The D.K. Collection of Southern Postmasters' Provisionals of the American Civil War continued...

A REMARKABLE ACROSS-THE-LINES USE FROM NEW ORLEANS TO GEORGETOWN, KENTUCKY, CARRIED WELL AFTER MAIL EXCHANGE BETWEEN THE NORTH AND SOUTH WAS TERMINATED.

With the suspension of government mail exchange between Louisville and Nashville in June 1861, the express companies assumed the primary role in carrying letters across the lines. Such service was outlawed with the Federal ban on all commerce and exchange on August 26. This letter and other similar notices -- as described in the contemporary endorsement -- were sent from New Orleans to Georgetown, Kentucky, on October 4, 1861, weeks after express companies were banned from carrying such mail. The sender apparently expected that the double Confederate postage and double United States postage would assure its delivery. However, not only were the U.S. stamps invalid, the express companies were no longer carrying mail across the lines.

It is unclear how the letter reached Noah Spears (1793-1868), nor do we know his function. Some genealogical information about Spears can be found on the internet:

"...in 1853, he again established himself in business, opening a store in Georgetown, for the sale of dry goods, boots and shoes, etc., which he carried on successfully for some time. In 1860 he was appointed clerk in the Framer's Bank, at Georgetown, and in 1868, he was elected cashier, which position he still fills. During the war he felt that it was his duty to support the Union, but, nevertheless, his sympathies were strongly Southern. Being unable to resist the natural current of events, however, he took no active part in the struggle, but was afterward arrested, owing to an overstrained interpretation of a Federal order, and lodged in prison, but after a short time, was released upon the interference and solicitations of friends, who were both numerous and warm."

Ex Brown, Knapp, Brooks, Haas and Dr. Skinner. With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE USE OF THE PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP TO CANCEL THE 5-CENT NEW ORLEANS PROVISIONAL ADHESIVE. ONLY 12 TO 15 EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN.

Rodney was a city in southwest Mississippi approximately 32 miles from Natchez. An important city in the 19th century, its population dwindled to nearly zero after the Mississippi River changed course.

Ex Knapp, Grant and Dr. Graves (Image)

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VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE NEW ORLEANS PROVISIONAL POSTMARKED AT SHIELDSBOROUGH, MISSISSIPPI.

Shieldsborough was later renamed Bay St. Louis and lies in the harbor east of New Orleans. This cover was probably carried by a vessel out of New Orleans and mailed at Shieldsborough for the trip north to Jackson, Mississippi. Although covers are known with New Orleans provisionals postmarked at offices along the Mississippi River, this use from Shieldsborough, a harbor office, is quite remarkable and, to our knowledge, unique.

Ex Worthington, Emerson, Grant and Dr. Graves (Image)

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VERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE PRINTED-ON-BOTH-SIDES VARIETY. PROBABLY FEWER THAN A DOZEN EXAMPLES EXIST ON EITHER WHITE OR BLUISH PAPER.

Ex Knapp, Brown and Dr. Skinner. With 2001 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS IS THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THE RARE PRINTED-ON-BOTH-SIDES VARIETY CANCELLED WITH THE PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP APPLIED AT THE WHARFSIDE POST OFFICE.

Probably fewer than a dozen examples of the printed on both sides variety exist on either White or Bluish paper. In addition, only 12-15 examples of the 5c adhesive are known cancelled with the provisional handstamp. The combination of the two makes this an important Confederate States and New Orleans rarity.

Ex Dr. Graves (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY SEVEN EXAMPLES OF THE NEW ORLEANS 5-CENT RED ARE RECORDED, INCLUDING FOUR ON WHITE PAPER FROM THE FIRST PRINTING. HOWEVER, ONE OF THE FOUR IS A HYBRID BROWN-AND-RED SHADE, AND TWO HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN IN MORE THAN 70 YEARS, MAKING THIS THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF PURE RED ON WHITE THAT CAN BE ACQUIRED AT THIS TIME. IT IS ALSO THE ONLY COLOR ERROR CANCELLED BY THE NORTHERN "DUE (3cts)" MARKING APPLIED TO MAIL AFTER SUSPENSION OF REGULAR MAIL SERVICE IN JUNE 1861. AN OUTSTANDING CONFEDERATE RARITY.

There is only one true color error among all Southern Postmasters' Provisionals: the New Orleans 5c Red, which is found on both White and Bluish papers.

