Lot Details

56X2, Memphis, Tennessee 5c Red, single with three full margins (just touching at bottom) tied by red "Southern Express Co. Memphis Tenn. Dec 18" double circle datestamp, on 1861 cover to Columbia, Tennessee, similar postmark in blue from Nashville dated December 19, manuscript "2/- CP" (two bits) at top center, stamp with corner creases at top left and bottom left, cover with light toning and small tears at top, very few express covers are known with the Memphis Provisional and this combination of Memphis and Nashville markings is almost certainly unique, an extraordinary and important cover carried outside of the regular Confederate mails, 2022 Philatelic Foundation certificate  Provenance: Charles and Lucy Kilbourne (R.A. Siegel Sale 815, 1999)