Auction Detail

Jetersville, Virginia, 5c black, handstamped with "AHA" initials of Postmaster A.H. Atwood, vertical pair, affixed to cover postmarked "Jetersville VA / Jul / 25," manuscript "Paid" at upper right, to Waterproof, Tensas Parish, Louisiana, endorsed "via Memphis", hinge remnants on reverse and tear through back flap, of no importance given the exceptional rarity of this Provisional, the sole example recorded in the Crown census.
The unique example of this Confederate Postmaster’s Provisional Rarity.

Provenance:
Philip Ferrari de La Renotière (14 June, 1922, lot 8)
Alfred H. Caspary (March 5-7, 1956, lot 152)
Josiah K. Lilly (April 27, 1967, lot 321)
In his census, Crown records that this provisional was "prepared by handstamping a small "5" in rows or columns on a piece of paper multiple times, allowing room for the Postmaster, A.H. Atwood, to write his initials to the right of the numeral."  The first reference to this stamp was in the 29 September, 1894 issue of the American Journal of Philately, in which little detail is provided other that its noteworthiness as a new discovery.  August Dietz, writing in "the Postal Service of the Confederate States", notes its similarity in concept to the provisional of Greenwood, Virginia, remarking "all great minds run in the same (inventive) channels."
The cover made its way into the Ferrary collection, and was sold in the June 14, 1922 auction of his material, described only as "5c black, pair on cover, the only examples known." Its next appearance was in the 1956 Caspary sale, where August Dietz in his forward referred to it as "another interesting object that will arrest your attention." It was described rather more elaborately than in the Ferrary sale, describe as "remarkably fine for such a fantastic rarity…" and "one of the great Confederate rarities." Offered again in the renowned Lilly collection, it realized $6,250; the May, 1967 edition of the Confederate Philatelist records it as selling to the Weill Brothers.

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.

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 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.

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.