Sale 1129 — 2016 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 31 May, 2016
Category — Confederate States: Postmasters Provisionals, New Orleans thru Unionville
New Orleans La., 2c Blue (62X1). Five singles arranged as a horizontal strip, mostly clear margins, small flaws which accompanying certificate states are from being lifted and replaced, left stamp small repair at bottom but all stamps originate, bold strikes of "Paid" straightline handstamp tie stamps together and to cover (between stamps and at left), "New Orleans La. 26 Jul." (1861) circular datestamp on yellow cover to Hartsville Tenn., paying the 10c over-500 miles rate, edgewear and small cover repair at lower rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED COVERS WITH FIVE NEW ORLEANS 2-CENT BLUE PROVISIONAL STAMPS. AN EXCEPTIONAL RARITY.
Our records contain four covers franked with three or more 2c Blue New Orleans Provisional stamps -- two with five stamps, one with three stamps and a 5c Red Brown provisional, and one with three stamps, as follows:
1) Horizontal strip of five, tied by Oct. 12 (1861) New Orleans circular datestamp to Augusta Ga., paying over-500 miles 10c rate, ex Caspary and Meroni
2) Five singles, tied by "Paid" straightlines, Jul. 26 (1861) New Orleans circular datestamp, to Hartsville Tenn., paying over-500 miles 10c rate, the cover offered here, ex Hessel and Dr. Brandon
3) Three singles and 5c Red Brown (62X4), tied by "Paid" straightlines, New Orleans Oct. 1 (1861) circular datestamp, to Orange C.H. Va., paying over-500 miles 10c rate (1c overpayment), ex Seybold, Needham, Grant, Dr. Skinner and D.K. collection (Siegel Sale 1022, lot 1078)
4) Three singles, tied by Dec. 1 (1861) New Orleans circular datestamp, to Woodville Miss., paying 5c under-500 miles rate (1c overpayment), ex Emerson, Caspary, Muzzy, Siegel 1970 Rarities and Kilbourne (Siegel Sale 815, lot 110)
Ex Hessel and Dr. Brandon. With 1976 P.F. certificate
New Orleans La., 2c Blue (62X1). Margins all around, deep rich color, tied by "New Orleans La. 1 Sep." (1861) circular datestamp on yellow cover to Orange Court House Va., slight cover wrinklingVERY FINE. A CHOICE FOUR-MARGIN EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLUE NEW ORLEANS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON A CIRCULAR TO VIRGINIA.
Approximately 30 covers are known with the 2c Blue (27 in Crown census), including circular and drop rates. More than half of the covers have stamps without four margins or faults in the stamp or cover. This is a particularly nice example.
Ex Wishnietsky.
New Orleans La., 2c Blue (62X1). Huge margins almost all around, just touching frameline at lower left, bright shade and sharp impression, tied by clearly struck "New Orleans La. 2 Aug." (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Russellville Ala., unusual notation "Circular from Corn Mercht.", couple trivial stain spotsEXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH-QUALITY EXAMPLE OF THE NEW ORLEANS 2-CENT BLUE PROVISIONAL ON A CIRCULAR-RATE COVER.
Approximately 30 covers are known with the 2c Blue (27 in Crown census), including circular rates and drop rates. More than half of the covers have stamps without four margins or faults in the stamp or cover.
Ex Grant, Meroni, Dr. Simon and D.K. Collection
New Orleans La., 2c Red (62X2). Large margins to clear, radiant color, tied by "New Orleans La. 7 Feb." (1862) circular datestamp on blue folded printed circular to members of the Southwestern Bible Society and addressed to Blossom Hill La., few minor age spots, stamp with light diagonal crease at top right and tiny surface scrapesVERY FINE APPEARANCE. AN OUTSTANDING CIRCULAR-RATE USE OF THE RARE NEW ORLEANS 2-CENT RED PROVISIONAL. ONLY TEN COVERS ARE RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
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. The Crown book lists six 2c Red covers, while Dr. Hubert C. Skinner (Congress Book, 1978) recorded eight covers. We have located ten covers.
Ex Freeland and Hill. With 2005 P.F. certificate
New Orleans La., 2c Red (62X2). Three large to huge margins, just barely in at right, tied by "New Orleans La. 7 Mar." (1862) circular datestamp on cover to local address, left side of cover has long repaired opening tearsFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE DROP-RATE USE OF THE NEW ORLEANS 2-CENT RED PROVISIONAL. ONLY TEN COVERS ARE RECORDED.
