The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History continued...

Tuscumbia, Alabama, United States 3¢ Rate, Red on Buff Confederate Provisional entire (6AXU1, formerly 12XU1), handstamped provisional in upper right corner of buff envelope addressed to Knoxville, Tennessee, prepared by the Tuscumbia postmaster as a provisional but used while United States 3¢ 1857 Issue stamps were still valid and available, 3¢ Dull Red, Type III (26) originally tied over provisional by "Tuscumbia Ala. May 6" (1861) circular datestamp, stamp lifted and moved to the left

Very Fine appearance; stamp with edge nicks.

No more than ten examples of the Tuscumbia 3¢ Provisional are recorded--a wonderful postal history rarity from the time of transition from U.S. to Confederate control of southern post offices.

The Tuscumbia postmaster's provisional is one of seven adhesive stamps or entires the Scott Catalogue now lists separately as "3¢ 1861 Postmasters' Provisionals." They are distinct from the 5¢ and 10¢ Confederate provisionals in that the postmasters who issued the stamps were still technically under the control of the U.S. Post Office Department, and were remitting postal receipts to the federal government. In some cases, postmasters avoided ordering new U.S. stamps in anticipation of a final change in administrative control of their offices. The 1861 provisionals are all 3¢ adhesives or handstamped entires, reflecting the then-current U.S. letter rate. The Tuscumbia entires were handstamped as 3¢ provisionals, but the postmaster evidently received (or had) a supply of U.S. stamps, as most of the few known examples bear the 3¢ 1857 Issue. This cover originates from a correspondence discovered in 1932 by William P. Snyder.

With 1994 P.F. certificate as 12XU1, when the Tuscumbia 3¢ provisional was listed with other U.S. 1845 postmasters' provisionals. (Image)

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3¢ Dull Red, Type III (26), wide straddle-pane margin at right, used with slightly overlapping 1¢ Blue (63), both stamps tied by bold "Philadelphia Pa. Jul. 24, 1862" circular datestamp on cover to Westchester, Pennsylvania, beautifully struck "OLD STAMPS/NOT RECOGNIZED" two-line handstamp and "Due 3" for regular postage due (1¢ carrier fee prepaid with valid stamp, so accepted), "U.S. Penny Mail Phila. Pa." carrier's octagonal datestamp on back, 3¢ with rounded corner at bottom right and 1¢ with pulled perf at bottom, otherwise Extremely Fine cover, one of two recorded handstamped "Old Stamps Not Recognized" covers with this combination of the demonetized 3¢ 1857 and new 1861 1¢ stamps, both come from the Taylor correspondence--this is the earlier; the other is a Patriotic cover dated September 26 (ex Bailar, Sale 1105, lot 2569)--ex Spring (Image)

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3¢ Dull Red, Type III (26), tied by grid cancel and "Philadelphia Pa. Dec. 17, 1863" circular datestamp on cover to the acting master of the blockader Calypso of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, via the Norfolk Navy Yard, mostly clear strike of "OLD STAMPS/NOT RECOGNIZED" two-line handstamp and "Due 6" for postage due, December 20 receipt docketing on back, some slight perf tip toning, small cover edge mends including one which barely touches the handstamp at top, Very Fine appearance, a scarce and desirable handstamped "Old Stamps Not Recognized" cover sent to a North Atlantic Squadron blockading vessel, ex Colson, Emerson and Haas, with 1976 P.F. certificate (Image)

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DESCRIPTION

10¢ Green, Type V (35), three slightly overlapping singles, uncancelled at originating post office in St. Francisville in the West Feliciana Parish of Louisiana, "St. Francisville La. Jun. 8" (1861) circular datestamp and "10" in circle Confederate rate handstamp on buff cover addressed to Adolf Raphael in Breslau, Prussia, received at Louisville post office on or about June 14 and held by postmaster Dr. J. J. Speed pending instructions from U.S. Post Office Department, stamps cancelled by blue "SOUTHN. LETTER/ UNPAID" two-line handstamp, matching blue "Louisville Ky. Jun. 27" double-circle datestamp with grid cancel struck over "10" rate, matching "30" in circle due handstamp for Prussian Closed Mail rate to Germany (based on postage affixed) but routed via Hamburg at New York foreign-mail office, part strike of "N. York Hamb. Pkt. 5 Jun. 29" 5¢ debit datestamp for 15¢ Bremen-Hamburg rate--carried from New York on Hamburg-American Line Bavaria, departing June 29, 1861, and arriving at Hamburg July 14--large blue manuscript "6-1/2" and "6-1/2" blue handstamped rates in silbergroschen, Hamburg (July 14) and Breslau (July 15 and 16) backstamps

PROVENANCE

Stephen D. Brown, Harmer Rooke (London) sale, 10/30-11/4/1939, lot 931

J. David Baker, Siegel Auction Galleries, 4/4/1978, Sale 526, lot 132, to Grunin

Louis Grunin, Christie's Robson Lowe sale, Part One, 3/25/1987, lot 126, to Ishikawa

Ryohei Ishikawa, Christie's Robson Lowe sale, 9/28-29/1993, lot 302, to William H. Gross

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

Stanley B. Ashbrook, The United States Ten Cent Stamp of 1855-1857, pp. 79-0, fig. 54

-- The United States One Cent Stamp of 1851-1857, 1938 edition, Vol. 2, pp. 33-34 and fig. 35D

Hugh J. and J. David Baker, Bakers' U.S. Classics, p. 233

Richard B. Graham, "Postal History and Stamps: A Colorful Combination, 1847-1861," The American Philatelist, April 1978

Steven C. Walske and Scott R. Trepel, Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War, census no. SLU-4

CERTIFICATION

The Philatelic Foundation (1993)

CONDITION NOTES

Fine appearance; center 10¢ stamp has small negligible repair and cover with mended edge at top not affecting stamps or markings, top backflap removed

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

Southern Letter Unpaid Covers to Foreign Countries

The U.S. May 27, 1861, mail suspension order prohibited federal post offices from forwarding southbound mail to Southern states in rebellion. However, northbound mail from the South continued to be sent to Louisville, Kentucky. Through June 6, northbound mails were forwarded to Louisville from Memphis or Nashville. From June 7 through 12, only the Nashville office forwarded mail to Louisville, and Louisville continued to forward mail north.

With the resignation of W. D. McNish as Nashville's federal postmaster on June 12 and the withdrawal of the U.S. mail agent from this route, Louisville held the mails still being sent north by the discontinued post office at Nashville. On June 24, Dr. John J. Speed, the postmaster at Louisville, was advised to forward letters from the South to the loyal states after removing postage. With approximately 5,000 such letters held at this date, Dr. Speed employed a more practical means of invalidating stamps by creating the "Southn. Letter Unpaid" handstamp. There are 29 "Southn. Letter Unpaid" covers recorded in the Special Routes book, including five foreign-bound covers, as follows:

1 To Prussia, Louisville June 27, three 10¢ No. 35, from St. Francisville La., ex Brown, J. D. Baker, Grunin, Ishikawa, the cover offered in this sale

2 To France, Louisville June 27, 3¢ U27, from Bayou Chene La., ex Wunsch, Myers (Sale 882, lot 2001)

3 To France, Louisville June 27, 3¢ and 12¢ Nos. 26 and 36B, from New Orleans, ex Shenfield, Sweet, Judd, Kilbourne and Walske (Sale 1119, lot 564)

4 To France, no Louisville datestamp, 3¢ and 12¢ Nos. 26 and 36B, from New Orleans to France, ex Antrim and Wishnietsky (Sale 1064, lot 23)

5 To England, Louisville Jul. 11, 24¢ No. 37, from Petersburg Va., ex Matthies, Dr. Graves and Weills

This cover was mailed from St. Francisville, Louisiana, on June 8, 1861, and reached Nashville after the regular mail route to Louisville had been terminated. It was brought across the lines by express and placed in the Louisville post office on or about June 14. It was among the thousands of letters from the South that had accumulated while Dr. Speed awaited instructions from Washington. Observing the 30¢ postage, the Louisville clerk applied a 30¢ handstamp, which was the Prussian Closed Mail rate for a half-ounce letter. However, the New York foreign-mail office disregarded the 30¢ marking and postage, and sent it on the Hamburg-American Line steamer for Hamburg. It was rated with a 5¢ debit marking for the U.S. share of postage, and in Germany the 6-1/4 silbergroschen markings were applied to indicate the total amount due. (Image)

