Lot
331 
Confederacy, Mesilla N.M./Nov. 23 (1861). Full clear strike of circular datestamp with manuscript "Due 10" on cover to "H.M. Alford Esq., Austin Cty, Texas" from Albert N. Alford with manuscript routing endorsement "Via San Antonio" at lower left, reverse with soldier's endorsement of "A.N. Alford, Co. A, T.M.R. (Texas Mounted Rifles), CSA", two small professionally mended tears at top & reduced at right, F.-V.F.; with 1965 P.F. certificate. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE "MESILLA N.M." DATESTAMP FROM THE CONFEDERATE OCCUPATION OF NEW MEXICO IN THE NEWLY-FORMED TERRITORY OF ARIZONA
In July 1861 Lt. Col. John Baylor raised the Confederate flag at Fort Bliss, later occupying Fort Fillmore and the town of Mesilla. On August 1st he issued a proclamation establishing the Confederate Territory of Arizona, naming Mesilla as its capital. In January 1862, the Confederate Congress passed a bill establishing the Territory of Arizona. President Davis signed the bill in January and issued his presidential proclamation shortly thereafter.
Albert N[elson] Alford enlisted as a private in Company A, Texas Mounted Rifles, which was organized in May 1861, but reorganized in April 1862 as the 2nd Cavalry Regiment. The regiment was active in various conflicts in New Mexico Territory. In late 1861 and early 1862, it was actually known as the Army of New Mexico, but later well known as part of the Trans-Mississippi Department.
According to specialists in Arizona and New Mexico postal history, there are fewer than ten examples known of the Mesilla, N.M. occupation marking.
Realized: $22,000
Lot
79
Confederacy, 1862, 2¢ Green, Gutter Pair in Horizontal Strip of 5. Interpanneau gutter between first and second stamps at left, large margins to just slightly in at lower left & upper right, tied by three strikes of "Holly Springs, Miss./Dec. 31" (1862) cds on cover from Lieut. John J. Carter (Minden Rangers, served under General Nathan Bedford Forrest) to his wife in Minden La., the edges of the cover and a small part of the strip along top and upper right have been expertly pressed to flatten wrinkles present when this cover was discovered, Very Fine appearance and a major Confederate General Issue Rarity, featured in the Confederate Philatelist (July-August 1998) (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 63). Scott No. 3 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
THE 2¢ GREEN GUTTER MULTIPLES ARE EXCEEDINGLY RARE, ONLY TWO EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN TO EXIST, BOTH IN STRIPS OF 5, PAYING THE 10¢ LETTER RATE.
The Confederate Congressional Act of February 23, 1861, prescribed a 2¢ special rate for "letters placed in any post office, not for transmission but for delivery only" (drop letters) and "for newspapers, unsealed circulars, handbills, engravings, pamphlets, periodicals and magazines, not exceeding three ounces in weight." The first stamp issued to satisfy the 2¢ special rate was the Hoyer & Ludwig 2¢ green lithograph, which has the portrait of Andrew Jackson. Approximately 2,000,000 of these stamps were issued; the earliest known date of usage is March 21, 1862. When the general postage rate for a regular letter was increased from 5¢ to 10¢ on July 1, 1862, some Confederate postal customers used a strip of five 2¢ stamps to prepay the new 10¢ rate. Such usage is extremely rare.
Lieutenant Carter was a member of a cavalry unit locally known as the "Minden Rangers, Louisiana Squadron" which was a part of Brigadier General Frank Crawford Armstrong's Cavalry Brigade in the Army of the West. Also, he was at one time a member of General Albert Rust's personal escort. Later in the war, he was attached to Company E, 18th Regiment, Tennessee Cavalry.
Realized: $10,500
Lot
246
"Old Stamps Not Recognized". Boldly-struck two-line handstamp tying 1857 3¢ dull red (defective) on cover to soldier at Camp Seward, Washington D.C., used with Blood's City Despatch, Philadelphia Pa. (1¢) Bronze on Lilac (large margins to slightly in), acid tied, postmarked "Philadelphia Pa. Aug. 26, 1861" cds and "Due 3" handstamp, part strike of "Blood's Penny Post Philada. Aug. 26, 2-1/2 P.M." double-circle handstamp at left, flap opened to show full 3¢ stamp which overlaps edge, reduced at left, Fine, ex-Gallagher; with 1976 & 2007 P.F. certificates. Scott No. 26+15L14 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
One of Two Complete Covers with the "Old Stamps Not Recognized" Handstamp and Blood's Local Adhesive. August 26, 1861, is the First Day the Demonetized 1857 Adhesive Stamps were no longer valid for postage in Philadelphia.