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. The Crown book lists six 2c Red covers, while Dr. Hubert C. Skinner (Congress Book, 1978) recorded eight covers. We have located ten covers.
Ex Zimmerman and Powell.
New Orleans La., 5c Ocher (62X3b). Three huge margins including part of imprint at top, just touched at bottom, incredibly rich color, tied by "Paid" straightline, "New Orleans La. 14 Aug." (1861) circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Memphis Tenn., docketed on backEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE IMPRINT EXAMPLE OF THE OCHER SHADE ON COVER.
Ex Seybold and Hall. With 2000 P.F. certificate
New Orleans La., 5c Deep Vermilion on Bluish (62X7). Position 1, full to large margins, extraordinarily intense shade on deeply blued paper, part of New Orleans circular datestamp and full clear strike of "Paid" cancel, thinning at left resulting in two tiny nicks (reinforced with paper)VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THREE OF THE SEVEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE NEW ORLEANS 5-CENT RED ERROR ARE PRINTED ON BLUISH PAPER. THIS IS THE MOST INTENSE SHADE OF RED WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED. ONE OF THE RAREST SOUTHERN POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONALS AND THE ONLY COLOR ERROR IN CONFEDERATE PHILATELY.
There is only one true color error among all Southern Postmasters' Provisionals: the New Orleans 5c Red, which is found on both White and Bluish papers.
In his 1978 Congress Book article, Dr. Hubert C. Skinner theorized that either "too much red ink was introduced onto the platen in blending the brown ink or the components of the ink separated while the press was idle for a time." This, he speculated, "produced a mottled impression on a very few sheets" and "would have been corrected as soon as the rollers passed across the platen a few times re-mixing or blending the ink." The discovery of the hybrid Red-and-Brown stamp confirmed Dr. Skinner's theory. The ink mixture error had to have occurred more than once, because the stamps on White paper were printed in June, and the stamps on Blue paper were printed in August.
Our records contain the following examples of the 5c Red error: White Paper (62X6): 1) Unused with traces of gum, ex Ferrary, Hind, Brooks (not seen publicly since 1943); 2) "DUE (3cts)" straightline, partly rebacked over thins, ex Caspary, Lilly, Kilbourne and D.K. Collection; 3) Cut in at bottom, tied by "Paid" straightline on part of cover to Mrs. Wm. Reynaud, Baton Rouge, photo by Hiram Deats in P.F. files; 4) Mixture of Red and Brown, corner strike of circular datestamp, partly rebacked over thins and tear, discovered recently, ex D.K. Collection; Blue Paper (62X7): 5) Dec. 4 circular datestamp, thin spots and small repair, ex Crocker. Felton and D.K. Collection; 6) Sep. 17 circular datestamp, small faults, ex Ferrary, Hind, Lilly and D.K. collection; 7) Position 1, "Paid" and part datestamp, thinned with small nicks at left, ex Caspary, Skinner and D.K. Collection, the stamp offered here.
Ex Caspary, Dr. Skinner and D.K. Collection
Steamer Empire Parish 5cts. Paid. Bold strike of oval name-of-boat handstamp with rate in manuscript over place where U.S. half-dime was affixed and removed by steamboat operator, clear "PD 5 CTS/N.O.P.O." two-line provisional handstamp with "New Orleans La. 19 Nov." circular datestamp on buff cover to Kirkwood Miss., few inconsequential edge tears at bottomVERY FINE. A RARE AND OUTSTANDING COMBINATION OF THE EMPIRE PARISH MISSISSIPPI RIVER PACKET BOAT HANDSTAMP AND THE NEW ORLEANS PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP.
This cover was posted on the Steamer Empire Parish with a U.S. half-dime attached with a red wax seal. The boat captain or puser removed the coin and struck the "STEAMER EMPIRE PARISH" oval and wrote "5 cts. paid" over the spot where the coin had been attached. On arrival at New Orleans it was handstamped with the "PD 5 CTS/N.O.P.O." marking over the same spot.
Accompanied by 1860 half-dime to represent what may have been included with the cover to pay postage in New Orleans.
