Shreves Philatelic Galleries, Inc. Sale

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Tennessee Postal History continued...

BUFFALO BALLOON POST continued...

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

521

CL1

CL1, 5c Deep Blue, Buffalo Balloon, Schoendorf Ty. III, a more elusive type that is most readily identified by a large white printing flaw near the "E" of "Five", an exceptional quality stamp featuring large even margins, strong impression showing this type exceptionally well in a deep gray blue color, on flown cover carried on the June 18, 1877 "Buffalo Balloon" flight from Nashville to Gallatin, Tennessee, 3c Green (#158, perf. flaws) tied by cut cork cancel with "Gallatin/Tenn./Jun 18" duplex below, inscribed at top "Any one finding this letter will please/put it in the nearest Post Office.", cover has soiling and water staining at bottom, edge wear to cover resulting in tear at top right, none of which affects the Buffalo Balloon stamp at left, which is very fine and choice. Signed as genuine by renowned expert Alberto Diena.The special Buffalo Balloon stamps were produced for this June 18th flight from Nashville to Gallatin. As is often the case with flights of lighter-than-air aircraft, landing was at best unpredictable and mail was often dropped, usually by throwing a bag with the mail overboard. Because the balloon might crash or the bag might break open mail was often inscribed with instructions if the mail were scattered. Such is the case with this cover as evidenced by the inscription written at the top. Whether the mail, or this cover in particular, was actually dropped is not known as it was posted at the destination post office of Gallatin and this would be where any flown cover would have been posted after the balloon landed.This is one of only three covers recorded bearing the Buffalo Balloon stamp. It is addressed to Mrs. Leonora Davies in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Furthermore, it is arguably the finest exemplification of this early balloon flight. One other cover bearing the Buffalo Balloon stamp is recognized as having been flown on this flight being addressed to E.F. Gambs in Saint Louis, Missouri. It has a similar Gallatin, Tennessee duplex postmark, however It bears no instruction inscription about posting if found. That cover, originally also in the Jeanette C. Rudy Collection of Tennessee Postal History, realized $126,500.00 (with the buyer's premium) in Robert A. Siegel's April, 2004 first offering of her collection. A third cover with a Buffalo Balloon stamp exists addressed to Mr. C. Thomas in Shohola, Pennsylvania. That cover also has an inscription "Please whoever finds this carey (sic) it to C. Thomas's store and oblige, W. V. Ross". Though it has a 3c Bank Note franking it was never placed in the postal system and has no postal markings. It is also believed that it was carried on a later August 30, 1877 flight of the balloon from the Philadelphia Centennial Fair grounds. The cover offered here is the only cover known with the Five Cent Buffalo Balloon stamp, the proper postal franking and markings for the flight and the appropriate drop instructions. This extraordinary cover, which until recently has been on display at the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum, is one of the most significant artifacts known in the history of flight. (Image)

Est. 100,000-150,000

SOLD for $130,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

UNION CIVIL WAS USAGES

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

522

"Why don't you take it?" caricature patriotic cover, attractive cameo design in blue showing "Old General" (Scott) and Jefferson Davis as dogs with the city of Washington as the piece of meat to be taken, soldier's cover with "Nashville/Ten/Aug 5, 1862" small double circle c.d.s. and bold "Due/3" in circle, to Poplar Ridge, Ohio, attractive and rare design, trivial edge tear at bottom, very fine; unlisted in Walcott, similar, but different in many details, to Weiss #C-A-D42 which was offered in the Bishel sale as the only recorded example, this design not seen before. (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $400.00
Will close during Public Auction

523

#65, 3c Rose, on Magnus imprint multicolor patriotic cover, an all-over design of a "Panoramic view of the Fortification around Washington", Charles Magnus imprint at bottom, unobtrusively addressed on the view side to South Trenton, New York, stamp also on the view side making this cover excellent for display, tied by small "Nashville/Ten/May 18,1863" double circle c.d.s., some mended edge tears, very fine; this is the cover photographed in Walcott; signed H. Bloch; ex-Walcott. (Image)

Est. 750-1,000

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction

524

#65, 3c Rose, five Union patriotic covers with single frankings plus a soldier's letter sent due, all from Nashville, includes several attractive designs, we note one rare Magnus imprint multicolor design in faulty condition with Eagle and Flag design similar to Walcott #284-85, only with George Washington portrait on the flag (unlisted in Walcott and one we have not seen), others include a General McClellan, "The Soldiers' Dream of Home" and "Front Face", one with illustrated enclosure, overall generally fine-very fine except as noted above, examine. (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $650.00
Will close during Public Auction

