Lot
123 
Confederacy, Confederate States of America/General Post Office Department/Auditor's Office. Official imprint on blue cover to Fayetteville, postmarked "Richmond, Va./Apr. 1863" cds with Auditor's manuscript free frank of "B. Baker", Very Fine and choice, a rare unlisted imprint (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 32). Estimate $300 - 400.
The Confederate States of America Postage Act of March 15, 1861, abolished the postage free franking privilege, but did make special provision that the Postmaster General and various other Post Office Department officials could send official mail free of postage when endorsed on printed envelopes prepared for this purpose. These Official envelopes are far rarer than the Semi-Official imprint envelopes, which did not have free franking privileges.
Realized: $500
Lot
124
Confederacy, Confederate States of America/Post Office Department/Chief of the Contract Bureau. Official imprint on demonitized United States 3¢ Star Die entire to Oak Shade, Va., postmarked "Richmond, Va./Sep. 2" cds and straight line "Free" handstamp, entire with Chief of the Contract Bureau manuscript free frank of "H. St. Geo. Offutt", flap missing & tiny reduction at top, Very Fine and scarce (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 34). Estimate $300 - 400.
The Confederate Post Office Department assumed full responsibility for the Southern mail system on June 1, 1861. Soon after, because of the short supply of envelopes, the Confederate Post Office Department confiscated a large supply of unused demonitized U.S. postal stationery, rather than returning them to the U.S. Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. These entires were then overprinted with a special imprint so that they could be used by the Confederate Post Office Department for official business.
Realized: $425
Lot
125
Confederacy, Confederate States of America/Post Office Department/Chief of the Contract Bureau. Official imprint on legal size entire used locally, postmarked "Richmond, Va./Dec. 9, 1861" cds and straight line "Free" handstamp, entire with Chief of the Contract Bureau manuscript free frank of "H. St. Geo. Offutt", The addressee is Mr. Thomas Wynne, Superintendent of the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, Very Fine and attractive (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 35). Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $190
Lot
126
Confederacy, Confederate States of America,/President's Office./(Official Business). Semi-official imprint on locally used cover franked with 1863 2¢ red brown (large margins to in at left) tied by "Richmond, Va./Feb. 28" cds paying the 2¢ drop rate, addressed in the hand of James Chestnut, Jr., a member of President Davis' staff to a member of the House of Representatives from North Carolina, Extremely Fine and rare, not even the President had free frank privileges as evidenced by this cover, ex-MacBride, Antrim, Dietz, Hollowbush and Powell, illustrated in the 1959 Dietz catalog (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 33); with 1996 C.S.A. certificate. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
Realized: $1,250
Lot
127
Confederacy, Confederate States/Head Quarters, District Texas, New Mexico and Arizona./Official Business. Semi-official imprint on cover to Waverly, Tex. postmarked by "Houston, Tex./Mat 23, 1863" cds with straight line "Paid" handstamp, manuscript charge notation, most of bottom flap torn away, Very Fine, This is an extremely rare example of the Headquarters, District of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona military "official business" imprinted envelope. ex-Seacrest (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 37). Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
One does not often associate the US Territories of New Mexico and Arizona with the colorful past of the Confederate States of America. Yet the CS Army operated for approximately one year in these territories. Confederate forces (Texas Volunteers) under Lieutenant Colonel John R. Baylor, after seizing Union Fort Bliss in Texas, entered into the US Territory of New Mexico on July 25, 1861 and seized Union Fort Fillmore. On August 1, 1861, Baylor declared the area south of 34° north latitude the "Territory of Arizona" in the name of the Confederate States and established a military government. Later in August the boundary was extended to 36°30' by his decree. The town of Mesilla in the New Mexico Territory was named the capital of the newly established Confederate "Territory of Arizona" which included a portion of the US Territories of New Mexico and Arizona. On December 14, 1861, Brigadier General Henry H. Sibley designated his far-reaching command in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona as "The Army of New Mexico". On January 11, 1862, Sibley's army moved to Mesilla, then extended north to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and as far west as Tucson. On February 18, 1862, President Jefferson Davis proclaimed the "Territory of Arizona" a part of the Confederate States of America.
Stretched supply lines, military defeats, poor morale and Union reinforcements combined to force the Confederate army to retreat back into Texas with the last troops abandoning the "Territory of Arizona" on July 8, 1862. Although the Confederates continued to consider the "Territory of Arizona" part of the Confederacy and made several plans for another invasion, they were never able to execute these plans. Sibley's brigade would be called by many the "Arizona Brigade" and continued to serve in various areas of Texas and Louisiana during the remainder of the war. Because of his limited military successes, Sibley would eventually be demoted to directing supply trains.
Realized: $14,000
Lot
128
Confederacy, Office of Com'd'nt (Commandant) Conscripts, Tenn./On Official Business. Semi-official imprint on cover to Cleveland, Tenn. franked with 1863-64 10¢ blue (large even margins) tied by double circle "Knoxville, Ten./Aug. 13" (1863) postmark, Extremely Fine (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 36); with 2002 C.S.A. certificate. Scott No. 12 Estimate $400 - 600.
The envelope was mailed about three weeks before the Federal forces occupied Knoxville on September 2, 1863. This imprinted envelope is unlisted in the ~ Dietz and is unique. There are other state conscript office imprinted envelopes known from North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas. The Confederate government also had a Bureau of Conscription within the War Department. Three different imprinted envelopes are known from this Bureau.
Refer to the September - October 2003 issue of The Confederate Philatelist (pages 197-198) which featured this unique cover.
Realized: $550
Lot
129
Confederacy, Office of the Commissioner Taxes. Semi-official imprint on turned cover to the State Collector in Columbus, Miss., franked with 1863-64 10¢ blue (four ample to large margins) tied by "Richmond, Va./Nov. 14" cds (type 6h, used only on November 14-15, 1863), inside usage franked with 1863-64 10¢ blue (large margins) tied by "Columbus, Miss./Dec. 13" cds to Handsboro, Miss., Very Fine, a most unusual Turned Cover with Semi-Official Imprint (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 39). Scott $11 Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $575