Spink Shreves Galleries Sale

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THREE CENT 1861 POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONALS

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

3AX1

#3AX1, Madison Court House, Fla., 3c Gold on bluish, a bottom right corner sheet-margin example, with large margin at left and ample at top, cancelled by central "PAID" in oval, used on an orange buff cover addressed to Thomas W. Thompson, Washington, D.C., accompanied by small piece clipped from original contents indicating "Madison, Florida/Feb 13, 1861" dateline, cover slightly refolded at edges to improve overall appearance and the stamp moved slightly from its original position, very fine and handsome.This is the only recorded example of the Madison, Florida Postmaster's Three Cent Provisional stamp on cover. An extraordinary 1861 Provisional with the Three Cent United States rate, used from the Confederate state of Florida to the District of Columbia. In addition, this is the earliest date of any Provisional used in the Confederacy. One of the most historically important covers in all of Confederate philately.There are only five examples of Scott #3AX1 recorded, in addition to the one "CNTS" error (Scott #3AX1a). This is the only known cover bearing this unusual provisional. Of particular interest is that its dated contents of February 13, 1861, place it within a mere nine days of the formation of the seven original Confederate States, which included Florida.Signed "W.H.C." (Warren H. Colson) and accompanied by a 1996 CSA certificate; ex-Ferrary, Duveen, Hind and Caspary. (Image)

$65,000.00

SOLD for $47,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

6AXU1

#6AXU1 (formerly #12XU1), Tuscumbia, Ala., United States 3c Rate, Red on buff entire, handstamped provisional in top right corner of buff entire addressed to Carroll Hoy & Co. in New Orleans, prepared by the Tuscumbia postmaster as a provisional but used while the United States Three Cent 1857 issue stamps were still valid and available, 3c Dull red (#26) originally tied over the provisional handstamp by "Tuscumbia, Ala./May 20" c.d.s. of 1861, stamp has been lifted and moved to the left for display, some creases to the stamp, extremely fine.The Tuscumbia Provisional is one of the few Three Cent rate provisionals issued by Confederate postmasters during the early part of the Civil War, prior to the adoption of new Confederate rates. This is one of only seven recorded examples of the Tuscumbia Provisional.Accompanied by a 1989 PF certificate stating "genuine but not a provisional usage"; ex-Weill Brothers, Kilbourne. (Image)

$15,000.00

SOLD for $8,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

CONFEDERATE POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONALS

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

1XU1

#1XU1, Aberdeen, Miss., 5c Black entire, excellent clear strikes of "Aberdeen MI./5" and matching "Paid" provisional handstamps on orange entire addressed to Greensboro, Ala., with "Aberdeen Miss./Jan 20" (1862) c.d.s. in bottom left corner, extremely fine.There are only two recorded examples of the Aberdeen Postmaster's Five Cent Provisional entire. This being the finer of the two.Among the rarest of all of the C.S.A. provisional handstamps; ex-Ferrary, Knapp. (Image)

$6,000.00

SOLD for $6,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

5X2

#5X2, Athens, Ga., 5c Red, Type II, four large and wonderfully well balanced margins, bright rich color and a detailed impression, tied to a neat white cover by a light strike of a grid cancel, matching "Athens Ga./Paid/Mar 31" (1862) c.d.s. at left, addressed to a Mrs. Howell Cobb, in care of Col. John B. Lamar, Macon, Ga., stamp with small trivial flaws at top right and has been lifted to apply a tiny reinforcement to the margin, and corner of envelope neatly mended (both done prior to the Caspary sale and noted in that auction description), a very fine and most attractive cover.Of the eight recorded covers bearing the rare Athens Five Cent Red Provisional, this is considered among the finest available, based on the stamp's excellent margins and the cleanliness of the envelope itself. Even off cover examples of this stamp are rare, with probably less than six being known.This is only the second appearance of this cover at auction since the 1956 Caspary sale; ex-Caspary, Kilbourne. (Image)

