The "Erivan" Collection Part IX

United States

9th Auction

The ERIVAN Collection

H.R. Harmer Sale 3066

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

2:00 p.m. ET

Auction Venue

The auction will take place in our office in New York.

Auctioneer: Charles Epting

H.R. Harmer

45 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 2607 New York, NY 10111

Exhibition of Lots

Exhibition of lots in our office is by appointment only. Please contact us today to schedule a time.

Select customers may also arrange postal viewing if on a first come, first served basis providing requests are made at least one week before the sale.

Online viewing at www.hrharmer.com

Rockefeller Center, New York

Bidding

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Bidding increments

All bids are in U.S. dollars.

$50,000 to $100,000 $5,000

$100,000 and up Auctioneer's discretion

Bids that do not conform to the above increments will be reduced to the next appropriate bid. No bids accepted below the start price.

Limit Bids

Individuals who wish to restrict their total purchases to a fixed amount (not less than $1,000) in any given auction may do so by advising us of the maximum amount they wish to spend. We will execute bids only until lots in the indicated limit are secured. The buyer’s premium will be added to the total, after the limit has been reached.

Buyer’s Premium

A Buyer’s Premium of 18% will be added to the hammer price of each lot.

Even after familiarizing myself with the “Erivan” Collection for the better part of a decade (this May marks seven years since the first material was sold at New York-2016), there are still surprises to be found.

The majority of the “Erivan” Collection was stored in a series of binders arranged by subject: Western expresses, locals, fancy cancels, patriotic covers. There were also small groups of material on lot cards and stock cards which were never incorporated into the main collection, for whatever reason. One small binder was filled with the kind of plastic sleeves that normally house modern first day covers; in the case of the “Erivan” Collection, they contained a New Haven Provisional entire and a set of 1930 Zeppelins on a first day cover. This is what I mean when I say that there are surprises to be found.

There was a cover that, owing to its unpretentious presentation on a battered stock card, I never paid much attention. Every time I’d revisit the “Erivan” Collection to assemble our next sale, this cover would languish in a small box alongside other odds-and-ends. It bore a little green stamp from Cook’s Dispatch, an exceedingly rare and short-lived local post that existed in Baltimore in the 1850s. But this didn’t look like the other Cook’s covers I had ever seen; the stamp was tied, as was a little advertising label promoting the company.

“This is what I mean when I say that there are surprises to be found.”

In retrospect I think it is understandable that I did not immediately recognize this cover for what it is, seeing as it has never been reproduced in color before and its last appearance at auction was during the Truman administration. When I finally took the time to take it off of its stock card and look at the back, I found a pencil note from George B. Sloane explaining how he found it in the collection of the late President Franklin Roosevelt while performing an appraisal. A bit more digging turned up a Baltimore Sun article about this very cover (it’s nice to know that outreach to the mainstream press has been an H.R. Harmer staple since our inception). The cover I set to the side a dozen times is now one of my favorite items I’ve ever handled.

There’s obviously much more to this sale than the Cook’s Dispatch cover: a “Hanging Lincoln” Confederate patriotic, the unique St. Louis Bears 20c on greenish cover (considered to be the most important St. Louis provisional cover), a mint strip of seven of the Confederate “frameline” issue, a 90c 1860 on cover to China. I believe this sale is one of the most well-rounded of the nine we’ve held so far, although trying to compare the sales of the “Erivan” Collection is a fool’s errand.

But when the dust has settled and I can reflect on this magnificent collection, one of the memories that will stand out most vividly is discovering that the unassuming cover tucked into an even less-assuming stock card is a world-class rarity—and one which has only ever been sold publicly by the firm of H.R. Harmer.

Charles Epting

H.R. Harmer, CEO New York City December 2022

Passionate Collecting

Erivan Haub was a “collector’s collector” who, over a lifetime, formed exceptional collections of the stamps and postal history of Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Austria and Lombardy-Venetia and Zeppelin Flights. The time has come for his fellow collectors, and the world, to behold the treasures of “The ERIVAN Collection.”

Great Personality with a Philatelic Passion

Erivan Haub caught the passion for philately early in his life and followed that passion to the end and in the process formed a collection the likes of which the collecting world has not seen for decades. The collection was an integral part of his life, along with his family and his life’s work, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and guided by honesty and integrity. To have known Erivan Haub was to see these qualities at the forefront of his life, and it drew the respect and admiration of all around him.

Preserving Cultural Values

Erivan Haub’s collecting style utilized his “thrill of the hunt” investigative spirit of seeking out the historical significance of the various stamps, covers, and documents he collected; to bring together the different pieces to help him see the how and why of historical events through postal history. Not only did this process enhance the joy of collecting, but it also helped to preserve cultural identity and clarify history.

“Collectors are happy people”

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Erivan Haub

© Tengelmann Warenhandelsgesellschaft KG

Passionate Collecting

Encounters and Friendships with Collectors

One of the great joys of collecting is in the stimulating interaction one gets in gatherings with fellow collectors and with the professional dealers and auctioneers offering not only a kindred spirit but also providing assistance and guidance in obtaining many of the rare items for the collection. Erivan Haub’s financial independence allowed him to acquire some of the scarcest, including the unique, stamps and covers. As a result he achieved recognition in the philatelic community as one of its premier collectors.

Cabinets of curiosities, precursors to modern museums, were used to display collections of important objects.

Willem van Haecht: The Gallery of Cornelis van der Geest, 1628. © Wikipedia

You Too Can Become Proud Owner of Selected Rarities

Already with the first set of auctions, the philatelic world will see great rarities of the Erivan Haub collection. Succeeding sales with display the full breadth of his collecting activities, some of which will surprise and most of which will delight the stamp collecting world. There will be ample opportunity for collectors to add significant items to existing collections, lots that will inspire others to begin new collections and examples of stamps and covers that beg to be purchased solely for their historical and cultural significance.

Collecting, whether it be stamps, ancient coins, classic cars or vintage wines is a profoundly personal pursuit, inspired by passion and, by engaging in that pursuit, it delivers a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction. In the case of Erivan Haub’s collection, we can see that his quest to delve into the historical and cultural aspects of the objects of his pursuit delivered on the promise of personal satisfaction but also contributed to the store of knowledge of society’s means of written communication in the 19th and 20th centuries. Mr. Haub and the millions of stamp collectors all over the world formed a community, all linked by the joy of collecting, one that brings with it, to paraphrase Goethe, happiness.

Erivan and Helga Haub at an auction in 1996.

UNITED STATES & CONFEDERATE STATES

United states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

The discovery of this cover was first announced in the New York Times on April 17, 1930, in an article titled “Baltimore Stamp, Worth $10,000, Is Found By Natalie S. Lincoln on an 1848 Letter.” Natalie Sumner Lincoln, the editor of the Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine and a noted detective novelist, found it while “rummaging through [a wicker] basket” in her workshop. The letter was addressed to Lincoln’s father, Dr. Nathan Smith Lincoln, an officer in the Civil War and prominent physician, while a senior at Dartmouth College. The article makes several inaccurate claims, such as the 1848 date and the fact that the stamp was cancelled in red ink.

In 1930 this cover was sold to John A. Klemann of the Nassau Stamp Company for $10,000, who then sold it to Alfred H. Caspary. In its three appearances at public auction, the cover has realized $9,000 (Caspary), $19,000 (Lilly), and $110,000 (Weill). In the Caspary catalogue, it was described as “one of the most outstanding philatelic items in existence.”

Baltimore 10c Provisionals are extremely rare. Just two examples are recorded on blue paper, one on a small piece and one on cover (which realized $155,000 in the “Erivan” Collection Part VII). The stamps were subsequently printed on white paper, despite the incorrect order of the Scott Catalogue listings. All five known examples of the white paper stamps are still on their original covers. The cover offered here is by far the finest example known, and rivals the 10c blue paper cover in terms of beauty and quality.

Natalie Sumner Lincoln

Alfred H. Caspary

Josiah K. Lilly

United states

Postmasters’ Provisionals

1 6 3X2, Baltimore, MD, 1845 10c Black on white, lower left corner margin copy (position 11) showing framelines on three sides, tied by blue straightline “Paid” with matching “Baltimore Md. May 5” datestamp alongside on 1847 cover to “Mr. Nathan Smith Lincoln, Member of College, Hanover, New Hampshire”, neat “May 5, 1847” docketing, extremely fine and choice, undoubtedly the finest of the five covers bearing a 10c Baltimore adhesive on white paper

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 967, 1955)

Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 312, 1967)

Weill Brothers’ Stock (Christie’s, 1989)

$ 40,000

Nathan Smith Lincoln (1828-1898)

United states

2 6 3XU1, Baltimore, MD, 1845 5c Blue on salmon entire, provisional handstamps at upper right of cover to Philadelphia, matching “Baltimore Md. Oct 10” datestamp at left, pressed horizontal filefolds, very fine, Hayes Census #39, USPCS Census #20059 (Scott $4,500)

Before 1972, the Scott Catalogue assigned major numbers to the different colors of Baltimore handstamped envelopes (white, buff, salmon, manila), with buff being the most common and the other three colors carrying a premium. John R. Boker, Jr. believed that these subdivisions were unnecessarily confusing, and convinced Scott to consolidate the listings into four major numbers. For specialists in the issue, salmon envelopes are still scarcer than some of their counterparts and are thus valued higher.

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 967, 1955) $ 500

View of Baltimore

United states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

3 6 James M. Buchanan, free frank on March 15, 1848 folded letter to Washington, DC, endorsed “on p. office business” and “free”, vertical filefolds, otherwise very fine, Postmaster James M. Buchanan’s signature will be familiar to anyone who has seen the Baltimore Provisional stamps and stamped envelopes, after eight years as postmaster he became Minister to Denmark and passed away in 1876 at the age of 73, a lovely collateral item offer

4 6 9X1, New York City, 1845 5c Black, large margins all around (position 30), manuscript cancel and tied by red “Boston 5cts 11 Apr” datestamp to cover to New York City, matching straightline “Paid”, stamp barely affected by ironed-out vertical filefold, a very fine and rare example of the New York City Provisional originating in Boston (of which Piller recorded 19 and the USPCS census records 26), USPCS Census #20522 $ 200

United states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

The Charnley & Whelan find of St. Louis Bears was the fifth major find of these celebrated stamps. Although the story has been told many times over the intervening years, it deserves to be revisited once again. According to our 1948 sale catalogue:

In December 1912, the well-known business house of Charnley and Whelen of Philadelphia decided to have their basement cleared out.

A paper manufacturer was approached and contracted to remove from the basement the accumulation of waste paper and records.

