Sale 1244 — The Arthur S. Przybyl Collection of United States, Confederate States and Hawaii
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-10 November, 2021
Category — Confederate States, Postmasters' Provisionals
Nashville, Tennessee, 5c Brick Red (61X3). Ample margins to slightly in, tied by blue "Adams Express Co. Nashville Aug. 2" (1861) oval datestamp on United States 3c Red Star Die entire (U26) to Cleveland Tenn., North-to-South across-the-lines express use, blue "POSTAGE/PAID" rimless handstamp applied by Nashville office of Adams Express Company, 3c embossed stamp cancelled by black "Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Jul. 27, 1861" circular datestamp (month inverted), small manuscript "2" (two bits or 25c) express charge, expert restoration to close opening tears along top, but the provisional is soundVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A SPECTACULAR COVER AND ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED WITH THE 5-CENT NASHVILLE PROVISIONAL USED IN COMBINATION WITH UNITED STATES POSTAGE.
Very few covers are recorded with Confederate provisional stamps or markings used in conjunction with across-the-lines express service. This group includes the provisionals of Atlanta (handstamp), Houston (handstamp), Lynchburg (press-printed entire), Memphis (adhesive), Mobile (adhesive), Montgomery (handstamp), Nashville (adhesive and handstamp) and New Orleans (adhesive).
This North-to-South express cover is one of six recorded with the 5c Nashville provisional and U.S. stamps used together. Five are listed in the Special Routes book--census nos. S-AD-38 (offered here), N-AD-48, 73, 81 and 83. A sixth cover came to light in recent years, which has a "The Southern Express Company" oval handstamp (both the marking and the cover were unknown to the authors at the time the Special Routes book was published). In addition to the 5c covers, there are three Nashville 10c provisional combinations carried by Adams (S-AD-44, 45 and 46). Adams was required to pay Confederate postage, but letters never actually entered the mails at Nashville. Instead, the blue "POSTAGE/PAID" marking was used to indicate prepayment.
Special Routes census no. S-AD-38. Illustrated and described in detail in Ashbrook's article on the Brooks collection (Stamp Specialist, 1945 Black Book). Ex Emerson, Brooks, Muzzy, Kilbourne and Haub.
