Sale 1255 — The David W. Gorham Collection of Outstanding Used U.S. Stamps
Sale Date — Tuesday-Friday, 17-20 May, 2022
Category — Confederate States: Postmasters' Provisionals
Marion Va., 5c Black (55X1). Large margins to in, light strike of circular datestamp cancelFRESH AND VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE MARION, VIRGINIA, 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
The Marion Va. 5c and 10c provisional stamps, with their distinctive "Check" label at top, were issued by Postmaster James H. Francis in 1861. The stamps were printed in two steps: first, the typeset form containing the border and words "P. Office, Marion, Va., Check. Paid" was impressed; then the value, "5" or "10" was handstamped on the blank center. Postmaster Francis described his stamps in a January 1880 letter to August Dietz, and he offered to make more from the "die" which he still possessed. Various "reprints" made from the typeset form were made by John W. Scott, including 2c, 15c and 20c values that have never been seen genuinely used.
Genuine Marion provisional stamps are extremely rare. Our records and the Calhoun census contain a total of 11 examples of the 5c, including 4 covers (one of which is in the British Library's Tapling collection), 3 stamps remaining on pieces, 3 used off cover and an unused example on bluish paper (of uncertain status, but counted in our census)
With 2006 P.F. certificate
