CV. 250

Athens, Georgia; 5X2, 5c Red, Type II, single with bright color tied on folded letter datelined "Athens GA April 8th 1862" addressed to "Messrs. Wilcox & Hand" in Augusta Ga, tied by black circular grid with a matching "Athens Ga Paid Apr 8" date stamp, stamp clear to large marginscover with a horizontal file fold well away from stamp, Very Fine and choice; signed "Guaranteed by Stanley Ashbrook"; one of the finest of the six covers and one "half-cover" recorded franked with the 5c Red provisional (Scott $17,500, CSAHandbook ATH-GA-A05 B, $10,000)

Provenance: Stephen D. Brown (Harmer, Rooke London, 1939)

Harold C. Brooks (Laurence & Stryker, 1943)

CV. 2,500

Baton Rouge, Luisiana, 11X1, 2c Green, stamp with full balanced margins except (an inconsequential nick barely into design at left) tied on drop letter cover by "Baton Rouge La May 12" date stamp, ms. "Point Couple Light Artillery" return address, contents of the enclosed letter (mended splits) indicates envelope was carried by favor from Memphis and placed in the mails at Baton Rouge, cover nearly separated and shows effects of fire, stamp a light wrinkle, overall a Fine and rare use as only five covers are recorded franked with the 2c Green with this example not listed in Crown (Scott $50,000)

The letter, datelined "Fort Pillow" from a Confederate soldier to his parents, tells of skirmishes with the "yankies" including "The mortar boats lay around the point throwing shells every half hour but doing little damages" and sadness at the news of the fall of New Orleans, indicating the letter was written in 1862. The naval battle at Fort Pillow took place on May 10, 1862between ships of the Confederate River Defense Fleet, which consisted of a number of wooden sidewheel paddleboats converted to naval rams, and ships of the Union Mississippi River Squadron, which consisted of a number of ironclads, approximately four miles above Fort Pillow, Tennessee.

CV. 2,000

Beaumont, Texas, 12X3, 10c Black on yellow, the celebrated "Large Beaumont" affixed and very faintly cancelled on yellow envelope addressed to Liberty, Texas, fair strike of "Beaumont Tex" round handstamp at lower left, stamp with large to huge margins, cover slightly reduced at left, the stamp has been moved down slightly from the top edge, the envelope and stamp have been professionally restored to remove gum toning from the stamp, some toning spots mostly in the address area and paper erosion in the lower left corner of the envelope, Very Fine appearance, Caspary's handwritten purchase notation (1929) and "R.H.W. Co." handstamp on back, unique and, in the words of Herbert Bloch when describing this cover in the Caspary sale, "One of the most outstanding items in the collection" (Scott $90,000, CSA Handbook BEA-TX-A03, $75,000)

Of all the icons of Confederate philately—and there are many—the “Large Beaumont” cover might be the most important (or certainly the most famous). Listed amongst Life magazine’s “World’s Rarest Stamps” in 1954, the unique Beaumont provisional stamp on yellow paper measuring 20 by 30mm is wholly unique on or off cover. It was introduced to the philatelic world in an article by George Walcott in the July 1923 of the Collectors Club Philatelist. Since then it has been owned by a number of the most prominent collectors, not just of Confederate material but of worldwide stamps.

As detailed in Charles Deaton’s The Great Texas Stamp Collection, the Beaumont provisionals were issued by postmaster Alexander Hinkle, a Methodist minister who was appointed to the position on December 5, 1863. During his 15-month tenure he issued stamps in two different designs—the plain “Small Beaumont” on yellow and pink paper and the more ornate “Large Beaumont” on yellow paper. After the discovery of the “Large Beaumont” amongst the papers of Colonel William B. Duncan and its subsequent presentation by Walcott to the Collectors Club (where he noted that “nothing received quite as much attention”), the stamp immediately became famed and iconic. For philatelists in the early 20th century the “Large Beaumont” on pink became something of a holy grail, although ultimately no examples ever turned up, leaving the “Large Beaumont” on yellow paper completely unique.

It was believed that after changing hands numerous times between the 1920s and 1990s the “Large Beaumont” may have been amongst a group of stamps stolen from the late John R. Hill, Jr.’s collection in the late 1990s. At the time Charles Deaton wrote his wonderful book, this cover was still believed to be missing, alongside other icons of Confederate philately. Fortunately, the “Large Beaumont” was safely residing in Germany at the time of the theft. After decades off the market, we are honored and humbled to allow a new collector to own this veritable icon.

