The Civil War, featuring the 'Ambassador' Collection continued...

VERY FINE STAMP AND A FRESH ATTRACTIVE COVER. ONLY EIGHT EXAMPLES OF THE UNIONTOWN POSTMASTER'S 10-CENT PROVISIONAL ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH FIVE ARE SOUND STAMPS ON COVER.

Uniontown's postmaster at the start of the C.S.A. postal system was Parham N. Booker. Parham, one of eleven children, was the namesake son of a U.S. internal revenue officer. The senior Booker represented Madison County in the legislature in 1836 and moved to Uniontown sometime later. He became a planter and hotel keeper, and he also served as postmaster and mayor of the town. Booker Senior died in 1861, and we are not certain if both father and son ran the post office. Because of a permanent physical disability, Booker Junior did not serve in the Confederate Army, but served the government in a civil department.

Postmaster Booker issued three denominations of adhesive provisionals: 2c, 5c and 10c. They were probably typeset and printed at the offices of the local newspaper, the Weekly Herald. The same typeset form of four subjects was used to print all three values (although the spacing between subjects changed between two 5c printings). The numeral in parentheses between the "PA" and "ID" of "PAID" was changed for each value, and different color inks were used: Dark Blue (2c), Green (5c) and Red (10c). All three values were printed on Gray Blue paper, and the 2c and 5c are also known on White paper, which was probably used for subsequent printings. The 10c has not been found on White paper.

Eight examples of the Uniontown 10c Red are recorded by us. These are (in order of plate position):

1) Pos. 1 with stationer’s embossed crest, on cover to Maria L. Kidd, Port Royal Va., ex Kimmel, Haas, Birkinbine, "D.K." collection and Dr. Brandon (Siegel Sale 1073, lot 347)

2) Pos. 1 on cover to John D. Pitts, near Richmond Va., ex Ferrary, Caspary, Peyton ("Isleham"), Hill and Sharrer (Siegel Sale 1035, lot 91)

3) Pos. 2 on cover to Col. A. P. Calhoun, Pendleton S.C., ex Dr. Simon, "D.K." collection (Siegel Sale 1022, lot 1120)

4) Pos. 2 on cover to Maria Louisa Kidd, Port Royal Va., ex Brooks, Meroni, Kilbourne and Gross, the cover offered here

5) Pos. 2 repaired stamp on repaired cover to Mrs. John B. Carey, ex Weill Stock

6) Pos. 3, corner creases, tiny tear, on lady’s embossed cover to Mr. Richmond Christian, Richmond Va., ex Hind, offered in this sale as lot 138

7) Pos. 4 on cover to Col. A. P. Calhoun, Pendleton S.C., ex Sweet, Muzzy, Boker

8) Pos. 4 uncancelled on large piece dated Sep. 27 (1861) with part of addressee’s name S. Price”, Virginia destination, ex Caspary

Very few post offices east of the Mississippi River issued and used 10c adhesive (A) or press-printed (E) provisionals. This small group is as follows: Baton Rouge La. (A--three known); Charleston S.C. (E--unique); Danville Va. (E--probably not used); Fincastle Va. (E--unique); Fredericksburg Va. (A--never used); Greenville Ala. (A--two known); Greenwood Depot Va. (A--six known); Knoxville Tenn. (A--unique; and E--rare used); Marion Va. (A--seven known on cover); Nashville Tenn. (A--six known on cover); Tellico Plains Tenn. (A--never used); and Uniontown Ala. (A--eight known, seven on covers). All other 10c provisionals were used in Texas or were issued as handstamped entires.

Illustrated in Ashbrook's article on the Brooks collection (Stamp Specialist, Black Book, 1945) and in Francis J. Crown's Uniontown, Alabama, Postmaster's Provisionals on p. 44. Ex Brooks (who discovered both Kidd covers in 1938), Meroni, Kilbourne and Gross. (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY EIGHT EXAMPLES OF THE UNIONTOWN POSTMASTER'S 10-CENT PROVISIONAL ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH SEVEN ARE ON COVERS.

Uniontown's postmaster at the start of the C.S.A. postal system was Parham N. Booker. Parham, one of eleven children, was the namesake son of a U.S. internal revenue officer. The senior Booker represented Madison County in the legislature in 1836 and moved to Uniontown sometime later. He became a planter and hotel keeper, and he also served as postmaster and mayor of the town. Booker Senior died in 1861, and we are not certain if both father and son ran the post office. Because of a permanent physical disability, Booker Junior did not serve in the Confederate Army, but served the government in a civil department.

Postmaster Booker issued three denominations of adhesive provisionals: 2c, 5c and 10c. They were probably typeset and printed at the offices of the local newspaper, the Weekly Herald. The same typeset form of four subjects was used to print all three values (although the spacing between subjects changed between two 5c printings). The numeral in parentheses between the "PA" and "ID" of "PAID" was changed for each value, and different color inks were used: Dark Blue (2c), Green (5c) and Red (10c). All three values were printed on Gray Blue paper, and the 2c and 5c are also known on White paper, which was probably used for subsequent printings. The 10c has not been found on White paper. Only eight examples of the Uniontown 10c Red are recorded by us. These are (in order of plate position):

1) Pos. 1 with stationer’s embossed crest, on cover to Maria L. Kidd, Port Royal Va., ex Kimmel, Haas, Birkinbine, "D.K." collection and Dr. Brandon (Siegel Sale 1073, lot 347)

2) Pos. 1 on cover to John D. Pitts, near Richmond Va., ex Ferrary, Caspary, Peyton ("Isleham"), Hill and Sharrer (Siegel Sale 1035, lot 91)

3) Pos. 2 on cover to Col. A. P. Calhoun, Pendleton S.C., ex Dr. Simon, "D.K." collection (Siegel Sale 1022, lot 1120)

4) Pos. 2 on cover to Maria Louisa Kidd, Port Royal Va., ex Brooks, Meroni, Kilbourne and Gross, offered in this sale as lot 137

5) Pos. 2 repaired stamp on repaired cover to Mrs. John B. Carey, ex Weill Stock

6) Pos. 3, corner creases, tiny tear, on lady’s embossed cover to Mr. Richmond Christian, Richmond Va., ex Hind, the cover offered here

7) Pos. 4 on cover to Col. A. P. Calhoun, Pendleton S.C., ex Sweet, Muzzy, Boker

8) Pos. 4 uncancelled on large piece dated Sep. 27 (1861) with part of addressee’s name S. Price”, Virginia destination, ex Caspary

Ex Hind. Signed Stanley B. Ashbrook. With 1986 C.S.A. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE VICTORIA 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL. WE RECORD ONLY FIVE EXAMPLES, ALL UNUSED.

The five recorded examples of the 5c Victoria provisional are all unused and off cover, as follows:

1) Sound with original gum, top right corner margins, ex Ferrary, Hind, Hall, "D.K." collection and Sharrer (Siegel Sale 1035, lot 92)

2) Part original gum, top left corner margins, small thins and light crease, ex Hessel and Dr. Brandon (Siegel Sale 1073, lot 350)

3) Described as having "some original gum", top right corner margins, vertical crease, ex Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne

4) Uncancelled, left sheet margin, torn into design at bottom, Albert Steves photo

5) Unused, no gum, bottom right corner margins, light chipping and natural paper bubble, ex Felton, the stamp offered here

Illustrated in Linn's Stamp News article in 2008 when this was found. Ex Felton. With 2007 C.S.A. certificate stating "Genuine" (Image)

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