Autaugaville Ala., 5c Black entire (10XU1). Remarkably sharp strike of the brass provisional handstamp showing the postmaster's name "A. W. McNEEL PM" and "PAID/5" in a field of stars, clear "Autaugaville Ala. Nov. 27" (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Montgomery Ala., slightly reduced at right, lightly cleaned to remove stain from upper left

VERY FINE. THE FINEST OF THE THREE RECORDED COMPLETE COVERS BEARING THE AUTAUGAVILLE POSTMASTER'S DISTINCTIVE BRASS-DIE PROVISIONAL.

Autaugaville, situated on the Alabama River about 25 miles west of Montgomery, had a Civil War population of less than 1,500. Its postmaster, Albert William McNeel, seized all U.S. Post Office Dept. property and turned it over to the Confederacy. Postmaster McNeel used two different handstamped markings to make provisional envelopes. The earlier type is Scott 10XU2, of which one example is recorded, dated Oct. 8, 1861, and last sold for $12,100 in our Sale 801. The brass handstamp seems to have followed, with four examples recorded as follows in date order: 1) Nov. 21, 1861, to Willis Todd, Benton Ala., ex Worthington, Hessel; 2) Nov. 27, 1861, to J. Hodges Golsan, Montgomery Ala., ex Graves, Green and Gross, the cover offered here; 3) Nov. 28, 1861, to Elder H. Talbin, Marion Ala., ex Emerson, Caspary, Weatherly; and 4) Jan. 10, 1862, approximately one-half of cover, ex Walcott, Lilly. The brass engraving is similar in design to the Athens adhesive provisional. The postmaster's son is on record saying that his father used printer's ink on the hand-held die and gently tapped the device onto each envelope. The impressions from the hard metal die are usually blurred and incomplete -- the clarity of this impression is remarkable.

It is noteworthy that the Kilbourne, Hill and Haas Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals collections were missing the Autaugaville.

Ex Dr. Graves, Dr. Green and Gross. With 1982 and 2010 P.F. certificates.

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