Spartanburg S.C., 5c Black (78X1). Vertical pair, cut to "8" shape with large margins virtually all around, touched at bottom, tied by one of three "Paid" handstamp strikes, matching "Paid" and "10" in circle handstamp, "Spartanburg S.C." 1861 double-circle datestamp on orange-buff cover to "Corpl. Edwd. J. Dean, 'Spartan Rifles', 5th Palmetto Regt. So. Car. Vol., Coln. M. Jenkins, Commander, Tudor Hall P.O., Virginia, Care Capt. Jos. Walker, 'Spartan Rifles'", the pair is superb except for a lightly scuffed spot at center right (which seems to have been there prior to handstamping), very light cover horizontal crease barely affects pair, the cover is fresh and attractive, backflap removed and a bit rough at top, light vertical fold at left

AN IMPORTANT AND VERY FINE COVER, BEARING THE ONLY RECORDED PAIR OF SPARTANBURG PROVISIONAL STAMPS--APPROXIMATELY 20 EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN ON OR OFF COVER.

John A. Lee was a prominent merchant who served as postmaster of Spartanburg from 1850 through the end of the war. Residents of Spartanburg remembered him as the "Wartime Postmaster" (John B. O. Landrum, History of Spartanburg County, available at Google Books -- thanks to Vince King for this citation).

Postmaster Lee created his provisional stamps by applying the "5" numeral rate marking inside the "Spartanburg S.C." double-circle datestamp on a sheet of paper. The stamps are known cut square and cut to shape. As one might imagine, the stamps come on a variety of papers. Two types of "5" markings were used, and one example is known with the denomination omitted. Most of the paper and numeral varieties are listed separately in the the C.S.A. and Scott catalogues.

Spartanburg S.C. takes its name from the "Spartan Rifles," a group of militia soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The name was adopted by Confederate soldiers from Spartanburg during the Civil War.

Corporal Edward J. Dean and the Dean correspondence were the subjects of an article by the late Daniel M. Gilbert, published in the Confederate Philatelist.

Joseph Walker was enrolled as captain of the Spartan Rifles on April 13, 1861. Micah Jenkins, a resident of Yorkville, South Carolina, was mustered into service as colonel of the 5th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment in June 1861. He was elected colonel of the Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, on April 13, 1862, and promoted to brigadier general in July 1862.

This pair on cover -- the only recorded pair -- is illustrated in the Crown book on page 328. Accompanied by 1899 letter to N. P. Strauss of Henderson, N.C., the original purchaser, identifying the Dean family as the original source.

Ex Schenck, Everett and "D.K." collection. With 2002 P.F. certificate. Scott value $30,000.00 for pair on cover. E. 15,000-20,000

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables