Sale 1208 — The Clovis Collection of Confederate States Illustrated Covers
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 September, 2019
Category — Captured Union Patriotics
Lot
Symbol
Photo/Description
Cat./Est. Value
Realized
162
5c Green, Stone 2 (1). Clear margins to just in, tied by bold "Churchville Va. May 26" circular datestamp on red and blue captured Union Flag and Sunburst Patriotic cover to Ivy Depot Va., the postmaster used his town datestamp to strike out the "Protect It!" slogan beneath flag, light soiling, Very Fine, an outstanding Confederate use of a captured Union Patriotic design, ex Mueller, Weiss and Everett (with each of their backstamps), with 1994 P.S.E. certificate
E. 1,500-2,000
2,800
163
5c Green, Stone 1-2 (1). Huge margins to just in with portion of adjoining stamp at bottom, tied by "Staunton Va. May ?" circular datestamp on captured Union Patriotic cover depicting Mount Vernon, wonderful ornate scene in violet showing the mansion with lady in hoop skirt, cotton bales, tools, sailing ship on the Potomac and other elements, Upham Philadelphia imprint on flap, addressed to the University of Virginia, minor edgewear and flaps reattached, Fine and rare design, with 2007 C.S.A. certificate
E. 1,000-1,500
750
Back to Top164
10c Light Blue, Paterson (2a). Clear to ample margins, small faults, tied by blue "Dublin Va. Nov. 6" circular datestamp on red and blue captured Union Patriotic cover depicting an eagle with the American flag in its beak, addressed to Rural Retreat Va., slightly reduced at top and faint dampstains, still Very Fine, a beautiful and rare captured use, with 1997 C.S.A. certificate
E. 1,000-1,500
800
Back to Top165
5c Blue, Stone 2 (4). Full margins except slightly irregular at sides, deep rich color, tied by perfect strike of "Richmond Va. Jun. 16, 1862" circular datestamp on red General George B. McClellan captured Union Patriotic cover to Richmond post office box, addressed in pencil so probably mailed from the field, overpaid drop rate but presumably prepaid for whichever post office would be used, backflap removed, lightly cleaned and small repaired nick at top, Very Fine appearance, extremely scarce and unusual use, ex Telep and Freeman
E. 750-1,000
550
Back to Top166
5c Blue, Stone 2 (4). Horizontal pair, irregular margins and slight gum staining, tied by "Richmond Va. Jul. 14, 1862" circular datestamp on red and blue captured Union Patriotic cover depicting Liberty and Shield with "Union", Wells N.Y. imprint, to Middlebrook Va., appears Very Fine
E. 750-1,000
2,300
Back to Top167
5c Blue, Stone 3 (4). Large margins to cutting in at right, tied by partial strike of Richmond Va. circular datestamp on red and blue captured General George B. McClellan Union Patriotic cover to Farmville Va., design with the general's portrait inside a shield with eagle above and "War for the Union" banner in its beak, stamp is faulty and is lifted and reaffixed over small portion of another stamp to appear complete (really only the edges are affected), Fine appearance, with 1997 C.S.A. certificate
E. 400-500
350
Back to Top168
5c Light Milky Blue, Stone 2 (4b). Tied by indistinct strike of Ashland Va. circular datestamp on red and blue captured Union Patriotic cover depicting an eagle perched on a flag shield, addressed in pencil to Ivy Depot Va., stamp with slight abrasions and cover with some small edge tears, Very Fine appearance, with 2001 C.S.A. certificate
E. 750-1,000
400
Back to Top169
10c Rose (5). Margins mostly clear, tied by "Richmond Va. Jul. 6, 1862" circular datestamp on pale gray McClellan and Camp Scene captured Union Patriotic cover to Waynesville N.C., bottom left corner of stamp torn off and portion of datestamp drawn in, some other restoration, Fine appearance, extremely rare use of the 10c Rose Lithograph on a captured Union patriotic, ex Murphy and Freeman
E. 500-750
650
Back to Top170
5c Light Blue, De La Rue (6). Ample to huge margins, tied by bold "Richmond Va. Jun. 8, 1862" circular datestamp on red and blue captured Union Patriotic cover depicting Zouave and American Flag, addressed to Lynchburg Va., backflap removed, some wear and creasing, sealed cover tear just touching the design, otherwise Fine, a scarce and desirable captured use of this design, ex Dr. Green and Freeman, with 2014 C.S.A. certificate
E. 1,000-1,500
2,300
Back to Top171
5c Light Blue, De La Rue (6). Vertical pair, tied by "Richmond Va. Dec. 23, 1862" circular datestamp on red and blue captured Union Patriotic cover with "United We Stand, Divided We Fall USA" slogan, the "USA" has been changed to "CSA" in manuscript with additional "I say cut the letter U off and place the letter C", addressed to Stickleyville Va. in same hand, reduced at left, few minor scattered toned spots, Very Fine captured Union Patriotic converted to a Confederate Patriotic by the sender
E. 750-1,000
2,600
Back to Top172
5c Light Blue, De La Rue (6). Horizontal pair, huge margins to full at left, slight gum toning, tied by "Guineys Va. Dec. 1" circular datestamp on captured Union Patriotic cover depicting Col. L. B. Pierce of the 12th Pa. Cavalry, addressed to a member of the 1st S.C. Volunteers at Willington S.C., sender has drawn an "X" over the portrait, flap removed, a bit worn with a few edge tears, still attractive and rare, ex Walcott, Handy, Everett and Bischel
E. 500-750
450
Back to Top173
5c Blue, Local (7). Horizontal pair, large to full margins, tied by blue Dublin Va. circular datestamp with unclear date (ca. 1864) on buff captured Union Patriotic cover depicting Col. J. T. Toland, addressed to Wytheville Va. to Captain M. B. Tate (of the 1st Va. Regt.), manuscript "O.B." official business endorsement at top, slightly reduced at top and part of backflap removed, Very Fine and a fascinating use, Union Col. John T. Toland led a famous raid on the Confederate town of Wytheville Va. on July 18, 1863, his 800-man mounted brigade was sent to capture the town due to its strategic importance for mining, telegraph wires and a railroad line, the raid was a debacle for Union forces and Toland was killed in the battle, this design depicting the martyred Toland used with Confederate postage to the town where his raid took place is remarkable, ex Walske, with 2000 P.S.E. certificate
E. 1,000-1,500
3,250
Back to Top174
5c Blue, Local (7). Horizontal pair, margins to touched at left, tied by "Culpeper C.H. Va. Jun. 4" circular datestamp on cover to Mt. Clifton Va. with a striking captured Union abolitionist cartoon, a biting satirical illustration and caption in purple, depicting a slave tied to a pole and being whipped, with the caption "The persuasive eloquence of the Sunny South", King & Baird Philadelphia imprint, pair has minor gum toning at top and pre-use creaseVERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL ABOLITIONIST DESIGN WITH STARTLING IMAGERY OF A BOUND SLAVE SUFFERING UNDER THE WHIP -- AND IRONICALLY USED IN THE CONFEDERACY. THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE EXAMPLES OF CONFEDERATE USE OF A CAPTURED UNION ABOLITIONIST OR PATRIOTIC COVER.
The horrifying images of the whip-scarred back of the slave known as Gordon were first published in Harper's Weekly on July 4, 1863 (see Siegel Sale 1037, lot 2869). An example of the most famous carte-de-visite of Gordon is offered as lot 175 in this sale. While it cannot be proven that the drawing on this abolitionist cover was inspired by the Gordon images, this does bear a striking resemblance to that man, who became a pivotal figure in exposing the brutality of slavery. Its use on a cover with the stately Jefferson Davis portrait on a pair of Confederate 5c Local prints is particularly noteworthy.
