Sale 1357 — 2025 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Wednesday, 25 June, 2025
Category — The Civil War: Postmasters' Provisionals, General Issues, Telegraph
Madison Court House Fla., 3c Gold on Bluish (3AX1). Large margins to clear, single penstroke cancel, adhering to small piece
SOUND AND VERY FINE. ONE OF THE MOST ATTRACTIVE OF THE FIVE RECORDED OFF-COVER MADISON COURT HOUSE POSTMASTER'S 3-CENT PROVISIONAL STAMPS.
The Madison Court House Provisional was the subject of a definitive article by Patricia A. Kaufmann in the American Philatelist and the Confederate Philatelist (the article, with updates, can be viewed at https://www.trishkaufmann.com/madison). The Madison Provisional is one of six stamps that the Scott Catalogue lists separately as "3c 1861 Postmasters' Provisionals." They are distinct from the 5c and 10c 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 Department (and were avoiding ordering new U.S. stamps in anticipation of a final change in administrative control of their offices). The 1861 Provisionals are all 3c adhesives or handstamps, reflecting the then-current U.S. letter rate. One of the recorded Madison Court House examples bears a manuscript "(P)aid in (Money)" in the handwriting of Postmaster Samuel J. Perry.
Only six examples of Scott 3AX1 are recorded, including four with the normal "CENTS" spelling, the unique "CNETS" error, and the only recorded on-cover example. There is also the unique Madison 5c Provisional press-printed entire, listed in the regular C.S.A. Provisional section (137XU1, Sale 1153, lot 2095).
Ex "D.K." collection. With 1990 and 2012 P.F. certificates. History of the Madison C.H. provisional: https://siegelauctions.com/legacy/MadisonCHFL.pdf
Atlanta Ga., 5c Black entire (6XU2). Clear strikes of provisional handstamp and "Atlanta Ga. Jul. 4, 1861" circular datestamp on red and blue 11-Star Confederate Flag Patriotic cover (F11-1) to Gilmer Ga., with matching design on letterhead datelined Atlanta July 3 from a soldier to his sweetheart back home, some commentary about soldiers marching and much about missing home and especially his friends, small piece of flap missing and tiny opening nick at top, the small cover and matching letterhead go perfectly together on an exhibit page
VERY FINE. FEWER THAN A DOZEN PATRIOTIC COVERS ARE KNOWN WITH THE ATLANTA PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP. THE COVER OFFERED HERE—DATED ON JULY 4 WITH A MATCHING LETTERHEAD AND SOLDIER'S LETTER—IS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE.
Ex MacBride (with his pencil note on back) and Dr. Brandon.
Memphis Tenn., 5c Red (56X2). Two singles in distinctly different shades—one deep red, other pale red—large margins to in, tied by neat "Memphis Ten. ? 1, 1861" circular datestamp on red and blue 7-Star Confederate Flag and Cap Patriotic cover (F7-5C) to Lynchburg Va., some edgewear including sealed tear into top of flag design, some toning specks
VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE MEMPHIS 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ISSUE ON A 7-STAR FLAG PATRIOTIC COVER. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH TWO DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT SHADES OF THE PROVISIONAL.
The 7-Star flag was the official national flag starting March 4, 1861. It was current until Virginia was admitted to the Confederacy on May 7. Only a very few exist with the Memphis provisional, and we are unaware of any others with this design.
Ex Myers and Gross. With 1977 C.S.A. and 2010 P.F. certificates.
Montgomery Ala., 10c Blue entire (59XU4). Perfect strike of provisional handstamp in intense dark shade, blue "Montgomery Alabama Southern Express" in circle handstamp, lighter blue "Southern Express Co. Montgomery Ala. Oct. 25" (1861) double-circle datestamp on cover to Col. Tennent Lomax, 3rd Regt. Ala. Volunteers, at Norfolk Va., top left corner slightly nicked from opening, few faint toned spots
VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE 10-CENT MONTGOMERY POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE RARE SOUTHERN EXPRESS COMPANY HANDSTAMPS.
The only intra-CSA Southern Express Company covers known from Alabama are addressed to Colonel Tennent Lomax, a Confederate officer who was killed at the Battle of Seven Pines on June 1, 1862. Colonel Lomax, a resident of Montgomery, led the 3rd Alabama Regiment during the war. His regiment was detailed to defend the naval yard at Norfolk Va., which was held by Confederate forces until May 1862. While in Norfolk, Colonel Lomax received letters and express mail from his wife.
Although handstamped with the Montgomery provisional, this cover was not datestamped by the post office and appears to have been carried exclusively by the Southern Express Company (prepayment of Confederate postage was a requirement on all express mail in any case). It was probably given directly to the Southern Express Company for delivery to Colonel Lomax's regiment at Norfolk, Virginia. The circumstances of mailing are mentioned in the letter written by Mrs. Lomax to her husband. At the close of her letter, she is rushing to meet the departure of the "cars". In a postscript she writes: "Well Honey I hurried my letter to death to send by Mr. Faulkner and then he did not go. I will send you a box by Phill Sayre..." The letter also describes whipping a female slave who appeared to be running away.
Ex Brown and Hall. Illustrated in Special Routes book (p. 192, census no. SOU-1).
Nashville Tenn., 5c Brick Red (61X3). Huge margins to clear at left, bright shade, tied by blue "10" handstamp (struck in error) with second strike to left, matching "Nashville Ten. Sep. 5, 1861" circular datestamp and "Paid" handstamp on cover to Shelbyville Tenn. with Morgan & Co. importer's illustrated building corner card, large and detailed depiction with horses and wagons on street, missing part of backflap, tiny nick and tear at top
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL USE OF THE 5-CENT BRICK RED NASHVILLE PROVISIONAL ON AN ILLUSTRATED BUILDING CORNER CARD COVER.
Ex Haub ("Erivan"). With 2023 P.F. certificate noting the "10" handstamps struck in error.
New Orleans La., 2c Blue (62X1). Three singles, two have ample to large margins, third has two large margins, other sides touching to slightly in, remarkably deep shade, tied by "New Orleans La. 1 Dec." (1861) circular datestamps on bluish-gray folded printed prices-current with additional letter to Woodville Miss., 1c overpayment of 5c rate, small mended break in file fold at top center
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF FOUR RECORDED COVERS WITH THREE OR MORE NEW ORLEANS 2-CENT BLUE PROVISIONAL STAMPS — IN TERMS OF CONDITION, ONE OF THE TWO FINEST MULTIPLE-RATE FRANKINGS.
Our records contain four covers franked with three or more 2c Blue New Orleans Provisional stamps—two with five stamps, one with three stamps and a 5c Red Brown provisional, and one with three stamps, as follows:
1) Horizontal strip of five, tied by Oct. 12 (1861) New Orleans circular datestamp to Augusta Ga., paying over-500 miles 10c rate, ex Caspary, Meroni, Freeland and Myerson
2) Five singles, tied by "Paid" straightlines, Jul. 26 (1861) New Orleans circular datestamp, to Hartsville Tenn., paying over-500 miles 10c rate, ex Hessel, Dr. Brandon and our 2016 Rarities sale
3) Three singles and 5c Red Brown (62X4), tied by "Paid" straightlines, New Orleans Oct. 1 (1861) circular datestamp, to Orange C.H. Va., paying over-500 miles 10c rate (1c overpayment), ex Seybold, Needham, Grant, Dr. Skinner and D.K. collection (Sale 1022, lot 1078)
4) Three singles, tied by Dec. 1 (1861) New Orleans circular datestamp, to Woodville Miss., paying 5c under-500 miles rate (1c overpayment), ex Emerson, Caspary, Muzzy, 1970 Rarities sale, Kilbourne, Gross and Przybyl, the cover offered here
Ex Emerson, Caspary, Muzzy, Kilbourne, Gross and Przybyl. With 1967 P.F. certificate. SCV $20,000.
New Orleans La., 2c Red (62X2). Dark Red shade on grayish paper, large margins to well clear of frameline, tied by "New Orleans La. 22 Mar." (1862) circular datestamp on cover to Auburn Ala., few trivial toned specks on cover (not on stamp)
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE TWELVE RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE RARE NEW ORLEANS 2-CENT RED PROVISIONAL.