In clearing the paper, he discovered a number of entires with stamps upon them and, although no philatelist himself, he had read and heard sufficient to know that these letters might be of some commercial value. When he finally made enquiries he was amazed and delighted to learn that he had a veritable philatelic gold-mine.

The news—and news it certainly was—soon circulated and in due course legal proceedings were taken for the recovery of this “paper” which had become “gold.” Judgement was given however that the contractor was the rightful owner. The further publicity arising from the litigation brought enquiries from the philatelic world and at least one tempting offer.

This offer, made in 1933, was however refused, the owner writing on the envelope containing the entires “I did not know what to do with the money.”

No happier answer to his question could be his final decision to bequeath the “Find” on his death to the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennyslvania for the use of its Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

Over the course of 42 lots bearing a total of 71 St. Louis Bears, the Charnley and Whelen sale realized a grand total of $43,220. The highest price for a single lot was this cover (lot 26), which sold for $4,600.  The St. Louis Bears were produced from a single copper plate of six subjects, arranged two across and three down. This plate was altered twice, for a total of three states. Additionally, the St. Louis Bears were produced on three different papers: greenish wove, gray lilac wove, and bluish pelure. An understanding of these states and papers will explain the great rarity of the 20c on greenish offered here.

The first state of the plate had three 5c stamps (left column) and three 10c stamps (right column). This original state was primarily printed on green paper. It was then determined that there was a need for 20c stamps, so the top and center 5c stamps (positions 1 and 3) were altered. This second state (first alteration) therefore produced one 5c stamp, three 10c stamps, and two 20c stamps, and was primarily printed on gray lilac paper. Eventually it was determined that the demand for 20c stamps was inadequate, and positions 1 and 3 were converted back to 5c. This third state (second alteration) was primarily printed on bluish pelure paper.

Although the three states roughly correspond to the three paper types, evidently a small number of stamps from the first alteration were printed on greenish paper, resulting in the extremely rare 20c on greenish. Only five examples of this stamp are recorded: three off-cover singles, and the two stamps on the cover offered here.

United states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

5 6 11X3, St. Louis, MO, 1845 20c Black on greenish, positions 1 (right) and 3 (left), originally a vertical pair, used with 10c Black on gray lilac (11X5) on 1846 folded letter to Philadelphia (Charnley & Whelan correspondence), margins large except one 20c touched at bottom and 10c touched at top, tied by neat manuscript cancel, red “St. Louis Mo. May 21” datestamp and two strikes of matching straightline “Paid” alongside, manuscript “50” rate, one 20c slightly wrinkled at bottom prior to use, trivial horizontal filefold away from stamps, extremely fine, the highlight of our 1948 Charnley & Whelan sale and widely considered to be the most important St. Louis Bears cover in existence, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate $ 50,000

St. Louis Riverfront

United states

6 6 1, 1847 5c Brown, four mostly large margins, tied by magenta grid to cover to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, blue “Buffalo N.Y. Dec 20” (1847) oval datestamp with fleurons, very fine and attractive early shade and impression, USPCS Census #5554 (Scott $425)

Provenance: Sidney A. Hessel (H.R. Harmer Sale 2343, 1976) $ 100

7 6 1, 1847 5c Red brown, four huge margins, tied by red “New-York Jan 8” datestamp and matching grid to partial 1850 folded lettersheet to Hartford, Connecticut, manuscript “Paid”, vertical filefold, very fine stamp $ 75

United states

8 6 1, 1847 5c Brown, ample margins, tied by black grid to cover to Flushing, New York, red “Boston 10 Cts. 19 Feb” datestamp used in error and corrected with large black “5” handstamp, very fine and unusual, USPCS Census #3574 $ 100

9 6 2, 1847 10c Black, four large margins, tied by blue cancel to illustrated C. W. Carpenter & Co. Chemical Warehouse folded lettersheet to New Orleans, matching “”Philada. Pa. 10cts Jul 5” datestamp alongside, small sealed tear at top and horizontal filefold, otherwise very fine and attractive $ 200

United states

general issUes

10 6 2, 1847 10c Black, margins ample to clear, tied by red grid to 1849 folded letter to Cleveland, Ohio, matching “New-York May 17” datestamp, very fine, USPCS Census #8195 $ 100

Broadway Theater in New York City

United states

general issUes

11 6 14, 1855 10c Green, Type II, horizontal strip of three, margins large to grazing, tied by red grids to cover to Munich, Germany with matching “New Haven Con. May 13 1856” datestamp alongside, endorsed

“Via Prussian Closed Mail”, stamps also tied by red New York City credit datestamp, red boxed “Aachen 25 5 Franco” and backstamped Munich, very fine and attractive  $ 250

View of Munich

general issUes

Of the six 90c 1860 covers in existence, two originate from the Augustine Heard correspondence to Shanghai. $1.68 postage pays the rate for letters between 1¼ and 1½ ounces. It was carried by the Havre Line’s Fulton to Southampton, and then by Great Britain to China via Marseilles, with the United States and Britain each collecting 84c.  This cover was extensively discussed by Stanley B. Ashbrook, both in his Special Service and in the 1951 17th American Philatelic Congress Book. In his 1987 article on the 90c 1860 issue on cover (Chronicle Vol. 39, No. 3), Richard Searing declared this to be the “most striking of the five recorded genuine examples” (the census has been updated, but we agree with his sentiment).

With regards to the 90c stamp being reperforated on all four sides, we will turn Ashbrook’s  Special Service (page 602):

A number of years ago two brothers wandered into a dealer’s shop and each had a shoe-box of some family correspondence, which they wanted to sell. One had a cover with a single 90c 1860, a cover as good as gold. The other one also had a cover with various stamps of the 1857-60 issue, including a 90c 1860 with the perforations trimmed from all four sides. The dealer told the young man that his cover would have had more value if the 90c stamp had not been trimmed, and the young man explained that he had removed the stamp from the cover and cut the perforations from all four sides because he had a perforated 90c in his album and no 90c imperf to go in the imperf space. Later he replaced the trimmed copy on the cover. This is a true story.

For many years the 24c, 30c, and 90c were listed in the Scott Catalogue as imperforate stamps although it is now known that they were never issued as such. It was the owner’s blind acceptance of the catalogue listings that caused him to alter the stamp on this cover; or, as Searing eloquently put it, “Such is the price of ignorance in trying to fill an album space created for a proof that never should have been listed as a stamp.”

Stanley B. Ashbrook

United states

general issUes

12 6 39, 1860 90c Blue, used alongside 3c Dull red (26), 5c Brown (30A), 10c Green (35), and horizontal pair of 30c Orange (38), tied by large “Paid” in grids from Boston to 1860 folded letter to shanghai, China (Augustine Heard correspondence), endorsed “Via Marseilles” and “pr. Str. Fulton from New York”, backstamped “Boston Br. Pkt. Nov. 9”, London November 23 transit, manuscript “8” and red crayon “84/4” ratings, 90c reperforated on all four sides, other stamps small faults, very fine appearance, one of just six 90c 1860 covers in existence, one of the most iconic and spectacular classic United States covers, 1993 Philatelic Foundation certificate

Provenance: Henry C. Needham

Robert A. Paliafito

Ryohei Ishikawa (Christie’s Robson Lowe, 1993)

Blake Myers (R.A. Siegel Sale 882, 2004)

$ 30,000

The office of Augustine Heard in Shanghai

13 6 U28, 1860 3c+1c Red & blue on white entire, used with July 17 New York datestamp, addressed to Painesville, Ohio, very fine and particularly fresh (Scott $400) $ 50

14 6 U29, 1860 3c+1c Red & blue on buff entire, used with New York February 8, 1863 duplex, addressed to Danville, Kentucky, docketing at top, without backflap, very fine and choice (Scott $450) $ 75

15 6 65, 1861 3c Rose, blue all-over advertising cover for the Great American Tea Company reading “Try The French Breakfast and Dinner Coffee”, stamp tied by New York City duplex and addressed to Schuyler Lake, New York, Reagles imprint on reverse, very fine and attractive $ 50

16 6 68, 1861 10c Green, tied by quartered cork cancel with “P.o.d. U.s. Co. genl. shanghai may 26” datestamp alongside on 1868 cover to San Francisco, carried on PMSS  Costa Rica  departing Shanghai May 26 and arriving Yokohama June 3, then PMSS  China departing Yokohama June 5 and arriving San Francisco June 26, red “China and Japan steam service” oval handstamp, “San Francisco Paid All Jun 26” backstamp, barely reduced at right, very fine and attractive $ 200

17 6 70, 1861 24c Red lilac, used alongside 3c Rose (65) on 3c Pink entire to annaberg, germany, three strikes of blue fancy leaf cancel with matching “Columbia Miss. Jun 18” datestamp alongside, endorsed “Per Prussian closed mail”, red “N. York Br Pkt 7 Paid Jun 27” exchange and boxed “Aachen 8.7 Franco”, very fine $ 75

18 6 71, 1861 30c Orange, tied by red Williamsport, Pennsylvania handstamp to cover to eisenach, germany, black “Williamsport Pa. Apr 1 1862” datestamp alongside, endorsed “Per Bremen Germany”, red “N.York

Am. Pkt. 7 Paid Apr 5”, boxed “Aachen Franco”, German backstamp, very fine $ 75

19 6 71, 1861 30c Orange, tied by “Saint Joseph Ill Feb 10” (1862) datestamp to red and blue “our Country, The Union Forever” patriotic cover to Hamelin, germany, red “N. York Brem. Pkt. Paid 12 Feb. 15” credit datestamp, blue three-line “America Uber Bremen Franco” handstamp, Aerzen backstamp, reverse with expertly repaired tears, otherwise very fine and attractive, carried aboard NGL’s Hansa departing New York February 16, en route she had mechanical trouble and arrived at Cowes six days late, she went to Southampton for repairs and her mails were forwarded via London and Ostend

Provenance: Blake M. Myers (R.A. Siegel Sale 882, 2004) $ 200

20 6 71, 1861 30c Orange, used alongside 10c Green and 5c Brown (68, 76), all tied by black grids to 1863 cover to Hong Kong, China (Heard correspondence), 30c also tied by “Philadelphia Paid 24 Paid Mar 6” credit, endorsed “Per steamer” and “Overland Route Via England”, March 20 London transit and red “1d” British Colonial credit handstamp, backstamped Hong Kong May 20, very fine and attractive, 45c paid the rate via Southampton despite the Overland Route endorsement $ 200

21 6 71, 1861 30c Orange, used alongside 15c Black (76), both tied by geometric cancels to 1867 cover to Zanzibar, e ast Coast africa (Goodhue correspondence), care of Dr. Brooks in the seychelle islands, “Salem Mass Jul 12” datestamps also tie stamps, red Boston credit datestamp and London transit, backstamped Mauritius, very fine, 15c and 30c stamps pay the 45c British Mail via Marseilles rate

$ 300

22 6 95, 1867 5c Brown, “F” grill, horizontal strip of three, tied by quartered corks to 1870 registered 3c Pink entire to New York City, “Mobile Ala. Jun 4” datestamp, manuscript “Register R. 473”, Mobile and Ohio Railroad cornercard, trivial pinholes, very fine multiple of the 5c “F” grill paying 3c domestic postage plus 15c registry

Provenance: Ryohei Ishikawa (Christie’s Robson Lowe, 1993)

$ 250

23 6 117, 1869 12c Green, used alongside 3c Rose (65), both tied by two strikes of hollow five-point star fancy cancel, “New Hamburg N.Y. Jun 8” datestamp alongside, apparently overweight and marked “insufficiently Paid”, “New York 18 Jun 9” debit, blue Calais transit and “16” decimes due handstamp, very fine and unusual combination of stamps and markings

$ 200

6 117, 1869 12c Green, two singles tied by black rosettes to 1869 cover to “Surgeon James McMaster, U.S. Ship Savannah, Care of B.F. Stevens Esq., No. 17 Henrietta St., Covent Garden, London, England”, red “New York Paid All Jul 6” datestamp alongside, red July 17 London arrival and double oval handstamp of “United states despatch agent B.F. stevens, l ondon Jul 19 1869”, very fine and beautiful cover

Provenance: Judge Robert S. Emerson

Edward S. Knapp (Parke-Bernet Galleries, 1941)

$ 400

25 6 148, 1873 6c Carmine, single with cork cancel on January 16, 1873 cover from Brooklyn, New York to Glasgow, Scotland, all-over hand painted design with an owl (wearing boots) holding the address panel under his wing, red January 29 Liverpool transit and Glasgow arrival the same day, small corner faults, very fine, one of the most attractive and whimsical covers we’ve handled in some time $ 200

26 6 152, 1870 15c Bright orange, bright color, tied by perfect strike of new York Foreign mail geometric cancel on cover to Yokohama, Japan, endorsed “Overland Mail” at top left, red “New York Dec 23” and “Yokohama Paid All Jan. 29” backstamps, extremely fine, a lovely and scarce 15c rate use

Provenance: Drucker Family (R.A. Siegel Sale 855, 2003) $ 500

28 6

1881 1c Gray blue, single tied by “2 Louisville Ky.” oval to illustrated trifold broadside for Piper Heidsieck, obverse with red “Beware of the Dog” vignette with boy watching fence, reverse with spectacular multicolor advertisement for champagne-flavored plug tobacco, some splitting along the folds, otherwise extremely fine, an attractive and rare item $ 100

27 6 189, 1879 15c Red orange, bright color, tied by “New-York Jan 27 81” duplex to cover to guanajuato, mexico, endorsed “pr City of Alexandria”, purple illustrated oval “Correos de mexico, vapor City of alexandria” handstamp, Vera Cruz backstamp, very fine and attractive use $ 200

206,

United states

general issUes

29 6 226, 1890 10c Green, tied by “U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, Nov. 21 1:30PM 94” duplex to oversized cover to Alameda, California, Chinkiang local Post 1c Ultramarine tied by “Chinkiang * Postal Service

* 5 P.M. 94 19NV” double circle datestamp, additional strike of Chinkiang datestamp on reverse, blue “Shanghai Local Post No 20 94” and December 14 San Francisco and Oakland backstamps, expertly prepared tears affect United States stamp, very fine appearance, a rare early combination of these two stamps

Provenance: Drucker Family (R.A. Siegel Sale 855, 2003)

$ 1,000

View of Chinkiang

United states

general issUes

220, 1890 2c Carmine, tied by “U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, May 4 2PM 95” duplex to Chefoo ½c postal card addressed to Louisville, Kentucky, “Local Post Chefoo 24 Apr 95” over indicium and repeated at left, faint blue “Shanghai Local Post Ap 26 95” datestamp, San Francisco and Louisville datestamps, small tape stains on reverse, very fine, message includes “You cannot imagine the sickness and the suffering...famine is often staring the people in the face. As one Christian sister said to me recently ‘Is this the beginning of the last days?’”

Provenance: Drucker Family (R.A. Siegel Sale 855, 2003)

$ 1,500

U.S. Consul General‘s Postal Agency in Shanghai

United states

general issUes

31 6 271-72, 1895 6c Dull brown, 8c Violet brown, tied by “New York Sta. P” mute double ovals on registered cover to Kantcheufu, China, red boxed “Registered Apr. 27, 1896 Branch P.O. Station P. New York P.O.” datestamp, San Francisco registry label, shanghai local Post 1c and 4c stamps tied by “RegisteredShanghai Ju 15” datestamp, “Customs Shanghai Jun. 15, 1896” backstamp, manuscript “Try Via Newchwang” crossed out and “Not Known” at bottom left, “U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, Jul. 25 10:30AM 95” duplex (should be 1896), August 13 San Francisco backstamp and “Returned to Writer” pointing hand applied, very fine mixed franking on a registered cover that was returned to the United States Provenance: Drucker Family (R.A. Siegel Sale 855, 2003) $ 2,000

Customs House in Shanghai

United states

general issUes

32 6 286, 1898 2c Trans-Mississippi Issue, tied by “U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, Dec. 13 4PM 99” duplex to picture postcard to Baxter Springs, Kansas, used alongside China imperial Post 5c orange tied by rectangular grid and “Shanghai Local Post De 13 1899” datestamp, San Francisco transit, very fine and rare mixed franking, this postcard was mailed from a tourist in Shanghai on their way to Ceylon and is a non-philatelic mixed franking, the United States stamp was applied after the China stamp was cancelled Provenance: Drucker Family (R.A. Siegel Sale 855, 2003) $ 1,000

A street in Shanghai

33 6 285, 287, 289, 1898 1c, 4c, 8c

Trans-Mississippi Issue, tied by several strikes of “U.S. Postal Agency, Shanghai, Feb. 11 6PM 01” duplex on registered cover addressed to Springfield, Massachusetts, Foochow

6c red also tied by duplex, “Foochow 23 Jan 01” datestamp alongside, Shanghai registry label and “R” handstamp, backstamped San Francisco February 26, accompanied by original registered receipt from Chinese Imperial Post, very fine and rare despite its philatelic origin

Provenance: Drucker Family (R.A. Siegel Sale 855, 2003)

$ 500

United states

general issUes

34 6 283, 1899 10c Orange Brown, Type II, tied by “U.S. Postal Agency Shanghai Jan. 4 1PM 01” duplex to cover used from Tientsin to San Francisco, Chinese imperial Post 10c green tied by “Tientsin 30 Dec. 1901” datestamp, January 2 Shanghai and January 27 San Francisco backstamps, tiny cover tear at top, very fine and scarce combination, the United States Postal Agency forgot to change the year date slug from 1901 to 1902 in the duplex

Provenance: Drucker Family (R.A. Siegel Sale 855, 2003)

$ 500

View of Tientsin

United states

general issUes

35 300, 1903 1c Blue green, horizontal pair tied by “U.s. Postal sta. shanghai China” duplex to 1905 cover to St. Louis, Missouri, Chinese imperial Post 2c scarlet also tied, black “T” handstamp applied by Chinese Post Office at Shanghai, backstamped Shanghai March 14, San Francisco April 7, and St. Louis April 11, very fine and attractive

Provenance: Drucker Family (R.A. Siegel Sale 855, 2003)

$ 400

View of Shanghai and its rickshaws

United states

Carriers and loCals

36 6 4LB5, Honour’s City Post, Charleston, SC, 1849 2c Black on bluish pelure, full margins, uncancelled on 1850 folded letter to dorking, surrey, england, red “Charleston S.C. Aug 17” datestamp with matching straightline “Paid” and “19”, September 2 Liverpool arrival and London transit the next day, very fine and attractive transatlantic use of a Charleston carrier, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $3,250)

$ 500

View of Dorking

37 6 4LB8, Honour’s City Post (Charleston, SC), 1851 2c Black on bluish, single with mostly full margins, manuscript cancelled on cover with 3c Dull red (11A) tied by “Charleston S.C. Paid Oct 2” datestamp, addressed to Darlington, South Carolina, 1852 docketing on reverse, very fine, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $1,500 if tied) $ 150

38 6 4LB11, Honour’s Penny Post (Charleston, SC), 1855 (2c) Black on bluish, vertical pair with manuscript

“2” cancels on large embossed valentine’s envelope to local street address, cover with few trivial tears, very fine and attractive, very few covers with the Honour’s “Penny Post” stamp are known with this being the only multiple, this stamp’s period of use was about July 1855 to March 1856 which probably dates this cover to February of 1856, a wonderful rarity

Provenance: Ambassador J. William Middendorf II (Richard C. Frajola, 1990) $ 100

U nited states

C arriers and lo C als

39 6 5L2, American Letter Mail Co., 1844 Black on gray, four large margins, neat pen cancel on 1844 folded lettersheet from Philadelphia to Boston, red “Forwarded by American Mail Co. Oct 25 from No. 101 Chestnut St. Philada.” circular handstamp and matching “American Letter Mail Company, Office, No. 12 State Street, Boston” oval, filefolds including one through stamp, very fine appearance (Scott $350)

$ 75

40 6 7L2, Barnard’s City Letter Express (Boston, MA), 1845 Red, margins large to in at top, uncancelled on 1847 folded letter to Lexington, Massachusetts, red “Boston 5Cts 11 Feb” datestamp at right, fine, one of two examples of the Barnard’s stamp in red, the other on a cover dated March of 1846, the fact that other Barnard’s covers are only recorded from 1845-46 means that this stamp may not have originated (but it is certainly genuine) regardless of what the current certificate says, as such it is being offered as-is, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $5,000)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1071, 1957)

$ 200

41 6

U nited states

C arriers and lo C als

42

City Dispatch Post (New York City), 1848 2c Black on gray blue, margins large to close at top right, tied by red two-line “Paid Bouton” handstamp, red “New-York 5cts 20 May” handstamp to 1848 folded letter to Fall River, Massachusetts, very fine to-the-mails use (Scott $800) $ 150

City Dispatch Post (New York City), 1848 2c Black on gray blue, four large margins, tied by red two-line “Paid Bouton” handstamp to December 20, 1848 locally-addressed folded letter, matching “Bouton’s City Dispatch Post” oval and straightline “Paid” handstamps, very fine stamp and cover, signed Sloane (Scott $800) $ 150