$15,000.00

SOLD for $8,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

8XU1

#8XU1, Austin, Miss., 5c Red on amber entire, extraordinary ornamental provisional design, typeset and press-printed at top right corner of amber colored envelope addressed to Mr. James Philpott, Wood Lawn, Tenn., strong complete strike of "Austin Miss./1861 (inverted)/2 Dec" c.d.s. at left, and matching "PAID" straightline struck over red provisional, light horizontal crease away from any markings, slightly reduced at right but not affecting provisional design, some reinforcing of right side edge wear with backing tape, fine.The unique example of the Austin, Mississippi Postmaster's Provisional entire. One of the most famous and distinctive C.S.A. provisionals extant.There are sixteen unique Confederate postmasters' provisional adhesives (A) or press-printed entires (E): Austin Miss. (E), Beaumont Tex. (A-large 10c), Bridgeville Ala. (A-pair), Charleston S.C. (E), Fincastle Va. (E), Franklin N.C. (E), Hallettsville Tex. (A), Hillsboro N.C. (A), Jetersville Va. (A-pair), Kingston Tenn. (E), Knoxville Tenn. (A-10c), Mt. Lebanon La. (A), New Smyrna Fla. (A), Port Lavaca Tex. (A), Rutherfordton N.C. (A) and Salisbury N.C. (E-damaged). This Austin entire was discovered by Harold C. Brooks in 1925 and to date is the only recorded example.ex-Brooks, Wulfekuhler and Kilbourne. (Image)

$75,000.00

SOLD for $62,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

10XU1

#10XU1, Autaugaville, Ala., 5c Black entire, outstanding sharp strike of this unusually detailed brass provisional handstamp, much in the same style as the Athens, Ga. adhesive provisional, on a most attractive cover addressed to Montgomery, Ala., matching clear "Autaugaville Ala/Nov 27" (1861) c.d.s. just to left of provisional handstamp, very slight cover reduction at right, lightly cleaned to remove stain at top left, very fine.Regarded as the finest of only three recorded complete covers bearing the uniquely designed Autaugaville brass die provisional.Autaugaville, situated on the Alabama River about 25 miles west of Montgomery, had a Civil War population of less than 1,500. Its postmaster, Albert William McNeel, seized all U.S. Post Office Dept. property and turned it over to the Confederacy. Postmaster McNeel used two different handstamped markings to make provisional envelopes. The earlier type is Scott 10XU2, of which one example is recorded, dated Oct. 8, 1861. The postmaster's son is on record saying that his father used printer's ink on the hand-held die and gently tapped the device onto each envelope. The impressions from the hard metal die are usually blurred and incomplete - the clarity of this impression is remarkable.Accompanied by a 1982 PF certificate; ex-Freeland, Green. (Image)

$10,000.00

SOLD for $17,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

11X1

#11X1, Baton Rouge, La., 2c Green, full to mostly large margins, strong color and impression on fresh paper, wonderfully tied to an immaculate drop-rate cover locally addressed to a Jno. P. Behrnes by a clear "Baton Rouge La., Sep 27, 1861" c.d.s., extremely fine in every regard.By far, the finest of the mere six recorded covers bearing the Baton Rouge Two Cent Provisional stamp. In fact, this incredibly choice cover was described in the 1956 Caspary sale catalogue as "undoubtedly the finest in existence" - and we cannot disagree. A spectacular condition rarity for the finest collection. Accompanied by a notarized statement dates March 23, 1895 from J.P. Behrnes (the addressee) attesting to the source and genuineness of the cover; ex-Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne. (Image)

$20,000.00

SOLD for $37,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

11X2

#11X2, Baton Rouge, La., 5c Green and carmine, Calhoun Type B, mostly ample margins to just slightly in, perfectly tied by a "New Orleans La./Dec 15 1861" river-mail double-circle datestamp to a neat cover addressed to Carroll Hoy & Co. New Orleans, couple of typical trivial pinholes, just slightly reduced at top and bit of backflap missing very fine.One of only two recorded examples of the Baton Rouge Provisional cancelled at New Orleans.This cover travelled 129 miles down river from Baton Rouge and entered the mails at the New Orleans wharf office where the double-circle datestamp was used. Based on surviving covers, it is evident that the postmasters in New Orleans and Baton Rouge would accept stamps on letters coming off river boats.ex-Brown. (Image)