The New Orleans postmaster, J. L. Riddell, prepared provisional stamps in June 1861 and advertised them for sale on June 12. The 2c Red stamps were printed without the marginal inscription "Usable exclusively in the New Orleans Post Office". The 5c and subsequent 2c Blue printings all have the imprint. It is the accepted theory that the 2c Red stamps were printed first, before Riddell added the imprint, and were withheld from use until January 1862 when the supply of 2c Blue stamps was exhausted. The Crown census at the Civil War Philatelic Society website lists twelve 2c Red covers.
Ex Mason, Dr. Simon and "D.K". collection. With 1964 P.F. certificate. SCV $25,000.
New Orleans La., 5c Deep Red on Bluish (62X7). Margins to just in, intense shade with scattered spots of Brown ink on deeply blued paper, clear "New Orleans La. 4 Dec." (1861) circular datestamp, small thin spots and "small repairing" according to certificate, but the stamp is intact
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 (Sale 1182, lot 274) 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.
Our records contain the following examples of the 5c Red error:
White Paper (62X6)
1) Unused, traces of gum, ex Ferrary, Hind, Brooks and Haub
2) "DUE (3cts)" straightline, partly rebacked over thins, ex Caspary, Lilly, Kilbourne and "D.K." collection
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 in recent years, ex "D.K." collection
Blue Paper (62X7)
5) Dec. 4 circular datestamp, thin spots and small repair, ex Crocker. Felton and "D.K." collection; the example offered here
6) Sep. 17 circular datestamp, small faults, ex Ferrary, Hind, Lilly and "D.K." collection
7) Position 1, "Paid" and part datestamp, thinned with small nicks at left, ex Caspary, Dr. Skinner and "D.K." collection
Ex Crocker, Felton and "D.K." collection. With 1941 certificate from French expert Theodore Emin. With 1989 P.F. certificate.
5c Blue, Stone 2 (4). Vertical pair, large margins to just in at left including bottom right corner sheet margins, tied by "Savannah Geo. May 12" circular datestamp on Screven House gray overall illustrated hotel advertising cover to Okolona Miss., Eaves N.Y. imprint, sender's route directive "Via Mobile Ala.", slightly reduced at left, some edge tears, pair with minor toning and small tear at upper right in sheet margin only, Very Fine and scarce corner sheet-margin pair on a hotel advertising cover, ex Dr. Brandon
5c Blue, Local (7). Block of 20 with full sheet margins at top and sides, comprising the full top two rows of the sheet, used with a strip of five below, pos. 5 in the strip the White Tie variety, tied by multiple strikes of "Wilmington N.C. Mar. 19" (1863) circular datestamp on back of cover addressed to Richmond Va., docketing on front indicates military origin from Capt. William D. Muller at Kenansville N.C., the stamps are remarkably sound for such a multiple, only the sheet margin is affected by a corner nick far from the designs
VERY FINE. AN INCREDIBLE USE OF A SHEET-MARGIN BLOCK OF 20 OF THE 5-CENT BLUE LOCAL TYPOGRAPH ISSUE ON COVER. THIS IS THE LARGEST RECORDED MULTIPLE ON COVER AND ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING CONFEDERATE GENERAL ISSUE COVERS EXTANT.
Ex Haub ("Erivan"). With 2022 P.F. certificate.
10c Blue, "TEN" (9). With 26mm bottom sheet margin, tied by "Richmond Va. Apr. 25, 1863" circular datestamp on cover to Loretto Ga., endorsed "MRH Garnett MC" by Confederate Congressman Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett, gently cleaned
VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL SHEET-MARGIN 10-CENT "TEN" ON A COVER FROM A MEMBER OF THE CONFEDERATE CONGRESS.
This is an outstanding example with such a huge sheet margin. It was mailed two days after the earliest known use of Scott No. 9. Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett was a member of the U.S. Congress from Virginia from 1856-61 and subsequently a member of the Confederate Congress from Virginia from 1862-64. While attending a session of Congress he contracted typhoid fever and died in February 1864.
Ex Grunin and Haub ("Erivan"). With 2022 P.F. certificate.
