Sale 937 — 2007 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Saturday, 16 June, 2007
Category — Confederate States
3c Red on Buff, Star Die entire (U27). Cancelled by "New-York Mar. 30" circular datestamp to Portsmouth N.H., with hand-drawn "The Presidential Hobby Horse, For The Next Four Years - Seats to Let" Lincoln Railsplitter caricature, wonderful design with split leg labelled "Secession" and with flag attached to an axe labelled A. Lincoln, Proprietor", barely reduced at right, fresh and Very Fine, a phenomenal and unique hand-drawn cartoon lampooning Lincoln's "Railsplitter" election campaign
Athens Ga., 5c Purple (5X1). Types I-II in horizontal pair, obviously from the top right corner of the sheet with huge rough-cut margins at left and bottom (touches at bottom right) and evenly-cut margins at top and right, beautiful deep shade on bright paper, tied by grid cancels, part strike of "Athens Ga. Paid Oct. 14" (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Lieut. John B. Cobb of Cobb's Georgia Legion at Yorktown Va., negligible corner crease at bottom right, light fold in cover at rightVERY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN COVERS BEARING A PAIR OF THE ATHENS POSTMASTER PROVISIONAL.
The Crown census lists 21 pairs on cover.
Ex Ferrary, Emerson, Brooks, Duckworth, Wulfekuhler and Kilbourne. Signed Ashbrook
Canton Miss., 5c Black entire (14XU1). Absolutely perfect bold strike of provisional handstamp with clear "Canton Miss. Jul. 24" (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Carroll Hoy & Co. in New Orleans, usual filing pinholes, Extremely Fine example of this fancy provisional handstamp -- the "P" at center of star is the initial of Postmaster William Priestly, ex Wiseman, Hart and Kilbourne
Danville Va., 5c Black on Dark Buff entire (21XU3). Style with "SOUTHERN" curved, press-printed illustrated design on dark buff cover to Halifax C.H. Va., "Danville Va. Sep. 1" (1861) circular datestamp and second Sep. 2 strike, small stain spot at bottom left, light wrinkles and small piece of flap missingVERY FINE. CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEW KNOWN DANVILLE PROVISIONAL ENTIRES.
Fewer than 20 examples are recorded, of which a number are late invalid usages with General Issue stamps.
Ex MacBride, Wiseman and Kilbourne
Fredericksburg Va., 5c Blue on Thin Bluish (26X1). Position 3, huge margins all around including top sheet margin, one wide-positioned ornament touched at lower right, tied by "Fredericksburgh Va. Paid Oct. 10" (1861) circular datestamp on light buff homemade cover to Lieut. Robert D. Minor, Confederate Navy Department, Richmond, faint stain spots and vertical fold clear of stamp, most of backflap removedEXTREMELY FINE STAMP AND ATTRACTIVE COVER WITH CONFEDERATE NAVAL ADDRESS IN THE HAND OF FAMED CONFEDERATE NAVAL OFFICER, MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY.
In October 1861, Matthew F. Maury, the famous "Pathfinder of the Seas", was working closely with Lieut. Robert D. Minor in waging experimental torpedo warfare against Federal gunboats off Newport News, which occurred on October 10, the day this cover was postmarked.
Ex Ferrary, MacBride and Kilbourne.
Galveston Tex., 5c Black entire (98XU1). Remarkably bold strikes of provisional "Paid" and "5" handstamps, clear "Galveston Tex. Jun. 6" (circa 1861) circular datestamp on yellow cover to Yorkville S.C., three corners repaired, otherwise Very Fine, one of the clearest strikes known, ex Kilbourne
Galveston Tex., 10c Black entire (98XU2). Boldly-struck provisional handstamps with faint "Galveston Tex. May 4, 186-" double-circle datestamp on small envelope made from printed form, to Anderson Tex., tear at top, opened to show printed interior, Very Fine strike, from the Neblett correspondence, ex Kohn and Kilbourne
Knoxville Tenn., 5c Blue on Orange entire (47XU2). Uncancelled as usual, addressed to McMinnville Tenn. and evidently carried thru the mails, Very Fine and rare, approximately 15 are known genuinely used (none have postmarks), ex Shenfield and Kilbourne
Lenoir N.C., 5c Blue & Orange (49X1). Margins showing two full framelines and traces of a third at right, ms. "X" cancel, blurry blue "Lenoir N.C." circular datestamp on blue folded letter datelined "Palmyra Jan. 17th '62" to R. L. Patterson, Salem N.C., routed thru the Lenoir post officeFRESH AND FINE. ONE OF THE MORE COLORFUL AND ATTRACTIVE OF THE APPROXIMATELY 29 LENOIR PROVISIONAL COVERS EXTANT.