18L2, Bouton’s

6 18L2, Bouton’s

United states

Carriers and loCals

43 6 22L1, Brady & Co., New York, NY, 1857 1c Red on yellow, full margins with portion of adjacent stamp at top, tied by blue framed “Paid” company handstamp to locally-addressed cover, matching “Brady & Co. City Despatch Post 97 Duane St.” handstamp alongside, November 3, 1857 docketing at left, light toning mostly confined to reverse, very fine and attractive, one of just four recorded covers with the Brady & Co. adhesive, an extraordinary local post rarity (Scott $10,000)

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction) $ 2,000

View of New York City

United states

Carriers and loCals

44 6 Brady & Co. City Despatch Post, 97 Duane St. (New York City), blue oval datestamp with matching framed “Paid” on August 13, 1857 folded letter to local street address, letter written by Abner S. Brady (the proprietor of the post), light wrinkling, very fine and scarce $ 200

Duane Street in New York City

45

United states

Carriers and loCals

Provenance: William L. Moody (H.R. Harmer Sale 621, 1950) $ 500

6 40L1, City Despatch Post (New York City), 1842 3c Black on grayish, four huge margins, tied by red octagon “Free” handstamp to folded letter to local street address, red “City Despatch Post June 22” datestamp, very fine stamp and cover (Scott $2,500)

Panorama of New York City

United states

Carriers and loCals

What little is known about Cook’s Dispatch was recounted by Denwood Kelly in his Collectors Club Philatelist articles on Baltimore local posts in 1971 (Vol. 50, No. 4). The post was operated by an Isaac Cook, although Kelly did not believe this to be the Reverend Isaac P. Cook listed in directories of the time, but rather a son or other relative. The only contemporaneous reference to the post currently known is an advertisement in the 1853 Matchett’s Baltimore Director. The post was evidently very short-lived, operating for just a few months in early 1853 before disappearing without a trace.

The history of this particular cover is notable, as it was discovered by George B. Sloane among the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s collection. In a December 16, 1945 Baltimore Sun article, Sloane states: Another nice piece which I turned up, mixed in with a mass of cheap material of little importance, in a box file, is one of the finest covers I have ever seen among the United States Locals. This was a splendid copy of the 1-cent green, Cook’s Dispatch stamp, tied to the cover with a straight-line red handstamp, “I. Cook” (Isaac Cook), and at the opposite corner of the cover, a small advertising sticker of the post, beautifully tied (by a postal clerk’s error) with a “Baltimore, Md.” handstamp in black. I think, of all the material I saw in this collection, this was the one thing I’d love to own myself, if I could have exercised my choice.

It is evident that President Roosevelt did not recognize the full significance of this cover, but in his auction the following year it realized an impressive $500. Five years later, when offered again by our firm as part of Y. Souren’s collection, this cover sold for $420. To the best of our knowledge it has not been offered at public auction in the intervening 72 years.

George B. Sloane

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

United states

Carriers and loCals

46 6 51L1, Cook’s Dispatch (Baltimore, MD), 1853 (1c) Green on white, mostly large margins, grazing at top, tied by red straightline “I. Cook” handstamp to cover “from the Sheriff of Balt. County” to the “Clerk of Somerset County, Md”, Cook’s label (“Cook’s dispatch delivers letters, Circulars and Funeral notices &c within the City for 1 cent, prepaid”) tied by “Baltimore Md. Mar 31” datestamp applied by an overzealous postal clerk, matching black “5” rate handstamp of Baltimore, few trivial age spots and wrinkles, otherwise very fine, one of just two genuine covers with a Cook’s Dispatch adhesive and the only one with the stamp tied by a company handstamp, also the only cover with a Cook’s Dispatch advertising label, in our opinion one of the greatest local covers in existence which has not been offered publicly since our sale of Y. Souren’s collection in 1951

Provenance: President Franklin D. Roosevelt (H.R. Harmer Sale 299, 1946)

Y. Souren (H.R. Harmer Sale 685, 1951)

$ 5,000

View of Baltimore from Federal Hill

47

U nited states

C arriers and lo C als

NY),

1c Black on green, uncancelled at lower left of cover to Bonsack, Virginia, 3c Dull red (26, faults) tied by “Scott N.Y. Sep 28” datestamp, local stamp with small surface flakes and diagonal crease, fine appearance, although untied at least one other cover from this same correspondence has the local tied by the datestamp (Scott $1,000) $ 100

deliver their mail $ 100

6 71L4, Glen Haven Daily Mail (Glen Haven,

1854-58

48 6 Hanford’s Pony Express Post 2 Cts (New York City), red handstamp on small cover to local street address, very fine, despite the name Hanford’s never used horses to

United states

Carriers and loCals

49 6 88L2, Jefferson Market Post Office (New York City), 1850 (2c) Black on blue, single tied by straightline transit to March 8, 1851 folded letter from New York City to Heppenheim, germany, April 1 Le Havre transit and April 5 Heppenheim arrival backstamp, very fine, one of just five recorded examples of the Jefferson Market Post Office stamp on blue (all on cover), only two of which are tied, with this additionally being the only example addressed to a foreign country, an extraordinary local post rarity that has not been offered publicly since the Caspary sale (where it was purchased by George B. Sloane)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1072, 1957)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Transaction) $ 1,000

Alfred H. Caspary

John R. Boker, Jr.

View of Heppenheim, Germany

U nited states

C arriers and lo C als

50 (6) 89L1, Jenkins’ Camden Dispatch (Camden, NJ), 1854 Black, tied by magenta manuscript to embossed ladies rebacked cover front to 20 Mile Strand, Ohio, 3c Dull red (11) tied by “Camden N.J. Sep 6” datestamp, signed Sloane (who believed it to be an 1854 use based on the shade of the 3c), 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $3,000 for full cover) $ 300

51 6 96L1, (Wells) Letter Express, 1844 5c Black on pink, single with manuscript cancel on folded letter

datelined “Cleveland Sept 6 1844”, endorsed “Contract from Buffalo to N.Y., E.S. Beach + Co.”, framed red

“Boyd’s City express Post sep 11 2o’c” handstamp for delivery within the city, vertical crease through adhesive, otherwise fine and attractive conjunctive use $ 200

United states

Carriers and loCals

$ 1,000

52 6 96L1, (Wells) Letter Express, 1844 5c Black on pink, horizontal pair with manuscript cancel on folded lettersheet to New York City, used alongside Pomeroy’s letter express 5c Black on yellow (117L1) also with pen cancel, July 24, 1844 docketing, very fine, a beautiful and rare conjunctive use between Wells and Pomeroy’s, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate

A street in New York City

United states

Carriers and loCals

53 6 96L3a, (Wells) Letter Express, 1844 10c Black on pink, Bisect, two bisected left halves, each tied by manuscript cancel to July 1844 folded letter to Milwaukee, Wisconsin Territory, red straightline “Paid” handstamp and manuscript “Paid double”, vertical filefolds, very fine and attractive use of two bisects to pay the double rate, “CEC” handstamp (C.E. Chapman), 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate

Provenance: Judge Robert S. Emerson (Private transaction) $ 300

View of Milwaukee

United states

Carriers and loCals

54 6 101L3, Magic Letter Express (Richmond, VA), 5c Black on brown, single tied by manuscript “Richmond July 10/65” cancel to cover to Staunton, Virginia, endorsed “Magic Express” at top left, extremely fine, one of just two examples of this stamp on cover (the other of which had a United States 3c stamp removed from on top of the local), one of the greatest local post rarities in existence, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate

The Magic Letter Express operated for a short time (approximately two months) immediately after the close of the Civil War. The post, which operated both within the city of Richmond and illegally between Virginian cities, produced 1c, 2c, and 5c stamps. All are exceedingly rare: the 1c is unique (on cover), the 1c manuscript uprated to 2c is unique (off cover), the 2c is unique (off cover), and just four examples of the 5c are known (two on covers, one on advertising broadside, one off cover). For the most complete history of Magic Letter Express to date, we refer you to R.A. Siegel’s catalogue for the David Golden Collection (Sale 817, Part 3, page 292).

Provenance: Henry Needham (Private transaction)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction) $ 5,000

View of Richmond

United states

Carriers and loCals

55 6 117L5, Pomeroy’s Letter Express, 1844 5c Red, margins large to full, neat pen cancel, used on August 15, 1844 folded letter from New York City to Rochester, New York, very fine and choice, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (Scott $3,500) $ 500

Engraver John E. Gavit

56 6 136L6, Swarts City Dispatch Post (New York City), 1849-53 (2c) Red on blue, four large margins, tied by black star, used alongside 3c Orange brown (10A) with both stamps tied by “New-York Aug 26” datestamp, addressed to Sherwood Corners, New York, very fine and attractive (Scott $850)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1072, 1957)

$ 150

57 6 136L13, Swarts’ City Dispatch Post (New York City), 1849 2c Black on gray blue, Bouton’s stamp with red manuscript “Swarts” at top, uncancelled, red “New-York 5cts 21 Feb” datestamp on 1849 folded letter to Troy, New York, fine and scarce with only about 10 examples of this stamp on cover (Scott $600) $ 75

58 6 The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company San Francisco Cal May. 18, black oval handstamp on cover to Wilmington, Ohio, franked with 10c Green (35), black “Pony Express St. Joseph Jun 1” Running Pony handstamp, entered the mails with blue “Saint Joseph Mo. Jun 2 1860” datestamp, very fine and attractive, this cover was carried as part of the last eastbound Pony Express trip before depredations by the Paiute Indians in present day Nevada caused a disruption in service lasting from late May through late June, a rare combination of the San Francisco oval and St. Joseph Running Pony (FKW Census #E7) $ 5,000

Pikes Peak Stagecoach waiting to cross the Missouri River

59 6 Pony Express San Francisco Nov 7, blue Running Pony handstamp ties 10c Green (35, also tied by blue grid) to cover to glasgow, scotland, second strike at bottom, hand-colored “overland via los angeles” stagecoach directive (with “via Los Angeles” crossed out), black “The Central Overland California & Pikes Peak Express Company, St. Joseph Mo. Nov 7” oval, entered the mails with blue “Saint Joseph Mo Nov 20” double circle datestamp, black “N. York Am. Pkt. Nov 24” debit, carried on NGL’s Bremen departing New York November 24 and arriving Southampton December 6, treated fully unpaid and charged “1/-” due, vertical crease, otherwise very fine, a spectacular transatlantic Pony Express use (one of just five) and the only Pony Express cover to Scotland, also the only Pony Express cover with an “Overland via Los Angeles” directive, in our opinion one of the most significant and attractive of all Pony Express covers, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (FKW Census #E38) $ 75,000

View of Glasgow

60 6 143L3, Wells, Fargo & Co., 1861 $1 Red, margins large to just in at left, tied by blue “Pony express san Francisco oct 2” Running Pony handstamp to 10c Green entire (U33) with red printed frank at top, entered the mails with “Atchison Kan Oct 16” double circle datestamp, addressed to New York City, small repairs along top edge, very fine and choice (FKW Census #E170)

Provenance: Louis H. Barkhausen (H.R. Harmer Sale 966, 1955) $ 2,000

View of San Francisco

1861

blue “Wells

&

Express Mount Ophir” oval to 10c Green entire (U33) with red printed frank at top, endorsed “Per Pony Express” and addressed to Colchester, Vermont, entered the mails with “Atchison Kan Oct 19” double circle datestamp, opened roughly at right and small tear at top, otherwise very fine, the only Pony Express cover originating at Mount Ophir and the only one to Vermont, this cover was collected by the Pony Express on its October 5 trip, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate (FKW Census #E175) $ 2,500

61 6 143L3, Wells, Fargo & Co.,

$1 Red, tied by

Fargo

Co.

