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The Brandon Collection, Part 1: Postmasters' Provisionals continued...

Gonzales Tex. thru Laurens C.H. S.C.
Lot Sym. Lot Description  
253 c ImageGonzales Tex., (10c) Gold on Black (30X3). Full to large margins except top right corner torn (masked by black background applied underneath), cancelled by two pen strokes, one ties the stamp, blue "Gonzales Tex. Apr. 1?" double-circle datestamp with matching "Paid" straightline on buff cover to Mr. A. I. Clark at Galveston Tex., directed to "Company B. Cook's Regiment. in care of Captain Riley", 1865 pencil receipt docketing, original enclosure datelined "Gonzalez Texas, March 28, 1865", cover with faults including sealed tear and small patched hole at bottom, stamp with light wrinkling

FINE APPEARANCE AND EXTREMELY RARE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED COVERS WITH THE 10-CENT GONZALES PROVISIONAL ON BLACK PAPER.

John B. Law, the Gonzales postmaster during the war, was a partner in the Colman & Law firm, booksellers and druggists who produced the colorful book labels adopted by Postmaster Law as provisional stamps in 1861 and 1864-65. In later years, some Colman & Law labels were removed from books and placed on covers to create fake provisional uses. As a result of this nefarious activity, collector understanding of the Gonzales Provisionals has at times been distorted.

The Colman & Law book labels on colored glazed paper have no denomination. Examples are divided into 5c and 10c stamps based on the rate to which they apply and the color of paper. The 1861 5c Gold on Dark Blue or Black is listed by Scott as 30X1. The 10c-rate-period stamps are listed as 30X2 -- Gold on Garnet, and 30X3 -- Gold on Black, the example offered here.

For 10c covers in the 1864-65 period, our records, combined with the Deaton census in The Great Texas Stamp Collection contain three covers with the Gold on Garnet. Two were in the Caspary sale: lot 137, 10c Gold on Crimson (Garnet), tied by pen strokes with the Gonzales circular datestamp and "Paid", dated July 14, 1864; and lot 138, 10c Gold on Garnet, dated Nov. 1, 1864 (Siegel Kilbourne Sale, 815, lot 45). The third bears a 10c Gold on Garnet to E. St. P. Bellinger, Hobby's Rgt., Galveston Tex., which is illustrated in the Deaton book.

For 10c covers bearing the Gold on Black, our records and the Deaton census contain only two. The cover offered here, dated April 1865 to Galveston, and an additional cover to Richmond Va. with a pen-tied stamp. An example affixed over a 3c U.S. entire has been questioned by specialists and is not included as genuine in the Deaton census.

Ex Hessel. (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

E. $ 20,000-30,000

SOLD for $47,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
254 c ImageGreensboro Ala., 10c on 5c Black entire (should be 31XU4). Provisional handstamp with Greensboro” spelling and Ala.” upper/lower case in a single circle, Paid 5” boldly overstruck by 10” handstamp, Greensborough Ala. Dec. 18” (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Vice President Stephens in Richmond Va., summary on back states letter related to sender Jabez Curry’s views on the present state of the country and Confederate policy, backflap removed as usual, small tear at top and top right corner mended slightly into the provisional handstamp

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE GREENSBORO 10-CENT ON 5-CENT BLACK PROVISIONAL, WHICH IS UNLISTED IN SCOTT.

The Scott Catalogue listings for the Greensboro Ala. provisionals are confusing. Scott lists the 5c only inside the double-circle handstamp, with the town name spelled Greensboro” (31XU1). The first 10c provisional 31XU2 is listed in the same configuration as 31XU1. The second 10c with Greensborough” spelling inside a single-circle handstamp is listed as 31XU3 (the unique example was last sold in our Sale 933, lot 922, and is illustrated in the Crown book on p. 666).

The handstamped entire offered here clearly has a single-circle handstamp with Greensboro” spelling and Ala.” in upper/lower case letters, so it is not simply a re-rated 31XU1 entire. It should receive a new listing in Scott as 31XU4 (and an entirely different design type). This entire is listed in the C.S.A. Catalog as GRE-AL-EO2.

Illustrated in Crown on p. 678 and in Confederate Bulletin (Feb. 1951). Ex Kimmel (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

E. $ 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $2,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
255 ng ImageGreenville Ala., 5c Red & Blue on Pinkish Glazed, Ty. I (33X1). Unused (no gum as always), ample margins to touched, rich colors and strong impressions of the blue ornamental border and red town name and denomination, small corner crease at top left and tiny corner crease at bottom left

VERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 5-CENT GREENVILLE PROVISIONAL -- ONE OF THE FIRST BI-COLORED POSTAGE STAMPS TO APPEAR IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. ONLY FOUR OFF-COVER STAMPS AND TWO COVERS ARE RECORDED.

The Greenville provisionals were issued by Judge Benjamin F. Porter (1808-1868). His papers are located at Auburn University Libraries and a biography of Porter from the library website provides details of his life (http://www.lib.auburn.edu/archive/find-aid/155.htm ): "Benjamin Faneuil Porter was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1808. His father died while he was very young, which left his family financially troubled. His educational background was limited, having left school at an early age to support his mother and sister. He initially worked as a druggist in Charleston and attempted to study medicine. Porter however changed his mind and began to study law. In 1826 was admitted to the South Carolina Bar and soon afterwards began to practice law in Charleston. Three years later, in 1829, Porter and his new wife relocated to Claiborne, Alabama. He was granted a license to practice law in Alabama in 1830. In 1832 he was elected to the State Legislature from Monroe County. Two years later he was elected as County Judge. He and his family moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1835. Returning to politics he was re-elected to the State Legislature in 1837 and elected Circuit Court Judge in 1839. He was the first chair of the University of Alabama School of Law in 1845 but resigned within the year. Prior to the American Civil War he edited a newspaper; served as Reporter to the Alabama State Supreme Court; was the Superintendent of Education; was the President of Will's Valley Railroad; and ran for State Senate but was defeated. At the outbreak of the war, he offered his services to Jefferson Davis and was appointed to command a camp of instruction at Greenville, Alabama. Following the war, Porter joined the Republican Party and accepted the Judgeship of the 12th Judicial Circuit. He died on June 4, 1868 in Greenville, Butler County, Alabama."

Postmaster Porter's typeset provisional issue is not only very rare, it is remarkable as one of three postmaster issues printed in two colors -- the others were issued at Baton Rouge and Lenoir. These are the first government-issued, bi-colored adhesive postage stamps to appear anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.

After a thorough search of relevant records (auction sales, Levi clippings, Philatelic Foundation and Confederate Stamp Alliance certificates) we have located only eight examples of either Greenville denomination, including four off-cover 5c stamps, two 5c covers, and two 10c covers. None of the Greenville stamps are cancelled.

From our 1966 and 1972 Rarities sales. With 1952 and 2006 P.F. certificates (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

$ 25,000.00

SOLD for $23,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
256 c ImageGreenville Ala., 10c Red & Blue on Pinkish Glazed (33X2). Inverted "r" in "Greenville", full margins with borders and type essentially complete though more lightly printed at top, uncancelled, "Greenville Ala. Mar. 20" (1862) circular datestamp on blue-lined cover addressed to "D. B. Taylor, Care of Capt. E. A. Perry, Pensacola Rangers, Florida Vol., Richmond Va.", small repaired nick at top of cover and missing backflap, stamp with minor gum soak at top

VERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 10-CENT GREENVILLE POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL -- BOTH ARE ON COVERS FROM THE SAME CORRESPONDENCE. ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING CONFEDERATE RARITIES AND A HIGHLIGHT OF THE BRANDON COLLECTION.