Ex Dr. Brandon. With 2014 P.F. certificate
New Orleans La., 5c Black entire (62XU1). Bold strike of "PD 5 CTS/N.O.P.O." two-line provisional handstamp with "J. L. RIDDELL, P.M." straightline and well-struck "New Orleans La. Dec. 3, 1861" river-mail double-circle datestamp, additional "New Orleans La. 14 Mar." (1862) circular datestamp (sans-serif) on yellow cover to Dennis Mills La., vertical toning bandVERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED COMBINATION OF THE NEW ORLEANS PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP AND BOTH TYPES OF NEW ORLEANS DATESTAMPS.
As noted in our description of the unique 10c entire (Sale 933, lot 948), all provisional markings on that entire, including the datestamp, are impressed through the back of the envelope, indicating that they were applied before the letter (weighing over one-half ounce) was inserted. Therefore, in our opinion, the December 3 (1861) double-circle datestamp on this entire was applied when it was sold, and the March 14 (1862) circular datestamp was applied at the main post office when it was mailed three months later. Dr. Skinner's analysis differs from ours -- he believes that the entire was mailed on December 3 and returned to the main office on March 14, but we see no evidence of non-delivery. In our opinion, some of the New Orleans entires were sold in advance and postmarked with the double-circle on the day of sale; in this instance, the delayed mailing resulted in a second postmark.
Ex Knapp, Brown and Skinner.
Rheatown Tenn., 5c Red (69X1). Position 2 in setting, Type II with distinctive inverted ornament at top right, huge margins, deep shade, neat manuscript cancel, "Rheatown Ten. Jun. 20" (1861) circular datestamp on small cover to "Lieut. D. R. Wilson, Knoxville Tenn., care of Col. J. B. McIntyre", two pressed creases in cover clear of stamp, address slightly faded, stamp has tiny corner margin crease at bottom rightVERY FINE. THE EARLIEST KNOWN USE AND ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE SIX RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE RHEATOWN POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
The 5c provisional stamps issued by Postmaster D. Pence were printed by the same printer who produced the Tellico Plains Tenn. provisional. An affidavit by the Tellico Plains postmaster, M.F. Johnson, dated March 24, 1876, states that his stamps were printed in Knoxville by "Hawes Lea." The June dates recorded for the Rheatown suggest that it came first, and the postmaster's own recollections place the issue in "midsummer 1861" (see Crown book, p. 307). Although dated examples show use into April 1862, a relatively long period of time, the issue is extremely rare.
The same basic type form containing three subjects was used for the Rheatown and Tellico Plains Tenn. provisionals. For the Rheatown, all three were 5c denominations. The inside border at the top of each stamp is made up of seven ornaments; the unique arrangement of the ornaments in each subject enables philatelists to identify the position of any stamp.
Our records contain at least a half-dozen off-cover examples the Rheatown 5c, including an unused pair, the only known multiple. The six covers we record are as follows (in chronological order, type identified):
1) Jun. 20 (1861), Ty. II, cover to Lt. D. R. Wilson, ex Worthington (his source code on back "11/26/04 Luff BISSS"), Caspary, Antrim, Weatherly, Kilbourne and D.K. collection, the cover offered here
2) Jun. 30 (1861), Ty. I, small cover, faint address, Siegel 1984 Rarities Sale
3) Feb. 8 (1862), Ty. III, lady's embossed cover to Eliz. Devault, the only tied example, ex Caspary, Gallagher
4) Feb. 13 (1862), Ty. II, on restored cover, ex Steves, Crown book (Siegel Sale 1104, lot 2275)
5) Feb. 15 (1862), Ty. I, cover to David Cleage, circular datestamp struck twice, ex Caspary
6) Apr. 9 (1862), Ty. II, cover to Mrs. Wm. Brown, ex MacBride, Dr. Graves, Boshwit and Dr. Brandon (Siegel Sale 1073, lot 329).
Ex Worthington (his source code on back "11/26/04 Luff BISSS"), Caspary, Antrim, Weatherly, Kilbourne and D.K. collection
Ringgold Ga., 5c Blue Black entire (71XU1). Unusually clear strike of the provisional marking, "Ringgold Geo. Aug. 30" (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Summerville Ga., expertly repaired along edges and thru circular datestamp (parts painted in)VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE RINGGOLD CONFEDERATE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
The Crown survey and our own records of the Ringgold provisional contain five full entires, one of which is a late use with 5c Local Prints paying postage. A piece is also recorded and there may be a sixth entire.
Ex Emerson, Baldwin (H.R. Harmer Feb. 18, 1963 auction) and Powell.