View of the town of Mount Ophir

62 6 Pony Express St. Joseph Sep 23, black Running Pony oval handstamp on 3c Nesbitt entire (U10) addressed to “W.A. Carter, Esq, Fort Bridger, Utah”, endorsed “Pony Express” at bottom left, manuscript “Free Jno. W. Russell, Sccy”, contemporaneous docketing on reverse reads “$477.58, Paid Oct. 6th 1860 to agent COC+PP to clear my p. office accounts to 30th Sepr 1860, W.H.C.”, very fine (FKW Census W14)

John W. Russell was the son of Pony Express founder William H. Russell and served as the firm’s secretary and minority owner. On January 27, 1860, Russell, Majors, and Waddell sent the younger Russell a telegram that simply read, “Have determined to establish a Pony Express to Sacramento, California, commencing the 3rd of April. Time 10 days.” $ 3,000

John W. Russell Judge William Alexander Carter

63 143L6, Wells, Fargo & Co., 1861 $1 Blue “Garter”, block of four with partial manuscript “Sample”, affixed to black card which conceals light diagonal crease through bottom pair, very fine appearance, one of just three “Sample” blocks recorded, a rejoined pair of blocks was in the Twigg-Smith and Middendorf collections, this block would be positioned at top right of those Provenance: Hall Collection (R.A. Siegel Sale 830, 2000) $ 400

64 3 143L6, Wells, Fargo &

“Garter”, single with full margins, lightened pen cancel, very fine example of this difficult issue (Scott $1,250) $ 100

1861

Co.,

$1 Blue

Offices of printer George F. Nesbitt in New York City

George F. Nesbitt

65 6 143L6, Wells, Fargo & Co., 1861 $1 Blue Garter, large margins, tied by black “Pony express, Central overland & Pikes Peak express Company, st Joseph, mo, oct 27” oval in circle handstamp with second strike alongside, on 10c Green entire (U40) with Type 2 Wells Fargo printed frank, uprated with 10c green (62B) tied by “Paid” in lozenge, red “Boston Mass Oct 19” double circle datestamp, addressed to Edward Prindle in San Francisco, cover torn at top left, indicia repaired at top and 10c stamp with clipped perforations due to placement over cover edge, otherwise fine, one of just four covers with the Pony Express “Garter” stamp, an extraordinary and important Pony Express cover documenting the last vestiges of the service (FKW Census #W68)

This cover was in transit at the time Wells Fargo announced the Pony Express would be terminated (October 26) and arrived in St. Joseph too late for the last westbound trip of the Pony Express (departing October 24). Mail such as this that was in transit at the time of the announcement was processed and bagged in St. Joseph by the Express agent as pony mail, however when the bags arrived at Atchison they were put on the daily overland mail stages.

$ 20,000

Express Stagecoach ready to leave in Atchison

66 6 143L8, Wells, Fargo & Co., 1862-64 25c Blue Virginia City Pony Express, full margins, tied to 3c Pink on white entire by “Wells, Fargo & Co. Virginia City, N.T. May 4” datestamp, black printed frank at top, addressed to Mrs. Lucy Goldman in San Francisco, very fine and attractive (Scott $4,750) $ 1,000

Wells, Fargo & Co. office in Virginia City

United states

western eXPresses

67 6 143L8, Wells, Fargo & Co., 1862-64 25c Blue Virginia City Pony Express, mostly full margins, tied by “Wells, Fargo & Co. Placerville Mar 31” datestamp to 3c Pink on buff entire addressed to San Francisco, black printed frank, 1863 docketing at right, very fine, a scarce origin (Scott $4,500) $ 1,000

The Occidental Hotel in San Francisco

68 6 Pig (Rohloff A-5), bold complete cancels but does not tie 3c Rose (65) to cover to Blackstone, Massachusetts, matching “Waterbury Con Sep 25 ‘67” double circle datestamp alongside, very fine, this is the only recorded example of the waterbury pig cancellation which we consider to be among the finest of all Waterbury covers, a spectacular rarity, 2023 Crowe certificate

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction)

$ 2,500

United states

waterBUrY FanCY CanCellations

69 6 Small Bee (Rohloff A-14), two strikes tie two 3c Ultramarine (114) to 1870 cover to Washington, Connecticut, docketing at top left, very fine and particularly attractive with two strikes of this popular and charming cancellation, 2023 Crowe certificate

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction) $ 500

John R. Boker, Jr.

70 6 Soldier’s Head (Rohloff E-3), bold complete strike ties 3c Rose (65) to cover to Thomaston, Connecticut, matching “Waterbury Con Feb 3 ‘66” double circle datestamp alongside, very fine, the Crowe census records just four examples of this cancellation used between February 2 and February 13 of 1866, an extraordinarily rare and attractive cover, 2023 Crowe certificate

Provenance: Henry Houser (Christie’s Robson Lowe, 1990)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction)

$ 2500

Burton’s Tavern in Waterbury

71 6 Bridgeport Fireman (Rohloff E-6), bold complete strike ties 1c Blue (63) to locally-addressed cover, “Waterbury Con May 8 ‘66” double circle datestamp alongside, trivial water stain does not affect the stamp or cancel, very fine, although not the rarest Waterbury cancellation (the Crowe census records 17 covers) the Bridgeport Fireman is still one of the most highly-prized of all of Postmaster Hill’s creations, May 8 is the latest recorded use of this design, 2023 Crowe certificate

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction

$ 1,000

Waterbury Postmaster John W. Hill

72 6 Man with Derby (Rohloff E-7), clear strike on 3c Rose (65) with adjacent “Waterbury Con Jan 23 ‘68” double circle datestamp tying to cover addressed to Waukegan, Illinois, top of cover including small portion of postmark and stamp replaced, original letter, fine appearance, the Crowe census records just three examples of this cancellation used between January 23 and January 28, 1868 (this being the earliest recorded), 2023 Crowe certificate $ 500

View of Waterbury

73 6 Tulip (Rohloff F-4), bold strike ties 3c Rose (65, small faults) to cover to New York City, “Waterbury Con Oct 14 ‘67” double circle datestamp also ties, very fine and attractive, one of the scarcer Waterbury cancels, although Rohloff called it a tulip the fact that it is only known used in October is more suggestive of a pumpkin

Reference: llustrated in Rohloff (page 80) $ 250

74 6 Double Heart (Rohloff J-1), cover to Naugatuck, Connecticut with “Waterbury Con Feb 21 1868” double circle datestamp and small portion of six-Point star, type 2 (Rohloff S-5A) at right, small “Held for Postage” in oval handstamp, 3c Rose (65) added and tied by February 28 datestamp with Double Heart, light wear, fine, an extremely rare cover showing two different Waterbury fancy cancels $ 100

75 6 Circle of Five Hearts Enclosing a Star (Rohloff J-10), sharp strike ties 3c Rose (65) to cover to Blackstone, Massachusetts, matching “Waterbury Con Oct 22 ‘67” datestamp alongside, slightly reduced at left, extremely fine and attractive

Reference: illustrated in Rohloff (page 118) $ 200

76 6 Circle of Hearts Enclosing Six-Pointed Rosette (Rohloff J-11), clear strike ties 3c Rose (65) to cover to Blackstone, Massachusetts, “Waterbury Con Sep 12 ‘67” double circle datestamp also ties, fine and rare, the unpublished Crowe census records only five covers $ 75

water BU rY FanCY C anC ellations

77 6 Initial “W” With Serifs at Top, Type 1 (Rohloff K-14), clear strike ties 3c Rose (65, small faults) to cover to New York City, “Waterbury Con May 14 ‘66” double circle datestamp alongside, trivial reduction at left, fine $ 50

78 6 Initial “W” With Serifs at Top, Type 2 (Rohloff K-15), perfect strike ties 3c Rose (65, perforation faults at top) to cover to Bridgeport, Connecticut, matching “Waterbury Con Feb 21 ‘66” double circle datestamp alongside, embossed cornercard for “Scovill House, C.P. Brown”, very fine and choice in all regards $ 100

water BU rY FanCY C anC ellations

79 6 Elm Leaf (Rohloff L-1), complete strike ties 1861 3c Rose (65) to cover to Bethel, Connecticut, “Waterbury Con Jul 28 ‘66” double circle datestamp also ties, cover and stamp light toning, very fine strike $ 150

80 6 Maple Leaf, Type 1 (Rohloff L-6), fine strike ties 3c Ultramarine (114, faded) to cover to Wilbraham, Massachusetts, “Waterbury Ct. Apr 26” datestamp alongside, reduced at left, fine and scarce, this style of maple leaf predates the other types by about 8 years $ 100

81 6 “100” (Rohloff N-5), mostly-complete strike ties 3c Green Bank Note to cover to Father Alexis Granger at Notre Dame, Indiana, “Waterbury Ct. Jun 12” datestamp at right, very fine and scarce, this postmark was created to celebrate the centennial of the United States in 1876 $ 100

82 6 Mortar and Pestle, Type 3 (Rohloff O-7), complete strike just ties 1861 3c Rose (65, reperforated at left) to cover to Waukegan, Illinois, “Waterbury Con Oct 16 ‘67” double circle datestamp alongside, small tears along top edge, very fine strike, the Crowe census records just three examples with this being the latest known date of use, one of the rarest Waterbury cancellations, 2023 Crowe certificate Provenance: Henry Houser (Christie’s Robson Lowe, 1990)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction) $ 300

83 6 Buttonless Shoe (Rohloff O-12), bold complete strike ties 1c Buff (112) to locally-addressed cover, “Waterbury Ct. Mar 22” datestamp also ties, figuring on face, very fine strike and cover, this short lived cancel was only used between March 19 and March 26, 1870, the Crowe census records just 12 covers, 2023 Crowe certificate

Reference: illustrated in Rohloff (page 184)

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction)

$ 500

84 6 Skull & Crossbones, Type 3 (Rohloff R-3), on 3c Pink entire with “Waterbury Ct. Feb 11” datestamp alongside, addressed to Jersey City, New Jersey, printed return address at left and recipient’s 1870 handstamp, fine strike and cover, the Crowe census records 15 covers with this cancellation with this being the latest known usage, 2023 Crowe certificate

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction)

$ 200

85 6 “AJ” on Tombstone (Rohloff R-5), exceptionally sharp strike on 3c Rose (65), “Waterbury Ct. Mar 27” datestamp alongside, cover addressed to Warren, Connecticut, very fine strike of this popular cancel, 10 covers recorded with this cancellation in the Crowe census, this being the second-earliest, 2023 Crowe certificate

The Waterbury “AJ” on tombstone fancy cancel was used only between March 26 and April 8, 1869. Postmaster John W. Hill created this marking to commemorate (perhaps celebrate?) the termination of Andrew Johnson’s presidency, which ended March 4, 1869. After a battle regarding the attempted firing of Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, Johnson faced impeachment by Congress. Athough the House of Representatives approved the articles of impeachment, the Senate came one vote short of the necessary two-thirds majority to drive Johnson from office. Regardless, his presidency was seen as a failure by many, and his opposition of the 14th Amendment has marred his reputation to this day.