$20,000.00

SOLD for $12,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

12X1

#12X1, Beaumont, Tex., 10c Black on yellow, position with comma after "Beaumont", full to mostly very large margins, some slight discoloration to paper from adhesive, neatly cancelled by manuscript small "X" and with matching "Apl 9th/64" postmark on adversity cover fashioned from lined paper, addressed to Mrs. Mary Watson in San Augustine, Tex., the cover was turned and addressed to Mrs. Maggie L. Watson in Sabine Pass, Tex. (wife of C.S. Watson, who was part of the Texas Marine Department), showing both "PAID" and "10" handstamps, some excess glue from the flaps, very fine.One of just five known examples of the Beaumont Ten Cent Provisional on yellow paper - all of which are found only on cover. This cover being perhaps the most desirable of the five not only for its overall condition, but for its use on a turned adversity cover, in addition to being the earliest recorded example of any Beaumont Provisional. The Beaumont provisionals were issued on Pink (two shades) and Yellow paper. Only 21 of any kind are recorded, including the unique Large 10c on Yellow (on cover), 5 of the Small 10c on Yellow (each on cover), and 15 of the Small 10c on Pink (12 covers, 3 off cover). Most of the recorded covers are faulty, and only four have postmarks of any kind tying the stamps.A great Confederate States Postmasters' Provisional rarity; ex-Duveen, Hind. (Image)

$55,000.00

SOLD for $45,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

12X2

#12X2, Beaumont, Tex., 10c Black on pink, bottom right corner position with "Beaumont" showing broken "T", fresh pinkish paper, gigantic margins including showing a portion of the frame line of the adjoining stamp at top, neatly cut margins at bottom and right, roughly separated at top and left (touches at one point), tied by pen stroke (which is an especially rare occurrence), with matching "June 18" (1864) manuscript date to a buff cover addressed to Mrs. S.L. Loyd, Houston, Tex., some backflap flaws, small edge tear at top, stamp with minor wrinkling in right margin but is sound and comparatively speaking superb compared to the small existing population.Quite likely the finest of the twelve recorded Beaumont Ten Cent Pink Provisional covers and one of only four tied examples of any Beaumont Provisional.There are only a total of fifteen of the Beaumont Ten Cent on pink recorded, including the twelve covers. Most of the covers are found in quite poor condition, with the stamps damaged in some way, and others with the stamps cut out and reattached to the envelope - in addition to most not being tied by the cancellation. The combination of this stamp's spectacular margins, its sound condition and the tying cancellation make it the most desirable of the available population.ex-Hind, Caspary, Hill and Kilbourne. (Image)

$30,000.00

SOLD for $22,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

16XU1

#16XU1, Charleston, S.C., 5c Blue entire, used, with "Charleston S.C./Sep 2 1861" c.d.s. at top center, addressed to Greenville, S.C., neatly docketed, extremely fine; especially scarce in such choice condition.ex-Caspary, Kilbourne. (Image)

$4,000.00

SOLD for $2,400.00
Will close during Public Auction

16XU5

#16XU5, Charleston, S.C., 5c Blue on blue entire, a seldom seen used example, with clear strike of "Charleston S.C./Sep 19 1861" c.d.s. directly canceling the indicia, addressed to Abbeville C.H., S.C., some lightened toning and small mended edge tears at top, still very fine; the Levi records contain only eight genuine examples.ex-Kilbourne. (Image)

$4,000.00

SOLD for $2,600.00
Will close during Public Auction

20XU2

#20XU2, Dalton, Ga., 10c Black entire, clear strikes of both the provisional handstamp and matching "Dalton Ga./Jun 18" (circa 1863) c.d.s. on brown turned cover addressed to Acworth, Ga., charge box notation at top center, inside addressed to Springplace, Ga. where 10c Blue, Die A (#11) with margins all around is tied by "Acworth Ga." c.d.s., flaps opened out for display, very fine and quite choice; a most unusual turned use of a provisional.ex-Frazer, Kilbourne. (Image)

$800.00

SOLD for $1,700.00
Will close during Public Auction

24X1

#24X1, Emory, Va., 5c Blue, clear "Paid" over "5" in circle provisional handstamp on portion of United States 1857 One Cent Blue sheet selvage perforated on three sides, this most unusual stamp has been tied to an orange buff cover by neat manuscript "X" cancel, additional second strike at left and with matching "Emory Va./Aug 9" c.d.s. at top center, addressed to "Capt. Alex. M. Davis, care of Col. Heath, 45th Regt. Va. Volunteers, Floyd's Brigade, Covington, Va.", the cover itself is quite clean and fresh, very fine and wonderfully choice.One of the finest of nine recorded Emory Postmaster's Provisional covers. Of the nine recorded only five bear cancelled stamps and four have tying cancellations. Only two covers have both the stamp tied and show the handstamped town datestamp, with the cover offered here being the finer of these two.This fascinating stamp was created by the Emory postmaster, I.C. Fowler, who took the blank sheet selvage of the demonetized United States One Cent 1857 issue and stamped "Paid" and "5" rate makings. While this is unique to Confederate philately there have been a couple other instances where stamps were created by using the sheet selvages of other stamps. The Philadelphia U.S.P.O. carrier stamps printed on the sheet selvage of imperforate One Cent 1851 sheets are quite similar to these Emory provisionals. In later years the provisionals of French Zanzibar were produced in a similar way; ex-Clapp, Moody and Kilbourne. (Image)

$15,000.00

SOLD for $27,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

26X1

#26X1, Fredericksburg, Va., 5c Blue on thin bluish, position 7, select four margined example (just two corner ornaments touched), tied by light strike of "Fredericksburg Va." c.d.s. to cover addressed to Manassas Junction, Va., slight cover reduction at left, faint stain at bottom and addressee's name has been altered, still very fine for this.The Crown book records approximately 27 covers bearing the Fredericksburg Provisional, many of which are in poor condition. The cover offered here has an unusually choice stamp and the cover itself is quite eye appealing.ex-Caspary, Green. (Image)

$5,000.00

SOLD for $4,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

29X3

#29X3, Goliad, Tex., 5c Black on rose, signed in bright magenta manuscript "Clarke PM", three very large margins, fourth at top quite ample, neatly and lightly cancelled by "PAID" straightline, matching "Goliad Tex." rimless undated circular town handstamp to left on blue colored cover front addressed to "Clement R. Johns, Comptroller, Austin City, Texas; part of the original letter appears on the back and there is a pencil notation of a June 21, 1862 date, just slight creasing to the stamp at top, very fine.This stamp and its usage on a cover front is one of Confederate philately's most important and famous items. Any Goliad Provisional is a rarity, as there are only seven Five Cent Type I stamps and four Ten Cent Type I stamps recorded. Of the seven Five Cent stamps, only one is on a full cover but it is in the British Library's Tapling collection. This cover front is the only Five Cent Type I usage available to collectors. The only other usage of any Goliad Provisional is the unique Ten Cent on a patriotic cover. Neither the Five Cent cover in the Tapling collection or the Ten Cent patriotic cover bear a Goliad postmark, as does the cover front offered here. But just as important is the fact that this cover front bears the finest quality example known of the mere six Five Cent Type I Goliad stamps in private hands.The significance of this cover has long been appreciated, as it was illustrated in the color plate of the H.R. Harmer Caspary Sale 3 catalogue and in Ter Braake's Texas: The Drama of its Postal Past (page 142); ex-Ferrary, Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne. (Image)