In his 1978 Congress Book article, Dr. Hubert C. Skinner theorized that either "too much red ink was introduced onto the platen in blending the brown ink or the components of the ink separated while the press was idle for a time." This, he speculated, "produced a mottled impression on a very few sheets" and "would have been corrected as soon as the rollers passed across the platen a few times re-mixing or blending the ink." The discovery of the hybrid Red-and-Brown stamp (lot 1101) confirmed Dr. Skinner's theory. The ink mixture error had to have occurred more than once, because the stamps on White paper were printed in June, and the stamps on Blue paper were printed in August.

The five stamps presented in lots 1100 to 1104 constitute the largest number of the New Orleans 5c Red Color Error ever assembled by one collector. Each shade of Red is different, and together they provide an opportunity to see how five of the seven known copies compare to one another. Only two examples eluded D.K.: No. 1 listed below, the unused 5c Red on White, ex Ferrary, Hind and Brooks, which has not been seen since the 1943 Laurence & Stryker sale of the Brooks collection, and No. 3, a cut-in 5c Red on piece, which has not been seen publicly since it was photographed by Hiram Deats.

Our records contain the following examples of the 5c Red error: White Paper (62X6): 1) Unused with traces of gum, ex Ferrary, Hind, Brooks (not seen publicly since 1943), 2) "DUE (3cts)" straightline, partly rebacked over thins, ex Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne, the stamp offered here, 3) Cut in at bottom, tied by "Paid" straightline on part of cover to Mrs. Wm. Reynaud, Baton Rouge, photo by Hiram Deats in P.F. files, 4) Mixture of Red and Brown, corner strike of circular datestamp, partly rebacked over thins and tear, discovered recently, D.K. lot 1101, Blue Paper (62X7): 5) Dec. 4 circular datestamp, thin spots and small repair, ex Crocker and Felton, D.K. lot 1104, 6) Sep. 17 circular datestamp, small faults, ex Ferrary, Hind and Lilly, D.K. lot 1103, 7) Position 1, "Paid" and part datestamp, thinned with small nicks at left, ex Caspary and Skinner, D.K. lot 1102.

Ex Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne (Image)

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VERY FINE AND ATTRACTIVE APPEARANCE DESPITE REPAIRS. THIS IS THE DISCOVERY COPY OF THE HYBRID RED AND BROWN ERROR, WHICH PROVES THAT THE 5-CENT RED COLOR ERRORS RESULTED FROM COMPLICATIONS IN MIXING INKS.

There is only one true color error among all Southern Postmasters' Provisionals: the New Orleans 5c Red, which is found on both White and Bluish papers.

In his 1978 Congress Book article, Dr. Hubert C. Skinner theorized that either "too much red ink was introduced onto the platen in blending the brown ink or the components of the ink separated while the press was idle for a time." This, he speculated, "produced a mottled impression on a very few sheets" and "would have been corrected as soon as the rollers passed across the platen a few times re-mixing or blending the ink." The discovery of the hybrid Red-and-Brown stamp (the stamp offered here) confirmed Dr. Skinner's theory. The ink mixture error had to have occurred more than once, because the stamps on White paper were printed in June, and the stamps on Blue paper were printed in August.

The five stamps presented in lots 1100 to 1104 constitute the largest number of the New Orleans 5c Red Color Error ever assembled by one collector. Each shade of Red is different, and together they provide an opportunity to see how five of the seven known copies compare to one another. Only two examples eluded D.K.: No. 1 listed below, the unused 5c Red on White, ex Ferrary, Hind and Brooks, which has not been seen since the 1943 Laurence & Stryker sale of the Brooks collection, and No. 3, a cut-in 5c Red on piece, which has not been seen publicly since it was photographed by Hiram Deats.

Our records contain the following examples of the 5c Red error: White Paper (62X6): 1) Unused with traces of gum, ex Ferrary, Hind, Brooks (not seen publicly since 1943), 2) "DUE (3cts)" straightline, partly rebacked over thins, ex Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne, D.K. lot 1100, 3) Cut in at bottom, tied by "Paid" straightline on part of cover to Mrs. Wm. Reynaud, Baton Rouge, photo by Hiram Deats in P.F. files, 4) Mixture of Red and Brown, corner strike of circular datestamp, partly rebacked over thins and tear, discovered recently, the stamp offered here, Blue Paper (62X7): 5) Dec. 4 circular datestamp, thin spots and small repair, ex Crocker and Felton, D.K. lot 1104, 6) Sep. 17 circular datestamp, small faults, ex Ferrary, Hind and Lilly, D.K. lot 1103, 7) Position 1, "Paid" and part datestamp, thinned with small nicks at left, ex Caspary and Skinner, D.K. lot 1102.