The Greenville provisionals were issued by Judge Benjamin F. Porter (1808-1868). His papers are located at Auburn University Libraries and a biography of Porter from the library website provides details of his life (http://www.lib.auburn.edu/archive/find-aid/155.htm ): "Benjamin Faneuil Porter was born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1808. His father died while he was very young, which left his family financially troubled. His educational background was limited, having left school at an early age to support his mother and sister. He initially worked as a druggist in Charleston and attempted to study medicine. Porter however changed his mind and began to study law. In 1826 was admitted to the South Carolina Bar and soon afterwards began to practice law in Charleston. Three years later, in 1829, Porter and his new wife relocated to Claiborne, Alabama. He was granted a license to practice law in Alabama in 1830. In 1832 he was elected to the State Legislature from Monroe County. Two years later he was elected as County Judge. He and his family moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1835. Returning to politics he was re-elected to the State Legislature in 1837 and elected Circuit Court Judge in 1839. He was the first chair of the University of Alabama School of Law in 1845 but resigned within the year. Prior to the American Civil War he edited a newspaper; served as Reporter to the Alabama State Supreme Court; was the Superintendent of Education; was the President of Will's Valley Railroad; and ran for State Senate but was defeated. At the outbreak of the war, he offered his services to Jefferson Davis and was appointed to command a camp of instruction at Greenville, Alabama. Following the war, Porter joined the Republican Party and accepted the Judgeship of the 12th Judicial Circuit. He died on June 4, 1868 in Greenville, Butler County, Alabama."

Postmaster Porter's typeset provisional issues are not only very rare, they are remarkable as one of three postmaster issues printed in two colors -- the others were issued at Baton Rouge and Lenoir. These are the first government-issued, bi-colored adhesive postage stamps to appear anywhere in the Western Hemisphere.

There are only two recorded examples of the Greenville 10c, both with the inverted "r" and both on covers addressed to D. B. Taylor of the Pensacola Rangers at Richmond. The other cover, ex Ferrary, is dated in October 1861. The addressee was an enlisted soldier in Company A (Escambia County) of the Pensacola Rifle Rangers, which was led by Captain (later Brigadier General and Florida Governor) Edward A. Perry. Company A was mustered into service on May 25, 1861 and served in the Virginia Theater of operations as part of the 2nd Florida Infantry, seeing action at Yorktown, Seven Pines, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg and the Wilderness.

Ex Seebeck (with his guarantee on back), Caspary, Lilly and from our 1970 Rarities sale. Illustrated in Philatelic Gazette (April 1913). Raymond H. Weill backstamp (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

$ 47,500.00

SOLD for $35,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
257 c ImageGreenwood Depot Va., 10c Black on Gray Blue (35X1). "Paid" straightline with denomination "Ten Cents" in manuscript and signed "J. Bruce" (Postmaster James Bruce), uncancelled, "Greenwood Depot Va. Sep. 17" (1862) circular datestamp on small orange-buff homemade cover to Rev. Paul Whitehead, Macfarland's P.O. Va., light diagonal crease in face of envelope prior to folding

FRESH AND EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF SIX RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE MARVELOUSLY PRIMITIVE GREENWOOD DEPOT PROVISIONAL, ALL OF WHICH ARE ON COVERS FROM THE REVEREND WHITEHEAD CORRESPONDENCE -- ONLY FIVE ARE AVAILABLE TO COLLECTORS.

The six Greenwood Depot provisional covers were discovered by G. M. Bastable in June 1887 (Crown book). Each is addressed to the Rev. Paul Whitehead with the following 1862 dates:

1) Jul. 31, ex Emerson and Caspary

2) Sep. 17, ex Brown, Judd, Kilbourne, the cover offered here

3) Sep. 21, ex Hessel

4) Sep. 25, ex Ferrary, Hind, Brooks, Hall (Siegel Sale 823, lot 405) and Gross

5) Tied by Oct. 8 datestamp, British Library's Tapling collection

6) Tied by indistinct datestamp, ex Caspary.

The condition is similar among the six covers -- only two are cancelled (and tied), one of which is in the British Library's Tapling collection.

The 10c rate (raised from 5c) was effective July 1, 1862, and the Greenwood Depot provisional stamps were issued to meet this new rate. Pencil docketing on a few of the Rev. Whitehead covers confirm the year.

