Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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United States and Confederate States Postal History continued...

Confederate Use of U.S. Stamps and Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals continued...

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

2149

Mobile Ala., 5c Blue (58X2). Large margins to just touched, tied by bold "Mobile Ala. Dec. 12, 1861" double-circle datestamp on cover to member of Davis's Rifles at Corinth Miss., stained spots affect stamp and cover, otherwise Very Fine (Image)

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$ 2,000.00

SOLD for $250.00
Will close during Public Auction

2150

Nashville Tenn., 5c Brick Red (61X3). Margins to in, few flaws, tied by indistinct blue Nashville circular datestamp on cover to member of Capt. Rutledge's Artillery in Knoxville Tenn., slightly reduced at right, some cover wear, top flap added, otherwise Fine (Image)

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$ 3,500.00

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction

2151

Nashville Tenn., 5c Dark Carmine (61X2). Two singles, distinctive shade which we call Claret”, right stamp with large to full margins, left stamp small margin flaw from placement over edge of cover, tied by blue Nashville Tenn. circular datestamp on cover to Monticello Va., envelope faulty at edges, overall Fine appearance, the right stamp Very Fine, Scott Retail for single on cover (pair catalogues $6,000.00) (Image)

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$ 2,000.00

SOLD for $750.00
Will close during Public Auction

2152

Nashville Tenn., 5c Violet Brown (61X5). Horizontal pair -- Positions 1 and 2 with additional plating marks -- large margins all around including left sheet margin, distinctive reddish shade on deeply blued paper, tied by blue "Nashville Ten. Sep. 21, 1861" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Carroll Hoy & Co. in New Orleans, neat arithmetic notes at left, usual pinholes

EXTREMELY FINE GEM PAIR AND COVER. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE SIX RECORDED NASHVILLE 5-CENT VIOLET BROWN PAIRS ON COVER.

Probably no more than twelve pairs of the 5c Nashville provisional are known on covers, including all shade varieties and in all grades of condition. This pair is one of the finest on-cover multiples of the Violet Brown (six known) and ranks among the top three pairs for any of the Scott-listed colors.

Ex Lichtenstein, Brown, Klep, Dr. Graves, Hill and D.K. Collection. With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)

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$ 6,000.00

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

2153

New Orleans La., 5c Brown on White (62X3). Large margins to in, cancelled by "Paid" handstamp on red and blue 7-Star Confederate Flag with "C.C." Patriotic cover to Baton Rouge La., A. Dapremont imprint, carried by steamboat with "Pr Str. Mary" directive at lower left, slightly reduced at top and right, right edge of cover and stamp restored, cover with few age spots, otherwise Fine, a rare patriotic design with initials "C.C." for Crescent City Rifles, ex Kohn (Image)

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E. $ 750-1,000

SOLD for $2,100.00
Will close during Public Auction

2154

New Orleans La., 5c Red Brown on Bluish (62X4). Horizontal pair, huge margins to clear at top of left stamp, tied by "New Orleans La. 13 Nov." (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Capt. Victor Maurin, Donaldson Artillery, at Richmond Va., with A. J. Powell "Plantation Broker" illustrated overall lithographed advertising design in gray, sender's route directive "Via Augusta", reduced at left, otherwise Very Fine, advertising covers with reference to plantations or cotton are quite desirable, ex D.K. Collection (Image)

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E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $1,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

2155

New Orleans La., 5c Red Brown on Bluish (62X4). Oct. 4, 1861 folded letter -- part-printed legal notice -- originally franked with four 5c provisional stamps (one cut out from upper right and replaced with another stamp) -- used in combination with pair of United States 3c Dull Red, Ty. III (26), all original stamps tied together by three strikes of "Paid" cancel, "New Orleans La. 6 Oct." (1861) circular datestamp also ties two 5c stamps, manuscript "Due 6 cts." for U.S. postage -- demonetized 3c 1857 pair not recognized -- with significant note written on inside panel, which reads: "Notices of Protest similar to the within to [list of names] by me received this 12 April 1862 and placed in the Post Office at Georgetown Ky. Postage paid & in time for next mail. Noah Spears NPLC.", files folds, minor stamp faults

A REMARKABLE ACROSS-THE-LINES USE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY, CARRIED WELL AFTER MAIL EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH WAS TERMINATED.

