Auction Detail
June 2023
"Erivan" Collection Part IX and Canal Zone Stamps and Covers
Our June sales include Part IX of the "Erivan" Collection of United and Confederate States Postal History and a catalogue of Canal Zone stamps and covers featuring the collections of James W. Crumpacker and Paul F. Ammons.
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)
blue rimless "Raleigh N.C. Paid 5" provisional handstamp with "Raleigh N.C. Jun 4 1861" double circle datestamp on 1861 cover to Camp Call, North Carolina, letter details daily life as a solider on a base discussing his daily tasks and responsibilities, pay, and working conditions, reduced at left, very fine and rare with as few as four examples recorded in blue (Scott $4,000)
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)
octagonal control mark and "Paid 5" in oval at upper left of cover addressed to Milledgeville, Georgia, "Savannah Ga Paid Aug 2 1861" datestamp at upper right, repaired backflap, very fine (Scott $450)
provisional handstamp at upper right with matching "Sparta Ga. Dec 16" datestamp on 1861 cover to "Lieut Lafayette Powell, Waynesville, Wayne Co., Geo.", docketed "Care of Capt J. H. Corley", piece of backflap missing, fine and scarce, the earliest recorded of seven recorded Sparta 5c provisionals (Scott $2,250)
cut square, margins clear on all four sides, tied by straightline "Paid" to cover to "Mr. John Minter, Mount Tabor, Union District, S.C.", "Spartanburg S.C Jan 28 1862" double circle datestamp at left, portion at top of cover expertly replaced with "RTANBU" of postmark painted in, very fine appearance, the only recorded example of the Spartanburg 5c provisional on brown, additionally this is one of two Spartanburg provisionals cut square in sound condition, an extraordinary rarity (Scott $18,000, it is illogical that the Scott catalogue prices this stamp used as no off-cover examples are known)
Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956)
provisional handstamp at upper left with "Thomasville Ga. Jul 26" datestamp on 1861 cover to Tallahassee, Florida, very fine and choice (Scott $1,000)
Provenance: Arthur Hind (Phillips, 1933)
A. Murl Kimmel (R.A. Siegel Sale 492, 1976)
fancy "Paid 10" provisional handstamp at top right with matching "Walterborough S.C. Mar 18" datestamp at left on 1864 cover to Green Pond, South Carolina, very fine, just six examples of this provisional envelope recorded (Scott $4,000)
"5 Paid" provisional marking at upper right and circular undated control mark at upper left on 1861 cover to Salem, Virginia, "Wytheville Va. Jun 11" datestamp, docketing at left, very fine, the "5" in this provisional handstamp does not match the example listed in the Scott Catalogue and in our opinion deserves its own listing, the unique example of this marking
mint block of four, margins large to clear, toned original gum, small faults including pinhole in top right stamp, fine appearance (Scott $1,650)
mint block of four, original gum, mostly large margins to just in at bottom, horizontal crease between rows, very fine and fresh (Scott $1,750)
four large margins and pretty pale shade, tied by blue Charlotte, North Carolina handstamp to cover to Wytheville, Virginia, endorsed "via Petersburg", very fine (Scott $325)