset form were made by John W. Scott, including 2c, 15c and 20c values that have never been seen genuinely used.
Genuine Marion provisional stamps are extremely rare. Our records and the Calhoun census contain a total of 11 examples of the 5c, including 4 covers (one of which is in the British Library's Tapling collection), 3 stamps remaining on pieces, 3 used off cover and an unused example on bluish paper (of uncertain status, but counted in our census)
With 2006 P.F. certificate
Memphis Tenn., 2c Light Blue (56X1). Large margins all around including left sheet margin, bright milky shade, lightly cancelled by “Memphis Ten.” circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST USED EXAMPLES OF THE MEMPHIS 2-CENT PROVISIONAL AND ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE IN THE LIGHT BLUE SHADE.
Ex Sharrer. With 1997 P.F. certificate
Memphis Tenn., 2c Blue (56X1). Large and balanced margins, rich color, neat strike of circular datestamp cancel, trivial crease at lower left corner, still Extremely Fine, with 1998 A.P.S. certificate
Mobile Ala., 5c Blue (58X2). Large margins to full, two strikes of Mobile double-circle datestamp, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2002 P.F. certificate
Nashville Tenn., 5c Brick Red (61X3). Top sheet margin, large at left and bottom, touched at right, blue "5" numeral cancel, fresh and Very Fine, a lovely stamp and very rare with numeral cancel, ex Caspary and Birkinbine, with 2003 P.F. certificate
Nashville Tenn., 5c Gray Brown (61X4 var). Large to huge margins including top sheet margin, full at right, beautiful crisp shade and impression, neatly cancelled by blue Nashville Tenn. circular datestampVERY FINE AND CHOICE. THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST OF THE NASHVILLE 5-CENT SHADES.
Ex Sharrer. With 2004 and 2007 P.F. certificates (former showing the stamp on piece). Scott Value as 61X4
Nashville Tenn., 5c Violet Brown (61X5). Ample margins to clear, pretty shade, unobtrusive blue cancel, Very Fine, with 2006 P.F. certificate
Nashville Tenn., 10c Green (61X6). Ample margins to barely touched at upper left, deep rich color, neat strike of Adams Express Company blue oval datestamp, horizontal crease at center, small repair at top right adding a small portion of the frameline, still Very Fine, a presentable example of this scarce issue, only approximately 25 are known with any cancel, most of which are faulty, this stamp paid the Confederate postage on a cover carried across the lines by Adams Express Company, only three full express covers are recorded with the Nashville 10c adhesive provisional, all dated at Nashville on August 1, with 1998 P.F. certificate
New Orleans La., 2c Blue (62X1). Full to large margins all around, rich color, neat strike of "New Orleans La. 2 Sep." (1861) circular datestamp, Extremely Fine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
New Orleans La., 2c Red (62X2). Large to huge margins including part of adjoining stamp at left, tied by “New Orleans La. 22 Mar.” (1862) circular datestamp on pieceEXTREMELY FINE GEM. ONE OF THE FINEST CANCELLED EXAMPLES OF THE NEW ORLEANS 2-CENT RED PROVISIONAL, WHICH IS RARE IN USED CONDITION.
New Orleans postmaster, J. L. Riddell, prepared provisional stamps in June 1861 and advertised them for sale on June 12th. The 2c Red stamps were printed without the marginal inscription “Usable exclusively in the New Orleans Post Office”. The 5c and subsequent 2c Blue printings all have the imprint. It is the accepted theory that the 2c Red stamps were printed first, before Riddell added the imprint, and were withheld from use until January 1862 when the supply of 2c Blue stamps was exhausted.
Ex Hind, Hall and Sharrer. With 2008 P.F. certificate.
New Orleans La., 5c Ocher (62X3b). Large margins all around, bold "PAID" cancel, Extremely Fine Gem, very rare used, ex Birkinbine, with 2001 P.F. certificate
New Orleans La., 5c Deep Brown (62X3 var). Large side margins, full at bottom and ample at top, intense dark shade, tied by clear part strike of “Baton Rouge La.” circular datestamp on small buff piece, Very Fine, rare example of New Orleans provisional cancelled at Baton Rouge post office, ex Sharrer, with 2006 P.F. certificate submitted as Chocolate Brown, Scott Value as normal shade with normal cancel
New Orleans La., 5c Red Brown on Bluish (62X4). Positions 26-31, horizontal strip of six, ample margins to just barely in, rich color on deeply blued paper, bold "New Orleans La. 10 Dec." circular datestamps, tiny corner crease at bottom leftFINE-VERY FINE. THE LARGEST RECORDED HORIZONTAL STRIP OF THE NEW ORLEANS PROVISIONAL IN USED CONDITION. A REMARKABLE MULTIPLE.
Ex Freeland. With 1999 P.F. certificate. Listed and priced in Scott as a strip of six
New Orleans La., 5c Red Brown on Bluish, Printed on Both Sides (62X4a). Full to large margins, nearly full impression on back, New Orleans circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE PRINTED-ON-BOTH-SIDES VARIETY. PROBABLY FEWER THAN A DOZEN EXAMPLES EXIST ON EITHER WHITE OR BLUISH PAPER. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST.
Ex Hind and Hall. With 2000 P.F. certificate
Petersburg Va., 5c Red (65X1). Position 10, large margins to barely touched at right, radiant color, light strike of blue circular datestamp cancel, Very Fine, with 1997 P.F. certificate
Pleasant Shade Va., 5c Blue (67X1). Position 4, ample to large margins all around, part of clearly struck blue Pleasant Shade circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. THIS IS THE FINEST RECORDED OFF-COVER USED EXAMPLE OF THE PLEASANT SHADE POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL.
The Pleasant Shade provisional is far rarer in used condition than unused. There are three singles known on covers (one in the British Library collection) and the unique pair on cover. We record only two examples used off cover: a stamp tied on piece, ex Caspary and Weatherly, and this sound stamp.
Ex Nassau Stamp Company Stock, Weill Brothers’ Stock, Dr. Graves (“Argentum”) and Sharrer. With 1999 P.F. certificate. We are mystified as to why Scott Catalogue recently lowered the value of this in used condition from $20,000 to $15,000, when the only recorded sale was of this stamp in 2012, at $21,000 hammer plus commission.
Rheatown Tenn., 5c Red (69X1). Position 1 in setting, huge margins all around, deep shade, cancelled by part of “Rheatown Ten.” circular datestamp, without pen cancel, two minor thin spots that do not detract from appearanceEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RHEATOWN POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL CANCELLED BY THE TOWN MARKING.
Our records of the Rheatown provisional list three unused singles, five singles on covers, one pen-cancelled single on a dated piece, and three used singles. Only this stamp and one on cover are cancelled by the town datestamp. All of the other used stamps are cancelled by pen. This is by far the finest stamp off cover, none of which are sound.
Ex Deats, Hall (acquired from Warren H. Colson in 1934) and Sharrer. With 2000 P.F. certificate.
Spartanburg S.C., 5c Black (78X1). Square margins which are full to large, sharp strikes of double-circle and “5” rate handstamps, neat “(PA)ID” cancel at rightEXTREMELY FINE GEM. THIS SUPERB STAMP IS THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF THE RARE SPARTANBURG 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON OR OFF COVER.
We know of only one other cut-square example of the 5c 78X1 provisional, a stained and defective copy on cover. There is also a cut-square copy of 78X3 on cover, ex Caspary.
The footnote to the Scott Catalogue listing states: “Most examples of Nos. 78X1- 78X3 are cut round. Cut square examples in sound condition are worth much more.” The only cut-square Spartanburg provisionals in sound condition are this stamp (78X1) and the 78X3 stamp on cover, ex Caspary.
Illustrated in Crown book (page 325). Ex Caspary and Sharrer. With 1956 and 2004 P.F. certificates.