Lot
2516 
Confederacy, (Army of Tennessee) - Chattanooga, Ten./Dec. 23 (1863). Army Field Post Office cds tying 1863-64 10¢ blue (large margins) on small cover to Stone Mountain, Ga., included is interesting original enclosure datelined "Dalton, Georgia/December the 27, 1863", written phonetically by a soldier who talks of the Yankees who are about 20 miles from their encampment, mentions a deserter who was shot and of general camp conditions, Very Fine. Scott No. 11 Estimate $500 - 750.
An especially choice example of the "roving" Chattanooga datestamp, taken from the city post office after evacuation and used as an army field office marking from September 8 to late December 1863. .
Realized: $650
Lot
2517
Confederacy, (Army of Tennessee) - Chicamauga. Well-struck in rimless semi-circle handstamp on cover to Atlanta, Ga. franked with 1863-64 10¢ blue (large margins) cancelled by neat "Nov. 13, 1863" three line handstamp", docketed at left "Nov. 12/'63", flap missing, Extremely Fine. Scott No. 11 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A magnificent cover, one of the finest recorded strikes of the "Chicamauga" army field cancel, which was used between Oct. 25 and Nov. 14, 1863. One of only four recorded examples. .
Realized: $3,250
Lot
2518
Confederacy, (Macon, Ga.) Advertised. Straight line handstamp on cover to Macon used from Alabama & franked with vert. pair 1862 5¢ blue (four margins, light corner crease at bottom right), tied by two strikes of neat grid cancel with manuscript "Hurtville/Oct. 24" postmark, Very Fine and attractive, The cover was not claimed in Macon and was advertised in the local paper as indicated by the straight line handstamp. Scott No. 4 Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $375
Lot
2519
Confederacy, (Macon, Ga.) Missent. Straight line handstamp with Macon, Ga. double circle postmark on ladies cover addressed to Macon, Mississippi, franked with 1863-64 10¢ blue (four margins) tied by wonderful bold "Estell Springs/May 18, 1863/N. & C. R.R." oval postmark, large part of flap torn away, Extremely Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
A stunning cover and usage carried on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. The "Missent" handstamp from Macon is unrecorded in Dietz. .
Realized: $1,300
Lot
2520
Confederacy, Mail Suspended. Oval handstamp on cover from Maine to Rome, Ga. franked with 1861 3¢ rose tied by unusual target cancel with "South Norridgewock, Me." cds alongside, some cover wear at bottom right corner, Very Fine, a lovely bold example of this scarce marking, ex-Gallagher. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
This was probably used in 1864 when Sherman's forces abandoned northern Georgia and were moved to Savannah.
Realized: $675
Lot
2521
Confederacy, P.O. Business/Free. In neat semi-circle without inner frame (Dietz III var.) with small size "Savannah, *Geo.*/Aug. 5" cds on printed 1863 Post Office form from the Postmaster in Savannah, Ga. in reference to a unclaimed paper, light vert. fold, Very Fine and choice, a very rare marking. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $700
Lot
2522
Confederacy, Post Office Business/Free. In circle (Dietz II) boldly struck with "Albany, Ga./Jun. 6, 1864" cds on ledger paper from the Postmaster in Albany to Macon, Ga. in reference to a missing letter, interior is postmarked with Albany cds rather than datelined, light diagonal fold, fresh and Extremely Fine, a very rare marking in pristine condition. Estimate $500 - 750.
Realized: $725
Lot
2523
Confederacy, Savannah, Ga./Jun. 5, 1861/Paid. Postmark with matching "10" rate handstamp on 1860-61 3¢ Star Die Entire to Wilmington, Delaware, entire with blue "Baltimore/Jun. 13" cds along with "Due 3 cts" straight line handstamp on front & "Dead Letter Office/Jun 29, 1861" oval handstamp, a portion of the flap is torn away & small spindle hole at center of cover, Extremely Fine. Estimate $500 - 750.
A fascinating usage with the sender attempting to pay both the Confederate 10¢ rate in cash and the United States 3¢ rate with the Star Die entire, which of course was unaccepted. .
Realized: $1,800
Lot
2524
Confederacy, SOUTHN. LETTER UNPAID. Blue two-line handstamp with matching "Louisville Ky." (1861) double-circle datestamp and "Due 3" straightline handstamp on stunning blue Griffin Female College cameo corner card cover to New York, postmarked bold "Griffin, Ga./Jun 9" cds with matching "Paid 5" handstamp, additional manuscript "Due 3" applied & pencil "4¢" for Carrier Service in New York City, trivial flap tear, Extremely Fine and choice, Pictured in Dietz & the American Stampless Cover Catalog. Estimate $20,000 - 30,000.
The most beautiful example of the rare "Southern Letter Unpaid" marking with a magnificent corner card of the Griffin Female College in perfect condition. One of the highlights of the Ballard collection and of all Confederate States Postal History.
Steven C. Walske's recently published analysis of mail service at the onset of the Civil War provides new information about circumstances surrounding the use of the coveted "Southern Letter Unpaid" marking. Postmaster General Blair's May 27 suspension order prohibited post offices from forwarding southbound mail to disloyal Southern states. However, northbound mail continued to be sent via Louisville. Through June 6, northbound mails were forwarded to Louisville from Memphis or Nashville. From June 7 through 12, only the Nashville post 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, "Louisville held the mails still being sent north by the discontinued post office at Nashville. This held mail later became the well-known 'Southern Letter Unpaid' mail" (Walske).
United States postage stamps affixed in the South (and entires used from the South) were regarded as contraband and were refused as prepayment. On June 24, Dr. J. 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 accumulating at Louisville by this date, Postmaster Speed employed a more practical means of invalidating postage by creating the "Southern Letter Unpaid" handstamp.
Immediately after receiving instructions from Washington to forward the held mail, the Louisville post office began marking letters. Some of these have circular datestamps (June 27, 28 and 29 being the most common dates), while others have no Louisville datestamp. The Louisiana office continued to use the June 29 datestamp until the end of the Southern Letter Unpaid period on July 12.
The presence of a corner card on a Southern Letter Unpaid cover is also extremely unusual. .
Realized: $52,500
Lot
2525
Confederacy, Adams Express Co./Jul. 18/Augusta, Ga. (1861). Blue oval handstamp (Dietz IVb) with manuscript 2/- (bit or 25¢ Express fee) on 1860-61 3¢ Star Die Entire to Washington, N.C. from New York, backstamped with large blue Adams Express oval of New York (Dietz VI), who transmitted the cover to Augusta and the cover was then placed in the mails with an "Augusta, Ga." double circle postmark & "Paid 10" straight line handstamp, included is original enclosure datelined "pr Adams Express/via Louisville, Ky.", entire with some professional restoration, Extremely Fine appearance; with 2001 C.S.A. certificate. Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $525