Sale 1048 — 2013 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 25 June, 2013
Category — Confederate States
Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville Ky. * Jul. 23, 1861. Clear strike of circular datestamp, 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), fresh color and beautifully centered, tied by blue grid cancel and "Louisville Ky. Jul. 24, 1861" double-circle datestamp on yellow cover to John Lewis Faber in South Hadley Mass., pencil manuscript "25/1" express charge (two bits, or 25c), Extremely Fine through-the-lines cover carried by Adams Express with a choice stamp and well-struck markings, Special Routes Census No. N-AD-30
Charleston S.C., 5c Blue (16X1). Huge even margins with framelines all around, tied by neat strike of "Charleston S.C. Sep. 19, 1861" double-circle datestamp on yellow cover to Eagle Mills N.C., slightly reduced at leftVERY FINE. A REMARKABLE FOUR-FRAMELINE EXAMPLE OF THE CHARLESTON PROVISIONAL ON COVER.
Ex Caspary and Hill and from our 2005 Rarities sale
Danville Va., 5c Black entire (21XU1). Style with "Southern" curved, press-printed illustrated design on cover with "Danville Ins. Co., Danville Va." blue embossed design on top flap, to Lynchburg Va., neat "Danville Va. Aug. 28" circular datestamp, some docketing, some soiling, cover with repaired tear affecting design and top flap expertly reattached, otherwise Fine, scarce, ex Wiseman
Memphis Tenn., 2c Blue (56X1). Large even margins, bright shade, tied by bold strike of "Memphis Ten. Dec. 1, 1861" circular datestamp on folded part-printed notice of license expiration from the "Mayor's Office" dated Dec. 1, 1861, addressed to Sam Mosby in Memphis, docketed Jan. 10, 1862, stamp with inconsequential tiny margin tear at top right, notice separated and hinge rejoinedEXTREMELY FINE. ARGUABLY THE FINEST OF THE ELEVEN 2-CENT MEMPHIS PROVISIONAL COVERS KNOWN TO US. A MAGNIFICENT AND VERY RARE EXAMPLE OF THIS QUINTESSENTIAL SOUTHERN POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
Matthew Campbell Gallaway (1820-1898), a colorful newspaper editor and aide-de-camp to General Nathan Bedford Forrest, was the Memphis Confederate postmaster who issued adhesive stamps and press-printed envelopes until Memphis fell to Federal forces in June 1862. Gallaway was often referred to as "Colonel," but military records show that he was paroled on May 10, 1865, as a 1st Lieutenant and Acting A.D.C. on General Forrest's staff (www.fold3.com). In August 1866 Gallaway, after resuming his position as editor of the Avalanche, was shot through the hand in a murder attempt by a United States tax collector named G. W. Wood (New York Times, Aug. 26, 1866). Gallaway survived and continued working as a newspaper editor until his retirement in 1887. He lived another decade, almost long enough to experience the arrival of the 20th century.
Samuel Mosby is believed to have been co-owner of Mosby & Anderson Storage, listed in the 1859 Memphis City Directory. The business was located on Union between Second and Third Streets (where the Hotel Peabody is today). (http://msgw.org/desoto/bios/mosby.html ).
We have attempted to verify and locate images for each of the Memphis 2c provisional covers listed in the census by Billy Matz (Confederate Philatelist, Mar. 1967) and the Hart survey in the Crown book. We have located images for 11 of the 13 covers listed. Two of the covers are addressed to James Street Esq. in Memphis and apparently have never been publicly offered (they were shown to us by the owner). One of the Street covers has an illegible datestamp, and the stamp on the other is tied by the target cancel. We assume that the dates in the Matz census (Aug. 2 and Oct. 7, 1861) were taken from the letters in these two covers, because we cannot find any other covers addressed to James Street. The two covers which we have been unable to verify with photographs are: "November 10, 1861; to Rev. Thomas Taylor, Newcastle, Tenn." -- this entry is apparently based on the Charles J. Phillips census, which identifies the cover as coming from the Manning collection, but a cover addressed to another post office would require 5c unless it was a circular rate. We would like to see a photograph of this cover. (From the Frank Hart survey): "H. C. Crane has Hon. J. G. Ham, Gov. of Tennessee, Nashville, Tenn." -- again, it seems odd that this cover is addressed to another post office. We would like to see a photograph of this cover.