10c Blue, Frameline (10). Vertical pair with complete framelines at left, at bottom and between stamps, part of frameline also at upper right, tied by two bold strikes of "Mobile Ala. Jul. 18, 1863" double-circle datestamp on cover to Richmond Va., lightened gum stains
EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE FEW 10-CENT FRAMELINE PAIRS KNOWN ON COVER — ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE ON A NORMAL SIZE ENVELOPE.
Accompanied by biographical information on the addressee, George William Bagby. Ex Dr. Green and Gross. Scott value for pair on cover
10c Blue, Die A (11). Two matching covers with brown and green illustrated "S.R. Sullivan Carriage Manufacturer" embossed cameo corner cards, wonderful design with two different styles of carriage, both stamps tied by Charlottesville Va. double-circle datestamp, Sep. 10 and Nov. 6, 1863, stamp on the green corner card cover affixed over the lettering but not covering up the illustrations, also with some slight soiling, other with small corner clip at bottom, Very Fine, an outstanding matched pair of illustrated corner card covers
The Richmond and Danville Railroad Telegraph, General George E. Pickett. Oatmeal cover with imprint including "Extending from Richmond to Danville, and connecting at Richmond with the American Telegraph Company" — "American" crossed out and manuscript "Southern" written above as the American Telegraph Co. assets were taken over by Southern Telegraph Co., 10c Blue, Die B (12) cancelled by pen, cover is addressed to "Capt. E.R. Baird ADC, Drakes Branch RNRR" (Richmond & Norfolk R.R.), original telegram enclosure from General George E. Pickett, sent from Petersburg Va. on May 5, 1864 to Drakes Branch, reads "Capt. ER Baird ADC, You had better come to Petersburg as soon as you can instead of going as you might have understood my telegram of yesterday to Hanover Junction, GE Pickett Genl", manuscript "26/390" indicating a charge of 15c per word for 26 words, cover repeats this with "390 + 10 postage due"
VERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONAL CONFEDERATE TELEGRAPH COVER AND TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL GEORGE E. PICKETT, SENT TO HIS AIDE-DE-CAMP ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE "BERMUDA HUNDRED" FEDERAL ATTACKS NEAR RICHMOND BY UNION GENERAL BENJAMIN F. "SPOONS" BUTLER. THIS IS ALSO THE ONLY COMPLETE COVER AND TELEGRAM OF THE RICHMOND AND DANVILLE RAILROAD TELEGRAPH.
General Pickett sent this telegram to his aide-de-camp, Captain Edward R. Baird, at the start of the campaigns against Richmond by General Benjamin Franklin Butler. He orders Captain Baird back to Petersburg given the impending conflict. From Wikipedia -- "In the spring of 1864, the Army of the James (Union) was directed to land at Bermuda Hundred on the James River, south of Richmond, and from there attack Petersburg. This would sever the rail links supplying Richmond, and force the Confederates to abandon the city. In spite of (General) Grant's low opinion of (General) Butler's military skills, he was given command of the operation. Butler's force landed on 5 May [Ed. Note: the date Pickett's telegram was sent], when Petersburg was almost undefended, but Butler hesitated. While he dithered, the Confederates assembled a substantial force under General P. G. T. Beauregard (including forces under his subordinate General Pickett, who was in charge of troops around Petersburg). On 13 May, Butler's advance toward Richmond was repulsed. On 16 May, the Confederates drove Butler's force back to Bermuda Hundred, 'bottling up' the Federals in a loop of the James River. Both sides entrenched; the Federal troops were safe but impotent, and Beauregard sent most of his troops as reinforcements to Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. Despite this fiasco, Butler remained in command of the Army of the James."
This is a historic telegram and cover relating to the Bermuda Hundred operations and General Pickett's involvement. This is also the only recorded complete cover and telegram enclosure recorded by George Kramer for the Richmond and Danville Railroad Telegraph. It is not clear why the telegram message needed to be mailed to Drakes Branch, but the fact that it was, with a General Issue stamp, adds greatly to the postal history appeal of this lot.
Illustrated in Confederate Philatelist (No. 311, p. 176). Ex Kramer.