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Sale 34: The Westpex Sale - Outstanding Confederate States

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10 Select Items

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.
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Realized: $52,500

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Lot 2666    

Confederacy, Macon, Ga., 1861, 5¢ black on yellow, Horizontal Pair. Large margins to just touch floral ornament tips at left & bottom, dark shade on fresh paper, tied by two strikes of clear "Macon Ga./Aug. 7" (1861) double circle postmark on Patriotic cover showing 7-Star Flag design (Dietz F7-12) in red, white & blue, cover addressed to Prince Edward C.H., Va., trivial flap tear, Extremely Fine.
Scott No. 53X3    Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.

One of two recorded examples of the Macon floral-border provisional used on a Patriotic cover. The other is from the same correspondence with same franking and Patriotic design. Truly one of the Classic Confederate States Rareties.
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Realized: $35,000

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Lot 2664    

Confederacy, Macon, Ga., 1861, 5¢ black on light blue green, Comma After "Office". Bright fresh color, three large margins & cut to frameline at right, tied by "Macon Ga./Dec. 2" (1861) double circle postmark on yellow cover to Griffin, Ga. with "Jos. E. Wells, Dealer in Hardware" blue embossed cameo corner card in the shape of a Padlock showing an Anvil & Hammer, "W. Eaves" imprint, "Carhart & Curd," label affixed over company name as ownership had changed, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Hind, pictured in color in Dietz; with 1976 P.F. certificate.
Scott No. 53X1    Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.

A colorful and remarkably choice example of the square Macon Provisional stamp used on a Cameo Advertising corner card cover.

The Macon square provisional is very rare on cover, particularly with the Comma After "Office" variety. This is the only recorded example of the variety on an advertising cover and is certainly among the most beautiful of all Macon provisional covers.
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Realized: $32,500

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Lot 2858    

Confederacy, Andersonville, Ga. Cds tying 1863-64 10¢ blue (large margins) on Prisoner of War Cover to Mt. Morris, N.Y. in combination with United States 1861 3¢ rose tied by grid cancel with "Old Point Comfort, Va./Aug. 25" double circle postmark, the cover s shows the rare Censor marking "Exd H.W." of Capt. Henry Wirz, included is original enclosure datelined "Anderson Ville, May the 2nd, 1864, State of Georgia", written from James Yencer to his wife and reads in part, "Dear Wife, I am a prisoner of war now. Plymouth was captured the 20th of April, their was 200 or more taken Prisoner, I am well yet, but the climate being so hot here & not being used to the water, I will most likely be sick…", cover lightly folded (affecting couple perfs of 3¢) & open on three sides, Very Fine, ex-Solomon, Antrim and pictured in his book; signed MacBride.
Estimate    $7,500 - 10,000.

Earl Antrim, in handstamp book "Civil War Prisons and Their Covers", gives an excellent description of Andersonville and we quote it in its entirety, "The Official Records say that Andersonville had its first prisoners on March 1, 1864, but there is a record of prisoners there on February I, 1864. It was the site of Camp Sumter, the most dreaded prison in the South. Prisoners' diaries damned it bitterly, and on arriving and seeing the filth and sickness would ask "Is this hell?" It consisted of twenty-six acres, partly swampy, and its inadequate huts and semi-shelters held as many as thirty-three thousand one hundred and fourteen at one time, so crowded there was hardly room to lie down to sleep. Of the approximately forty-five thousand six hundred and thirteen who were sent there, twelve thousand six hundred and forty-four died. Post war agitation by ex-prisoners succeeded in having Capt. Wirz, the prison commander, hanged for his treatment of them. The camp was surrounded by a wall 20 feet high, near the top of which was a small platform for the guards. It was guarded by sixty-four guards, eight on each end and twenty-four on each side. There were fortifications on high ground surrounding the camp.

'Packages of letters came to the prison by flag of truce, but under the regulations of Capt. Wirz every prisoner was compelled to pay the Captain 10¢ in silver before receiving his letter. The Captain knew very well that the greater number of men had no money and those who were so fortunate as to possess greenbacks must buy their silver from his sutler paying an enormous premium. These letters had been prepaid, and the stamp bore a 'worthless' photograph of Jeff Davis, but the Captain must have hard cash or he would keep the letters. And he kept them. These letters were worthless to him, but when he knew that kind words from home and love ones had come so near and were withheld. Yet this man gloated over their misery and became profane in his delight at their tears.'"

Due to long delays in the mails, which were normal from this prison, this did not reach its recipient until after the sender James Yencer, passed away on August 2nd.

A Stunning & Historic Cover which is probably the Finest Known Cover from Andersonville Prison.
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Realized: $20,000

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Lot 2631    

Confederacy, Athens, Ga., 1861, 5¢ red, Type II. Four huge margins, bright fresh color, cancelled by neat grid cover with Athens, Ga./Apr. 16 (1862) cds & addressed to Macon, Ga., slightly reduced at right, Extremely Fine and attractive, the latest known usage of an Athens Postmasters' Provisional, ex-Worthington.
Scott No. 5X2    $15,000.

Possibly the finest known Athens 1861 5¢ red and one of the Classic Confederate States Rarities.
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Realized: $19,000

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Lot 2668    

Confederacy, Macon, Ga., 1861, 5¢ black on lemon-yellow. Large to huge margins, tied by "Macon Ga./Jun. 18" (1861) double circle postmark on neat buff cover to Berzelia, Ga., some docketing at left, Extremely Fine, pictured in Crown, ex-Emerson, Caspary & Weill.
Scott No. 53X4    $6,000 for normal shade.

One of the few example of the rare Lemon-Yellow shade and certainly one of the finest recorded examples of the Macon plain-ruled provisional. A beautiful cover.

The 5¢ with plain ruled border is the first Macon provisional, and, based on a cover dated June 1st, it is probably the first provisional stamp issued in the Confederacy. Crown records 14 covers (all June 1861 dates).
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Realized: $19,000

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Lot 2630    

Confederacy, Athens, Ga., 1861, 5¢ purple, Tête-Bêche Pair. Four large to huge margins, bright fresh color, tied by neat grid on cover to Richmond with Athens, Ga./Nov. 25 (1861) cds, small cover stain at bottom left & reduced at left, vertical pair, Extremely Fine, one of three recorded examples on cover, ex-Solomon.
Scott No. 5X1a    $27,500.

Undoubtedly the finest known Athens 1861 5¢ Tête-Bêche Pair and one of the Great Confederate States Rarities.
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Realized: $16,000

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Lot 2660    

Confederacy, Kingston, Ga., 1861, "Kingston, Ga'/June 13, 1861/Paid 5 Cents". Ornate typeset design press printed on cover to Cedar Town, Ga., tiny bit of expert restoration just affecting Provisional marking in top right corner, slightly reduced at right & minor water staining, ex-Judd, Brooks, Simon, Myerson; signed R. Frajola.
Scott No. 46XU3    Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.

This is a unique form of Postmasters' Provisional and it appears that the setting was quickly split apart or broke apart, as by June 19, 1861 the "Paid 5 Cents" portion only is reported as a stand alone Provisional handstamp.

This is the only recorded example of the Postmasters' Provisional and One of the Great Rareties of the Confederate States.
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Realized: $11,500

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Lot 2765    

Confederacy, 9-Star Confederate Flag "Head Quarters Chatham Artillery". Red, white and blue Patriotic design (Dietz F9-2) on immaculate cover franked with horiz. pair 1862 5¢ blue Local print (large margins to just shaving frameline at top) tied by "Savannah, Ga./Apr. 21/Paid" to Robertville S.C., included is matching 9-Star Confederate Flag patriotic letterhead, but not original to cover, datelined "Camp Ashby, White Bluff, Oct. 2, 1862", cover with trivial flap tear & small piece missing, Extremely Fine and choice.
Scott No. 7    Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.

The Confederate Nine-Star Flag was created during the three days after Arkansas was admitted and before North Carolina joined as the tenth Confederate State.

Very few examples of the 9-Star Confederate Flag patriotic designs are known, some of which have handstamped Paid markings and no stamps. This choice cover with the 5c De La Rue franking is certainly one of the finest of the few known.
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Realized: $11,500

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Lot 2665    

Confederacy, Macon, Ga., 1861, 5¢ black on light blue green. Four huge margins, light natural wrinkles due to crackly gum, tied by "Macon Ga./Nov. 4" (1861) double circle postmark on small lady's cover to Cedar Spring Ga. with beautiful "Wesleyan Female College" green cameo corner card with embossed Book and Lamp design, flap missing, Extremely Fine and choice.
Scott No. 53X1    Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

Only three or four examples of this Wesleyan Female College corner card design are known with the Macon provisional. A beautiful cover.
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Realized: $10,500

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