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Sale 83: Gems of Philately

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Confederate States of America

Lots 376-384

Lot 376    

Confederacy, Columbia, S.C., Jun 1 (1861), bold blue cds with matching "Paid" in circle and "5" rate handstamps on fresh cover to Chester S. C.; partial backflap, Very Fine; with 1981 P.F. certificate.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE JUNE 1ST 1861 FIRST DAY OF THE CONFEDERATE POSTAL SYSTEM USAGE FROM COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

Realized: $950

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Lot 377    

Confederacy, (1861 Suspension of U.S. Post Office Across-the-Lines Routes) 1861 (Jun. 5) New York N.Y. to Memphis, Tenn., yellow cover bearing U.S. 1¢ dull red (26) tied by "New-York Jun 5, 1861" duplex on yellow cover to Memphis Tenn., "Dead Letter Office, P.O. Dpt. Jul 6, 1861" double-oval datestamp and bold strike of "DUE 3 cts" straightline, sender's address "W.W. Morgan, No. 82 E Broadway, New York N.Y." written on face by D.L.O.; light purple stain on stamp, Very Fine and desirable use.
Estimate    $2,000 - 3,000.

A RARE CIVIL WAR USE FROM NEW YORK CITY TO MEMPHIS THAT WAS DIVERTED TO THE DEAD LETTER OFFICE AFTER THE WASHINGTON-RICHMOND MAIL ROUTE WAS SUSPENDED ON MAY 24TH 1861.

According to the Walske-Trepel book, the southbound mails from the United States to eastern CSA was normally carried on the Washington D.C. to Richmond route until the evening of May 23rd 1861, when it was closed by military action. Starting May 24th, mail on this route was diverted to the Unites States dead letter office in Washington D.C. At the dead letter office, the diverted mail was opened to ascertain the sender address, which was written on the face. The diverted letters were postmarked by the Dead Letter Office and handstamped with "Due 3 cts" straightline before returning to sender.

Realized: $4,750

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Lot 378    

Confederacy, (Flag of Truce) 1864 (Oct.) Charleston, S.C. to Reading Pa., endorsed "Soldiers Letter, Stewart L. Woodford, Lt. Col. agent of exchange" at left and "By Flag of Truce via Hilton Head" at top left on homemade buff cover to Reading Pa., partial strike of "Port Royal S.C. Oct 6, 1864" double-circle datestamp and matching "Due 3" straightline handstamp, manuscript "Exd" and pencil "Ex" examiner's markings, Extremely Fine and scarce northbound flag-of-truce cover exchanged via C.S.A. controlled Pocotaligo and U.S. controlled Port Royal, much rarer than mail exchanged in Virginia.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

Stewart Lyndon Woodford (1835-1913) was an American attorney and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and Lieutenant Governor of New York. Becoming active in politics as a Republican, he served as Assistant United States Attorney for New York's Southern District from 1861 until volunteering for the Union Army in 1862. Woodford took part in the American Civil War as Chief of Staff to Quincy A. Gillmore, Commander of the Department of the South and Commander of the 103rd Colored Infantry Regiment. In 1864, he was assigned Agent of Exchange in Charleston S.C. He attained the rank of Colonel, and the brevet rank of Brigadier General.

Realized: $625

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Lot 379    

Confederacy, Point Lookout Prison, Point Lookout, Md., fresh 1864 prisoner cover to Brownsburg, Va., franked with U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose canceled by target with matching "Point Lookout, Md., Feb 6" cds, in combination with 1863, 10¢ blue with bold "Richmond, Va., Feb 25" cds tying both stamps, choice strike of "Approved, J.N. Patterson, Capt. Provost Marshal, Point Lookout, Md." examiner handstamp (Harrison Type I), endorsed "By Flag of Truce, Via Fortress Monroe" at lower left, Extremely Fine, illustrated in Harrison Prisoners' Mail From the American Civil War (page 154), ex-Gibson and Koelhepp.
Scott No. U.S. 65+11    Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

A SUPERB THROUGH THE LINES PRISONER OF WAR COVER FROM POINT LOOKOUT.

Realized: $1,800

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Lot 380 P   

Confederacy, 1861, 10¢ blue, plate proof on wove, full even margins, gorgeous deep color and sharp impression which shows every detail of the lithograph, fresh and Very Fine, a rare proof with fewer than 10 believed to exist; with 2013 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 2P5    $1,750.

These 10¢ blue lithograph proofs originate from a book kept by George Offutt, Chief of the Post Office Department's Contract Bureau.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 381    

Confederacy, 1862, 5¢ dark blue, horizontal pair, o.g., never hinged, huge margins showing adjacent stamps all around, rich color with strong impressions, a Superb jumbo gem pair; with 2018 P.S.E. certificate Graded (Gem 100J, SMQ $16,500 as 100).
Scott No. 4a    $625+.

THE FINEST NEVER HINGED PAIR OF THE 5¢ DARK BLUE LITHOGRAPH ISSUE.

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Lot 382 o   

Confederacy, 1863, 10¢ blue, "frame lines", neat Mobile, Ala. town cancel, large to huge margins showing complete framelines on two sides, almost complete frameline at left and partial frameline at top, strong bright color, Extremely Fine to Superb; with 2015 P.F. certificate Graded (XF-Sup 95, SMQ $8,250).
Scott No. 10    $1,900.

AN EXCEPTIONAL CHOICE USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1863 10¢ JEFFERSON "FRAME LINES" ISSUE GRADED XF-SUP 95 AND SHOWING FRAME LINES ON ALL SIDES.

Realized: $2,700

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Lot 383 E   

Confederacy, 1863, 10¢ blue, die B, early state die essay on wove, 25x31mm, engraved by Frederick Halpin, outerlines crude, as well as lines in hair and ear, huge margins, deep intense color, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Murphy; with 2009 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 12E.
C.S.A. Catalog No. 12-DPPa    $4,500.

THE FINEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 1863 10¢ JEFFERSON ISSUE DIE ESSAY.

This is the only example we have found with huge margins, and we note only one other example with smaller margins (tiny thin spot). The Die B design was a completely new engraving executed by Halpin in 1863, and it is considered to be a superior work to the engraving of the Die A design by John Archer.

Realized: $2,900

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Lot 384 E   

Confederacy, 1863, 20¢ green, die proof on wove, 26x32mm, intense deep color and strong impression, shows clear diagonal crosshatching throughout background and complete outer line, these features are only partially evident or not present at all on issued stamps; couple small thin spots, otherwise Extremely Fine, ex-Murphy; with 1994 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 13P5a $4,000.
C.S.A. Catalog No. 13-DDP    $4,500.

THE FINEST OF ONLY TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE 1863 20¢ WASHINGTON ISSUE ESSAY DIE PROOF.

This is listed in the CSA catalog as a "Progressive Die Proof", which signifies an essay state. This is the only example we have found with huge margins, and we note only one other example cut to stamp size (soiled and corner crease).

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Lots 376-384

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