Sale 989 — 2010 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 19 June, 2010
Category — Confederate States
Robert E. Lee. Bold signature "R. E. Lee Genl" at top right of buff cover addressed to "Gen'l. Fitz Lee, Franklin St. -- 1st & 8th, Richmond Va.", with photocopy of original contents datelined "Camp 10 July 64", contents include "You had better change your picket line at once & send word to Genl. H. to that effect" and written during the Petersburg Siege, cover with some slight wear and expert restorationVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF A ROBERT E. LEE FREE FRANK, ADDRESSED TO HIS NEPHEW, GENERAL FITZHUGH LEE.
Fitzhugh Lee was the grandson of Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee and Robert E. Lee's nephew. He graduated from West Point and served in the U.S. Army until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he joined the Confederate Cavalry. He was severely wounded in 1864 (after having three horses shot our from under him) and was promoted to chief of the Cavalry corps. He was with his uncle at the surrender ceremonies in April 1865.
Pleasant Shade Va., 5c Blue (67X1). Position 1, top left corner sheet margin and large margins all around, faint gum toning, tied by clearly-struck greenish-blue "Pleasant Shade Va. Apr. 14" (1862) circular datestamp on grayish-manila homemade cover to Petersburg Va., from the Donnan correspondence (from which the unique pair on cover originates), neat receipt docketing, cover slightly torn upon opening at upper right corner, but the stamp is unaffectedEXTREMELY FINE STAMP AND ATTRACTIVELY TIED ON COVER. ONE OF THE FINEST RECORDED USED EXAMPLES OF THE PLEASANT SHADE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL AND ONE OF THREE COVERS AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.
The Pleasant Shade provisional was produced for Postmaster R. E. Davis by A. F. Crutchfield & Co. of Petersburg Va., publisher of the Daily Express and printer of the Petersburg provisional. The same typeset form was used for the Pleasant Shade stamp. With an 1860 population of 57, the small Pleasant Shade post office (1860-66) evidently had very little demand for the stamps. It is far rarer in used condition than unused. We record at least eleven unused singles (including one in the British Library collection), in addition to an unused pair and block of six. There are three singles known on covers, dated as follows: Dec. 22 (1861), Tapling collection, British Library; Apr. 14 (1862), the cover offered here; and May 21 (1862), ex Ferrary, Caspary. In addition to the three singles on covers, there is the unique pair on cover, dated Nov. 24 (1861), which is also the earliest recorded usage. We record only two examples used off cover: a stamp tied on piece, ex Caspary and Weatherly, and a sound stamp sold in our Sale 810 for $21,000 hammer.
Ex Caspary, Kilbourne and Gross.
Spartanburg S.C., 5c Black (78X1). Cut circular, clear or just touching outer circle, tied by "Paid" straightline, "Spartanburg S.C." double-circle datestamp with manuscript "June 22" (1861) date on orange-buff cover to Rev. A. Nettles, Summerville S.C.EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE APPROXIMATELY TWENTY KNOWN COVERS BEARING THE SPARTANBURG POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
Most of the recorded Spartanburg Type I provisionals (thin numeral at center) are cut in a circular shape. Some varieties exist, including Scott 78X1a (value omitted). Only one pair is known, used on a cover from the Dean correspondence.
Ex Ferrary, Hind, Hall and Gross.
10c Blue (2). Mint N.H., huge margins all around, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A STUNNING MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES 10-CENT JEFFERSON ISSUE.
With 2008 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Scott Retail as hinged
2c Green (3). Mint N.H., huge margins all around incl. part of adjoining stamp at left, brilliant colorEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A BEAUTIFUL MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES 2-CENT ANDREW JACKSON ISSUE.
With 2007 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95). Scott Retail as hinged
10c Rose (5). Original gum, huge margins all around, intense shade and impression, some offset on backEXTREMELY FINE GEM. A SUPERB ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES 10-CENT ROSE.
With 2008 P.F. certificate (XF-Superb 95)
10c Blue, Frameline (10). Virtually complete framelines on three sides, brilliant color, tied by large "JACKSON" (Miss.) straightline handstamp on small pieceVERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE EXAMPLE OF THE CONFEDERATE 10-CENT FRAMELINE, WITH A STRAIGHTLINE HANDSTAMP FROM JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.
With 1991 C.S.A. certificate