The contract with Toppan, Carpenter & Co. for printing the postage stamps of the 1857 Issue expired on June 10, 1861. A new contract was made with the National Bank Note Co. The designs were changed and the old issue was demonetized, as large stocks of some denominations remained on hand in the seceded post offices of the South.
An elaborate plan was devised for phasing out the old and issuing the new stamps, which were not ready until mid-August 1861. To begin, supplies were issued to major post offices. Then, the post office would advertise to exchange the old for the new. Finally, after a short exchange period, the old stamps would no longer be recognized as valid postage.
Philadelphia was one of the first to receive the new stamps, and so the 1857 Issue and old-style embossed envelopes were demonetized by that post office earlier than at many others. The new 1861 Issue embossed envelopes were announced as available on August 8, with a five-day exchange period expiring on August 13. The new 1861 Issue adhesive stamps were announced as available on August 19, with a six-day exchange period expiring on August 25. (Source: Elliott Perry, Pat Paragraphs reprint, parcel post. 97, 140-141).
After the expiration dates, any old-style embossed envelope or adhesive stamp would be marked "Old Stamps Not Recognized" and postage due. Nesbitt and Star Die entires are known bearing the "Old Stamps Not Recognized" handstamp dated on August 17 and 19, 1861. The earliest recorded use of this marking on an adhesive is August 26, 1861, the first day the stamps were invalid for postage in Philadelphia (two covers recorded, each with 3¢ 1857, including the one offered here). According to the Levi records, there are two other 3¢/Blood's combinations with the "Old Stamps Not Recognized" handstamp: a complete cover dated September 14 (Rumsey Sale 7, lot 2150, April 1999, realized $25,000 hammer) and a front only dated August 27 (ex-LeBow, Siegel Sale 886).
Realized: $9,500
Lot
130
Confederacy, (Trans-Mississippi) 1863, 10¢ Blue, Horizontal Strip of 4. Four mostly large margins (close at top left), fresh bright color, tied by three strikes of blue "Petersburg, Va./Oct. 26" (1863) cds on cover to "Capt. F. P. Leavenworth" in Shreveport, La. with manuscript endorsement "Via Meridian, Miss.", cover colorless embossed corner card of "Collegiate Seminary for Young Ladies, Petersburg, Virginia/Rev. A.J. Leavenworth, Principal" (Dietz Type I) at top left, interesting pen & ink doodling on reverse by recipient, flap torn away, Extremely Fine, Illustrated in the Trepel/Walske book Special Mail Routes of the American Civil War: A Guide to Across-the?Lines Postal History and featured in Jan. - March 2007 issue of the Confederate Philatelist (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 59); with 2006 C.S.A. certificate. Scott No. 11 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
ONE OF THE FINEST TRANS-MISSISSIPPI EXPRESS COVERS EXTANT. THE EARLIEST USE OF THE GOVERNMENT EXPRESS, WHICH COMMENCED IN OCTOBER 1863.
This extraordinary Trans-Mississippi Express Mail cover surfaced in 2006 and is one of two known express covers with a college imprint. Because of the blue Petersburg, Virginia, October 26 (1863) postmark, this cover is now the earliest known Trans-Mississippi Express Mail cover. The previous earliest known Trans-Mississippi usage was October 30, 1863. The evidence supporting the crucial year date of 1863 is the fact that the blue Petersburg, Virginia, cancellation was last used on September 1, 1864, which therefore dates this cover as 1863 (CSA Authentication Service Certificate issued).
The envelope was addressed to Captain F. P. Leavenworth (Frederick Peabody Leavenworth) and was sent by Reverend Abner Johnson Leavenworth, father of Captain Leavenworth and Principal of the Collegiate Seminary for Young Ladies.
Frederick Peabody Leavenworth was commissioned as a Captain in early 1862, and served as Ordnance Officer under General E. Kirby Smith in the Trans-Mississippi Department. Captain Leavenworth survived the war and died in 1920.
Realized: $14,500
Lot
285
Confederacy, Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Free frank "T.J. Jackson, Maj. Gen." endorsement on buff cover addressed entirely in his hand to Rev. D. White in Lexington Va., manuscript "Constantine" and small "Paid" straightline handstamp; light edge wear, Very Fine, a choice and rare example of a Jackson field cover. Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
Dr. William S. White, the addressee, was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Lexington Va. and was Jackson's pastor. His was the church where Jackson was instrumental in starting a colored Sunday School. In the book Jackson and the Preachers by John W. Schildt, the author notes that monthly Jackson would send a contribution to the colored Sunday School.
Realized: $24,000
Lot
279
Confederacy, J.E.B. Stuart. Bold endorsement "Congratulations of J. E. B. Stuart" on flap of buff cover with "Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac, C.S.A." imprint and manuscript "Official Business" endorsement, address to Lt. Col. Fitzhugh Lee, 1st Va. Cavalry, original letter datelined "Hd. Qtrs. Army Potomac, Sept. 30th 1861" and states "The General Commanding directs that you report at once to Brig. Genl. J.E.B. Stuart at once your appointment as Lieut. Colonel of the 1st Virginia Cavalry having been made…", signed "Thos. G. Rhett, A. A. Genl."; cover with some wear along top edge, flap with tiny edge tear and light crease, Very Fine, a remarkable field cover signed by J.E.B. Stuart. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
General James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart was one of the Lee's most trusted generals, participating in numerous Civil War battles.
Realized: $10,500
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
Lot
63
Confederacy, Columbia, S.C., 1861, 5¢ Blue. Full clear strike of provisional handstamp used in combination with 5¢ Blue, Local (7, three large margins, just barely into left frameline), tied by blue "Columbia S.C. Sep. 1" (1862) circular datestamp on brown cover to Shelby N.C., faint crease at top not affecting stamp or provisional marking (not noted on certificate), Extremely Fine, Ex Brooks, MacBride, Judd, Haas, Hill and Cantey, Featured in the Confederate Philatelist (Apr-June 2009) (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 9); with 1998 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 18XU1 $7,500.
THE FINEST OF THE THREE RECORDED COVERS SHOWING CONJUNCTIVE USE OF THE COLUMBIA PROVISIONAL AND GENERAL ISSUE -- THIS IS THE ONLY ONE OF THESE FRANKINGS FOR THE NEW 1862 RATE.
There are three recorded covers with the Columbia provisional used in combination with a General Issue stamp. Each of the other two covers has a 5¢ Green Hoyer & Ludwig stamp applied to uprate the provisional entire before the July 1, 1862, rate change. Another cover exists with the 5¢ stamp affixed over the provisional, but the latter served no postal duty. This cover is the only Columbia provisional used with a 5¢ Richmond Local Print stamp, and it is the only one used after the July 1st rate change. The September 1 (1862) date and absence of a due marking indicate Columbia's acceptance of the old provisional entire as part of the 10¢ rate.
Only a small handful of covers with combinations of Confederate provisionals (either adhesive or handstamped) and General Issue stamps to prepay postage are known to exist. In our opinion, these combination frankings are significant and quite undervalued. .
Realized: $14,500
Lot
62
Confederacy, Charleston, S.C., 1861, 5¢ Blue. Bold "Charleston S.C./Aug. 23, 1861" circular datestamp on fresh entire to Capt. A.J. Green in Columbia, S.C., Extremely Fine and choice, An Immaculate Example of This Rare Entire -- This is the Finest Extant. ex-Cantey (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 8). Scott No. 16XU1 $4,000.
Realized: $9,500
Lot
14
Confederacy, Doaksville, C.N./May 9, 1861. Manuscript postmark ties 1857 3¢ dull red on cover to Long Island, N.Y., Very Fine, ex-Bleuler (Pictured in Sanders/Gunter Confederate Post Offices, Postmasters and Postmarks of the Trans-Mississippi States Book pg. 38 and in Monroe Book pg. 3). Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
This cover was mailed to Huntington, Long Island (New York), soon after Arkansas seceded. Because of the close relationship and interdependence of the Indian Nations postal system to the Arkansas postal system, it is considered an "Independent State Usage".
For the first fifty years of its existence "Indian Territory" post offices functioned under a U.S. Post Office Department administrative attachment to Arkansas (territory and state). This resulted in the designation "Ark" appearing in many Indian Nation postmarks as late as 1880. The Fort Smith, Arkansas, post office was the hub for much of the mail from the Indian Nations. In light of the impending Civil War, the Union withdrew all their military forces on May 4, 1861, from the Indian Nations to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. On May 6, 1861, Arkansas seceded from the Union.
Fortunately, the letter, written by a female missionary teacher at the "Spencer (Academy, Choctaw Nation)/May 1, 1861", has remained with the cover, and includes some interesting comments on secession and the current state of the postal system of the Indian Nations. For example:
"…we are afraid the mails will stop. We had word from the P.O. on Monday that we need not send down any more letters as the mails had cededed (sic) but the Ft. Smith mail has come down & is here tonight & so I will write for fear this will be my last chance."
"Remember us with much love to all our friends. Tell Mother her letter I cannot answer tonight for it is now eleven o'clock if she don't here (sic) from us soon tell her we have seceded."
A UNIQUE ITEM OF THE HIGHEST RARITY. .
Realized: $7,000