Ex Richey, Brooks, Judd, Matz and Dr. Simon. With 2013 P.F. certificate
Nashville Tenn., 5c Carmine (61X2). Vertical pair -- top stamp Position 1 (break in lower right frameline and white flaw in I of "McNish") above Position 4 (ornament at lower left extends into inner frameline) -- large to huge margins except just touched at bottom left frameline, gorgeous rich color in true Carmine shade, tied by blue "Nashville Ten. Aug. 5, 1861" circular datestamp on light yellow cover to Tally Ho in Granville County N.C., bottom stamp light crease at lower left, top stamp small tear at upper rightEXTREMELY FINE APPEARING PAIR OF THE NASHVILLE 5-CENT CARMINE PROVISIONAL ON COVER.
Probably no more than twelve pairs of the 5c Nashville provisional are known on covers, including all shade varieties and in all grades of condition. This pair is one of the finest on-cover multiples of the Carmine (two or three known) and ranks among the top three pairs for any of the Scott-listed colors.
Ex Brooks, Emerson and Dr. Simon. With 2013 P.F. certificate
Victoria Tex., 5c Red Brown on Green (88X1). Unused (no gum), huge margins at bottom and right -- presumably from the corner of the sheet -- clear to touching at top and left, bright color, some light chipping of the surface coating and small natural paper bubble at right, neither of which are mentioned on the accompanying certificateVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE VICTORIA 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL. WE RECORD ONLY FIVE EXAMPLES, ALL UNUSED.
The five recorded examples of the 5c Victoria provisional are all unused and off cover, as follows: 1) Sound with original gum, top right corner margins, ex Ferrary, Hind, Hall, D.K. Collection; 2) Described as having original gum, top left corner margins, ex Hessel ("small faults"); 3) Described as having "some original gum", top right corner margins, vertical crease, ex Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne; 4) Uncancelled, left sheet margin, torn into design at bottom, Albert Steves photo; and 5) Unused, no gum, bottom right corner margins, light chipping and natural paper bubble, from a recent find, ex Felton, the stamp offered here. No cancelled Victoria 5c stamps or on-cover examples are known.
Illustrated in Linn's Stamp News article in 2008. With 2007 C.S.A. certificate stating "Genuine"
Victoria Tex., 10c Red Brown on Green (88X2). Unused (no gum), tight but clear margins to just touched at left, bright paper and clear impression, thinned at center and horizontal crease ending in small tear at leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY FIVE RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE VICTORIA 10-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL, OF WHICH THREE ARE UNUSED.
Our records contain five examples of the Victoria 10c Type I (large thin numerals): 1) Mar. 30, 1863 cover to J. San Roman, ex Brooks, Weatherly, Kilbourne, Gross, D.K. Collection; 2) Jun. 23 (1863) cover to C. Hellenkamp, ex Caspary, Muzzy and Boker; 3) Unused stamp with small repair, ex Hessel; 4) A severely damaged stamp with one third of lower right missing when discovered by Albert Steves; and 5) Unused stamp with thin and horizontal crease ending in a small tear, from a recent find, ex Felton, the stamp offered here.