Selma Ala., 5c Black entire (77XU1). Clear strike of provisional handstamp and postmaster William H. Eager signature on cover with "J. M. Clay & Co. Dealers in Dry Goods & C." green embossed cameo corner card, addressed to Wenokaville Ala., partly clear strike of "Selma Ala. Jun. 12, 1861" circular datestamp with year in manuscript, back with soilingVERY FINE AND RARE. ONE OF ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES OF THE SELMA, ALABAMA, PROVISIONAL ON A CORNER CARD COVER RECORDED IN CROWN.
The Crown Survey contains only fifteen examples in total, four of which are on corner card covers (this example illustrated on p. 324).
Ex Hessel, Buchanan and Dr. Brandon
Spartanburg S.C., 5c Black (78X1). Vertical pair, cut to "8" shape with large margins virtually all around, touched at bottom, tied by one of three "Paid" handstamp strikes, matching "Paid" and "10" in circle handstamp, "Spartanburg S.C." 1861 double-circle datestamp on orange-buff cover to "Corpl. Edwd. J. Dean, 'Spartan Rifles', 5th Palmetto Regt. So. Car. Vol., Coln. M. Jenkins, Commander, Tudor Hall P.O., Virginia, Care Capt. Jos. Walker, 'Spartan Rifles'", the pair is superb except for a lightly scuffed spot at center right (which seems to have been there prior to handstamping), very light cover horizontal crease barely affects pair, the cover is fresh and attractive, backflap removed and a bit rough at top, light vertical fold at leftAN IMPORTANT AND VERY FINE COVER, BEARING THE ONLY RECORDED PAIR OF SPARTANBURG PROVISIONAL STAMPS -- APPROXIMATELY TWENTY EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN ON OR OFF COVER.
John A. Lee was a prominent merchant who served as postmaster of Spartanburg from 1850 through the end of the war. Residents of Spartanburg remembered him as the "Wartime Postmaster" (John B. O. Landrum, History of Spartanburg County, available at Google Books -- thanks to Vince King for this citation).
Postmaster Lee created his provisional stamps by applying the "5" numeral rate marking inside the "Spartanburg S.C." double-circle datestamp on a sheet of paper. The stamps are known cut square and cut to shape. As one might imagine, the stamps come on a variety of papers. Two types of "5" markings were used, and one example is known with the denomination omitted. Most of the paper and numeral varieties are listed separately in the the C.S.A. and Scott catalogues.
Spartanburg S.C. takes its name from the "Spartan Rifles," a group of militia soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The name was adopted by Confederate soldiers from Spartanburg during the Civil War.
Corporal Edward J. Dean and the Dean correspondence were the subjects of an article by the late Daniel M. Gilbert, published in the Confederate Philatelist.
Joseph Walker was enrolled as captain of the Spartan Rifles on April 13, 1861. Micah Jenkins, a resident of Yorkville, South Carolina, was mustered into service as colonel of the 5th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment in June 1861. He was elected colonel of the Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, on April 13, 1862, and promoted to brigadier general in July 1862.
This pair on cover -- the only recorded pair -- is illustrated in the Crown book on page 328. Accompanied by 1899 letter to N.P. Strauss of Henderson, N.C., the original purchaser, identifying the Dean family as the original source.
Ex Schenck, Everett and D.K. collection. With 2002 P.F. certificate
Spartanburg S.C., 5c Black, Ruled Lines (78X1 var). Three clear light blue ruled lines, cut circular with large margins to clear at bottom, uncancelled, "Spartanburg S.C. June 18, 1861" double-circle datestamp with complete date in manuscript, "Paid" straightline on orange-buff cover to "Corpl. Edward J. Dean, 'Spartan Rifles', 5th Palmetto Regt. So. Car. Volunteers, Col. M. Jenkins, Commanding, Richmond Virginia., Care Capt. Jos. Walker", slightly rough opening at top with sealed tears just touching markingsVERY FINE ON-COVER EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE SPARTANBURG POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON RULED WHITE PAPER. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY COVERS ARE KNOWN .
John A. Lee was a prominent merchant who served as postmaster of Spartanburg from 1850 through the end of the war. Residents of Spartanburg remembered him as the "Wartime Postmaster" (John B. O. Landrum, History of Spartanburg County, available at Google Books -- thanks to Vince King for this citation).