525

#71, 30c Orange on regimental patriotic cover to Germany, soldier standing guard, a design used by itself (Walcott #1957) and with various regimental inscriptions, this one rather extensive for the "Ninth (First German) Regt.,/Ohio Volunteers/Colonel Robert L. Cook", listing Carnifex and Somerset, battles the unit evidently fought in, stamp is attractive with strong color, tied by "Nashville/Ten/Apr 29, 1863" small double circle c.d.s., also tied by "N. York (Am or Br.) Pkt/7 Paid" accounting c.d.s., Aachen boxed entry handstamp and backstamped Hofgeismar, small stains and slight edge wear to cover, otherwise very fine; an extremely scarce franking on a patriotic cover, this design not found in any of the major catalogs of patriotic covers; ex-Matthies, Gallagher. (Image)

Est. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

526

#26, 3c Dull red, Ty. II, tied to petite cover to Smithland, Kentucky by bold "Due 3" handstamp, attractive fancy "Soldier's Letter" oval handstamp at left, on the reverse "Nashville/Ten/Jul 22, 1862" small double circler c.d.s. and "Held for/Postage" in small oval, the markings on the front evidently applied after learning of the sender's military status which was not apparent at first, very fine and attractive. (Image)

Est. 150-200

SOLD for $425.00
Will close during Public Auction

527

"(Paid by)/U.S./Sanitary Com." soldier's cover, has enclosure of Caleb Ensign, dateline "Hd. Qrs. Defenses Stevenson, Ala./ Aug 11th, 1864" but giving his address as Ist Michigan Engineers, via Chattanooga, Tenn, which is nearby, sent to his Uncle of the 14th Ohio Volunteers in Atlanta, Georgia, "Nashville/Ten/Aug 17, 64" c.d.s. with matching "Due 4" in circle, docketing indicates that the letter was received on Sept. 14,1864, very fine; an unusual posting from one soldier to another thus resulting in postage being paid by the U.S. Sanitary Commission. (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $210.00
Will close during Public Auction

528

"Official Business" military cover, posted at the Nashville post office with double circle "Nashville/Ten/Aug 30, 1864" c.d.s. and very unusual matching "Paid" within half arches, addressed to the commanding officer of the 160th New York Volunteers and receiving black military cancel "Received HD. QRS/Dept. South/Jul 24, 1865" c.d.s. nearly a year later, it is hard to know the exact travels of this cover that was apparently from one military unit to another, thus the "Official Business" at top, it has been marked "Due 1" in ms. which was probably an advertising fee, light staining, very fine; an unusual and rare Union military cover; this cover was analyzed in Chronicle 138 of the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society in May 1988. (Image)

Est. 200-300

SOLD for $325.00
Will close during Public Auction

529

"Flag of Truce" cover, with U.S. 3c Rose (#65) tied to cover to Alexandria, Virginia by "Nashville/Ten/Sep 18, 1864" duplex, Stanley Ashbrook in a 1951 accompanying letter states that he does not believe this originated in Nashville, rather it came out from some point in the South by private carrier via flag of truce where it entered the U.S. Mail, he felt it was probably sent unsealed so the contents could be read and passed upon, since it was not in the CSA postal system it received no payment of Confederate postage, front nearly separated from the reverse, fine and unusual. (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $250.00
Will close during Public Auction

EXPRESS MAIL USAGES

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

530

Adams Express Company money letter, printed large size soldier's package for the Western Division, to St. Johns, Michigan, from Nashville dated August 8, 1863, with yellow Adams Express Co. label and ms. "Paid 4 bits" (50c) but at right "Pd 2 bits" (25c) in pencil, contained $20.00, wax seals on the reverse, couple usual small stains and minor edge wear, very fine; nice soldier's sending from the Union troops in Nashville. (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction

531

U27

#U27, 3c Red on buff, star die entire, with "Adams Express Co./Baltimore Md./Jul 29, 1861" c.d.s. and with black "Paid" handstamp at left, to Staunton, Virginia, similar Adams Express marking of Louisville, Ky., then Blue "Nashville/Ten./Aug 5 1861" c.d.s. where it entered the Confederacy, matching "Paid" and "10" blue rate markings, fold at bottom of cover not affecting the markings, very fine; a very rare posting originating in the Adams Express office in Baltimore with "Express" spelled out (Image)

Est. 1,500-2,000

SOLD for $3,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

532

U27

#U27, 3c Red on buff, star die entire, express cover to the Confederacy, blue "Nashville/(Ten)/Aug 15, 1861 c.d.s. on 3c Red star die envelope, matching "Paid" and "10" handstamps, ms "2 bits" (25c) at top indicating the express posting though no company is specified, it is presumed that this cover originated some place in the North and entered the Confederacy at Nashville, posted to Lexington, Virginia, exceptionally clean and attractive appearing, expertly added backflap, extremely fine appearance. (Image)

Est. 300-400

SOLD for $500.00
Will close during Public Auction

533

"Southern Express Co./Nashville Tenn/ Nov. 12" (1861), clear blue c.d.s. marking of this express company, posted to Courtland, Alabama, blue crayon "Paid 2 bits" (25c), backflap missing and unobtrusive sealed tear into the marking, fine and attractive; the Southern Express is the successor to Adams Express Company which took over delivery of mail within the South after the express companies were prohibited from carrying mail across the lines, this cover originated in Nashville during the short period that it was in the Confederacy. (Image)