Illustrated in Linn's Stamp News article in 2008. With 2007 C.S.A. certificate
2c Green (3). Three large margins, touched at top, tied by bold "Charleston S.C. Feb. 7, 186-" circular datestamp on semi-official cover with manuscript endorsement "Medical Purveyors Bureau, Charleston S.C. Official", to Bee's Cross Roads S.C., with original 1863 enclosure from Francis Lee to Asst. Surgeon James Morrow, some slight edge wear and minor toning spots, Very Fine, a scarce and interesting semi-official use of the 2c Lithograph -- the envelope is unsealed, but the letter (referring to enclosed invoices) should not have qualified for circular rate, Warren census SC-009, ex Keeling, illustrated in 2011 Congress Book, with 2005 P.F. certificate
2c Green (3). Vertical strip of three and vertical pair, large margins to in, tied by well-struck "Richmond Va. Mar. 27, 1863" datestamps on cover to Waynesboro Va., stamps affixed over blue "German and French Guns, Rifles, Pistols" cameo advertising design at top left, bottom stamp creased from being folded over edge of corer, top stamp small scrape, wear incl. small repairs at bottom, otherwise Fine, very scarce, Warren census VA-059, ex Hart and Peters, illustrated in 2011 Congress Book, with 1997 P.S.E. and 2004 P.F. certificates, Scott Retail as strip of five on cover $13,500.00
2c Green (3). Vertical and horizontal pairs used with single for 10c rate, margins to cut in and stamps have creases and tears (all prior to use), tied by "Huntsville Tex. May 15" circular datestamp and grids on soldier's blue 1863 folded letter to Houston Tex., Fine appearance, a striking and rare use from Texas, this is the only use of a No. 3 on cover from Huntsville recorded in the Warren census (2011 Congress Book), ex Bleuler, Warren Census TX-006, with 1985 C.S.A.. certificate
2c Brown Red (8). Horizontal strip of five, slightly irregular margins, mostly large except in at bottom of lefthand pair and touched at top, rich color, tied by "Pittsylvania C.H. Nov. 17" circular datestamp on cover to George Wise in Charleston N.C., turned use with inside bearing defective 10c Blue, Die A (11) tied by "Richmond Va., Nov. 1?" circular datestamp, some minor wearAN UNUSUAL TURNED COVER WITH AN EXTREMELY RARE COMBINATION FRANKING.
Ex Keeling and from our 2005 Rarities sale. Scott Retail for the strip of five on cover $4,500.00
2c Brown Red (8). Horizontal strip of five, large margins to barely in, tied by "Richmond Va. Sep. 20" datestamps and manuscript on large blue "Confederate States of America, War Department, Nitre and Mining Bureau" semi-official imprint cover to Wytheville Va., with matching enclosure (which may not originate as it is dated Sep. 21), slightly reduced at left and some wear incl. edge and backflap tears, appears Very Fine, a scarce and attractive use of a strip on a semi-official imprint cover, Scott Retail for strip of five on cover $4,500.00
2c Brown Red (8). Horizontal strip of five, mostly large margins to in at left, tied by five strikes of Army of Northern Virginia 10-Bar Open Grid cancel on back of oatmeal cover to Pittsylvania C.H. Va., opened for display, strip slightly stained, minor cover wearFINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USE OF THE 2-CENT 1863 "RED JACK" GENERAL ISSUE FOR THE 10-CENT RATE AND TIED BY THE ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA GRID.
Ex Corwin and Walske
2c Brown Red (8). Strip of five, full margins to just in incl. at right, tied by three strikes of "Atlanta Ga. May 26" circular datestamp on adversity cover made from printed form to Anthony Shoals Ga., cover repair at right and slightly reduced, right stamp with thin spot, Fine appearance, a rare use of a strip of five on an adversity cover, with 2008 C.S.A. certificate, Scott Retail for strip of five on cover $4,500.00
10c Greenish Blue, Die B (12c). Horizontal strip of three and single, large margins, tied by faint "Lumpkin Ga." circular datestamp on East-to-West 40c Trans-Mississippi Express Rate cover to Natchitoches La. with sender's routing "Via Meridian Miss.", with original enclosure dated Dec. 22, 1863, regarding legal matters but comments "No war news of any interest since the defeat of Bragg at Missionary Ridge", letter reinforced with tape (stained), the cover is missing part of backflap and has slight wear along edges, small lightened stained spot in stripFINE APPEARING AND VERY RARE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS COVER -- REPUTED TO BE THE ONLY ONE WITH ITS ORIGINAL LETTER.