Very few post offices east of the Mississippi River issued and used 10c adhesive (A) or press-printed (E) provisionals. This group is as follows: Baton Rouge La. (A-three known); Charleston S.C. (E-unique); Danville Va. (E-probably not used as a provisional); Fincastle Va. (E-unique); Fredericksburg Va. (A-never used); Greenville Ala. (A-two known); Greenwood Depot Va. (A-six known); Knoxville Tenn. (A-unique; and E-rare used); Marion Va. (A-six known on cover); Nashville Tenn. (A-seven known on cover); Tellico Plains Tenn. (A-never used); and Uniontown Ala. (A-eight known). All other 10c provisionals were used in Texas or were issued as handstamped entires.

Ex Brown, Judd and Kilbourne (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

$ 22,500.00

SOLD for $16,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
258 c ImageHamburgh, S.C., 5c Black entire (112XU1). Bold provisional handstamp and "Paid" straightline, "Hamburgh S.C. Paid Aug. 1" circular datestamp on orange cover to Atlanta Ga., filing crease through provisional handstamp, small repaired tear in "Paid"

VERY FINE BOLD STRIKES OF THESE RARE PROVISIONAL MARKINGS ON AN ATTRACTIVE COVER. ONLY THREE EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN TO US.

This cover is illustrated in Crown on p. 668 which lists only this example. We are aware of at least two others, including an example in our Sale 787 (lot 3222) and the outstanding Hamburgh entire to Charleston S.C., which was forwarded to Columbia S.C. with a Charleston 5c Blue adhesive (ex D.K. collection, Siegel Sale 1022, lot 1018).

Ex Kohn and from our 1985 Rarities sale. With 1986 C.S.A. certificate (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

$ 9,000.00

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction
259   ImageHelena Tex., 5c Black on Buff (38X1). Large margins to clear at top, slightly irregular bottom left corner but outer ornaments are complete, indistinct cancel, minor flaws including small thin and toned spot

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED 5-CENT HELENA, TEXAS, POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL STAMPS -- ALL ARE OFF COVER.

There are five recorded examples of the provisional stamps issued by Helena postmaster, David W. Dailey, including three 5c and two 10c, all off cover. The three 5c stamps are as follows:

1) Uncancelled, four margins, faint creases and tiny toned spot, ex Lilly (Siegel Sale 317, lot 318)

2) Helena town datestamp, four margins, small thin spots, tiny tears, ex Caspary, Lightner, Dr. Graves, Beverly Hills”, Camina” (Castillejo), Dr. Maffeo and Sharrer (Siegel Sale 1035, lot 30, realized $60,000 hammer)

3) Indistinct cancel, clear at top, margins on other sides, small thin and stain, the example offered here, ex Steves, Ferrary, Caspary and Kirkman. Scott Catalogue states Used examples are valued with small faults or repairs, as all recorded have faults” (Image)

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$ 10,000.00

SOLD for $17,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
260   ImageHelena Tex., 10c Black on Buff (38X2). Large to full margins, clear impression, blue manuscript initials cancel, margin repair at upper right and thinned

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED 10-CENT HELENA, TEXAS, POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONAL STAMPS. ONE OF THE GREAT RARITIES OF CONFEDERATE PHILATELY.

There are five recorded examples of the provisional stamps issued by Helena postmaster, David W. Dailey, including three 5c and two 10c, all off cover. The two 10c stamps are as follows:

1) Four margins, blue manuscript cancel, small margin repair and thinned, ex Caspary and Kirkman, the stamp offered here

2) Four margins, light cancel, closed tear and thinned, ex Caspary

#The initials on this stamp (shown below) are not those of Postmaster David W. Dailey. They appear to be "E.F.M." or "E.F.W."

Illustrated in Deaton’s The Great Texas Stamp Collection (Plate 8). Ex Caspary and Kirkman.

