Sale 1139 — U.S. Treasures of Philately from The Irwin Weinberg Inventory
Sale Date — Wednesday, 9 November, 2016
Category — Confederate States
Demopolis Ala., 5c Black entire, "Jno. Y. Hall" (22XU1). Clear strikes of "Paid" and "5" in circle provisional handstamps with postmaster's signature, bold "Demopolis Ala. Jan. 28" (1862) circular datestamp on entire to Cadet James Whitfield in Tuscaloosa Ala., backflap tears including one that extends just into postmaster signature on front, light toningVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE DEMOPOLIS, ALABAMA, POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ENTIRE OF ANY VARIETY. THIS IS THE ONLY EXAMPLE WITH THE "JNO. Y. HALL" SIGNATURE (SCOTT 22XU1).
The complete story of the discovery of the three Demopolis entires is told in the Crown book (p. 94). Three entires were discovered in 1899 by Robert S. Nelson among Dr. Whitfield's papers. Two have the handstamped "5" marking and the postmaster's signature "J. Y. Hall" (Scott 22XU2). One is ex Ferrary, Knapp and Hall (Siegel Sale 823, lot 403, Hall purchased from Knapp in 1925). The other is ex Ferrary, Knapp, Hall and Dr. Agre (Siegel Sale 850, lot 5692). The third has the "Jno. Y. Hall" spelling and is the example offered here. A fourth entire was later discovered (pictured in Crown, p. 665) and listed in Scott as 22XU3; it is a third variety with "5 cts" in manuscript and signed "J. Y. Hall".
Ex Walcott and Dr. Brandon. Pictured in Crown on p. 95
