Sale 43: The Westpex Sale

Lot 296    

Confederacy, Baton Rouge, La./Jun. 5, 1861. Circular datestamp with matching "Paid" and "10" handstamps on yellow cover to Huntington (Long Island) N.Y., from the Waller correspondence, franked with United States 1857 3¢ dull red with blue manuscript cancel, blue pencil "10", manuscript "Recd 14th June" docketing, top edge of cover restored and one backflap added, stamp has faults, Very Fine appearance, Extremely Showy, Ex-Everett, Gunter and Walske.
Estimate    $3,000 - 4,000.

One of the last pieces of regular mail to cross the border from the Confederate States into the United States.

This cover was mailed from Baton Rouge on June 5 and would normally have passed through Memphis, Tennessee. However, since the U.S. suspended service at that office on June 6, the letter was routed through Nashville and arrived at Louisville around June 10. It was sent north without penalty. The 10¢ C.S.A. postage paid the over-500 miles rate, and the sender affixed the 3¢ 1857 stamp to pay U.S. postage once the letter crossed the border.

Realized: $2,300

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Lot 297    

Confederacy, Griffin, Ga./Jun. 1 (1861). Cds with handstamped "Paid 5" on cover with large blue cameo corner card of Synodical Female College showing University Building with Horse and Carriage in the foreground, addressed to "Miss Hattie D. Cleveland, Limestone Springs, Spartanburg District, Republic of South Carolina, Confederate States of America", top back flap missing., Very Fine and choice, Ex-Oswald, Crouch.; 2010 C.S.A. and P.F. certificates stating "genuine" but - not unexpectedly - expressing no opinion as to the year date.
Estimate    $5,000 - 7,500.

It is addressed to "Miss Hattie D. Cleveland, Limestone Springs, Spartanburg District, Republic of South Carolina, Confederate States of America". Although there is no year date in the cds, the address as "Republic of South Carolina" cements the time line as it could not have been prior to secession nor is it likely to have been a later year when stamps were by then readily available, thus in our opinion making this the First Day of the Confederate Postal System.

Original March 1861 letter enclosed from the same correspondence, but clearly not sent in this envelope - an unfortunate switch of contents somewhere over the years. The building on this corner card was used as an emergency hospital for Confederate soldiers from the battlefields of Jonesboro, Griffin and Atlanta (it burned in 1865).

Realized: $5,500

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Lot 298    

Confederacy, "P.O. Dept./D. L.O./Aug. 17th '64/B-97-1". Confederate States Dead Letter Office marking and record number in bright red manuscript on 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire with printed address crossed out and re-addressed to Bullitt & Fairthrom in New York City, postmarked red "Newberry C.H. S.C. May 21" cds cancelling indicia, Extremely Fine and choice.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A very rare Confederate Dead Letter Office Cover with the manuscript marking, which was used concurrently with the handstamped oval for approximately ten days at the beginning of the War.

Once the mail routes between the U.S. and C.S.A. were suspended, northbound mail was diverted to the C.S.A. Dead Letter Office. Fewer than ten examples of the C.S.A. Dead Letter Office markings (handstamp or manuscript) are reported, all diverted to the D.L.O. between May 21 and June 1, 1861.

A similar cover from this same correspondence is illustrated in Special Routes (page 12).

Realized: $4,500

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Lot 299    

Confederacy, Charleston, S.C., Jan. 22, 1861. Paid cds with matching grid cancel tie U.S. 1857, 3¢ dull red on cover with embossed corner card "Dunham, Taft & Co. Manufacturers & Wholesale Dealers, Boots & Shoes, 143 Meeting St. Charleston S.C.", addressed to Shelton Depot, S.C., Very Fine and choice Independent State use, ex-Kaplan.
Scott No. U.S. 26    Estimate $300 - 400.

Realized: $290

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Lot 300    

Confederacy, Charleston, S.C./Jan. 10, 1861. Cds on all-over Charleston Hotel advertising cover to Marion C.H., S.C. bearing 1857, 3¢ dull red cancelled by grid, Very Fine, an attractive Independent State use, ex-Kaplan.
Scott No. U.S. 26    Estimate $400 - 600.

Realized: $500

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Lot 301    

Confederacy, Horace, Alabama. independent state address on U.S., 1860, 3¢ Star Die entire, canceled by "Memphis, Ten., Jan 21" cds (Tennessee was still part of the United States), Very Fine.
Estimate    $75 - 100.

Realized: $210

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Lot 302    

Confederacy, Huntsville, Tex., Feb 12. Bold cds with matching grid handstamp cancelling fresh U.S. 1860, 3¢ Star Die entire addressed to Montgomery, Tex., 1861 year docketing on reverse, Very Fine and choice.
Scott No. U.S. U27    Estimate $200 - 300.

Realized: $400

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Lot 303    

Confederacy, Oso, Tex, Feb 2. Red cds on manuscript canceled U.S. 1860, 3¢ Star Die entire to La Grange, Tex., docketing at left, F.-V.F.
Scott No. U.S. U27    Estimate $150 - 200.

Realized: $250

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Lot 304    

Confederacy, San Felipe, Texas, Feby 28th, 1861. Manuscript postmark on fresh manuscript canceled U.S. 1860, 3¢ Star Die entire to New Orleans, La., Extremely Fine, an extremely rare usage from San Felipe, ex White.
Scott No. U.S. U27    Estimate $300 - 400.

Realized: $350

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Lot 305    

Confederacy, Baton Rouge, La./Feb. 12, 1861 (8 days after the CSA was formed) cds on folded cover made from blue lined paper and addressed to New Orleans, franked with United States 1857 3¢ dull red tied by grid cancel, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $300

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