Est. 200-300

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction

WELLS, FARGO USAGE

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

534

U15

#U15, 10c Green on white entire, with red Wells, Fargo & Co. printed frank, blue "Paid" in oval handstamp applied by that company, posted to Atlanta, Georgia with blue "Nashville/Ten/Aug 25, 1861" c.d.s. where it entered the Confederate States, matching blue "Paid" and "5" handstamps, also in pencil "Thro' Adams Express", backflap missing plus soiling and edge wear to cover, fine; while no point of origin is noted on the cover, the 10c U.S. postage paid implies that this cover originated from the West Coast; express companies were used extensively at the beginning of the war to transport mail across the lines, however the Wells, Fargo & Co. Express was not known for providing this service making this an extremely rare usage, with only two Wells, Fargo & Company usages into the Confederacy recorded; ex-Dr. Roser, Gallagher. (Image)

Est. 7,500-10,000

SOLD for $6,750.00
Will close during Public Auction

CONFEDERATE STATES PAID HANDSTAMPS

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

535

"Nashville/Ten./Jul 16, 1861" c.d.s. on cover to New Orleans with matching "Paid" straight line handstamp, the cover was originally rated "5" with the first type italic numeral, but the rate to New Orleans was 10c and three other strikes of the "10" handstamp from light to dark were applied, apparently in an unsuccessful attempt to obliterate the "5", this appears to be what Dietz refers to under #IE, pin holes at left and light vertical fold, both the result of filing, very fine; ex-Sheafield. (Image)

Est. 200-300

SOLD for $525.00
Will close during Public Auction

536

"Nashville/Ten/Oct 8 1861" blue c.d.s., a double rate circular cover to Alexander Stevens (sic) in Richmond, Va., with matching blue "Paid" handstamp and ms. "4" rate marking, includes three circular enclosures accounting for the double rate postage, the circulars are advertising packed beef and pork "...at current prices (which of course will be high.)", payment is preferred in cash and he is forced to require one half the amount of every invoice in Gold, backflap missing, as is typical for all Stephens correspondence, otherwise very fine; the circular rate covers in the provisional paid markings are always very scarce and command premium values, this is especially true for double circular rate covers and the cover offered here is believed to be the only recorded example of this Nashville posting; ex-Gravely (Steve Ivy Philatelic Auctions, October 1982, where it realized $4,800.00, plus 10% buyer's premium). (Image)

Est. 3,000-4,000

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

CONFEDERATE STATES POSTMASTER’S PROVISIONALS

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

537

61X2

#61X2, Nashville, Tenn., 5c Carmine on gray blue ribbed paper, attractive appearing horizontal pair, possessing large to extra-large margins, fresh light carmine color and cancelled by neat portion of blue Nashville cancel, unobtrusive faults including creasing and closed tears that do not detract from this scarce pair's very fine appearance; ex-Gallagher. (Image)

$1,250.00

SOLD for $850.00
Will close during Public Auction

538

61X3 var.

#61X3 var., Nashville, Tenn., 5c Brick red on gray blue ribbed paper, tete-beche pair, an extraordinarily rare unused example of this rare variety, attractive pale shade of this color, virtually clear to extra-large margins all around, faults present being mainly light creases plus a tiny edge repair at right between the two stamps, very fine appearance; this variety is not listed in the brick red color either unused or used, unused tete-beche pairs of any of the colors are great rarities and it is quite possible that this is the only known unused example of the Five Cent Nashville, Tennessee Brick Red stamp; ex-Gallagher. (Image)

Est. 2,000-3,000

SOLD for $2,400.00
Will close during Public Auction

539

61X5a

#61X5a, Nashville, Tenn., 5c Violet brown on gray blue ribbed paper, vertical tete-beche pair, attractive rich color, portion of blue Nashville cancel, horizontal crease as many tete-beche pairs seem to have, margins appear clear all around though there are several edge repairs where the frame lines have been touched up, very fine appearance; an exceptionally rare variety; ex-Gallagher. (Image)

$2,500.00

SOLD for $2,300.00
Will close during Public Auction

540

61X6

#61X6, Nashville, Tenn. 10c Green on gray blue ribbed paper, mostly clear margins all around, mounted on a piece to which it does not belong which is merged with another piece that has a genuine blue Nashville cancel to make it look like the stamp is tied to piece, the stamp does have a portion of a genuine Nashville cancel and appears to have a horizontal crease ending in a break at right, the stamp and the cancel that is on it are genuine, only the pieces have been added, very fine appearance; this value is by far the rarest of the Nashville Postmaster Provisionals with less than 25 known examples. (Image)

$3,000.00

SOLD for $2,200.00
Will close during Public Auction