Postmaster Lee created his provisional stamps by applying the "5" numeral rate marking inside the "Spartanburg S.C." double-circle datestamp on a sheet of paper. The stamps are known cut square and cut to shape. As one might imagine, the stamps come on a variety of papers. Two types of "5" markings were used, and one example is known with the denomination omitted. Most of the paper and numeral varieties are listed separately in the C.S.A. and Scott catalogues. However, the ruled paper variety is not listed in Scott (although it was in 1967 when this cover was last certified). It is mentioned in the C.S.A. Catalog as "unconfirmed with conflicting auction descriptions."
Spartanburg S.C. takes its name from the "Spartan Rifles," a group of militia soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The name was adopted by Confederate soldiers from Spartanburg during the Civil War.
Corporal Edward J. Dean and the Dean correspondence were the subjects of an article by the late Daniel M. Gilbert, published in the Confederate Philatelist.
Joseph Walker was enrolled as captain of the Spartan Rifles on April 13, 1861. Micah Jenkins, a resident of Yorkville, South Carolina, was mustered into service as colonel of the 5th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment in June 1861. He was elected colonel of the Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, on April 13, 1862, and promoted to brigadier general in July 1862.
Ex Meroni, Lilly and Dr. Brandon. Raymond H. Weill backstamp. With 1967 P.F. certificate as Scott 78X1a, which at the time was the Scott listing for "with blue ruled lines"
Uniontown Ala., 5c Green on Gray Blue (86X3). Position 3, even margins mostly clear of ornaments all around, excellent impression on deeply blued paper, tied by “Uniontown Ala.” circular datestamp on blue cover to Mrs. R. A. Cobbs, care of Rev. J. M. Mitchell in Montgomery Ala.VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE COVER FROM THE COBBS CORRESPONDENCE. ONLY 13 ON-COVER EXAMPLES OF THE UNIONTOWN POSTMASTER’S 5-CENT PROVISIONAL ON GRAY BLUE PAPER ARE RECORDED BY CROWN.
The Cobbs correspondence was found by R. S. Nelson of Birmingham, Alabama. According to reports at the time of the discovery, Mrs. Cobbs had been ill in a Montgomery hospital, and her husband wrote to her from Uniontown “daily, and sometimes twice a day, for some three weeks” (Crown book, page 344).
Ex Caspary, Hart, Telep, Dr. Maffeo and Sharrer. With 1990 P.F. certificate.
Uniontown Ala., 5c Green on Gray Blue (86X3). Position 2, the only one of four positions with Lobe ornaments at top and Loop ornaments at bottom, close margins all around, tied by usual light strike of Uniontown Ala. circular datestamp on brown cover to Montgomery Ala., slight edge wearA VERY FINE AND ATTRACTIVE COVER FROM THE COBBS CORRESPONDENCE. ONLY 13 COVERS WITH THE UNIONTOWN 5-CENT GREEN ON GRAY BLUE PAPER ARE RECORDED IN THE CROWN CENSUS.
Although the Scott Catalogue does not distinguish between types, the distinctive typography of Position 2 should qualify it as a major variety of Uniontown provisionals.
Ex Ferrary, Hind, Hall, Gross and Warren.
Unionville S.C., 5c Black on Grayish (87X1). Bold strikes of the "Paid" in oval above "5" handstamp on adhesive, effectively tied by gum toning on cover to Pacolet Mills S.C., faint but readable strike of "Unionville S.C. Sep. 3" circular datestamp, original letter enclosure dated Aug. 26, cover with minor edgewear, light pink discoloration and gently cleanedVERY FINE AND RARE. ONLY FOUR COVERS BEARING THE UNIONVILLE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ARE CONTAINED IN OUR RECORDS.
The Unionville Provisional was produced by using two handstamps on hand at the post office. The paper, slightly bluish, was first ruled by pencil into lines forming squares. One example also shows printed lines, indicating that it may have been created from normal lined paper.
Our records contain the following four covers (none are known off-cover)
1) Pair tied by circular datestamp on 7-Star Patriotic cover to Centreville Va., ex Ferrary, Caspary and Lilly
2) Uncancelled on cover to Pacolet Mills S.C., cover repaired at top and bottom, Siegel 1966 Rarities, ex Warren
3) Tied by gum toning on cover to Pacolet Mills S.C., the cover offered here, ex Kohn, Dr. Agre and Dr. Brandon
4) Tied by Unionville circular datestamp on cover to Mt. Taubor (N.C.), some staining around stamp, ex Hessel.
Ex Kohn, Dr. Agre and Dr. Brandon. Illustrated in Crown Survey on p. 351. With 1947 note of authenticity from August Dietz