CONFEDERATE STATES STAMPS AND COVERS continued...

A VERY FINE AND REMARKABLE USAGE OF THE 2-CENT GREEN LITHOGRAPH ON A TEXAS NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED BY E. H. CUSHING OF TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS FAME.

The Houston Telegraph was published by E. H. Cushing, who also operated an express mail service between Texas and river offices along the Mississippi. Cushing's express started as early as 1862 and operated until it was banned by the Confederate P.O. Dept. in 1864. Postmaster General Reagan was unwilling to tolerate the loss of revenue to the department -- Cushing required only a 10c stamp per letter, while the post office charged 40c for their Trans-Mississippi Express.

This edition of the Telegraph contains several fascinating news accounts -- for example, headlines include "List of Casualties in the Battle of Gettysburg, Pa. -- Fourth Texas Regiment", "By Pony Express -- Our Special Dispatches -- Telegraphed from Beaumont", reports from "Headquarters, District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona", and "Ladies' Fashions". Advertisements include rewards for return of runaway slaves and a notice from a man whose wife left him that he will not honor her debts.

The condition of the newspaper is excellent. A small acidified spot has been reinforced with archival tape, and there are typical minor edge tears and nicks.

Our Levi records contain only six Texas usages of the 2c Lithograph, of which this is the only newspaper. (Image)

VERY FINE AND CHOICE 2-CENT LITHOGRAPH FRANKING FOR THE 10-CENT RATE.

Ex Kohn and Seybold. With 2001 C.S.A. and P.S.E. certificates (Image)