CV. 25,000

Charleston, South Carolina, 16X1, 5c Blue, eye-catching horizontal pair tied on envelope by "Charleston S.C. Nov. 5 1861" postmark addressed to "Col. Pettigrew/ 124th N.C. Regiment/ Evansport Va", well margined stamps with nearly full dividing lines each side, some light docketing at left, Very Fine in every respect, the Calhoun census records just four covers franked with a pair of the provisional, pictured in Crown "Surveys of the Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 64) (Scott $5,000, CSA Handbook CHA-SC-A01, $5,000)

Col James Pettigrew joined the 12th North Carolina Regiment (later renamed the 22nd) when the war began, seeing service in Charleston during April of 1861. From September 1861 to March 1862 (period in which he received this letter) he was stationed on the lower Potomac, becoming a Brig. General in February of 1862, one of the few general officers at that early period who had been neither a U.S. Army officer nor an influential politician. Pettigrew was severely wounded and captured soon after during the Seven Pines campaign of May/ June 1862. In July 1863, Pettigrew led the charge up the left side of Cemetery Ridge (part of "Pickett's Charge") at Gettysburg, his division suffering staggering losses, losing 90% of his men. A week later, he died from wounds received in Maryland during the Confederate retreat.

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer, Sale 989, 1956)

CV. 1,500

Christianburg, Virginia, 99XU4, 5c Green on U.S. Envelope U27, green sawtooth-box "Paid 5 Cents." handstamp with matching green June 18 circular date stamp on 3c Red star die entire (U27) to Doublin, Virginia, neatly opened at left, envelope light corner bend lower left and tiny edge breaks at bottom of no consequence, still Extremely Fine and believed to be unique, this cover served as the basis for the Scott Catalogue listing, an exceptional piece of Confederate postal history that has not been offered in decades (Scott $4,500; CSA Handbook CHR-VA-E03, $3,500)

Provenance: Marc Haas (Private Transaction)

Brian Green (Richard Frajola Sale 30, 1986)

1982 Rarities of the World (Robert A. Siegel Sale 596, 1982)

CV. 2,500

CV. 750

Danville, Virginia, 21XU1, 5c Black, entire with the elaborate design in the upper left corner and addressed to Cobham, Virginia yet appears to be unused as there is no postmark or trace of a removed stamp, neatly opened at left, professionally restored to remove some light soiling/ aging spots and some edge faults; Very Fine appearance (Scott $7,000 for used, CSA Handbook DAN-VA-A01, $10,000 for used)

Provenance: Weill Brothers (Christies NY, 1989)

CV. 500

Danville, Virginia, 21XU1 var., 10c Red on orange unissued provisional, entire with design in upper left corner, adhesive stamp and bit of envelope removed from the upper right leaving portion of a town date stamp but otherwise the corner is mostly intact (scarce thus), addressed to Lynchburg, Virginia, some faint toning and tiny bit of lower left corner off, still Very Fine and scarce (about 15 examples recorded) use of a provisional envelope with the added stamp paying the actual postage - noted as such in a Scott footnote; Philatelic Foundation certificate #243688 does not accompany

Provenance: Weill Brothers (Christies NY, 1989)

CV. 250

Galveston, Texas, 98XU2, 10c Black entire, Type I, stunning and nearly-perfect strike of this intricate cancel that is so often blurry and indistinguishable, on amber cover addressed to Louisburg, North Carolina, partial May 31, 1860 double circle date stamp at bottom left (obviously an error), manuscript "Answered July—1861," torn backflap but otherwise Very Fine, an absolutely immaculate strike of this cancel that evidently deteriorated very quickly, certainly one of the finest known examples; pictured in Crown "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 436) (Scott $2,000; CSA Handbook GAL-TX-E04, $1,250)

Provenance: William L. Moody III (H.R. Harmer Sale 621, 1950)

A. Murl Kimmel (R.A. Siegel Sale 492, 1976)

CV. 1,000

Goliad, Texas, 29X6a, 5c Black on gray, Type II, Postmaster "J.A. Clarke" name at left, "GOILAD" variety, in horizontal pair with normal (29X6), the left stamp being the variety, clear to ample margins and just impinging a few of the border ornaments at lower left, light circular cancel, Very Fine and choice, this unique pair and two other used singles (29X6) are the only recorded examples of the 5c Type II on gray paper, pictured in Crown "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 116) (Scott listed but unpriced; CSA Handbook GOL-TX-A04 B, $25,000)

CV. 10,000

Halletsville, Texas, 37X1, 10c Black on gray blue, circular issue cut-to-shape (partly in at right) and pen cancelled, affixed on large part of a folded letter datelined "Halletsville Aug 11th. 63" with message concerning payment for a parcel of land, addressed to an official in the Land Office at Austin, full and crisply struck "Hallettsville Tex. Aug 21" postmark at lower left, docketing on back side, Very Fine and choice; the unique example; Philatelic Foundation certificate #6653 does not accompany (Scott $15,000; CSA Handbook HAL-TX-A01, unpriced)

The first reference to the Hallettsville provisional apparently came in 1917, when Mekeel’s Weekly Stamp News (December 29) ran the following:

“The Albermarle Stamp Collector states that a Confederate Provisional used at Hallettsville, Texas, August 21, 1863, has been discovered recently on a letter in the Land Office of the State of Texas at Austin. The stamp was used for 10c postage and was made from a handstamped impression of the Hallettsville postmark with “10—Paid” in the middle, instead of a date, on blue paper, cut to shape and used as an adhesive. The stamp is pen cancelled on a folded letter dated August 11, 1863, and addressed to Stephen Crosby, Comp. of Gen’l Land Office, Austin Texas.”

Charles Deaton’s The Great Texas Stamp Collection explains what little is known about the early history of the Hallettsville provisional in great detail. When the stamp was illustrated in August Dietz’s Postal Service of the Confederate States of America in 1929, Dietz admitted that he had never seen the stamp himself and knew nothing of its origin. Outside of a Scott catalogue listing, nothing more was written of this stamp in the philatelic press until it appeared in the sale of Alfred Caspary’s collection in 1956.

While the Hallettsville has rarely been touched upon in philatelic literature, the Victoria Advocate of January 24, 1937 relates that Frank Caldwell, an Austin hardware salesman, told the following story:

“One time, I was over in Hallettsville on some business when a man approached me and showed me a stamp used by that postoffice during the War Between the States. The man said that he had been offered fifty dollars for it and wanted to know if I thought it advisable to sell. He apparently didn’t have any idea as to its value and was just seeking advice. ‘I can get you five hundred dollars for that stamp,’ I told him. The man turned pale as a sheet and finally gulped out, ‘Mr. Caldwell, if you can get me five hundred dollars for this stamp, I’ll five you fifty.’ I couldn’t stay around long enough to collect a commission but I did inform a New York dealer of the stamp and within a few days the Hallettsville man received a check for $500.”

Whether or not this is Hallettsville cover being offered here is impossible to ascertain with positivity, although it would make logical sense as a second example has never turned up.

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 989, 1956)

Rarities of the World (R.A. Siegel Sale 371, 1970)

CV. 5,000

Houston, Texas, 40XU1, 5c Red entire, bold strikes of overlapping red "Houston, Txs. Paid 5" provisional handstamp and black "Houston Tex. Jul 3 1861" circular date stamp on orange cover addressed to Hempstead, Texas, minor repairs at right edge, Very Fine, about as fine an example of this provisional as we've seen, pictured in Crown "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 145) (Scott $800, CSA Handbook HOU-TX-E01, $750)

Provenance: Harold C. Brooks (Laurence & Stryker Sale 123, 1943)

Judge Robert S. Emerson (Private Transaction)

CV. 250

CV. 1,000

Houston, Texas, 40XU2, 10c Red entire, legible strike of red "Houston Tex. Paid 10" provisional handstamp at lower left, black "Houston Tex. Jan 22 186?" circular date stamp (manuscript docketing on reverse indicates 1864 date), on dark buff "Head Quarters, Bureau of State Troops, Dist. of Texas, New Mexico & Arizona, Official Business" (CSA WD-ZB-15) semi-official envelope, addressed to Governor Pendleton Murrah in Austin, backflap torn and a tiny internal paper break to right of cds but otherwise Extremely Fine, an incredibly rare example of a Confederate provisional used on a semi-official cover and a true exhibit showpiece, 1984 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $2,000, CSA Handbook HOU-TX-E02, $1,250)

Provenance: John R. Hill, Jr. (Private Transaction)

CV. 1,000

Independence, Texas, 41X3, 10c Black on buff, Small "10" and Manuscript "Pd," single "cut to shape" with margins all around, uncommonly bold impression and strong manuscript "Pd" make for one of the most attractive examples of this stamp, uncancelled (as always) but tied by ink smear, on neat buff cover addressed to "Capt. T.L. Scott, Terry's Regiment, Shreveport, LA," partial strike of "Independance Tex Nov 24" circular date stamp at right (thought to be an 1864 use based on misspelled town name), cover has been refolded to hide some edge wear (as evidenced by comparing to the Caspary catalogue), small pieces out at upper left have been repaired, light creases away from stamp, Very Fine, almost certainly the most beautiful of the four "Small '10'" Independence covers known, pictured in Crown "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 148) (Scott $32,500, CSA Handbook IND-TX-A02, $25,000)

Independence, Texas is known to have produced two distinct types of provisional stamps during the Civil War (the Scott catalogue lists a third, which appears to have no factual basis). The "Large '10'" Independence provisional was the first to be discovered in 1899 and soon found its way into the hands of Ferrary. The four known "Small '10'" covers, all of which are from the same correspondence, were discovered around 1919. Three of the covers have stamps that are cut to shape, while the fourth bears a square stamp. The postmaster at the time, John McKnight, used an old postmarking device without a date slug to produce all of the known stamps (a more detailed discussion of McKnight and the history of the stamps can be found in Charles W. Deaton's "The Great Texas Stamp Collection").

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 989, 1956)

A. Earl Weatherly (Private Transaction)

Charles and Lucy Kilbourne (R.A. Siegel Sale 815, 1999)

CV. 10,000

Limestone Springs, South Carolina, 121X1, 5c Black on light blue, two singles cut rectangularly (left slightly larger), each with bold strike of "5" rate handstamp, uncancelled as always on cover elegantly addressed to "Mr. Edwd J. Dean, 'Spartan Rifles,' 5th Regt. So. Car. Volunteers, Col. M. Jenkins Commander, Tudor Hall, Near Manassas Junction, Virginia," additional "Care Capt. Jos. Walker" in corner, left stamp with nick at upper left corner, right stamp with upper right corner repaired, cover has been expertly restored since it last appeared for sale in 1995 to great effect, as it is very nearly unrecognizable in the best possible way, Extremely Fine appearance, one of only two covers with two Limestone Springs stamps on light blue paper, a total of seven stamps known on five covers (plus a sixth cover with two stamps on white paper), a major rarity of Confederate philately (Scott $15,000 for two on cover, CSA Handbook LIM-SC-A03, $20,000 for two singles on cover)

All five covers bearing Limestone Springs stamps on light blue paper were sent by Lizzie E. M. Dean from the Limestone Springs Female High School. The cover offered here is the most recent example to have been discovered, first appearing in a 1995 R.A. Siegel sale which identified the source as a "New Zealand estate." The Dean correspondence, very well known amongst students of Confederate philately, is therefore the only evidence we have that this particular stamp ever existed (and leads one to wonder how many Confederate provisonals are wholly lost to the sands of time).

Additional information on Edward J. Dean and the Dean family correspondence can be found in an article by Daniel M. Gilbert in the Confederate Philatelist.

The South Carolina 5th Infantry Regiment, assembled during March and April, 1861, including Capt Joseph Walker, was ordered to Virginia and saw action at First Manassas. Later it participated in the campaigns from Williamsburg to Fredericksburg, then in Suffolk and North Carolina. Continuously moving, the unit was engaged at Knoxville, The Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, in the trenches of Petersburg, and around Appomattox. Micah Jenkins formed and became a Brig Gen of the Palmetto Rifles regiment July of 1862 and died in battle (from friendly fire which also wounded Gen Longstreet) in May of 1864 during the Battle of the Wilderness. 

CV. 5,000

Macon, Georgia, 53X4, 5c Black on yellow, well-margined single tied by indistinct Macon cancel on small envelope addressed to Clinton, Georgia, stamp with some light internal creases, envelope roughly opened and missing most of backflap, tiny edge break at top well away from the stamp, Very Fine; the Crown survey records 14 covers franked with 53X4, two of them with pairs including one in the Tapling collection; signed "Genuine Macon/ WP Brown/ 9/10/(18)92" (Scott $7,500; CSA Handbook MAC-GA-A02 B, $5,000)

W.P. (William P.) Brown was a pioneer stamp dealer in New York City, starting in 1870, and conducted the first specialized auction sale of solely United States stamps in 1878. Brown helped finance J.W. Scott in the business and was the discoverer of the New Haven postmaster provisional.

Provenance: Sidney A. Hessel (H.R. Harmer Sale 2291, 1975)

CV. 1,000

Marion, Virginia, 55X2, 10c Black, single on bluish paper with margins all around, tied by black "Marion Va. Nov 18" circular date stamp, addressed to Scottsburg, Virginia (additional docketing removed at left), stamp lightly stained and scuffed at top, cover heavily repaired particularly under stamp which has been lifted and replaced (additional paper has been added where corner was torn away under stamp), large tear at top center, backflap missing, still Very Fine and extremely rare, only seven covers known with the Marion 10c stamp, and of those only three with sound stamps; additionally, this appears to be the only 10c Marion on bluish, which should almost certainly be listed in the Scott Catalogue alongside the 5c on bluish (55X3), "W.H.C." (Warren H. Coulson) handstamp at bottom right, 1976 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $35,000 for 10c on white paper, CSA Handbook MAR-VA-A02, $15,000 for 10c on white paper)

It is interesting that J.H. Francis, postmaster of Marion who issued these stamps with the assistance of his brother (W.P. Francis, local newspaperman), lived long enough to correspond with philatelists such as August Dietz. Francis claimed to have never printed stamps on blue paper, although his assertion that he also printed 15c and 20c stamps leads a modern researcher to take his words with a grain of salt. The 5c Black on bluish is known both used and unused, and this cover proves that both denominations were printed on colored paper. After Francis's death John Walter Scott was able to acquire the original die used to produce these stamps, and produced forgeries ranging from 2c to 20c.

Provenance: Sidney A. Hessel (H.R. Harmer Sale 2291, 1975)

CV. 5,000

CV. 1,000

CV. 400

New Orleans, Louisiana, 62X4, 1861 5c Red brown on bluish, vertical block of six each stamp cancelled by a "PAID" handstamp, wide side margins, full margin at top including part imprint, clear to full margins at bottom, pressed vertical crease in right stamps, Very Fine appearance and the largest recorded multiple; "R.H.W. Co." handstamp on back (unlisted as a block of six in Scott or the CSA Handbook though Scott catalogs a horizontal strip of six at $3,500)

Provenance: Weill Brothers (Christies NY, 1989)

CV. 500

CV. 150

New Orleans, Louisiana, 62X5, 1861 5c Yellow brown on off-white, bottom margin horizontal strip of four with part imprint (pos 37-40) paying quadruple-rate tied on envelope by "New Orleans La. 10 Dec" (1861) postmarks, addressed to the Secretary of the "Lodge No 135 F. & A.M." (Free and Accepted Masons) in East Baton Rouge, stamps well margined and marred only by a small nick in the bottom margin and some light aging in the right stamp, embossed seal of the "Grand Secretary/ Grand Lodge F. & A.M./ New Orleans, La." on backflap, envelope reduced at left, edge wrinkling and some vertical bends not affecting stamps and sealed breaks top and bottom, Fine use and, according to notation on back, the "Only Known Strip of 4 - 3rd Printing", also signed "Genuine/ John A Fox" (unpriced in Scott or CSA Handbook)

The Plains Masonic Lodge 135 is still active in Zachary, Louisiana, a town in East Baton Rouge Parish north of Baton Rouge.

CV.

Pleasant Shade, Virginia, 67X1, 5c Blue, position 3 single tied by near-perfect strike of blue "Pleasant Shade Va May 21 [1862]" circular date stamp, margins ample at left but otherwise touching or just cut in, stamp with barely-perceptible pre-affixing horizontal crease, addressed to "Miss Ella B. Smith, Christiansville P.O., Mecklenburg County, Virginia," cover left edge reduced sometime between 1956 and 1967 to "improve" appearance (right edge slightly reduced as well), small bit of mounting residue on reverse, still Extremely Fine and rare, referred to in the Caspary catalogue as "one of the outstanding Confederate covers in existence", Ferrary's purple trefoil at lower left, pictured in Crown "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 301) (Scott $40,000, CSA Handbook PLE-VA-A01, $30,000)

The Pleasant Shade, Virginia provisional stamp is much rarer in used condition than it is unused. Richard L. Calhoun's The Confederate Postmaster Provisionals of Virginia lists only 22 examples total, including three singles on cover and one pair on cover. Of the three singles on cover, one (a December 22, 1861 use to Staunton, Virginia) is in the Tapling Collection of the British Library and will never be made available publicly. Therefore, outside of the unique pair on cover, this is one of two single-rate Pleasant Shade covers available to collectors.

The Pleasant Shade stamps are identical to the provisional stamps of Petersburg, Virginia, as they were both produced by the firm Andrew F. Crutchfield & Company. Only the color and the order of the setting were changed between the two cities.

Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert Sale 4, 1922)

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956)

H. Gray Muzzy (H.R. Harmer Sale 1764, 1967)

CV. 10,000

Pleasant Shade, Virginia, 67X1, 5c Blue, position 4 single with margins huge to just touching several ornament tips at top right, tied by complete blue "Pleasant Shade Va April 23" circular date stamp to small piece, barest trace of toning, Very Fine, an exceptionally attractive example of this very rare provisional, one of only two known used off-cover stamps, pictured in Crown "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 300) (Scott $20,000; CSA Handbook PLE-VA-01, $10,000)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 901, 1956)

A. Earl Weatherley (R.A. Siegel Sale 420, 1972)

CV. 5,000

Plum Creek, Tex., 141X1, 10c Black on blue, rhomboid blue paper adhesive with manuscript "10", bearing in one handwriting "Plum Creek, July 16,/64" and "Paid 10 cts" (the latter tying the stamp), on small homemade wallpaper cover that remarkably contains a stunning depiction of a Victorian woman (imprint "34 Ann St., N.Y."), addressed to Gonzales, Texas in a different hand, light overall aging but still Very Fine, long believed to be unique (and therefore doubted by many until a second example emerged in the 1960s), this is one of the great rarities of both Confederate and Texas philately and has only been offered a few times publicly, pictured in Crown's Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals (Quarterman edition, Page 525), Molesworth notations on backflap, 1981 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott listed but unpriced; CSA Handbook PLU-TX-02, listed but unpriced)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956)

Alexander S. Kirkman (H.R. Harmer Sale 1423, 1962)

Rarities of the World (R.A. Siegel Sale 645, 1985)

CV. 5,000

Raleigh, North Carolina, 68XU1, 5c Red entire, red provisional marking and blue "Raleigh N.C." double circle date stamp (date indistinguishable) on 3c Nesbitt entire, addressed to Liberty, Virginia, docketing at left dated "15th Oct 61", cover with light staining, opened and slightly reduced at right, small repair bottom right corner, still wonderfully fresh and Fine, probably unique on US stamped envelope as pencil notation on reverse reads "This provisional is very rare, used on U.S. envelope - only example I have seen. E.S. Knapp 1923," "Still only example seen" in the hand of Larry L. Shenfield, "Earl Antrim, Nampa, Idaho" and "R.H.W. Co." (Raymond H. Weill) handstamps on back, pictured in Crown "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 305) (Scott $400 for normal entire; CSA Handbook RAL-NC-E02, $500)

Provenance: Charles F. Meroni (John A. Fox Sale 258-59, 1961)

CV. 100

Rheatown, Tennessee, 69X1, 5c Red, position "A" single with margins all around, pen cancelled but not tied on orange cover addressed to Athens, Tennessee, two strikes of red "Rheatown Ten Feb 15" circular date stamp, cover with horizontal crease not affecting stamp, contemporaneous ink stains on reverse, Very Fine, certainly one of the most attractive of the six covers known bearing the Rheatown provisional stamp, a true gem (Scott $20,000, CSA Handbook RHE-TN-A01, $35,000 for stamp tied by postmark)

The provisional stamps of Rheatown and Tellico Plains, Tennessee were both produced by the same printer, with just the names of the postmaster and town replaced. While Tellico Plains produced two 5c stamps and a 10c stamp in the setting of three, Rheatown only had 5c stamps printed (three distinct positions). A letter from Postmaster D. Pence describing the creation of these stamps was first printed in the American Journal of Philately in August of 1870 and later reproduced in the Phillips Survey of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals. In it he explains, "The inconvenience of country people sending money by servants and children to pay postage, and the remarkable scarcity of small change at that time, were the principle objects for procuring this stamp."

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956)

CV. 5,000

Richmond, Texas, 70XU1, 5c Red entire, neat amber cover with typical light but legible strike of "Richmond Texas. Paid 5" provisional marking at upper right and blue "Richmond Tex Jul 10" cds to its left, addressed to "Carroll, Hoy & Co." in New Orleans, scissor-cut at right edge, usual light stains and pinholes as well as remnants of Hind's infamous tape on the back side, still Very Fine and with an exceptional provenance, perhaps as few as six known of this entire (Scott $2,500; CSA Handbook RIC-TX-E01, $1,500)

Provenance: Arthur Hind (Charles J. Phillips Sale 1, 1933)

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956)

Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 317, 1967)

Rarities of the World (Robert A. Siegel Sale 618, 1983)

CV. 500

Richmond, Tex., 70XU1a, 10c on 5c Red entire, small and neat mourning cover with unusually bold "Richmond Texas. Paid 5" provisional handstamp with a prominent "10" obliterating "5," additional near-perfect blue "Richmond Tex Sep 25" datestamp, addressed to Little's Mills, North Carolina, mounting remains on back side, Extremely Fine cover from the well-known Little family correspondence; believed to be unique, pencil notation on reverse states "Found Feb 10, 1932," a wonderful piece of Confederate postal history that we believe to be undervalued in Scott (Scott $5,000; CSA Handbook RIC-TX-E01Ab, $3,500)

Provenance: Charles J. Phillips (Private Transaction)

Stephen D. Brown (Harmer, Rooke & Co, London, 1939)

Harold C. Brooks (Private Transaction)

Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 317, 1967)

Weill Brothers (Private Transaction)

CV. 1,500

Richmond, Texas, 70XU2, 10c Red, partially struck on gray folded letter (discusses shortage in a coffee order) datelined "Richmond July 12th, 1864" and with a nice strike of "Richmond Tex Jul 15" date stamp at left, addressed to Houston, light tape stain along the bottom fold, Very Fine and scarce with just 10 examples noted in the Crown survey, this cover being pictured on page 311 (Quarterman edition), "R.H.W. Co." handstamp on back (Scott $2,000, CSA Handbook RIC-TX-E02, $2,000)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 989, 1956)

Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 317, 1967)

Rarities of the World (R.A. Siegel Sale 618, 1983)

CV. 750

Spartanburg, South Carolina, 78X1, 5c Black, Type I, single on plain white wove paper, cut to shape and tied by two bold strikes of straight line "Paid" handstamp to orange cover, matching "Spartanburg S.C. Jul 10 1861" double circle date stamp, envelope elegantly addressed to "Corpl. Edward J. Dean, 'Spartan Rifles,' 5th Palmetto Regt. South Carolina Volunteers, Col. M. Jenkins Commander, Tudor Hall P.O., Near Manassas Junction, Virginia" with additional manuscript "Care Capt. Jos. Walker, 'Spartan Rifles'" at left, extraneous ink at bottom left, comparison to the Caspary catalogue shows this cover has undergone expert restoration (still missing backflap) resulting in an Extremely Fine appearance, truly a showpiece of any collection of Confederate provisionals, an all-around impressive cover from the famed "Dean" correspondence (Scott $20,000; CSA Handbook SPA-SC-A02, $20,000)

Envelope postmarked July 10, 1861, just 11 days prior to the Battle at Manassas (Bull Run) where this South Carolina regiment saw action.

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956)

CV. 2,500

CV. 300

CV. 250

CV. 500

CV. 750

Uniontown, Alabama, 86X5, 10c Red on gray blue, position 4, affixed but not tied on a portion of an envelope showing part of a Virginia address, blurred (typical) 27 Sep (1861) cancel, stamp full to large margins, Very Fine and choice example of this rare provisional, a mere eight examples of this 10c provisional are recorded in the Crown survey, seven of which are on cover, pictured in Crown "Survey of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (page 350, Quarterman edition), seven of which are on cover; "R.H.W. Co." handstamp on back (Scott $40,000 for stamp on full cover, CSA Handbook UNI-AL-A05, $30,000 for stamp on full cover)

Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert Sale 4, 1922)

George S. Walcott (Private Transaction)

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 989, 1956)

CV. 5,000

Warrenton, Georgia, 89XU1, 5c Black, nearly full strike on an orange envelope with accompanying "Warrenton Geo. Aug 21" (1861) date stamp, addressed to Birzillha, Ga., opened and slightly reduced at left just into the date, partial edge separation at bottom right, still Fine and rare with just four examples recorded in the Crown survey (Scott $2,100; CSA Handbook WAR-GA-E01, $1,000)

Provenance: M. Hubert Judd (John W. Kaufman Sale 22, 1975)

CV. 500

CV. 250