1XU1, Aberdeen, Mississippi, 5c Black, provisional handstamp "Aberdeen Mi." with "5" in the center and "Paid" at the left side, "Aberdeen Miss. Sep 13" cds at lower left, addressed to Macon Mississippi, cover small tear and minor stains, trivially reduced at the top, no backflap and repairs to reverse, still Very Fine, only two examples of the Aberdeen 5c provisional are recorded (the other dated January 20 and ex-Ferrary, Knapp, Hall, and Gross), and only three total Aberdeen provisionals known (one 10c manuscript revalued cover, Scott 1XU1a), one of the rarest of all Confederate provisionals, pictured in Crown "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 11) (Scott $7,000)rnProvenance: Judge Robert S. Emerson (Private Transaction)rnDavid Carnahan (Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1978)rnJay Richards (Richard Frajola Sale 54, 1994) (Image)

CV. 1,000

2XU2, Abingdon, Virginia, 5c Black entire, largely-complete strike of provisional handstamp at the top left of a yellow envelope with "Abingdon Va. 1861 Oct 20" cds, addressed to Nashville, Tennessee, some light creasing and backflap slightly torn, still Very Fine and attractive example of this scarce provisional (Scott $1,750)rnProvenance: John Birkinbine II (Private Transaction, 1992)rnJohn R. Hill, Jr. (Private Transaction) (Image)

CV. 250

6XU6, Atlanta, Georgia, 10c Black entire, nice strike of the handstamp on an envelope with accompanying "Atlanta Ga Sep 29" 1861 cds and addressed to "Hon A.H. Stephens/ Richmond Va", most of backflap missing but shows a portion of the embossed seal of the Executive Department of Georgia, still Very Fine (Scott $550)rnrnWritten on the back of the envelope is the missive "Hon. Jos. E. Brown/ Atlanta 28th Sept / Apologies for Mr. Waters dispatch for permission to publish Mr ___ letter. Gov. Brown says he knew nothing of it". Joseph E. Brown was Georgia's Governor from 1857-65, Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court 1865-70, and also its US Senator from 1880-91. He was constantly at odds with Pres. Davis, calling him an "incipient tyrant".rn rnProvenance: R.P. Gravely, Jr (Steve Ivy Auctions, Oct 1982) (Image)

CV. 150

21XU3, Danville, Virginia, 5c Black on dark buff entire, press-printed illustrated design at upper left, addressed to New Glasgow Va, clear "Danville Va Sep 6" cds, opened and slightly reduced at top, envelope repaired tear at top right not impacting the postmark, Very Fine appearance; signed "Brian Green" (Scott $7,000)rnrnThe Calhoun census lists 24 envelopes, but nearly half lack a Danville postmark or are used as ordinary envelopes franked with adhesives. He counts only 11-12 (all 5c denomination) properly used and postmarked provisional uses. rnProvenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 989, 1956)rnBrian Green (Richard Frajola Sale 30, 1986)rnJohn R. Hill, Jr. (Private Transaction) (Image)

CV. 1,000

21XU1 var, Danville, Virginia, 10c Red entire, envelope with the illustarted design in the upper left used as an envelope with the stamp missing from the upper right corner, addressed to Lynchburg Va, no postal markings, opened at right, the upper right corner (42x38mm) had been removed and has been professionally restored, Very Fine appearance; Philatelic Foundation certificate 248724 does not accompanyrnProvenance: Weill Brothers (Christies NY, 1989) (Image)

CV. 300

23XU2, Eatonton, Georgia, 5c + 5c Black entire, two strikes of the "5" handstamp on an orange envelope addressed to "Capt R.B. Nisbet/ Brown Rifles/ 3rd Rgiment Georgia Volunteers/ Portsmouth, Virginia", accompaying "Eatonton Ga 1861 Jun 26" double circle postmark, envelope small sealed opening breaks at top, back side some sealed backflap tears and hinge remainders, still Very Fine; Crown records just five of these "5+5" envelopes (Scott $5,000)rnProvenance: Stephen D. BrownrnJohn R Hill, Jr. (Image)

CV. 1,000

26X1, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 5c Blue on bluish, mint sheet of 20 comprised of the two settings of ten, original gum with eight of the stamps NH, others l.h., h.r. or some gum disturbance, thin fragile paper with typical light bends and wrinkles, tiny edge nick pos 17, hinge sealed break in pos 4, still a Very Fine and impressive sheet and one of the few extant (Scott $19,000) (Image)

CV. 7,500

26X1, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 5c Blue on bluish, position 9, rich color, clear to full margins. o.g., very lightly hinged, a trivial bit of natural wrinkling as common on this fragile paper, choice Very Fine (Scott $900) (Image)

CV. 300

26X1, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 5c Blue on bluish, horizontal pair, positions 1-2, large balanced margins except just impinging on corner ornaments at right, Fredericksburg Oct 13 1861 cancels, fragile paper with the typical light wrinkling, Very Fine and choice multiple as used examples are most often found poorly margined and/or with faults (Scott $2,500 as two singles) (Image)

CV. 750

26X1, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 5c Blue on bluish, position 1, margins huge to ample with a portion of sheet margin at top, tied by black "Fredericksburg Va Paid Oct 25" cds to neat small mourning cover to "Major R.L. Maury, 24th Va. Reg., Early's Bridage, Manassas Junction,", well-margined stamp with some light wrinkling at top but far less severe than typically seen for this delicate issue, Very Fine and choice (Scott $5,500)rnrnThe "Maury" correspondence, believed to have been written by his girlfriend (and later wife) Susan Crutchfield Maury, spans from June 1861 to (possibly) early 1865. All covers in the correspondence are numbered in sequential Roman numerals in order of receipt, this being "LVIII." Nine mourning covers bearing Fredericksburg adhesives were sold in the 1966 R.A. Siegel Rarities of the World auction (sale 296; the cover offered here was lot 162). Since then, the anonymous collector of CSA mourning covers "Paul Bearer" has conducted a census of the Maury mourning covers ("The Maury Mourning Covers - An Initial Census and Survey"), which can be accessed via Richard Frajola's website. The addressee, Richard Launcelot Maury (1840-1907), was the son of Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873), a celebrated US Naval Commander and astronomer nicknamed the "Father of Modern Oceanography and Naval Meteorology" and "Scientist of the Seas."rnProvenance: Rarities of the World (R.A. Siegel Sale 296, 1966) (Image)

CV. 1,500

26X2, Fredericksburg, Virginia, 10c Red on bluish, eye-catching mint single with radiant color and full balanced margins, o.g. (scarce thus), light horiz crease as typical on this fragile-papered issue, Very Fine appearance; none are known genuinely used, about 35 unused mint copies (most with faults) are recorded (Scott $2,250) (Image)

CV. 500

98XU1, Galveston, Texas, 5c Black, Type I, delightful and crisp strike of this intricate cancel that is so often blurry and indistinguishable, with handstamped "5" alongside and somewhat faint strike of February 25, 1862 double circle date stamp, addressed to "Miss Ada Le Pert, Richmond, Texas," neat undated "Galveston Tex." handstamp on backflap, tiny repaired tears, Very Fine, one of the nicer examples of this desirable provisional we can recall (Scott $1,500)rnProvenance: A. Murl Kimmel (R.A. Siegel Sale 492, 1976) (Image)

CV. 300

29X7, Goliad, Texas, 10c Black on gray, Type II, tied on a folded letter datelined "Goliad August 19th 1864" and addressed to "Capt William Headen/ Corpus Christi/ Texas", "Goliad Tex Aug 19" cds, ms "O.B." (official business), stamp with crisp impression on the distinctive blue-gray paper, clear to wide margins, letter with some tiny foxing spots not affecting stamp, Very Fine overall; just four covers with the 10c type II franking recorded, this being #1 in the Deaton census (Scott $40,000)rnThe letter to Captain Headen was from a conscription officer informing the captain of the pending arrival of a conscript. Manuscript notation (in a different hand) notes "Co. K/ 21st Tex Cavalry". The Twenty-first saw its last action at the battle of Yellow Bayou on May 18, 1864. Subsequently, the regiment performed scouting and raiding duties in Arkansas. The regiment was in Texas when it disbanded in the spring of 1865. rnIllustrated in Crown, "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals", 1982 Quarterman Reprint, page 120rnProvenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 989, 1956) (Image)