Provenance: Dr. Glen Jackson (R.A. Siegel Sale 369, 1970)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction)

$ 250

President Andrew Johnson

U nited states

FanCY C anC els

86 6 Elephant (Campello, MA), attractive strike one 2c Red brown entire addressed to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, “Campbell Mass. Apr 9” datestamp alongside, original enclosure, small tear at top and missing backflap, still very fine and choice (Cole AN-18) $ 100

87 6 Skull and Crossbones (Stoneham, MA), bold strike ties 2c Brown Bank Note to cover to Boston, “Stoneham Mass. Oct 20 7AM” datestamp also ties, very fine strike and cover (Cole SK-23) $ 75

United states

88 6 Eagle (St. Louis, MO), bold strike ties 3c Green Bank Note to small mourning cover to Alexandria, Virginia, matching “St. Louis Mo. Oct 29” datestamp alongside, docketing at left, very fine and attractive cover (Cole Bi-2) $ 100

View of St. Louis

United states

FanCY CanCels

89 6 “Cross My Heart” (Dayton, OH), bold strike on 1861 3c Rose (65), matching “Dayton O. Jun 24” datestamp alongside, cover addressed to Columbia, Ohio, small faults along top edge, very fine strike, the “Cross My Heart” with “X” at bottom is scarcer than the similar “My Heart” cancel (SE PH-H 72) $ 200

View of Dayton

U nited states

FanCY C anC els

90 6 Kingsessing Pa Dec 5 1861, beautiful strike of eagle with crossed arrows and ornaments fancy datestamp ties 1861 3c Rose (65) to cover to Wilmington, Pennsylvania, very fine example of this rare “linen marker” style postmark which is very similar to the one used at Mechanicsburg, Indiana, only a small handful of examples are known $ 250

91 6 Man Thumbing Nose (North East, PA), legible strike ties 3c Green Bank Note to cover to Oil City, Pennsylvania, illegible North East date stamp alongside, fine and very rare $ 150

United states

FanCY CanCels

92 6 Horse’s Head (Chattanooga, TN), tying 1861 3c Rose (65, scissor cut perforations at top) to cover to Piqua, Ohio, “Chattanooga Tenn Mar 23” datestamp alongside, cover small edge faults and reduced at left, fine strike (similar to Skinner-Eno PA-H 5 but without outer circle) $ 100

View of Chattanooga

United states

FanCY CanCels

93 6 Man in High Hat Thumbing His Nose (Brattleboro, VT), bold blue complete strike ties 3c Rose (65) to 1866 cover to Bennington, Vermont, matching “Brattleboro VT Oct 23” double circle datestamp alongside, extremely fine and attractive, just three examples of this cancellation are recorded on complete covers (one each dated October 22, 23, and 24), a gem in every regard, 2023 Crowe certificate $ 5,000

View of Brattleboro

94 6 Old Point Comfort Va Jun 22 (1864), double circle datestamp with crossroads cancel tying 3c Rose (65) to cover to J. Graham Gardiner in New York City, original enclosure from Samuel Augustus Duncan datelined “Hd. Qrs. 2nd Brig. Hinks’ Div., June 20th 1864” which is reproduced in large part below, envelope slightly reduced at left, which does not detract from this historically significant and remarkable letter, very fine and well-worth reading:

The day before we started for our attack on Petersburg, Lt. Col. Rogers, Amo 94th U.S.C.T. at my suggestion wrote to Dept. Hd.Qr’s calling attention to the fact of your appointment and requesting a pass for you to join the regt. We find upon our return to this place—Point of Rocks—that the pass is here—Co. Rogers will forward it at once. You will see that it is a pass for you to proceed to Fort Monroe. There you will have to report to Genl. Butler’s A.A.G. who will of course attune at once for you to join your regt. wherever it may be. You will find it on the way to Richmond—via Fort Darling—perhaps.

You need have no fear that we enter the Rebel Capital immediately. There will be a chance for you yet, I trust. There will needs be considerable delay in capturing Richmond; but Grand has finally struck the true base, and will push the thing with a will. The whole army is full of confidence.

The negro troops did much to open the way for him on the 15th.

The question is now settled. The negro will fight. They did nobly. You have learned the whole story from the papers ere this. And the papers will not overstate the case.

Privately—I am glad to state that my Brigade of four regts. did the chief work. In the last assault there was but one colored regt. beside. I would pit my command against any equal command in the army.

The Army of the Potomac, seeing the works we carried, have yielded al their prejudices against colored troops. This was our greatest triumph of the day. $ 500

Major General Samuel Augustus Duncan

95 6 Office, A.C.M.U.S. Colored Troops, Defences New Orleans, Official Business, three-line imprint on cover to Hudson, New York, 3c Rose (65) tied by “New Orelans La Aug 25 ‘64” double circle datestamp, tiny tear at right, very fine and fresh, a rare imprint $ 100

96 6 Liberty and Shield, patriotic design in black on 1863 cover to Dr. Henry C. Angell in Florence, Italy, franked with 1c Blue, 3c Rose, and 24c Red lilac (63, 65, 70), tied by large “Paid” in grid handstamps, red “N. York Brem. Pkt. Apr 11 Paid” credit and blue three-line “America Uber Bremen Franco”, seven different backstamps, 1c tiny tear at right and 3c lightly oxidized, otherwise very fine and attractive cover

Provenance: Katharine Matthies (R.A. Siegel Sale 353, 1969) $ 400

United states

Union PatriotiC Covers

97 6 The Constitution, red and blue patriotic design with clasped hands and a waving flag on cover to Dr. Henry C. Angell in munich, germany and forwarded to vevey, switzerland, 1c Blue, 3c Rose, and 24c Lilac (63, 65, 78) tied by black “Paid” in grid cancels of Boston, red “Boston Br. Pkt. 7 Paid Jul 8” credit alongside, red boxed “Aachen 21 7 Franco” and “Munchen 25 Jul 1862”, Swiss backstamp, very fine and choice

Provenance: Katharine Matthies (R.A. Siegel Sale 353, 1969) $ 1,000

View of Vevey, Switzerland

98 6 Gen. Butler, Union Now & For Ever, portrait of General Butler in black flanked with flags and cannons, on cover franked with three 3c Rose and 12c Black (65, 69) all tied by large “Paid” in grid cancels, addressed to Dr. Henry C. Angell in Florence, italy, red “Paid N. York Hamb. Pkt. Paid Sep 6” exchange datestamp, endorsed “Per Hammonia via Hamburg & N.Y.” (but carried aboard the Teutonia), various German and Italian backstamps, very fine, several partial “Paid” handstamps suggest that one or more stamps may have been removed but the Philatelic Foundation declares it an accepted underpayment and it is being offered as-is, in any case an attractive cover from the famed Angell correspondence, 2023 Philatelic Foundation certificate

Provenance: Katharine Matthies (R.A. Siegel Sale 353, 1969)

$ 500

$ 300

99 6 Camp Scene from Photograph, gold Magnus design depicting six soldiers under a tree, franked with 3c Rose (65) tied by “Paris Ill Dec 16” double circle datestamp, addressed to New Brunswick, New Jersey, very fine and rare

United states

Union PatriotiC Covers

100 6 “Panorama of Buffalo”, multicolored all-over magnus design with two flags, reverse with 3c Rose (65) tied by “Washington D.C. Nov 24 1863” double circle datestamp, addressed to Lanesville, Connecticut, very fine and rare

Provenance: Jon Bischel (Nutmeg Sale 27, 2000) $ 1000

Lithographer Charles Magnus

U nion PatriotiC C overs

101 6 Bullion State Soldier Motto, multicolored magnus design with Liberty portrait and aerial view of St. Louis, 3c Rose (65) tied by “Washington D.C. Jun 13 1861” datestamp, addressed to Red Beach, Maine, cover very slightly reduced at right into perforations, very fine and attractive $ 150

102 6 Sailor Holding Pistol, Dragoon, New York State Seal, and Waving Flag, multicolored magnus design on rebacked cover front with 3c Rose (65) tied by quartered cork, “Washington D.C. Sep 7” datestamp alongside, addressed to Burlington, New Jersey, very fine appearance $ 100

U nited states

U nion PatriotiC C overs

recorded and this example with the 1c stamp is particularly beautiful, 1988 Philatelic Foundation certificate $ 500

103 6 For the Union, Maine, two-panel magnus multicolored design with standing Liberty and flag and Maine state seal, 3c Rose (65) tied by 1862 Washington, DC datestamp, addressed to Camden, Maine, very fine and choice $ 200

104 6 “The Pine against the Palm!”, yellow and blue design with verse beneath, franked with three 1c Blue singles (24) each with neat black grid, matching “Saratoga Springs N.Y. Aug 27” datestamp alongside, extremely fine and fresh, very few examples of this design are

U nion PatriotiC C overs

105 6 “Jeff. Davis Going to War, Jeff Returning From War”, all-over design in gray-blue, depicting Jeff Davis as a mule when turned upside-down, Rogers imprint, two 3c Rose (65) tied by “Philatelphia Pa May 3 1862” datestamp, addressed to Boston, “Due 3” handstamp alongside, very fine and attractive $ 150

106 6 “Freemen, to the Rescue!”, all-over red and blue patriotic design with Liberty astride an eagle and draped flags, rare “Soldier’s Letter, 1st. Regt. Douglas Brigade” circular handstamp endorsed by Major Nathan H. Walworth, Cairo, Illinois datestamp and “Due 3” in circle, reduced at bottom and small stain, otherwise very fine and rare $ 150

107 6 “Union” & “Wisconsin”, blue on white cutout from a patriotic envelope pasted onto an orange envelope, 3c Rose (65) tied by “Paid” in circle with “Manitowoc Wis Aug 27 1863” datestamp alongside, additionally with manuscript “The Union Forever, Long May She Wave”, addressed in striking penmanship to “Lieut. F. W. Borcherdt, Co. D 21st Rgt. Wis. Vols., Murfreesboro Via Nashville Tenn.”, affixed to black construction paper, otherwise very fine and certainly unique

Provenance: Jon Bischel (Nutmeg Sale 27, 2000)

$ 200

108 6 “Long may it wave”, verse at left of waving American flag facing right, red and blue patriotic design on cover to Paris, France, 3c Dull red and 12c Black (26, 36) tied by black grid with red “Boston Paid 3 Apr 26” datestamp alongside, 3c also tied by red boxed “PD”, French entry and several backstamps, very fine and attractive  $ 150

109 6 Military Officer with Sword and Flag, red and blue design on cover to Milford, New Hampshire, 3c Pink (64) with blue straightline “Paid” and “Andover Depot Mass. Oct 23” double circle datestamp alongside, cover and top of stamp with barest trace of toning, very fine and attractive

Provenance: Jon Bischel (Nutmeg Sale 27, 2000) $ 200

110 6 Liberty and Flag, red and blue patriotic design with Richards imprint on 1864 cover to trier, germany, franked with 5c Buff and 10c Green (67, 68) tied by red grids with matching “New York Hamb. Pkt. Paid 12 Sep 17” datestamp alongside, black straightline “Franco”, appropriate backstamps, light overall aging, very fine and attractive, signed Ashbrook who confirms the 5c as Buff $ 300

U nion PatriotiC C overs

111 6 “Give this Wreath to the brave, Who their Country would save”, verse at top of blue and red arch patriotic design on cover to Weedsport, New York, 3c Rose (65) tied by March 23 Palmyra, New York duplex, Magee imprint at left, barely reduced at right, very fine and choice $ 50

112 6 “The Union and Constitution”, waving flag patriotic design with “t.C. Boyd, 310 montgomery st., san F.” imprint, franked with 10c Green (35) tied by “San Francisco Cal Jul 25 1861” datestamp, addressed to West Cambridge, Massachusetts, very fine and rare patriotic design manufactured in California $ 100

ConFederate states

113 6 118XU1, Carolina City, NC, 5c Black entire, provisional “Paid 5” in circle handstamp at top center, matching “Carolina City, N.C. Oct 7” datestamp and straightline “Carolina City, N.C.” control marking, addressed to Sandy Grove, North Carolina, very fine, the earlier of just two recorded provisional entires from Carolina City (Scott $5,000)

Provenance: Judge Robert S. Emerson Morris Everett (R.A. Siegel Sale 754, 1993)

Alexander Hall (R.A. Siegel Sale 795, 1997) $ 750

View of Carolina City

Con F ederate states

114 6 16X1, Charleston, SC, 5c Blue, two singles, margins mostly full to just into frameline on left stamp, tied by “Charleston S.C. Sep 25 1861” datestamp to cover to “Charles J.C. Hutson, Capt. Haskell’s Company, Greggs Regiment, Suffolk, Va”, backflap repaired, very fine, just three covers are recorded with two singles of the Charleston provisional  $ 400

115 6 17XU2, Chattanooga, TN, 5c Black entire, “Chattanooga Ten. Paid 5” in circle provisional handstamp alongside “Chattanooga Ten. Jul 17 1861” datestamp on cover to Athens, Tennessee, Ferrary label affixed at bottom left, light stain at left edge, otherwise very fine, just 11 examples recorded in the Crown census (Scott $1,900)

Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert, 1922)

George Walcott (Robert Laurence, 1935)

Morris Everett (R.A. Siegel Sale 754, 1993) $ 300

ConFederate states

116 6 99XU2, Christiansburg, VA, 5c Blue entire, provisional “Paid 5 Cents.” handstamp at upper right with matching “Christiansburgh Va. Aug 13” datestamp at left, on cover addressed to Lacey’s Spring, Virginia, very fine and attractive, signed Ashbrook (Scott $2,250) $ 300

View of Christiansburg

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

117 6st 21X1, Danville, VA, 5c Red on wove, cut square with four huge margins, tied to piece by “Danville Va. Oct 3 1861” datestamp, extremely fine, the Crown census records just nine examples of this stamp (four used and five on cover), nearly all of which are either cut to shape or cut in on one or more sides, this is by far the finest known example of the Danville 5c provisional (Scott $7,500)

Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert Sale 4, 1922)

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 989, 1956)

Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 317, 1967) $ 3,000

Alfred H. Caspary Josiah K. Lilly Philipp von Ferrary

Con F ederate states t H e F ran K lin Provisional

The story of the discovery of the Franklin Provisional was recounted by August Dietz himself in the September 1934 issue of his Stamp and Cover Collecting magazine. Rather than paraphrase, we think it is important to defer to the man’s own words (reprinted thanks to the Civil War Philatelic Society):

It was in the Spring of 1899. I was in the employ of the J. L. Hill Printing Co. in Richmond, holding the post of foreman, and at the same time publishing, in association with my friends the late Franklin Stearns, Jr. and Frank L. Kerns (the “Uncle Larry’’ of Mexican Missionary fame), The Virginia Philatelist, which I edited. The Hill Company printed “The Southern Almanac,” a publication that enjoyed a widespread circulation among the farmers of Virginia and North Carolina. I had inserted a small advertisement in this almanac, offering to buy Confederate postage stamps.

On one memorable day there drove up to the shop a middle-age farmer, perched on the board-seat of his canvas-covered, mule-drawn watermelon cart. With a “Whoa!” he alighted, verified the shop number by his copy of the Almanac, and came into the office. By mere chance I had come down-stairs from the composing-room to consult Mr. Hill about an order.

“Whar de man what wanta buy old stamps?” Mr. Hill pointed to me, and the following dialog took place.

“You de man disher almanac tells ’bout?”

“Yes, sir. Have you got anything to show me?”

Without reply he drew from his hip-pocket a bundle of envelopes folded in a newspaper, and laid them on the counter. Mr. Hill, curious to see what was going on, stood by.

I unfolded the wrapper and began to assort the covers. There were the usual London and Local Fives and the ’63 10-cents, with here and there a green Hoyer & Ludwig five—just the usual crop, plentiful in those days. While assorting I told the visitor “These are worth twentyfive cents a piece; these fifty cents; and”—I stopt suddenly, for I had come to an envelope that bore no adhesive stamp, but instead, the cover, of buff-colored paper, showed on its upper right-hand corner a type-set, press-printed Provisional. It was new to me. It was not listed or illustrated ·in Scott’s Catalog. The postmark was that of Franklin, N.C., manuscript-dated “Jan. 21.” The envelope was in a comparatively good state of preservation. What can this be?…

We were not well-informed on Confederate Provisionals thirty-five years ago. Few collectors paid attention to these stamps, particularly in the South. True, Hiram E. Deats and a few others “up North” had taken a fancy to Confederates and even devoted time and means to an investigation—but down here it was more a matter of sentiment that led us to collect them.

Slowly the fact dawned on me: this is a new provisional, and promptly I came to a decision.

“My friend, I don‘t know what this envelope is worth, but I’ll offer you twenty-five dollars for it. Leave me your name and address‘‘—as I handed him a small pad and pencil —“and as soon as I find out more about it, I’ll let you hear from me.”

“You say you gwine give me twenty-fi’ dollars—shore-nuff money?”

“Yes.”

“Giftyer!”

Turning to Mr. Hill, I asked if he would loan me that amount until tomorrow? “I’ll need what cash I have to buy the other envelopes.”  Mr. Hill motioned to me to come into his private office. Placing his hands on my shoulders, he said “Boy, are you crazy? Twenty-five dollars for an old envelope!…Of course, I will let you have the money, but”—shaking his head—“I would have given you credit for better sense.”

I remember it distinctly. There were two ten-dollar bills, one two and three ones. I counted the money into the farmer’s hand. There was a strange, doubtful, suspicious and pitying look in his eyes. He had written a name and address on the pad and left it, with my pencil, on the counter. As soon as he held the bills in his hands he literally darted for the door, crossed the street, and swung himself to the seat of his cart and, giving that mule one stinging crack of the whip, he yelled: “Gittup hyer! Gittup hyer!” That was all I heard as I followed him to the door, calling at the top of my voice: “Wait a minute! I haven‘t paid you for the rest of the stamps!”—but mule and driver were lost in the dust of the distance. I never saw that farmer again.

The next day I wrote to my friend, William S.F. Pierce, a prominent lumber dealer of Camden, N.J., enclosing the envelope, and asking what he thought of it. Pierce was one of the earlier collectors of Confederate stamps and Provisionals.

Three days later I opened a telegram that read “Offer six hundred dollars—wire reply collect. Pierce.” I beat the time of that farmer’s get-away with my reply: “Your stamp—send check. Dietz.” And I paid for the wire.

In due time the remittance came. I showed the telegram and the certified check to Mr. Hill. He was dumbfounded. “Well, Dietz, I’ll take back half of what I said about your sanity, but tell me, are there any lunatic asylums in New Jersey?”…

And then my conscience (?) began to trouble me. Looking back across the years I believe I intended to give that farmer another twenty-five. I addressed a letter to the name and place written on that pad of paper, requesting my visitor to call on me the next time he came to town, as I had something interesting to tell him. After thirty days my note was returned from the Dead Letter Office with the notation: “No such party

ConFederate states

tHe FranKlin Provisional

known at this address.” He had been shrewd enough to give me a fictitious name and location, reasoning, I am sure, that: when this fellow sobers up, he’ll want his twenty-five dollars back. And he wasn‘t taking any chances…

But there is a denouement to this story. About three months later I had another letter from Pierce in which he enclosed a well-known British Colonial rarity, cataloged forty dollars at that time, and confessed that his conscience was troubling him, and since he had sold that Franklin, N.C. to Ferrary for one thousand dollars, he wanted to make this offering by way of “easing his mind.”

That stamp is still in my collection. And I replied about as follows: “Dear Pierce: I absolve you from all sin. The Franklin cost me twenty-five dollars. You bought it for six hundred. That’s five hundred and seventy-five profit for me. You sold it for one thousand. That’s four hundred profit for you—less this forty-dollar gift stamp—six hundred and fifteen for me and three hundred and sixty for you. If you are satisfied—I am. Go forth and sin some more.”