According to a notation by A. Earl Weatherly, this is the only 40c Trans-Mississippi Express cover with its original letter, but we cannot verify this claim
Ex Walske. Illustrated in Shenfield book and listed in Krieger as E11 (page 41).
Civilian Flag-of-Truce Cover from Cuba to S.C., Aichel Correspondence. Folded letter from a German immigrant, Oskar Aichel, to his wife at home in Anderson C.H., South Carolina, datelined "Havana 12 Jan., 1864", letter was enclosed in an outer envelope (discarded at the exchange point), carried by steamer to New York City and from there to the exchange point through Old Point Comfort to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, censored by Union authorities and marked "Exd.", entered C.S.A. mails with "Richmond Va. Feb. 1" circular datestamp and "Due 10" straightline handstamp struck with the "0" off top of cover, some splitting along foldsVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FLAG-OF-TRUCE COVER FROM CUBA TO SOUTH CAROLINA VIA NEW YORK CITY, FORTRESS MONROE AND RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.
This letter from Oskar Aichel follows earlier letters known from his correspondence (see Siegel Sale 988, lot 164). Oskar describes how he is "well pleased with Havana...exceedingly healthy...making good progress in establishing my name, indeed much more than I, at first could expect." He goes on to state that he has eight pupils, four of which cover his expenses (possibly as an art teacher). This contrasts sharply with a letter he wrote the previous December, in which he describes the difficulty of finding work at reasonable wages and characterizes locals as "those mis-trusting vicious creoles."
Letters originating outside the continental United States and carried into the Confederacy under the flag of truce are extremely rare -- far rarer, in fact, than blockade-run covers into Confederate ports.
Havana to Augusta Ga. via Mobile Ala. 10c Blue Die A (11), three large margins, touched at right, tied by "Mobile Ala. Oct. 27?" double-circle datestamp on blockade-run cover originating in Havana, Cuba, addressed to "Mr. Emile Le Blanc, Columbus Miss." and "Care of J. B. DeBow", enclosed letter datelined Havana Oct. 23, 1863, docketed on back in French by Leon Seré that it was received in Augusta Ga. unsealed on Nov. 7, 1863, cover with small corner repair at top leftVERY FINE. A RARE INCOMING BLOCKADE COVER TO THE C.S.A. VIA MOBILE ALABAMA. ONLY NINE ARE RECORDED IN THE SPECIAL ROUTES CENSUS.
The exact sequence of handling for this cover and letter is difficult to determine, but after originating in Havana, it most likely was carried in an outer envelope (discarded) addressed to DeBow in Mobile Ala. From there it was franked with the 10c Confederate stamp and put into the mails as addressed, to Columbus Miss. Evidently, LeBlanc was not there, so the letter was opened (the "unsealed" part of the note) and the return address instructions (to Leon Seré in the text of the letter) were used to get the letter to Augusta. Seré added the "unsealed" note at Augusta upon its arrival on Nov. 7. We are grateful to Steven C. Walske for his interpretation.
An entry from the Louisiana State University library provides a picture of LeBlanc's activities during the war: "LeBlanc, C.E. Papers, Mss. 1315, 1864-1865 [Columbus, Mississippi]. Location: Reel 12, Confederate Military Manuscripts, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge: This collection consists of six items, papers, 1864-1865, of C. E. LeBlanc, deputy Confederate government agent for the purchase of cotton. Papers concern the sale of certain Confederate property in Columbus, Mississippi, and its subsequent confiscation by a U.S. Treasury agent. Additional items include a promissory note, a contract for the delivery of cotton, and a broadside announcing a lecture to be presented by J. D. B. DeBow in Columbus, Mississippi."
James D. B. DeBow, to whose care this cover was directed, was an American publisher and slavery advocate best known for his influential magazine DeBow's Review. A resident of New Orleans, DeBow was exiled to Mobile after the capture of New Orleans in April 1861. He later became one of the founding members of the Louisiana Relief Committee.
Special Routes census no. BI-MOB-8