Ex Brooks, Finney and Dr. Green. With 2000 C.S.A. certificate
E. 5,000-7,500
11,500
Back to Top175
1863, Carte-de-Visite of Gordon. CDV of escaped Mississippi slave who had enlisted in the Union Army, showing his back brutally scarred by a Christmas Day whipping, back with "C. Seaver Jun. Photographer, 27 Tremont Row, Boston" imprint and description of the photo headlined "The Peculiar Institution", Very Fine and rare with few known, this image originally appeared in the July 4, 1863 edition of Harper's Weekly, showing a similar illustration as well as illustrations of "Gordon as he entered our lines" and "Gordon in his uniform as a U.S. Soldier", the issue also included information on Battle of Milliken's Bend -- the first major battle involving black troops (Harper's article is not included but can be seen in Sale 1037, lot 2869)
E. 1,000-1,500
5,250
Back to Top176
5c Blue, Local (7). Horizontal pair, tied by partly clear strike of "Shelbyville Te." circular datestamp on blue captured Union Patriotic cover depicting Liberty with a U.S. flag and "The Constitution and the Enforcement of the Laws," to Glenn Springs S.C., neat manuscript inside the design states "captured at Murfreesboro 31st Dec. 62 by J.B. High," and, in answer to the enforcement of the laws message printed on the cover, "not by Lincon" (misspelling the President's name), cover wear and small edge tears, most of backflap missing, Very Fine appearance, a wonderful example of a Union Patriotic cover captured on the first day of a major battle -- with Confederate sentiments written over the design -- the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, also known as the Battle of Stones River, was fought from Dec. 31, 1862, to Jan. 3, 1863; of the major battles during the Civil War it had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides
E. 2,000-3,000
1,800
Back to Top177
5c Blue, Local (7). Horizontal pair, large margins to just in at top right, tied by "Richmond Va." dateless circle on red and blue captured Union Patriotic cover depicting Lady Liberty with an American flag and "Onward to Victory", to Bridgewater Va., pair with some very minor gum toning around edges, Very Fine, with clear 1991 P.F. certificate
E. 750-1,000
750
Back to Top178
5c Blue, Local (7). Two singles originally forming a horizontal pair, margins to in, tied by blue "Richmond Va. May 15, 1863" circular datestamp on captured Union Patriotic cover with "Strike with an Iron Arm for the Whole Union" with "Union" crossed out and "CS" written in, design in red depicts a horse-drawn cannon and soldiers, addressed to Pamplin Depot Va., expertly cleaned and repaired, otherwise Fine, a very unusual design neatly converted by the sender from a Union Patriotic to a Confederate Patriotic, ex Freeman, with 2014 C.S.A. certificate
E. 1,000-1,500
1,300
Back to Top179
5c Blue, Local (7). Horizontal pair, tied by unusually clear strike of "Richmond Va. Jul. 18, 1863" circular datestamp on captured Union Patriotic cover depicting an elephant with a banner reading "Where is Beauregard? Express from Fort Donelson", addressed to Society Hill S.C., overall wear and slight staining, pair with light crease and toning, Fine appearing and rare captured use of this design, there are various meanings that might be ascribed to this design, a popular 19th Century phrase "to see the elephant" refers to gaining experience at significant cost and was often used in relation to war -- it could be interpreted here to imply that Beauregard's troops will "see the elephant" when they encounter Union forces and suffer a heavy defeat, signed Brian Green
E. 750-1,000
2,100
Back to Top180
10c Milky Blue, Die A (11a). Huge margins to full at bottom, pretty shade, tied by partly clear strike of "Culpeper C.H. Va. Jun. 18" circular datestamp on red and blue captured Union Patriotic cover depicting Washington surrounded by wreaths, to Charlotte Va., some staining has been gently cleaned, minor wear and reduced at left, Fine appearance and scarce, while this design was almost certainly produced in the North, Washington was of course equally revered in the South so its use for a Confederate cover is quite logical (though its use upside down may hold some hidden meaning), with clear 1997 C.S.A. certificate
E. 1,000-1,500
900
Back to Top181
10c Milky Blue, Die A (11a). Huge margins but stained along with side of cover, tied by "Winchester Va. Jun. 12" double-circle datestamp on captured Union Patriotic cover depicting a mounted officer leading a charge of infantry with American flag and "We are coming Father Abraham" verse, to Pamplin's Depot Va., slight corner wear, Fine appearance, a rare captured Union Patriotic design despite the staining -- which might be professionally removed
E. 300-400
300
Back to Top182
10c Deep Blue, Die B, Keatinge & Ball (12). Deep rich colors, large margins to clear, tied by light strike of Richmond Va. circular datestamp on yellow cover with "I Think of Thee" love poem at left, dated 1864 and addressed to Hartwell Georgia, couple small toned spots, Very Fine, these envelopes were produced in Ohio (instructions for purchase are at bottom) so this might be considered a "captured Union Valentine"
E. 400-500
300
Back to Top