CV. 15,000

30X3, Gonzales, Texas, 1865 (10c) Gold on black, single tied on an envelope by two pen strokes with a Gonzales Tex double circle date stamp and an ms "5", addressed to "TM Harwood/ care Breeden & Fox/Richmond Virginia", notation on the back "The saddle has not come/ it is not at store nor/ the Express office/ A Peterson" (different handwriting than the address), stamp margins to just cutting and with a light scuff, envelope opened and bit reduced at right with 6mm sealed edge break at the top and some edge wrinkling with a tiny edge break at the bottom, Fine appearance and quite rare with the Deaton census recording just two covers with this franking (Scott $50,000)rnCharles Deaton in his 2012 book, The Great Texas Stamp Collection, notes the existence of only two covers bearing this stamp (with one additional dubious cover not counted). The stamp on both of the covers is pen cancelled. Gonzales, Texas used advertising labels from the firm of Coleman & Law as provisional stamps twice during the Civil War (first as 5c stamps in 1861 and later as 10c stamps in 1864-65). John V. Law, co-owner of the firm, also served as the town's postmaster. As these labels were also attached to the insides of books (and perhaps medicine bottles) there have been numerous counterfeit covers produced over the years, and genuine uses on cover remain exceedingly scarce. The other cover bearing this stamp was last offered as part of the collection of Dr. Ralph Brandon (R.A. Siegel Sale 1073, 2014). (Image)

CV. 15,000

31XU1, Greensboro, Alabama, 5c Black, small white envelope with 5c provisional double circle handstamp and "Greensborough Ala. Aug 12" cds (both partially extending over the edge of the cover), addressed to Marion, Alabama, torn backflap and light creasing from the enclosure (original letter accompanies), Very Fine, the Crown book only records three examples of this provisional, one of which is reported to have been lost in the mail in 1899, extremely rare and attractive, with Creighton Hart's green heart backstamp (Scott $3,000)rnProvenance: Frank Hart (Private Transaction)rnStephen D. Brown (Harmer, Rooke London, 1939)rn Judge Robert S. Emerson (Private Transaction) (Image)

CV. 500

31XU2, Greensboro, Alabama, 10c Black, Type I, complete strike of 10c double circle provisional handstamp with "Greensborough Ala. Sep 26" cds alongside on cover addressed to Richmond, Virginia, expertly repaired tear along the top, still Very Fine, the Crown book lists this as the unique example of the Greensboro 10c Type I provisional and our research has failed to discover another, extremely rare and in all likelihood unique, pictured in Crown "Surveys of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (Quarterman edition, page 130), a lovely cover with an exceptional provenance (Scott $2,750)rnProvenance: George Walcott (Private Transaction, 1935)rnJudge Robert S. Emerson (Private Transaction, 1939)rnHarold C. Brooks (Laurence & Stryker Sale 123, 1943)rnJere Farrington (Private Transaction, 1995) (Image)

CV. 1,000

47X1, Knoxville, Tennessee, 5c Brick red, tied on an envelope addressed to "James A. Coffin, Esq./ Madisonville/ E. Tenn." by light strike of Knoxville Ten 1862 cds, with enclosure datelined "Knoxville Jan 17th 1862", stamp clear to full margins, envelope opened and slightly reduced at left, Very Fine and choice; it is thought perhaps no more than 10 of the 5c Knoxville provisionals, of any shade, are tied by a postal cancel (Scott $8,000)rnProvenance: Col. E.H.R. Green (Doane Sale, 1942)rnHarold C. Brooks (Laurence & Stryker, 1945) (Image)

CV. 750

49X1P, Lenoir, North Carolina, 5c Blue "Proof," heavily-inked impression on off-white paper, accompanied by May 20, 1911 notarized statement reading: "This impression was made on the fly leaf of an old account book used in the Post Office at Lenoir, N.C. from the original die of the Lenoir, N.C. 5 cent stamp engraved by myself in the summer of 1861 and is one of two such impressions now in existance [sic] so far as I know. My father was Postmaster at the time and I kept the Post office for him. (signed) G.W. Harper," certainly not a "proof" in the traditional sense but an interesting historical curiosity nonetheless, Very Fine and presumed to be unique (Image)

CV.

49X1, Lenoir, North Carolina, 5c Blue & orange, single cancelled by manuscript "X" as is common, on folded letter sheet datelined "Palmyra, Feb 2d, 1862" with blue "Lenoir N.C. Feb 4" cds, addressed to Salem, NC and routed through the Lenoir post office (only 20 miles from Salem), stamp with framelines full to touched at left, letter vertical file fold well away from stamp, Very Fine, a lovely example of this attractive bicolored stamp of which only approximately 29 are known on cover (Scott $15,000) (Image)

CV. 2,500

51X1, Livingston, Alabama, 5c Blue, horizontal pair with margins all around, tied by crisp strike of "Livingston Ala. Nov 12 [1861]" cds to small homemade cover addressed to "Capt. R. Chapman, Jr./ 11th Regt. Ala. Vol./ Manassas Junction/ Va.," further endorsed "Care of/ Col. Syd. Moore." at lower left, light overall paper aging, still Extremely Fine, a superlative cover in every regard, 1985 Philatelic Foundation certificate #146583 does not accompany (Scott $120,000 is based on a 1989 auction realization and has little bearing on the value of this cover 31 years later)

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

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 990, 1956)

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

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction)

"A European Lady" (Christie's/Robson Lowe, NY, 1985)

Weill Brothers' Stock (Christie's-NY, 1989)

Illustrated in Life Magazine's "World's Rarest Stamps" (1954), August Dietz, Sr's Confederate States Catalog and Handbook (1959), and many other publications

Described in the 1956 Caspary sale: "This celebrated pair and cover is generally considered to be the most outstanding and most valuable Confederate item in existence."

Described by Earl Antrim in the Confederate Philatelist (April 1960) as "the Aristocrat of all Confederate Covers."

Exhibited at ANPHILEX 1971 in New York City, Aristocrats of Philately, where it was stated: "Becasue of all the qualifications it possesses, it was selected for the Aristocrats section as the most outstanding Confederate States item."

There are numerous factors contributing to the fact that the "Livingston Cover" is widely considered to be the most significant Confederate States item in existence. First is the design of the stamps themselves, which stand apart from all other Confederate provisionals in their beauty. Whereas many Confederate provisionals were produced quickly and inexpensively from whatever materials were on hand (for extreme examples of improvisation see the stamps of Limestone Springs, SC or Plum Creek, TX), the Livingston adhesives were printed by lithography. The only other two municipalities to produce stamps by this method were Charleston, SC and Mobile, AL—whose printer, W.R. Robertson, is believed to have also produced the Livingston stamps due to similarities in design.

The second factor contributing to the cover's fame is the scarcity of Livingston stamps either on- or off-cover. It is believed that only 11 genuine examples exist, including the pair on the cover offered here, six single-franked covers, and three off-cover used stamps (including two which originated as a pair on cover). Although there are Confederate provisionals which are decidedly rarer, the unique combination of beauty and scarcity elevates Livingston above all other issues.

Also important to take into account when considering the repute of the Livingstone Cover is its impeccable provenance, having graced the collections of Count Philipp von Ferrary, Alfred H. Caspary, Josiah K. Lilly, John R. Boker Jr., and now Erivan Haub—all titans of 20th century philately. As the cover changed hands over the years it grew in stature, and its sale price repeatedly made headlines: from $14,000 in the Caspary sale to $19,000 in the Lilly sale, eventually reaching a high-water mark of $160,000 when it was sold by Christie»s in 1985 (the Weill Brothers outbid Lou Robbins in that instance).rnThe history of the Livingston provisional was most thoroughly told in the special catalogue prepared by Christie's/Robson Lowe when this cover was sold in 1985. Additionally, a census prepared by Francis J. Crown, Jr. and available through the Confederate Stamp Alliance provides complete provenance information for all known Livingston provisionals.

