Auction Detail
3070 – ERIVAN X
- (-) Remove United States of America filter United States of America
Lenoir, North Carolina, 1861 10c (5c+5c) blue entire, two clear impressions of the 5c woodcut provisional handstamp struck at the top center of a Union Patriotic envelope, with embossed "Union Constitution" with Eagle on backflap, blue target cancel ties both handstamps adjacent "Lenoir N.C. Nov. 11" (1861) c.d.s., manuscript "Paid 10c" at upper left, addressed in the hand of Postmaster James Harper to his son "Lieut. G. W. F. Harper, 58th N.C. Regt., Big Creek Gap, Knoxville Tenn.", pressed vertical fold at center and lightly cleaned, a 3c stamp likely removed from upper right, an exceptional provisional rarity, being the unique 5c+5c double-rate envelope; 1966 Philatelic Foundation certificate no longer accompanies.
Illustrated in Dietz, "The Postal Service of the Confederate States of America" (1929, pg 69), Crown, "Surveys of the Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals" (1982 Quarterman reprint, pg 177), "Confederate Philatelist" (Jan-Feb 1980, pg 6). "W.H.C." handstamp (Colson) at lower right, ex "Kilbourne" (1999).
The 58th North Carolina Regiment was organized in July, 1862. The 58th participated in the campaigns of the Army of Tennessee from Chickamauga to Atlanta, guarded prisoners at Columbia, Tennessee, during Hood's operations, then moved to South Carolina and skirmished along the Edisto River. Later it returned to North Carolina and saw action at Bentonville. The unit was included in the surrender on April 26, 1865.
Lexington, Virginia, 1862, 5c blue, large margins on three sides, close at left, tied to cover with neatly-struck "Lexington / Va. / Jul / 29" c.d.s., adjacent "PAID / 5" Postmasters' Provisional rate handstamp of Lexington, paying the 10 cent uniform letter rate to Greenville, Augusta County, Virginia, tear to back flap, else a remarkably fresh and choice cover, rare with this combination, being the only known example of this provisional used with a postage stamp, providing further evidence that the handstaped PAID 5 covers were pre-sold at the post office and taken away by the eventual sender; with 2023 Civil War Philatelic Society certificate.
Lynchburg, Virginia, 5c blue, stereotype on white wove paper, horizontal pair, margins touching at places and into at left, the left stamp showing constant plate variety, tied to cover by "Lynchburg VA Sep 4 1861" c.d.s., to Capt. S.Y. Tupper in Charlestown (sic), South Carolina, some light gum staining, and slightly trimmed along top, top of back flap removed, a scarce franking, one of five recorded covers with a 5c Lynchburg provisional pair; ex Seybold, Hind, Emerson, Brooks, and Everett, with 2002 Confederate Stamp Alliance certificate.
Macon, Georgia, 5c black on yellow, floral border, typeset on wove paper, ample to large margins all around, affixed to embossed 'Wm. S. Williford" cover, postmarked with "Macon Geo." c.d.s. in black, date illegible, to Augusta, Georgia, piece torn from back flap, small pinholes at bottom of cover, a scarce and desirable franking; with 2023 Civil War Philatelic Society certificate.
Macon, Georgia, 5c black handstamped envelope, with adjacent "Macon Geo. Oct. 19" c.d.s., embossed colour corner card for Fears & Pritchett (the latter crossed-out), dealers in groceries and staple goods, to Griffin, Georgia, slightly reduced at right, a scarce and attractive example of this Confederate provisional.
Marion, Virginia, 5c black on ruled bluish laid paper, unused, without gum, margins clear on three sides, touching at right, upper margin repaired, small bleached dot on right frame, yet a presentable and fine-appearing example of this rare Confederate provisional issue; with 2023 Civil War Philatelic Society certificate.
At the time of the Caspary sale, in which this stamp was offered, bluish paper was not listed in the Scott catalogue, 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 which has been recognized as genuine, proving that stamps on bluish laid were issued for postal use. A mere eleven 5c Marion provisionals are known on any paper (four on cover, three each on piece and used, and the stamp offered here, the sole unused example). A rarity of Confederate philately.
Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 990, 1956)
Memphis, Tennessee, 5c red, vertical pair, margins clear to large at left, showing portions of both adjoining stamps, tied by Memphis c.d.s. to bi-color red & blue Jefferson Davis Medallion patriotic cover (G-A-1p, Verse 13), to Mill Landing, North Carolina, endorsed "Soldiers’ letter / Company A 1st Reg / Ark Volunteers / P.B.C." on reverse, ironed fold clear of adhesives, the upper stamp with minor scuff, an exceptional cover of great rarity, and with tremendous visual appeal.
Provenance:
Rarities of the World, R.A. Siegel, 1983.
Elizabeth Pope, Christies, 1984.
Montgomery, Alabama, "Paid 10 / T. Welsh", clear strike partially obscured by 3c dull red, adhesive tied by blue grid cancel, alongside "Louisville KY / Aug 6" double-circle c.d.s., on clean North-South Express Cover to Northampton, Massachusetts, struck with choice "ADAMS EX. CO / LOUISVILLE KY / AUG / 6 / 1851" c.d.s. in black, manuscript "Paid Adc" in manuscript indicating payment of the Adams fee, cover with small repairs at right, light wrinkles, attractive and rare, a very fine combined Postmaster's Provisional and Express Company usage; ex Haas.
Nashville, Tennessee, 5c carmine, margins ample to large, tied to cover by blue "Nashville Sep 5 1861" c.d.s., blue PAID handstamp alongside, to Greenville, Tennessee, some staining to adhesive, else a fine example of this difficult provisional franking.
Nashville, Tennessee, 5c carmine, block of twelve, with three vertical tete-beche pairs, three normal stamps at each of top and bottom, original gum, mostly large margins all around, touching at upper left, pleasing fresh colour, repaired diagonal tear at upper left, further repairs at bottom, the tete-beche pairs folded through horizontal margin, various creases and small thin spots as expected on a multiple of this nature, a dramatic and visually-striking Confederate rarity, one of only two recorded blocks of twelve, and the largest recorded multiple of any Nashville Postmasters’ Provisional.
Provenance: ex Caspary.
Nashville, Tennessee, 5c carmine, tete-beche vertical pair, tied to cover by blue "Nashville / Ten. / Sep 6 / 1861" c.d.s., partial matching blue PAID handstamp beside, to Charlston, South Carolina, some light soiling and fading due to attempt at cleaning, three edges trimmed and back professionally restored, various faults and other repairs, a remarkably rare Confederate provisional, one of two recorded examples of the tete-beche pair on cover; with 2022 Civil War Philatelic Society certificate. Provenance: ex-Ferrary (Sale 7, June 14, 1922, lot 51).
New Orleans, Louisiana, 1861, 2c blue, clear to large margins, bright color, paying the circular rate, tied to folded letter with "New Orleans / LA / 2 / AUG" c.d.s., with contents from the Citizens' Mutual Insurance Company, to C.H. Chase in St. Charles Parish, light filing fold and signs of cleaning, a fine appearing example of this difficult franking.