Scott value as the normal 62X6 (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THREE OF THE SEVEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE NEW ORLEANS 5-CENT RED ERROR ARE PRINTED ON BLUISH PAPER. THIS IS THE MOST INTENSE SHADE OF RED WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED. ONE OF THE RAREST SOUTHERN POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONALS AND THE ONLY COLOR ERROR IN CONFEDERATE PHILATELY.

There is only one true color error among all Southern Postmasters' Provisionals: the New Orleans 5c Red, which is found on both White and Bluish papers.

In his 1978 Congress Book article, Dr. Hubert C. Skinner theorized that either "too much red ink was introduced onto the platen in blending the brown ink or the components of the ink separated while the press was idle for a time." This, he speculated, "produced a mottled impression on a very few sheets" and "would have been corrected as soon as the rollers passed across the platen a few times re-mixing or blending the ink." The discovery of the hybrid Red-and-Brown stamp (lot 1101) confirmed Dr. Skinner's theory. The ink mixture error had to have occurred more than once, because the stamps on White paper were printed in June, and the stamps on Blue paper were printed in August.

The five stamps presented in lots 1100 to 1104 constitute the largest number of the New Orleans 5c Red Color Error ever assembled by one collector. Each shade of Red is different, and together they provide an opportunity to see how five of the seven known copies compare to one another. Only two examples eluded D.K.: No. 1 listed below, the unused 5c Red on White, ex Ferrary, Hind and Brooks, which has not been seen since the 1943 Laurence & Stryker sale of the Brooks collection, and No. 3, a cut-in 5c Red on piece, which has not been seen publicly since it was photographed by Hiram Deats.

Our records contain the following examples of the 5c Red error: White Paper (62X6): 1) Unused with traces of gum, ex Ferrary, Hind, Brooks (not seen publicly since 1943), 2) "DUE (3cts)" straightline, partly rebacked over thins, ex Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne, D.K. lot 1100, 3) Cut in at bottom, tied by "Paid" straightline on part of cover to Mrs. Wm. Reynaud, Baton Rouge, photo by Hiram Deats in P.F. files, 4) Mixture of Red and Brown, corner strike of circular datestamp, partly rebacked over thins and tear, discovered recently, D.K. lot 1101, Blue Paper (62X7): 5) Dec. 4 circular datestamp, thin spots and small repair, ex Crocker and Felton, D.K. lot 1104, 6) Sep. 17 circular datestamp, small faults, ex Ferrary, Hind and Lilly, D.K. lot 1103, 7) Position 1, "Paid" and part datestamp, thinned with small nicks at left, ex Caspary and Skinner, the stamp offered here.

Ex Caspary and Dr. Skinner (Image)

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VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THREE OF THE SEVEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE NEW ORLEANS 5-CENT RED ERROR ARE PRINTED ON BLUISH PAPER. ONE OF THE RAREST SOUTHERN POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONALS AND THE ONLY COLOR ERROR IN CONFEDERATE PHILATELY.

There is only one true color error among all Southern Postmasters' Provisionals: the New Orleans 5c Red, which is found on both White and Bluish papers.

In his 1978 Congress Book article, Dr. Hubert C. Skinner theorized that either "too much red ink was introduced onto the platen in blending the brown ink or the components of the ink separated while the press was idle for a time." This, he speculated, "produced a mottled impression on a very few sheets" and "would have been corrected as soon as the rollers passed across the platen a few times re-mixing or blending the ink." The discovery of the hybrid Red-and-Brown stamp (lot 1101) confirmed Dr. Skinner's theory. The ink mixture error had to have occurred more than once, because the stamps on White paper were printed in June, and the stamps on Blue paper were printed in August.

The five stamps presented in lots 1100 to 1104 constitute the largest number of the New Orleans 5c Red Color Error ever assembled by one collector. Each shade of Red is different, and together they provide an opportunity to see how five of the seven known copies compare to one another. Only two examples eluded D.K.: No. 1 listed below, the unused 5c Red on White, ex Ferrary, Hind and Brooks, which has not been seen since the 1943 Laurence & Stryker sale of the Brooks collection, and No. 3, a cut-in 5c Red on piece, which has not been seen publicly since it was photographed by Hiram Deats.

Our records contain the following examples of the 5c Red error: White Paper (62X6): 1) Unused with traces of gum, ex Ferrary, Hind, Brooks (not seen publicly since 1943), 2) "DUE (3cts)" straightline, partly rebacked over thins, ex Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne, D.K. lot 1100, 3) Cut in at bottom, tied by "Paid" straightline on part of cover to Mrs. Wm. Reynaud, Baton Rouge, photo by Hiram Deats in P.F. files, 4) Mixture of Red and Brown, corner strike of circular datestamp, partly rebacked over thins and tear, discovered recently, D.K. lot 1101, Blue Paper (62X7): 5) Dec. 4 circular datestamp, thin spots and small repair, ex Crocker and Felton, D.K. lot 1104, 6) Sep. 17 circular datestamp, small faults, ex Ferrary, Hind and Lilly, the stamp offered here, 7) Position 1, "Paid" and part datestamp, thinned with small nicks at left, ex Caspary and Skinner, D.K. lot 1102.

Ex Ferrary (with his purple trefoil backstamp), Hind, Lilly and Dr. Graves (Image)

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FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED NEW ORLEANS 5-CENT RED ERROR STAMPS PRINTED ON BLUISH PAPER. THIS STAMP SHOWS TRACES OF BROWN FROM THE IMPROPERLY MIXED INK.

There is only one true color error among all Southern Postmasters' Provisionals: the New Orleans 5c Red, which is found on both White and Bluish papers.

In his 1978 Congress Book article, Dr. Hubert C. Skinner theorized that either "too much red ink was introduced onto the platen in blending the brown ink or the components of the ink separated while the press was idle for a time." This, he speculated, "produced a mottled impression on a very few sheets" and "would have been corrected as soon as the rollers passed across the platen a few times re-mixing or blending the ink." The discovery of the hybrid Red-and-Brown stamp (lot 1101) confirmed Dr. Skinner's theory. The ink mixture error had to have occurred more than once, because the stamps on White paper were printed in June, and the stamps on Blue paper were printed in August.

The five stamps presented in lots 1100 to 1104 constitute the largest number of the New Orleans 5c Red Color Error ever assembled by one collector. Each shade of Red is different, and together they provide an opportunity to see how five of the seven known copies compare to one another. Only two examples eluded D.K.: No. 1 listed below, the unused 5c Red on White, ex Ferrary, Hind and Brooks, which has not been seen since the 1943 Laurence & Stryker sale of the Brooks collection, and No. 3, a cut-in 5c Red on piece, which has not been seen publicly since it was photographed by Hiram Deats.

Our records contain the following examples of the 5c Red error: White Paper (62X6): 1) Unused with traces of gum, ex Ferrary, Hind, Brooks (not seen publicly since 1943), 2) "DUE (3cts)" straightline, partly rebacked over thins, ex Caspary, Lilly and Kilbourne, D.K. lot 1100, 3) Cut in at bottom, tied by "Paid" straightline on part of cover to Mrs. Wm. Reynaud, Baton Rouge, photo by Hiram Deats in P.F. files, 4) Mixture of Red and Brown, corner strike of circular datestamp, partly rebacked over thins and tear, discovered recently, D.K. lot 1101, Blue Paper (62X7): 5) Dec. 4 circular datestamp, thin spots and small repair, ex Crocker and Felton, the stamp offered here, 6) Sep. 17 circular datestamp, small faults, ex Ferrary, Hind and Lilly, D.K. lot 1103, 7) Position 1, "Paid" and part datestamp, thinned with small nicks at left, ex Caspary and Skinner, D.K. lot 1102.

Ex Crocker and Felton. With 1989 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE PAIR OF IMPRINT BLOCKS OF TWELVE OF THE NEW ORLEANS 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL -- REJOINED FROM THE SAME SHEET. A WONDERFUL SHOWPIECE.

The third printing was issued in early December 1861, and most of the unused multiples come from supplies of this printing on hand when New Orleans was captured by Federal forces in April 1862.

Right block with 2000 P.F. certificate. Scott value as blocks and pairs with no premium for the imprints or the Mint N.H. gum (Image)

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