Ex MacBride and Kilbourne
Lynchburg Va., 5c Blue (52X1). Three large margins showing bit of adjoining stamp at left, slightly in at top, tied by "Lynchburg Va. Oct. 7" (1861) circular datestamp on buff cover to Indian Valley Va., merchant's embossed corner card, slightly reduced at leftVERY FINE. A HANDSOME EXAMPLE OF THE LYNCHBURG POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL USED ON COVER.
Ex Shenfield, Wiseman and Kilbourne
Macon Ga., 5c Black on Light Blue Green Wove (53X1). Large margins, very choice except for faint gum stains, tied by "Macon Ga. Nov. 12" (1861) double-circle datestamp on cover to Vice-President A. H. Stephens at Augusta, redirected to Crawfordville Ga. with ms. "Ford 5c" forwarding charge, backflap removed as usual for the Stephens correspondence, neatly docketed on backVERY FINE. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT OF THE CONFDERATE PROVISIONAL ADHESIVES TO FIND ON COVER IN SUCH CHOICE CONDITION.
The stamp on this cover is printed on bluish paper, as opposed to the brighter green paper.
Ex Caspary and Kilbourne
Memphis Tenn., 5c Pale Rose (56X2). Large margins to just in at bottom scalloped border, tied by bold "Memphis Ten. Nov. 21 (1861) circular datestamp on buff cover to Hollow Springs Miss., Very Fine, ex Knapp and Kilbourne
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Horizontal strip of four, large to huge margins except where a bit uneven at bottom, tied by "Memphis Ten. Nov. 9, 1861" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Petersburg Va., repaired at upper left and significantly reducedFINE APPEARANCE. AN EXTREMELY RARE USE OF THE MEMPHIS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE ON COVER.
Ex Kilbourne
Nashville Tenn., 5c Gray (61X4). Deep Brownish Gray shade, horizontal pair, small faults, tied by blue "Nashville Ten. Oct. 25, 1861" circular datestamp, matching "Paid" handstamp on small cover to Lieut. Col. William Preston Johnston, 1st Ky. Regt., Genl. Jones' Brigade, Camp near Centerville Va., light soiling, small opening tear at topFINE APPEARANCE. TWO COVERS WITH PAIRS OF THE RARE NASHVILLE 5-CENT GRAY ARE RECORDED -- THIS IS THE ONLY TIED EXAMPLE.
Ex Gallagher and Kilbourne.
Nashville Tenn., 5c Violet Brown (61X5). Horizontal pair, large margins to just touching at upper right, rich color, small tear at left, tied by blue "Nashville Ten. Sep. 20, 1861" circular datestamp with matching "Paid" on yellow cover to Tredegar Iron Works, Richmond Va., sealed opening tear in coverVERY FINE PAIR ON AN ATTRACTIVE COVER. ONLY THREE PAIRS OF THE VIOLET BROWN ON COVER ARE RECORDED IN THE CROWN CENSUS.
Ex Gallagher and Kilbourne
New Orleans La., 2c Red (62X2). Full to large margins except where frameline just shaved at upper right, tied by "New Orleans La. 25 Jan." (1862) circular datestamp on manila wrapper to Memphis Tenn. with original printed circularVERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING CIRCULAR-RATE USE OF THE RARE NEW ORLEANS 2-CENT RED PROVISIONAL. ONLY TEN COVERS RECORDED IN OUR CENSUS.
The 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 (The Congress Book, 1978) recorded eight covers. We record ten.
Ex Kilbourne.
New Orleans La., 2c Blue (62X1). Large margins to just touched, tied by "New Orleans La. 31 Aug." circular datestamp on unsealed orange cover to Hopkins Turnout S.C., trivial edgewearVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-CENT BLUE NEW ORLEANS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL PAYING THE CIRCULAR RATE.
Approximately 30 covers are known with the 2c Blue (27 in Crown census), including circular rates and drop-rate usages. More than half of the covers have stamps without four margins or faults in the stamp or cover.
With 1990 C.S.A. certificate
New Orleans La., 5c Red Brown on Bluish (62X4). Vertical pair, large to enormous margins including part imprint and sheet margin at bottom, each stamp cancelled by "Paid", tied by "New Orleans La. 9 Oct." (1861) circular datestamp on folded letter to Augusta Ga., vertical file fold with small break in paper, clear of pair, otherwise Extremely Fine, ex Caspary and Kilbourne, with 1996 P.F. certificate
New Orleans La., 5c Black entire (62XU1). Mostly clear strikes of "J. L. RIDDELL, P.M." and "PD 5 CTS/N.O.P.O." two-line handstamps, very clear "New Orleans La. Sep. 1, 1861" river-mail double-circle datestamp on E. J. Hart & Co. corner card cover to Atlanta, lightly cleaned, vertical fold at rightVERY FINE AND CHOICE STRIKE OF THIS RARE PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP ON A CORNER CARD COVER.
Ex Green
Tellico Plains Tenn., 5c-10c Red, Se-Tenant Pair (81X1-81X2). Unused (no gum), large margins to just into frameline at top right, bright and fresh, left stamp tiny surface scrape at bottom leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE SE-TENANT PAIR OF THE TELLICO PLAINS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
The Rheatown and Tellico Plains provisionals were printed by the same printer, using a typeset form of three subjects.
With 2006 C.S.A. certificate
Uniontown Ala., 5c Green on Gray Blue (86X4). Position 2, large margins all around, tied by usual lightly-struck "Uniontown Ala. 6 Sep." (1861) circular datestamp on brown cover to Mardon Ala., very slight wear, slight diagonal wrinkle in stampEXREMELY FINE STAMP AND ATTRACTIVE COVER. ONLY NINE COVERS WITH THE UNIONTOWN 5-CENT ON GRAY BLUE PAPER ARE RECORDED IN THE CROWN CENSUS.
Ex Brown, Brooks, Grant and Kilbourne.
2c Green (3). Block of four, original gum, large even margins all around, bright color, right stamps diagonal creaseVERY FINE APPEARING ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 2-CENT JACKSON.
With 2001 P.S.E. certificate
2c Green (3). Horizontal strip of five, large margins to barely touched at top left, bright color, tied by three neat strikes of "Richmond Va. Feb. 22" circular datestamp on green Spotts and Harvey merchant's advertising cover to Petersburg Va., two stamps light creases prior to use, cover with trivial soilingVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A MAGNIFICENT COVER BEARING A STRIP OF FIVE OF THE 2-CENT GREEN JACKSON ISSUE WITH A COMPLEMENTARY GREEN LITHOGRAPHED ADVERTISEMENT. FROMA NEW FIND -- ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR CONFEDERATE GENERAL ISSUE COVERS EXTANT.
With 2006 C.S.A. certificate. Scott Retail with no premium for the advertising cover.
2c Green (3). Vertical strip of three, large margins to in incl. sheet margin at bottom, tied by blue "Columbus S.C. Jun. 21" circular datestamp, endorsed "Please put in drop mail H.L.", center stamp tiny toned spot not mentioned on accompanying certificateFINE. A SCARCE RATE AND USAGE OF THE 2-CENT JACKSON, REPRESENTING A ONE-CENT OVERPAYMENT.
Any reference to "drop mail" on covers is unusual, but this Confederate usage is exceedingly rare. Ex Dietz and Judd. With 2004 C.S.A. certificate
5c Dark Blue, Stone 3 (4a). Block of four, Positions 42-43/52-53, original gum, lightly hinged, full margins, bright colorVERY FINE AND CHOICE ORIGINAL-GUM BLOCK OF FOUR OF THE 5-CENT BLUE FROM STONE 3.
Plated by Leonard Hartmann.
10c Rose (5). Ample to large margins, cancelled by geometric handstamp, matching "Greensborough Ga. Jun. 7" circular datestamp on orange illustrated advertising cover for Clark's Patent Merchant Flour Mill, addressed to "Mossinford Depot Va., on Danville Railroad, Virginia", slightly reduced at left, not affecting design or any postal markings, small lightened stain on stamp, slight edgewear, Very Fine and extremely rare use of 10c Rose on an advertising cover and with an unusual cork cancellation, ex Murphy, with 2002 C.S.A. certificate
2c Brown Red (8). Vertical strip of three and two singles, margins to in, tied by "Macon Ga. Mar. 25" double-circle datestamps on homemade cover to Macon Ga., 1865 docketing at left, stamps with faults, cover with tiny repair at top left, otherwise Fine, scarce overpaid drop rate usage, with 1994 C.S.A. certificate, Scott Retail for strip of five on cover $5,000.00
10c Blue, "TEN" (9). Block of four, usual dry original gum, top stamps h.r., large margins to clear, brilliant color, top left stamp small toned spot, top right stamp small internal wrinkle, bottom left stamp small translucency, otherwise Very Fine, scarce multiple, we have only sold a block of ten and three other blocks of four since keeping computerized records, with 1993 C.S.A. certificate not mentioning any defects
10c Blue, Frameline (10). Large margins to just in incl. full frameline at bottom and trace of frameline at top right, tied by Richmond Va. circular datestamp on red and blue captured Union Standing Liberty and Flag Patriotic cover to Appomattox Va., cover substantially repaired (not affecting stamp)FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT FRAMELINE ISSUE USED ON A CAPTURED UNION PATRIOTIC.
Ex DuPuy. With 1988 C.S.A. certificate.
10c Blue, Frameline (10). Position 74 with major double transfer, full margins to in showing virtually complete framelines on three sides and part of frameline at right, tied by "Richmond Va. May 16, 1863" circular datestamp on 11-Star Confederate Flag and Verse Patriotic cover to Oguchee Geo., some wearVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE USAGE OF THE 10-CENT FRAMELINE ISSUE ON A PATRIOTIC COVER. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE DOUBLE TRANSFER, THIS STYLE OF RICHMOND CIRCULAR DATESTAMP WAS ONLY IN USE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
The Richmond circular datestamp, Powell Ty. 5b, was in use from May 14 thru June 3, 1863.
Ex Engle, Bogg and DuPuy. With 1973 P.F. certificate
10c Greenish Blue, Die A (11c). Huge even margins, tied by "Mobile Ala. Jul. 5" (1864) double-circle datestamp on salmon lithographed Independent Packet James Battle steamboat advertising cover to addressee at "C.S. Arsenal, Macon Ga.", waterstain skillfully cleaned, slightly reduced at leftEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. A COLORFUL AND RARE CONFEDERATE STEAMBOAT COVER.
The Confederate packet James Battle advertised service on the Alabama River from Mobile and Montgomery. It was captured as a blockade runner in November 1863.
Ex Hall and Agre. With 2002 C.S.A. certificate
10c Blue, Die A, Perforated (11e). Block of four, dark shade and fine impression, each stamp cancelled by open grid, possibly an army field office grid, but also similar to the device used at Brookhaven Miss. where perforated stamps are known to have originatedA FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE USED BLOCK OF THE PERFORATED 10-CENT ARCHER & DALY STAMP. ONE OTHER USED PERFORATED BLOCK - DIE B - IS KNOWN TO US.
This is the only used block known to us. Undercatalogued in Scott.
20c Green (13). Three large margins, ample to clear at left, used as forwarding postage with 10c Blue, Die A (11), large margins, tied by "Athens Ga." circular datestamp on brown cover addressed to Major Lamar Cobb, General Howell Cobb's Staff at Augusta, redirected to Macon, the 20c affixed partly over 10c and tied by faint violet "Augusta Ga." circular datestamp, a turned cover with address and no postal markings inside, pen notation at top partly erased, horizontal fold along top clear of stamps, Very Fine and unusual combination usage, this cover was acquired fifty years ago by Morris Everett from Ezra Cole and realized $2,000 hammer in our Everett sale in 1993, with 1994 P.S.E. and 2004 C.S.A. certificates
1c Black, De La Rue, Trial Color Die Proof on Glazed Card (14TC1). 92 x 60mm, dated "June 17, 1863" at top left, numbered "2684" and signed "J.P." at right, minor edge toning, otherwise Very Fine, very rare, with copy of 1993 P.S.E. certificate
Outbound Blockade-Run Cover to Paris. Yellow cover with blue "Forwarded by Henry Adderley & Co., Nassau, Bahamas" handstamp at bottom left, red "Nassau Paid JA 19, 1863" and London transits, red "PD" in oval handstamp, expertly cleaned and repaired, Very Fine appearance, this comes from a well-known correspondence originating in Charleston, with 2002 C.S.A. certificate