$50,000.00

SOLD for $37,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

29X7

#29X7, Goliad, Tex., 10c Black on gray, three very large margins, fourth at right just very slightly in along right ornaments, printed on blue gray paper which has ornamental printing on the reverse, likely an adversity use of paper and the only such Goliad Provisional to display this printing, cancelled with a manuscript postmark and used on blue-line folded letter addressed to a Capt. William Headen in Corpus Christi, Texas, endorsed "O.B." (Official Business) at top, with letter datelined "Goliad August 16th 1864" from a conscription officer regarding a conscriptee who is scheduled to report to Capt. Headen, stamp affixed to cover by thick dark brown gum mucilage resulting in some very faint toning, very fine.Of the eight Goliad Ten Cent Type II stamps recorded, five are used on covers, including an uncancelled stamp on a cover in the Tapling collection at the British Library - leaving only four covers available to collections. There are two additional Ten Cent Type II covers recorded with the "GOILAD" spelling error. Of the eight Ten Cent Goliad Type II stamps in existence, both on and off cover, only this cover bears a stamp with printing on the reverse.An important C.S.A and Texas postal history rarity which is illustrated in Ter Braake's Texas: The Drama of Its Postal Past (Page 228); ex-Avery, Caspary, Weatherly and Kilbourne. (Image)

$25,000.00

SOLD for $22,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

29X8

#29X8, Goliad, Tex., 5c Black on dark blue glazed paper, the only recorded example of this stamp, with some repairing in top right corner (blue surface color painted in), cancelled by pen stroke and tied to small cover to Columbia, Texas by partial "Goliad Tex." c.d.s., pencil "Missent" and "Columbus Texas/Feb 23" (circa 1864-65) arrival datestamp, additional second stamp at right removed long ago, tape sealed tear to cover, soiled and overall usage faults.The sole example of the Goliad Five Cent Provisional on blue paper. In total there are only Five recorded Type II Goliad Provisionals on any type of paper and this is the only example known on cover.While there is no disagreement that this stamp and cover are not the most visually appealing one could hope for, there is no doubt about their rarity and importance to researchers and students of Confederate States Postmasters' Provisionals, and particularly to specialists in Texas postal history; ex-Ferrary, Hind and Freeland. (Image)

$7,000.00

SOLD for $10,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

35X1

#35X1, Greenwood Depot, Va., 10c Black on gray blue, a most unusual provisional produced from a small piece of gray blue paper on which "PAID" has been handstamped and "Ten Cents" added in manuscript at top and signed "J. Bruce" (the Postmaster) at bottom, uncancelled as almost always, used on a small green homemade cover addressed to Rev. Paul Whitehead, Macfarland's P.O., Va., large part of "Greenwood Depot Va./Sep 25" (1862) c.d.s. at top left, faint water stains at sides, very fine.One of only six recorded examples of this fascinating and crudely produced postmasters' provisional, all of which are found on covers from the Reverend Whitehead correspondence. Only five are available to collectors, as the sixth cover is in the British Library's Tapling collection. It is believed that this is the only example of the Greenwood Depot Provisional on a green cover, making it especially perfect for exhibition.The 10c rate (raised from 5c) was effective July 1, 1862 and the Greenwood Depot Provisional stamps were issued to meet this new rate. They are among a very few post offices east of the Mississippi that issued and used 10c stamps.Signed on the inside flap by 19th century dealer, Wm. P. Brown; ex-Ferrary, Hind and Brooks. (Image)

$20,000.00

SOLD for $19,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

49X1

#49X1, Lenoir, N.C., 5c Blue and orange, ample margins to just touching frame line, strong colors and impressions, tied by circular "Paid 5" rate handstamp in blue to white envelope addressed to Salem, N.C., because of the incomplete nature of the "5" this cancel has also been interpreted as "Paid 2" in past auction descriptions, an intriguing possibility even though such a rate marking is not known from Lenoir, matching "Lenoir N.C./Apr 12" (1862) c.d.s. just to left of stamp, small insignificant restored spot in address at center far away from stamp, still quite fresh and very fine.The only recorded Lenoir Provisional tied by the circular "Paid" rate handstamp. Of the approximately 29 Lenoir Provisional covers, only six have the stamp tied by a handstamped marking. This is the only known cover on which the rate marking was used as a canceller. The remaining Lenoir covers are cancelled by pen markings, a few of which tie the stamp.An important C.S.A. provisional cover rarity in exceptional quality; ex-Emerson, Caspary and Haas. (imagea) (Image)

$25,000.00

SOLD for $13,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA