Confederacy, Charleston, S.C., 1861, 5¢ blue. Type E, neat "Charleston S.C., Oct 27, 1861" town cancel, large margins with outer frame lines all around; light horizontal creases, Very Fine appearance, very few of the Charleston Provisionals extant are sound.
Scott No. 16X1; $800. Scott $800
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Scott $800

Confederacy, Charleston, S.C., 1861, 5¢ blue. Margins large to just in at lower right and top, tied by neat strike of "Charleston, S.C., Oct 11, 1861" cds on cover to Camden, S.C., with red "Office of the Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph, Main Guard House, Charleston, S.C." imprint; cover with expertly restoration mostly along top edge, Very Fine appearance, illustrated in Calhoun book (page 76).
Scott No. 16X1; Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.

A WONDERFUL CHARLESTON POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL USAGE ON COVER WITH A FIRE ALARM AND POLICE TELEGRAPH IMPRINT.

The Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph system was installed in Charleston by John Nelson Gamewell, a Camden S.C. postmaster and telegraph operator who purchased rights to the system in 1855 (the Gamewell Fire Alarm Company still exists). The first city to use a telegraph system to transmit fire and police alarms was Boston in 1852, followed by Philadelphia in 1855, and St. Louis, Baltimore and New Orleans between 1858 and 1860. The city of Charleston started discussions about using Gamewell's system as early as 1855, but apparently decided against it. In August 1860, the Charleston Courier reported that Gamewell was visiting the city again to demonstrate his product. On September 4th, the city council reviewed a detailed proposal from Gamewell, specifying the locations of the telegraph alarms (Charleston Courier, September 6, 1860), and shortly thereafter the city entered into a contract with him. Then in April 3, 1861, Charleston Courier reported that the system was operational. Exactly two months after this cover was mailed to Camden S.C., a fire broke out at a window blind and sash factory located at East Bay and Hasell Streets. It was reported to have been caused by a group of slaves who were gathered around a campfire. The fire quickly spread southwest and destroyed about 15% of the city before it was finally extinguished. Some sources say that efforts to control the fire were impeded by the fact that so many firemen had left to fight in the Confederate army. Robert E. Lee was in Charleston that night and observed the conflagration from the balcony of the Mills House hotel before its proximity forced him to leave. Est. $4,000-6,000 (Image)

Est. $4,000-6,000

Confederacy, Charleston, S.C., 1861, 5¢ blue. Group of three, one unused and two used, later with one cancelled by part of cds and other by double-circle datestamp, unused large margins, used with large margins to touched; each with faults, Fine and scarce trio.
Scott No. 16X1; $3,000. Scott $3,000
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Scott $3,000

Confederacy, Columbia, S.C., 1861, 5¢ blue, seal on back. On fresh cover to Greensboro, N.C., with matching "Paid" in circle, "5" rate handstamp and "Columbia, S.C., Jul 15" cds, Extremely Fine, an exceptional handstamp provisional entire, ex-Cantey.
Scott No. 18XU4a; $1,250; Estimate $750 - 1,000. Scott $1,250
Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Scott $1,250
Est. $750-1,000

Confederacy, Columbia, S.C., 1861, 5¢ blue, seal on back. On bottom backflap on ladies embossed cover to a member of Palmetto Guards in Richmond, Va., with matching "Columbia, S.C., Aug 15" cds, "Paid" and "5" rate handstamp (Dietz type IF); backflap added and some edge mends, Fine appearance.
Scott No. 18XU4a; $1,250. Scott $1,250
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Scott $1,250

Confederacy, Dalton, Ga., 1861, 5¢ black. Applied in error tying 5¢ green, Stone A/B (1c) horizontal pair, large margins to touched at left, on light buff cover to Richmond, Va., matching "Dalton, Ga., Nov 27, 1861" cds at left and struck over provisional handstamp; small stamp and cover defects at top, Very Fine, with 2009 C.S.A. certificate.
Scott No. 20XU1; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

AN UNUSUAL USE OF THE DALTON GA. "PAID 5" PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP USED IN ERROR AS CANCELLATION. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Confederacy, Greenville, Ala., 1861, 5¢ red & blue. Unused, ample margins to touched, rich colors and strong impressions of the blue ornamental border and red town name and denomination, without gum as usual; trivial small corner creases at top and bottom left, Very Fine, ex-Brandon, with 1952 and 2006 P.F. certificates.
Scott No. 33X1; $25,000.

ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 5¢ GREENVILLE PROVISIONAL. ONE OF THE FIRST BI-COLORED POSTAGE STAMPS TO APPEAR IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

There are only four off-cover stamps and two covers recorded. The two covers bear uncancelled singles. Scott $25,000
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Scott $25,000

Confederacy, Knoxville, Tenn., 1861, 5¢ brick red. Die 1, Pos. 1, top sheet margin single with clear margins on other sides, strong color, without gum, Very Fine and rare position piece.
Scott No. 47X1; $1,750. Scott $1,750
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Scott $1,750

Confederacy, Knoxville, Tenn., 1861, 5¢ brick red. Large margins all around except slightly in at bottom right corner, tied by "Knoxville Tenn, 3 Mar 1862" cds on small lilac-lined white cover to Lyons' Store Tenn., pencil "March 3, 1862" docketing at top left; sealed cover tear at top, Very Fine appearance, ex-Kimmel, Hill.
Scott No. 47X1; $8,000.

A RARE KNOXVILLE 5¢ BRICK RED PROVISIONAL TIED BY HANDSTAMP ON COVER. Scott $8,000
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Scott $8,000

Confederacy, Knoxville, Tenn., 1861, 5¢ carmine. Rough large margins to in at sides, manuscript canceled on orange cover to Ringold Ga., F.-V.F., F.-V.F., most of the few known covers are pen canceled with no postmarks present, with 2004 C.S.A. certificate.
Scott No. 47X2; $2,100.

A RARE USE OF THE KNOXVILLE 5¢ CARMINE PROVISIONAL ON COVER. Scott $2,100
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Scott $2,100

Confederacy, Memphis, Tenn., 1861, 2¢ blue. Ample margins, bold color, town cancel; small thin and tear, Very Fine appearance.
Scott No. 56X1; $1,250. Scott $1,250
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Scott $1,250

Confederacy, Memphis, Tenn., 1861, 5¢ red. Top margin block of 4 (positions 6-7/14-15), huge margins to just touched including sheet margin at top, brilliant color, without gum, Very Fine.
Scott No. 56X2; $1,000. Scott $1,000
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Scott $1,000

Confederacy, Memphis, Tenn., 1861, 5¢ red. Bottom sheet margin single, tied by "Memphis Ten. Nov 25" cds on orange buff cover to Genl. A. T. Robertson at Bolivar Tenn., original enclosed slave letter reads "Memphis Nov 24th/61, Gen'l A T Robertson, Dr Sir, This is to notify you that after the expiration of Ellen's month for which I have paid you, I shall not want her anymore. Most Respectfully Yours, W.P. Hastings", F.-V.F.
Scott No. 56X2; $2,000. Scott $2,000
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Scott $2,000

Confederacy, Memphis, Tenn., 1861, 5¢ red. Cut-to-shape, tied by "Memphis, Ten.Oct 1" cds on yellow cover to W.D. Cooper at Columbia Tenn.; minor tone spots, Fine, ex-Matz.
Scott No. 56X2; $2,000. Scott $2,000
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Scott $2,000

Confederacy, Memphis, Tenn., 1861, 5¢ red. Large margins to touched at top, lower right repaired with piece of stamp, tied by "Memphis Ten." cds on light buff cover to Paraclifta, Arkansas; reduced at left, Fine appearance.
Scott No. 56X2; $2,000. Scott $2,000
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Scott $2,000

Confederacy, Memphis, Tenn., 1861, 5¢ red on orange. Cut square, cut octagonally, lightly cancelled; thinning at top, otherwise Fine and rare, Scott Retail as used entire $3,000.00.
Scott No. 56XU3; Estimate $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400