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DESCRIPTION

5¢ Brown, Type II (30A), horizontal strip of three, well-centered, rich color and proof-like impression, trivial toned specks, tied over several perfs at lower left by blue "Louisville Ky. Aug. 13, 1861" duplex datestamp and grid cancel (datestamp struck again at lower right), used with 3¢ Dull Red, Type III (26) and 12¢ Black, Plate 3 (36B), 12¢ interpane margin at right, tied at upper right by "Adams Express Co. Louisville, Ky. Aug. 12, 1861" circular datestamp on blue folded letter in French to Paris, France, datelined "New Orleans, August 7, 1861" and addressed to "Monsieur G. d'Arnaud de Vitrolles", pencil "40" express rate (25¢ express fee plus 15¢ postage to France) --carried to France on the Havre Line Fulton, departing from New York on August 17, 1861, and arriving at Havre August 29--red "New York Paid 3 Aug. 17" 3¢ credit datestamp, ultramarine Havre arrival datestamp (August 29), red "PD" in frame handstamp, Paris receiving backstamp

PROVENANCE

Jamet (Paris) sale, 12/28/1955

Louis Grunin, Christie's Robson Lowe sale, Part Two, 10/7/1987, lot 136, to Dr. Martin

Dr. Alfred S. Martin, Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 893, lot 51, to Schwartz

Barry K. Schwartz, Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 981, lot 4123, to William H. Gross

CENSUS, LITERATURE AND EXHIBITION REFERENCES

Stanley B. Ashbrook, Special Service, #67, p. 544, photo 270

Lester G. Brookman, United States Postage Stamps of the 19th Century, Vol. I, p. 248, fig. 389

National Postal Museum, 1957 Perforation Centennial, p. 90, fig. 6

Steven C. Walske and Scott R. Trepel, Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War, census no. N-AD-65

CERTIFICATION

Signed by Stanley B. Ashbrook

The Philatelic Foundation (1991)

CONDITION NOTES

Extremely Fine

HISTORY AND COMMENTARY

Southern "Contraband' on an Adams Express Cover

This cover is remarkable in three respects: first, it is a rare Adams Express Company cover carried across the lines of war; second, it is addressed to another country; and, third, it shows how stamps from the South were considered to be contraband and were not accepted as federal postage.

The dateline inside tells us that the letter was written on August 7, 1861, in New Orleans. By then, Louisiana was a Confederate state. The steamers that carried mail to Europe departed from Boston or New York, so the writer had to send the letter north. That was a challenge, because the mail routes had been shut down by federal authorities since late May and early June. Express companies were the only ones transporting mail across the lines, for a price.

The letter was carried by Adams Express to Louisville, arriving August 13, about ten days before stamps currently in circulation were demonetized. The exchange period in Louisville began August 22 for three days; after August 24, no stamps other than the new 1861s would be accepted. Although the 3¢ and 12¢ 1857 Issue stamps were still valid when this reached Louisville, the fact that they originated on a letter from a Confederate state rendered them invalid, and the Adams office had to affix the strip of 5¢ stamps at lower left to prepay the 15¢ treaty rate to France.

At the New York foreign-mail office, the clerk bagged the letter for the Havre Line Fulton sailing on August 17 and applied a 3¢ credit to France. Later in 1861 both of the Havre Line's ships, the Fulton and Arago, were commissioned as transport ships during the war and were not returned to mail service until late in 1865.