In the foreword to the 1956 Caspary sale, August Dietz, Sr. wrote of this cover, "The Livingston has repeatedly been the object of fierce competition in earlier auctions. The chances are that it will remain a coveted prize." We are confident that his words are still true 64 years later.

CV. 75,000

52XU2, Lynchburg, Virginia, 5c Black on amber, light "Lynchburg Va Jun 4 " (year date illegible) cds with matching "5" rate handstamp, addressed to Lovingston Va, bit reduced and some minor toning at right, still Very Fine and scarce as the Calhoun census records just 15 examples of the Lynchburg provisional envelope on any kind of paper, Frank Hart's handstamp on reverse (Scott $4,000)rnProvenance: "Rarities of the World" (R.A. Siegel Sale 596, 1982) (Image)

CV. 500

53X3, Macon, Georgia, 1861 5c Black on yellow, Type II, vertical pair tied by indistinct Macon, Georgia cds, addressed to Richmond (from the Cobb correspondence), stamp with huge margins all around plus a sharp and deep impression on bright paper, envelope reduced at right and missing right side flap, neither of which affects the provisional pair, Very Fine and attractive, only five covers recorded with pairs of the 5c Macon with floral border (including two others from this same correspondence), backstamped "R.H.W. Co." (Scott $11,000)rnrnThe sender, John B. Lamar (1812-62) was an American politician, lawyer, and planter. He was elected in 1842 to represent Georgia in the US House of Representatives during the 28th Congress; however, his service was brief as he resigned and left office on July 29, 1843, just months after being sworn in. During the Civil War, Lamar served as an aide to CSA Army General Howell Cobb, his brother-in-law, and close friend. He was wounded during the Battle of Crampton's Gap Maryland trying to rally Cobb's Brigade and died within a day on September 15, 1862. (Image)

CV. 1,000

55X1, Marion, Virginia, 5c Black on white, tied on mourning cover addressed to Saltville Va by bold "PAID" handstamp with a corresponding "Marion Va Jan 24" (1862) cds at left, stamp with full well-balanced margins except just clear of the frame at upper left, envelope some light edge wrinkling with a few small edge breaks and a pinhole in the bottom black area, mounting remains on back side, Fine and rare; a mere four covers with the Marion 5c franking are recorded with one residing in the British Library's Tapling collection (Scott $20,000)rnrnIllustrated in Crown, "Survey of Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals", 1982 Quarterman reprint, page 200rnProvenance: Sidney A. Hessel (H.R. Harmer Sale 2291, 1975) (Image)

CV. 7,500

55X3, Marion, Virginia, 5c Black on Bluish laid paper, unused single with margins large to just in at top right, reverse with blue ruled lines, some light age staining does not detract from this remarkable stamp, Very FIne, at the time this stamp was offered in the Caspary sale Bluish paper was not listed in Scott, and the Philatelic Foundation considered the stamp "genuine, but whether issued for use on this paper is uncertain," since that time a used example has surfaced proving that stamps on Bluish laid were issued for postal use (we also offered a cover with a 10c on Bluish paper in the second Erivan sale), only 11 5c Marion stamps are known on any paper (four on covers, three each on piece and used, and this the sole unused example), one of the greatest rarities of Confederate philately, not offered publicly in over half a century (Scott listed but unpriced)rnProvenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 990, 1956) (Image)

CV. 10,000

56X1, 56X1a, Memphis, Tennessee, 2c Blue, stunning vertical right margin block of eight (ample margins the other sides) with three positions showing the partial print variety caused by a break or cracking of the plate at the right edge and incl pos 17 with cracked plate below "2" variety, lovely pastel color, unused, fragile paper with some typical light bends and creases, Very Fine appearance and an eye-catching showpiece (Image)

CV. 750