Auction Detail

margins full to clear, tied by "Mobile Ala. Sep 13 1861" double circle datestamp to cover to Choctaw Agency, Mississippi, very fine and attractive (Scott $1,750)

margins large to full with partial imprint at top, tied by "New Orleans La. Oct 26 1861" river mail double circle datestamp to locally addressed cover (Carroll Hoy correspondence), endorsed "by the S.B. Diana" at top left, repaired along top edge and small filing holes as always, very fine appearance, this cover was cancelled at the wharf office upon arrival in New Orleans (Scott $475)

unused single, four full margins, without gum, very fine, the unique unused example of the New Orleans 5c Red error of color, of which just six or seven are recorded (on either white or blue paper), this stamp is the only true error for color in all of Confederate States philately, widely considered to be one of the most important Confederate Provisionals in existence
A thorough discussion of the New Orleans Provisionals was published by Hubert C. Skinner in the 1978 44th American Philatelic Congress Book. With regards to the 5c Red error of color, he writes:
These are among the rarest of all Confederate postmasters' provisionals with only five copies known to exist, three on white wove paper, and two on bluish paper. It has been suggested that they are an error of color, but their rarity would indicate that very few were printed in red, and the existence of impressions on two different papers indicates that the "error" happened twice. It seems much more likely that either too much red was introduced onto the platen in blending the brown inks or the components of the ink separated while the press was idle for a time, producing a mottled impression on a very few sheets, a condition which would have been corrected as soon as the rollers passed across the platen a few times re-mixing or blending the ink. Further, one copy of the five cent red upon close examination reveals that there are a few tiny areas of the design printed in the normal brown color though the majority of the impression is unquestionably printed in red ink. This fact lends support to the mottled inking explanation. Whatever their origin may be, these are fascinating and most desirable rarities.
Since this article, an example of the 5c stamp (ex-D.K. Collection) has been identified which shows a hybrid red-brown color, proving Skinner's hypothesis to be correct.
Provenance: Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert Sale 4, 1922)
Arthur Hind (Charles J. Philips Sale 1, 1933)
Harold C. Brooks (Laurence & Stryker, 1943)

uncancelled single with original gum, Type II (gap between "T" and "S" of "Cents"), cut rectangular just touching tips of designs, previously uncancelled on a November 11 cover to Mrs. Ruth Hairston in Cascade, Virginia, steamed from cover with original gum intact, very fine, the unique "unused" example of the Pittsylvania Court House provisional (the basis for the catalogue listing) and one of just 13 examples on either wove or laid paper, a great Confederate rarity (Scott $7,500)
Provenance: Hiram E. Deats (as cover)
Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956)
Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 317, 1967)

clear strike of provisional marking at top right of cover to Atlanta, Georgia, at top left two 5c Blue (7) tied by "Ringgold Geo. Jan 20" datestamp, stamps creased before use and cover small faults, still fine, probably an early 1862 use of an unused provisional envelope, just four cut squares and five entires of the Ringgold provisional are recorded, with this being the unique example used with general issues

Provenance: Arthur Hind (Phillips, 1933)

David Carnahan (Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1978)