A history of the Arnaud de Vitrolles family may be found at http://gillesdubois.blogspot.com/2007/05/arnaud-de-vitrolles.html . A cover from the same correspondence with the same August 7 dateline was sold in the Gross U.S. Treasures sale (Sale 1188, lot 62). It was carried by Adams Express, but reached Louisville on August 21 and was stamped with the new 30¢ 1861 Issue. At New York it was put on a Cunard steamer. The two covers were sold to Mr. Gross in the Siegel sale of the Barry K. Schwartz collection (Sale 981, lots 4123 and 4124). They tell a remarkable story of Civil War postal history. (Image)

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"Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville, Ky. * Aug. 12, 1861", clear strike of circular datestamp on 3¢ Red on Buff Star Die entire (U27) to New York City, 3¢ Dull Red, Type III (26) cancelled by blue grid with matching "Louisville Ky. Aug. 13, 1861" circular datestamp, receipt docketing of August 15, 1861, at left

Very Fine example of mail carried from the South to the North across the lines, after the regular transmission of mail along pre-war postal routes was suspended. This is also an unusual combination of a 3¢ adhesive and a 3¢ entire on this type of mail. The 3¢ adhesive was probably affixed by the Adams office in Louisville to avoid having the prepaid postage rejected as Southern contraband.

Ex Stephen D. Brown, Lawrence L. Shenfield and Robert W. Wiseman. Special Routes census no. N-AD-64. (Image)

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"MAILS SUSPENDED", perfectly struck oval handstamp on cover to Confederate Brigadier General John H. Winder at Richmond, endorsed "via Washington D.C.", 3¢ Rose (65), interpane margin at left, placed over coal dealer's corner card and tied by "Philadelphia Pa. May 16, 1863" circular datestamp, with original enclosure from a "Widowed Mother" inquiring as to the whereabouts of one William Shermer, she asks "...whether you have any knowledge of Wm. A. Shermer of Collis's Zouaves supposed to have been taken prisoner in the late Battle of May 3rd", this being the Battle of Chancellorsville, the woman adds a postscript "Enclosed please find 10¢", presumably for Confederate postage, also included is the original Post Office Department Return Letter Office printed envelope used to return this cover and letter (opened roughly at right), the notation "10cts" below the address refers to the money enclosure, 6¢ postage due was collected from the sender

Very Fine; a few faint toned spots on Mails Suspended cover not affecting stamp or markings, stamp with corner crease.

This extremely rare cover demonstrates "Mails Suspended" treatment of mail to the Confederate Commissary General of Prisoners, John H. Winder. It is especially desirable and unusual with the original enclosure referencing the Battle of Chancellorsville and the Post Office Department returned-letter envelope.

The sender, a self-described "Widowed Mother," was evidently not familiar with the procedure for locating Union soldiers taken prisoner by Confederate forces. Rather than follow the formal flag-of-truce mail procedure, she simply addressed her letter to Brigadier General Winder at Richmond. Despite the "Please Forward" notation, this attempt to send mail across the lines was rejected and the cover was sent to the Dead Letter Office.

Ex William F. Murphy. (Image)

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"CHAMPION PRIZE ENVELOPE LINCOLN & DAVIS IN 5 ROUNDS", five envelopes with cartoon designs comprising the original "5 Rounds" prize fight between U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and C.S.A. President Jefferson Davis, in black on white, imprints at bottom left "Published by J. H. TINGLEY 152-1/2 Fulton St. N. Y." and at bottom right "Entered according to Act of Congress in the Year 1861 by T. S. Peirce in the Clerks Office of the Southern District of New York", all five from one correspondence to John E. Miller in Oxford, New York, with "Princeton N.J." circular datestamp (Rounds 1, 3-5) and "Hamilton N.Y." circular datestamp (Round 2), each with 3¢ Rose (65) tied by grid or datestamp, and two additional envelopes with variation of 5th Round "The Champion Belt" design with new caption "ARMY ENVELOPE OR THE UNION WE FIGHT FOR", one in red on white with "Port Royal S.C. Apr. 19" circular datestamp and "Due 3" straightline handstamp, and other in red on buff with "Georgetown D.C. Feb. 11" circular datestamp tying 3¢ Rose (65)

Very Fine overall condition; covers with some minor edgewear, 1st Round with small nicks from opening, not seriously affecting appearance, some hinge residue on backs, and the red on buff envelope slightly reduced.

