Auction Detail
3070 – ERIVAN X
- (-) Remove United States of America filter United States of America
Salem, North Carolina, 10c black handstamped envelope, "POST OFFICE / O.A. KEEHLN / SALEM. N.C." with "Paid 10" in manuscript, postmarked "Salem / NC / SEP / 27", to W.H. Fries, New Orleans, manuscript notation at left "to be handed over immediately…" and on back flap "get some mercury if you can find it.", traces of edge staining, hinge remnants on back, a choice example of this rare provisional marking, the earliest of only two examples with the manuscript 10c rate recorded by Crown.
Provenance:
Richard Frajola sale, 25 January, 1991, lot 581.
Selma, Alabama, 5c black, handstamped envelope with signature of Postmaster William H. Eagar in manuscript, postmarked "Selma / ALA / Jun 11" to Messrs. John T. Hardie & Co in New Orleans, light edge creasing, else a fresh and very fine example of this scarce provisional, with only fourteen such covers recorded in Crown; ex Walcott, Emerson, Brooks, Gehrman, and Worthington.
Selma, Alabama, 10c black, handstamped envelope with signature of Postmaster William H. Eagar in manuscript, without postmark, to Messrs. John T. Hardie & Co in New Orleans, a bold strike of this rare provisional, one of only two such covers recorded in Crown, this being by far the finer example, the other with significant piece torn from the top the cover, an exceptional item of Confederate postal history.
Tuscumbia, Alabama, 5c black handstamped envelope, clear strike at upper right, without postmark, endorsed "Paid 25c" and "please delivery immediately", carried outside of the regular mails by private express to O.F. Prescott in Memphis, Tennessee, light wrinkles and skillfully repaired along top, a scarce provisional, one of seventeen recorded in Crown, but the only such without postal markings and privately carried.
Tuscumbia, Alabama, 10c black handstamped envelope, crisp strike at upper right, postmarked with "Tuscumbia / ALA / ? / 13" c.d.s., to the Alabama Hospital in Richmond, Virginia, some trivial light stains of little importance given the great rarity of this provisional, being the only recorded example in Crown; ex Walcott.
Uniontown, Alabama, 5c green on grey, position 1, margins just touching to clear, tied to cover by light indistinct town cancellation, from the Cobbs correspondence to Montgomery, Alabama, adhesion remnants to reverse and piece torn from back, nevertheless a rarity of the Confederate Postmasters' Provisionals, with Crown recording thirteen examples on cover, four being from position 1, ex Emerson; with 1976 Philatelic Foundation certificate.
Uniontown, Alabama, 5c green on embossed paper, from position 4, large to huge margins all around, small razor cut in extreme right margin, tied by indistinct black Uniontown c.d.s. to cover to Lexington, Mississippi, back flap removed and tear to back repaired with hinges, yet a remarkable and rare franking, and the only example recorded in Crown of this provisional on embossed paper; ex Brown, Brooks, Weatherly, Kilbourne, signed Ashbrook.
Unionville, South Carolina, 5c black on grayish paper with blue ruled lines, margins all around, vertical pair tied to seven star flag patriotic cover by "Unionville S.C. / Jun / 14" c.d.s., to Col. William M. Gist, Care of Col. Gregg, Centreville, Virginia, hinge remnants on reverse from prior mounting, handstamped and signed "R.H.W. Co" (Raymond H. Weill), Ferrary trefoil handstamp on front, remarkably bright and fresh, a tremendous rarity; ex Ferrary, Caspary, Lilly.
The unique Unionville South Carolina pair on cover, one of the most historic and significant items in all of Confederate philately.
Crown records four covers franked with the 5c black, this being the only cover, and the latest recorded example of the four. There are no recorded examples off cover.
Kingston, Georgia, 5c black, clear strike on folded entire, adjacent "5", contents datelined Woodland, 29 June, to Charleston, South Carolina, endorsed "Paid" in manuscript and postmarked with "Kingston Ga Jun 30" c.d.s., light filing folds, contents skillfully and sensibly repaired in places and cover cleaned, scarce and fine, ex Everett; with 2023 Civil War Philatelic Society certificate.
The letter itself provides a remarkable glimpse into the political climate of the period, with the sender freely sharing his views, noting "…being from Charleston you will not meet with any extra civility in Abraham's dominions…" and "Genl. Johnston was too wide awake to be caught by Scott - the retreat from Harpers Ferry was admirably arranged and the necessity for it has been explained." He also comments on challenges and irregularities in delivery of the mails, including delays in the receipt of letters and newspapers.
5c green, Stone 2, 1861, horizontal pair with full gutter, from the top row of the sheet (1), tied to cover by "Marietta Geo. / Feb / 22" c.d.s., to Alexander Stephens in Richmond, Virginia, back flap removed, tear to envelope at top of franking, not impacting adhesives, a few light stains to stamps, else a dramatic and unique franking.
10c blue, 1861-2, Paterson, horizontal pair, large to very large margins all around, showing portion of adjoining stamp at left, pleasing pastel-like shade, tied to piece by two Mobile, Ala. double-circle c.d.s., barest trace of gum staining to right stamp, else very fine.
10c dark blue, 1861-2, Hoyer & Ludwig, four mostly large margins, touching outer frameline at lower right, showing the "shooting star flaw" at upper left, tied to cover by "Savannah Ga." c.d.s. and circular grid cancel, to Columbus, Georgia, hinge adhesions on reverse and some overall aging, adhesive with gum soak at foot, else a desirable franking.