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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)
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)
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)