Although unused sets of the famous Lincoln-Davis Prize Fight envelopes are offered with some frequency, there are very few used examples of any of these designs. George Walcott, the pioneering collector of Civil War Patriotics whose collection was sold in 1935, owned the 2nd through 5th Rounds and the red on white "Champion Belt" design (lots 164-168 in Walcott sale--all five offered here), but evidently he was missing the 1st Round and the red on buff "Champion Belt" variation. Katherine Matthies acquired all five of Walcott's covers and added the 1st Round to complete the set. The Matthies set was acquired by Blake Myers, and when his collection of Union Patriotics was sold by Christie's Robson Lowe (3/12-13/1991), the six Lincoln-Davis Prize Fight covers sold to Janos Gabriel, who added the "Champion Belt" red on buff cover. All seven were sold to William H. Gross in Siegel Sale 784 (lot 2126).

2nd-5th Rounds and "Champion Belt" red on white, ex George Walcott; the Walcott set plus 1st Round, ex Katherine Matthies, Blake Myers and Janos Gabriel; additional "Champion Belt" red on buff, ex Gabriel. (Image)

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24¢ Red Lilac (70), deep rich color and well-centered, used with horizontal pair of 3¢ Rose (65), tied by neat strikes of large "Paid" grids and 24¢ tied by red "Boston Paid 12 Oct. 10" (1862) 12¢ credit datestamp on red and blue "The Union. It must be preserved." Waving Flag Patriotic cover to Paris, France, red Calais arrival datestamp also ties 24¢, red boxed "P.D." handstamp and receiving backstamp, Very Fine and fresh, an unusually beautiful 24¢ 1861 Issue Patriotic cover to France from the Angell correspondence, ex Matthies, Haas, Paliafito, Ishikawa, Gabriel and "Sevenoaks"

History and Commentary

The Angell Correspondence

Dr. Henry C. Angell was a Boston optometrist who spent considerable time traveling in Europe. Covers are known sent to him in France, Italy, England, Germany and Austria, plus a few forwarded to other destinations. Dr. Angell was an art collector and undoubtedly appreciated the wide variety of Civil War patriotic envelopes mailed to him overseas. (Image)

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24¢ Lilac (78), interpane margin at left with centerline, wonderful depth of color, single pulled perf at top not mentioned on either certificate, tied by bold grid of diamonds cancel on "Gen McClellan" Patriotic cover to London, England, red "Boston Am. Pkt. 21 Jun. 24" (1864) 21¢ credit datestamp, credit portion struck out in red by postal clerk who applied "Boston Am. Pkt. 3 Paid Jun. 24" 3¢ credit datestamp, red "London Paid' receiving datestamp (July 7), the beard and moustache have some minor contemporary enhancements in black ink, Extremely Fine, an outstanding McClellan Patriotic cover to London from the Angell correspondence, ex Matthies, Paliafito and Ishikawa, with 1993 and 2010 P.F. certificates--the former specifically stating that the manuscript embellishments in the design are contemporary

History and Commentary

The Angell Correspondence

Dr. Henry C. Angell was a Boston optometrist who spent considerable time traveling in Europe. Covers are known sent to him in France, Italy, England, Germany and Austria, plus a few forwarded to other destinations. Dr. Angell was an art collector and undoubtedly appreciated the wide variety of Civil War patriotic envelopes mailed to him overseas. (Image)

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3¢ Rose (65), tied by extremely bold "Alexandria Va. Nov. 2 '64" double-circle datestamp and target cancel on overall hand-colored lithographed Magnus Patriotic cover depicting the Patterson Park General Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, an elaborate "bird's eye" view of the compound including buildings, soldiers and a horse-drawn cart, the sender apparently experienced difficulty deciding where to place the address--starting with a few letters at the top and stopping, discreetly completing the address at left and then again on the back

Very Fine; stamp with single pulled perf at right.

This is an enormously rare Magnus hospital design. It was one of the highlights of the Civil War Patriotic covers in the Kantor collection of Sanitary Fairs sold through the Siegel firm (Sale 766A).

Ex Marjorie and Alvin R. Kantor, and illustrated in their book, Sanitary Fairs: A Philatelic and Historical Study of Civil War Benevolences (fig. 220). (Image)

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