Scott Catalogue states Used examples are valued with small faults or repairs, as all recorded have faults” (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

$ 10,000.00

SOLD for $37,500.00
Will close during Public Auction
261 c ImageHouston Tex., 10c Red entire (40XU2). Lightly struck provisional handstamp which has been enhanced with non-contemporary ink, "Houston Tex. Mar. 2 186?" circular datestamp on turned cover to Millican Tex., inside use a printed form related to receipt and use of supplies, "Millican Paid" dateless and rimless handstamp, addressed to Mrs. H. L. Rankin in Hempstead Tex., refolded for display and possibly slightly reduced from original size, Fine appearing and very rare turned use of the 10c Houston provisional, the Millican Tex. handstamped Paid is also very scarce, Scott Retail for normal 40XU2 (Image)

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$ 1,500.00

SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction
262 c ImageIndependence Tex., 10c Black on Buff, Small "10" Handstamp and "Pd" in Manuscript (41X3). Cut to shape with circle all around, bold and clear handstamp impression, uncancelled as always but tied by gum staining around edges, "Independance Tex. ? 18" circular datestamp (circa 1864 with spelling error in town name) on orange-buff cover to Capt. T. L. Scott, Terry's Regt., Houston Tex., edgewear which does not affect the stamp

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE EXAMPLE OF THE INDEPENDENCE, TEXAS, POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL. ONLY FIVE ARE RECORDED OF ANY TYPE.

The postmaster of Independence during the second half of the Civil War and the creator of the handstamped adhesive was John McKnight, a founder of Baylor University, whose occupation was also listed as druggist. McKnight served as postmaster for a little more than three years, from January 1863 to April 1866. Due to confusion in distinguishing one variety of McKnight's stamps from the other, the record of Independence provisional covers and corresponding catalogue listings have been somewhat muddled over the years. Our records, which correspond with the Deaton census published in The Great Texas Stamp Collection, contain a total of five covers with any type of Independence provisional stamp. These are:

Large "10" (41X1 -- only one kind of paper known):

1) Cut to shape on cover with Jul. 31 (1864) circular datestamp, to T. W. House, Houston, discovered by E. D. Dorchester in 1899 among the T. W. House correspondence, ex Ferrary, Hind, Brooks, Moody and Hall (Siegel Sale 840, lot 62)

Small "10" and Ms. "Pd" (41X3):

2) Cut to shape, dated Nov. 24 (1864), to Capt. Scott at Shreveport La., illustrated in The Great Texas Stamp Collection (plate 11), ex Caspary, Weatherly and Kilbourne (Siegel sale 815, lot 47)

3) Cut square on cover with dateless circular datestamp, to Capt. Scott at Shreveport, "Pd" and "10" very faint, illustrated in original Dietz book, p. 48, ex Caspary, Lilly and Siegel 1983 Rarities Sale

4) Cut to shape on cover with indistinct circular datestamp (month? and "18"), to Capt. Scott at Houston Tex., ex Hessel, the cover offered here

Small "10" Without Ms. "Pd" (41X3 var):

5) Cut to shape on cover with Apr. 29 circular datestamp (year?), to Capt. Scott at Sandy Point Tex., ex Walcott and Siegel 1982 Rarities Sale

In summary, the Large "10" (Scott 41X1) is represented by only one example, found on the Jul. 31 cover (No. 1 above). Scott 41X2, the Large "10" on Dull Rose paper, is not represented by any of the known examples and a note in the Scott Catalogue states that its existence is in doubt. Scott 41X3 is represented by three covers (Nos. 2, 3 and 4 above), including the example offered here. A variety of Scott 41X3, with the small "10" but lacking the "Pd", is represented by one cover (Nos. 5 above), but there is the possibility that the "Pd" has faded completely.

Ex Hessel (Image)

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$ 32,500.00

SOLD for $30,000.00
Will close during Public Auction
263 c ImageIuka Miss., 5c Black entire (42XU1). Bold strike of provisional handstamp on cover to Nashville Tenn. with Wm. McKnight Jr. commission and grocery merchant's ornately framed corner card, cover with small flaws in corners, otherwise Very Fine, a beautiful example of this scarce provisional with approximately ten known, ex Weatherly and from our 1974 Rarities sale (Image)

Search for comparables at SiegelAuctions.com

E. $ 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

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