Memphis Tenn., 5c Red, Tete-Beche Pair (56X2a). Definitely bottom-row foot-to-foot positions and probably Positions 45/47 (see notes below), clear margins to irregularly cut in, deep shade, tied by neat "Memphis Ten. Aug. 2, 1861" circular datestamp on cover to Mrs. Mary W. Nash, care of Rev. J. W. Moore at Austin Ark., embossed corner card for Worsham House hotel at top left, missing part of top flap, some edgewear, wrinkles and a tiny tear at top center

FINE. ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED 5-CENT MEMPHIS PROVISIONAL TETE-BECHE PAIRS ON COVER, AND THE ONLY RECORDED COVER WITH THE STAMPS FOOT TO FOOT.

If we count only the tete-beche printing varieties and exclude the multiples which contain sideways positions on the plate, there are just three recorded examples of the Memphis 5c provisional tete-beche. Each is a pair on cover, and each shows a unique orientation. The vertical pair on the cover offered here has the impressions aligned foot to foot. The other two are a head-to-head vertical pair and a side-to-side horizontal pair. These tete-beche multiples were created during the work-and-turn printing process. They differ from the sideways tete-beche multiples, which reflect the unusual 5c plate layout (see lot 747 in this sale). The sideways multiples are only known in unused condition.

The stamp to the left (as positioned on this cover) shows some of the plate marks of Position 45 (Pratt named this Position 37 in his plating diagram, because he assigned "S" numbers 1-10 to the sideways positions). If we imagine the second plate impression on the same sheet of paper to be turned 180 degrees and aligned below the bottom row, then the adjacent stamp (to the right on this cover) would be Position 47 (Pratt's Position 39). Neither Pratt nor we have been able to analyze Position 47 (or 48) for plating marks (they are missing from the block of 37). However, the alignment between the full impression and the small portion of the adjoining stamp to the right, which is visible in the margin, does not match the alignment of any two of the other known positions in the bottom row. Therefore, by process of elimination, it seems almost certain that this pair comes from one of the two Position 45/47 vertical tete-beche pairs in the original sheet.

Illustrated in the Pratt book (page 30) and Crown book (page 210). Ex Worthington (acquired from New England Stamp Co. on 3/9/1907), Caspary, Wise, Pope, Boshwit and "D.K." collection. With 2007 P.F. certificate

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