With the suspension of government mail exchange between Louisville and Nashville in June 1861, the express companies assumed the primary role in carrying letters across the lines. Such service was outlawed with the Federal ban on all commerce and exchange on August 26. This letter and other similar notices -- as described in the contemporary endorsement -- were sent from New Orleans to Georgetown, Kentucky, on October 4, 1861, weeks after express companies were banned from carrying such mail. The sender apparently expected that the double Confederate postage and double United States postage would assure its delivery. However, not only were the U.S. stamps invalid, the express companies were no longer carrying mail across the lines.

It is unclear how the letter reached Noah Spears (1793-1868), nor do we know his function. Some genealogical information about Spears can be found on the internet:

"...in 1853, he again established himself in business, opening a store in Georgetown, for the sale of dry goods, boots and shoes, etc., which he carried on successfully for some time. In 1860 he was appointed clerk in the Framer's Bank, at Georgetown, and in 1868, he was elected cashier; which position he still fills. During the war he felt that it was his duty to support the Union, but, nevertheless, his sympathies were strongly Southern. Being unable to resist the natural current of events, however, he took no active part in the struggle, but was afterward arrested, owing to an overstrained interpretation of a Federal order, and lodged in prison; but after a short time, was released upon the interference and solicitations of friends, who were both numerous and warm."

Ex Brown, Knapp, Brooks, Haas, Dr. Skinner and D.K. Collection. With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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E. $ 4,000-5,000

SOLD for $3,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

2156

Spartanburg S.C., 5c Black (78X1). Cut circular with full to huge margins all around, tied by "Paid" straightline, "Spartanburg S.C. Jul. 6, 1861" double-circle datestamp on orange-buff cover to "Corpl. Edward J. Dean, 'Spartan Rifles', 5th Palmetto Regt. So. Car. Volunteers, Col. M. Jenkins, Commander, Tudor Hall P.O., Near Manassas Junction, Virginia, Care Capt. Jos. Walker, 'Spartan Rifles'", missing part of top flap and small piece of cover missing behind top of provisional, not affecting the stamp

VERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE SPARTANBURG POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON COVER. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY COVERS ARE KNOWN .

John A. Lee was a prominent merchant who served as postmaster of Spartanburg from 1850 through the end of the war. Residents of Spartanburg remembered him as the "Wartime Postmaster" (John B. O. Landrum, History of Spartanburg County, available at Google Books -- thanks to Vince King for this citation).

Postmaster Lee created his provisional stamps by applying the "5" numeral rate marking inside the "Spartanburg S.C." double-circle datestamp on a sheet of paper. The stamps are known cut square and cut to shape. As one might imagine, the stamps come on a variety of papers. Two types of "5" markings were used, and one example is known with the denomination omitted. The paper and numeral varieties are listed separately in the Dietz and Scott catalogues.

Spartanburg S.C. takes its name from the "Spartan Rifles," a group of militia soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The name was adopted by Confederate soldiers from Spartanburg during the Civil War.

Corporal Edward J. Dean and the Dean correspondence were the subjects of an article by the late Daniel M. Gilbert, published in the Confederate Philatelist.

Joseph Walker was enrolled as captain of the Spartan Rifles on April 13, 1861. Micah Jenkins, a resident of Yorkville, South Carolina, was mustered into service as colonel of the 5th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment in June 1861. He was elected colonel of the Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, on April 13, 1862, and promoted to brigadier general in July 1862.

Ex Brown, Kohn, Birkinbine and D.K. Collection (Image)

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$ 22,500.00

SOLD for $12,500.00
Will close during Public Auction