I learned later that Pierce had sold the Franklin to Ferrary through a well-known dealer, sharing the profit.

In the Ferrary sale the Franklin brought seven hundred dollars, and is again in a collection in this country. It is the only specimen of its kind in existence and one of the greatest rarities among the press-printed Provisionals of the Confederacy.

118 6 25XU1, Franklin, NC, 5c Blue on buff entire, typeset framed design at upper right of 1862 envelope addressed to Waynesville, North Carolina, black “Franklin N.C. Jan 21” datestamp with manuscript date, backflap missing, very fine, the unique example of the Franklin provisional envelope, one of the great rarities of Confederate States philately which has not been offered publicly since 1980 (Scott $30,000)

Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert Sale 4, 1922)

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 989, 1956)

Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 317, 1967)

„Stonewall“ (Edgar Kuphal) Collection (Mohrmann, 1980) $ 5,000

Alfred H. Caspary

Josiah K. Lilly

Philipp von Ferrary

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

119 6 30X2, Gonzales, TX, [10c] Gold on garnet, stamp cancelled with three pen strokes on 1864 folded lettersheet to Houston, Texas, tied by horizontal filing crease, “Gonzales Tex. 1” datestamp, datelined

“Gonzales Texas, Nov. 1st 1864”, stamp with small corner crease, reverse with typewritten notarized affidavit from T.W. House in 1899 confirming the cover’s authenticity, very fine, one of three recorded covers with the Gonzalez provisional stamp on garnet paper (Scott $80,000)

Charles Deaton in his 2012 book, The Great Texas Stamp Collection, notes the existence of only three covers bearing this stamp and one additional example off cover. The stamp on all three of the covers is pen cancelled. Gonzales, Texas used advertising labels from the firm of Coleman & Law as provisional stamps twice during the Civil War (first in 1861 and later in 1864-65). John V. Law, co-owner of the firm, also served as the town’s postmaster. As these labels were also attached to the insides of books (and perhaps medicine bottles) there have been numerous counterfeits produced over the years, and genuine uses on cover remain exceedingly scarce.

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 989, 1956)

A. Earl Weatherly (Private transaction)

Charles E. and Lucy Kilbourne (R.A. Siegel Sale 815, 1999)

$ 5,000

View of Gonzales

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

120 6 33X1, Greenville, AL, 5c Blue & red, uncancelled as always, on cover to Talladega, Alabama with “Greenville Ala. Nov 1” datestamp at left, one of just two covers recorded with this beautiful stamp, a remarkable Confederate States rarity (Scott $47,500)  $ 7,500

View of Greenville

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

121 112XU1, Hamburgh, SC, 5c Black entire, “Hamburgh S.C. 5” in circle provisional handstamp alongside straightline “Paid” and “Hamburgh S.C. Paid Jul 20” datestamp on cover to Atlanta, Georgia, 1861 enclosure, slightly reduced at top just affecting markings and missing backflap, otherwise very fine, fewer than five known examples (Scott $8,000) $ 1,000

View of Baltimore

View of Hamburgh

Con F ederate states

122 6 47X1, Knoxville, TN, 5c Brick red, upper right corner margin, just touching on other two sides, tied by manuscript cancel to cover to London, Tennessee, very fine, an extraordinary example of this stamp with such enormous margins, this cover is not listed in the Crown census but it is evident that any marginal examples are very rare (Scott $2,100) $ 500

123 6 47X1, Knoxville, TN, 5c Brick red, three full margins, just clear at left, pen cancel on cover to Atlanta, Georgia, fine and scarce (Scott $2,100) $ 200

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

124 6 49X1, Lenoir, NC, 5c Blue & orange, tied by blue “Lenoir N.C. Oct 17” datestamp to 1861 cover to “Dr. James M. Abernethy Private, Co K. 1st. Regt. N. Carolina Volunteers, Care of Genl. D.H. Hill, Yorktown, Virginia, C.S.A.”, very fine and remarkably attractive, one of just six Lenoir covers with the provisional tied by handstamp (Scott $17,500)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 990, 1956)

H. Gray Muzzy (H.R. Harmer Sale 1764, 1967)

John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction) $ 4,000

General D.H. Hill

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

125 6 53X3, Macon, GA, 5c Black on yellow, Type II, full margins, uncancelled on cover to “Lieut. S.H. Washington, Company “F” 3r Ga. Regiment of Volunteers, Portsmouth, Va.”, postmarked “Macon Geo 20” at upper left, two strikes of “Paid 10” over “Paid 5” at upper right, given the “Paid” markings and the fact that the stamp is not cancelled (very unusual for Macon) there is a chance the stamp does not originate and is therefore being offered “as-is”, stamp is very fine and attractive in any regard (Scott $1,250 for used single, $6,000 on cover)

Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert, 1922)

Sidney A. Hessel (H.R. Harmer Sale 2291, 1975) $ 500

View of Macon

Con F ederate states

126 6 58X2, Mobile, AL, 5c Blue, full margins, tied by “Mobile Ala Aug 21 1861” double circle datestamp to cover to Jackson, Mississippi, very fine and attractive (Scott $1,750)

Provenance: A. Earl Weatherly (R.A. Siegel Sale 420, 1972) $ 250

127 6 58X2, Mobile, AL, 5c Blue, margins full to clear, tied by “Mobile Ala. Sep 13 1861” double circle datestamp to cover to Choctaw Agency, Mississippi, very fine and attractive (Scott $1,750) $ 250

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

128 6 61X3, Nashville, TN, 5c Brick red, margins large to clear at left, tied by blue numeral “10” handstamp to cover to Shelbyville, Tennessee with second strike alongside, matching “Nashville Ten. Sep 5 1861” datestamp and straightline “Paid”, illustrated advertisement for “Morgan & Co., Importers and Dealers in Foreign and Domestic Dry Goods”, cover small faults along top edge, otherwise very fine and rare, only six advertising covers are known with a Nashville provisional (Scott $3,500) $ 1000

View of Nashville from the Capitol

Con F ederate states

129 6 62X4, New Orleans, LA, 5c Red brown on bluish, margins large to full with partial imprint at top, tied by “New Orleans La. Oct 26 1861” river mail double circle datestamp to locally addressed cover (Carroll Hoy correspondence), endorsed “by the S.B. Diana” at top left, repaired along top edge and small filing holes as always, very fine appearance, this cover was cancelled at the wharf office upon arrival in New Orleans (Scott $475) $ 100

130 6 62X5, New Orleans, LA, Yellow brown on off white, three large margins and just grazing at top, partial imprint at bottom, tied by “New Orleans La. 13 Dec” datestamp to 1861 cover to Woodville, Mississippi, very fine and scarce on cover, one of just three singles with imprint on cover (Scott $850)

Provenance: Stephen D. Brown (Harmer, Rooke & Co., 1939)

Frederic J. Grant (John A. Fox, 1959) $ 200

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

131 62X6, New Orleans, LA, 5c Red on white, unused single, four full margins, traces of original gum, very fine, the unique unused example of the New Orleans 5c Red error of color, of which just six or seven are recorded (on either white or blue paper), this stamp is the only true error for color in all of Confederate States philately, widely considered to be one of the most important Confederate Provisionals in existence

A thorough discussion of the New Orleans Provisionals was published by Hubert C. Skinner in the 1978 44th American Philatelic Congress Book. With regards to the 5c Red error of color, he writes:

These are among the rarest of all Confederate postmasters’ provisionals with only five copies known to exist, three on white wove paper, and two on bluish paper. It has been suggested that they are an error of color, but their rarity would indicate that very few were printed in red, and the existence of impressions on two different papers indicates that the “error” happened twice. It seems much more likely that either too much red was introduced onto the platen in blending the brown inks or the components of the ink separated while the press was idle for a time, producing a mottled impression on a very few sheets, a condition which would have been corrected as soon as the rollers passed across the platen a few times re-mixing or blending the ink. Further, one copy of the five cent red upon close examination reveals that there are a few tiny areas of the design printed in the normal brown color though the majority of the impression is unquestionably printed in red ink. This fact lends support to the mottled inking explanation. Whatever their origin may be, these are fascinating and most desirable rarities.

Since this article, an example of the 5c stamp (ex-D.K. Collection) has been identified which shows a hybrid red-brown color, proving Skinner’s hypothesis to be correct.

Provenance: Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert Sale 4, 1922)

Arthur Hind (Charles J. Philips Sale 1, 1933)

Harold C. Brooks (Laurence & Stryker, 1943) 5000

John L. Riddell New Orleans Confederate Postmaster

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

132 6 106XU1, Pensacola, FL, 5c Black entire, provisional “Paid 5” surrounding star in circle handstamp with “Pensacola Fla. Jul 26” datestamp on 1861 cover to Camden, Mississippi, expertly restored at upper right not affecting the marking, very fine and rare, one of just four recorded examples of the 5c Pensacola provisional envelope (Scott $5,000)

Provenance: Morris Everett (R.A. Siegel Sale 754, 1993) $ 1,000

View of Pensacola

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

133 1 66X1, Pittsylvania Court House, VA, 5c Dull red on wove, uncancelled single with original gum, Type II (gap between “T” and “S” of “Cents”), cut rectangular just touching tips of designs, previously uncancelled on a November 11 cover to Mrs. Ruth Hairston in Cascade, Virginia, steamed from cover with original gum intact, very fine, the unique “unused” example of the Pittsylvania Court House provisional (the basis for the catalogue listing) and one of just 13 examples on either wove or laid paper, a great Confederate rarity (Scott $7,500)

Provenance: Hiram E. Deats (as cover)

Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956)

Josiah K. Lilly (R.A. Siegel Sale 317, 1967) $ 1,000

Alfred H. Caspary Josiah K. Lilly

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

134 6 68XU2, Raleigh, NC, 5c Blue entire, blue rimless “Raleigh N.C. Paid 5” provisional handstamp with “Raleigh N.C. Jun 4 1861” double circle datestamp on 1861 cover to Camp Call, North Carolina, letter details daily life as a solider on a base discussing his daily tasks and responsibilities, pay, and working conditions, reduced at left, very fine and rare with as few as four examples recorded in blue (Scott $4,000)

$ 1,000

The State House in Raleigh

Con F ederate states

135 6 71XU1, Ringgold, GA, 5c Blue black entire, clear strike of provisional marking at top right of cover to Atlanta, Georgia, at top left two 5c Blue (7) tied by “Ringgold Geo. Jan 20” datestamp, stamps creased before use and cover small faults, still fine, probably an early 1862 use of an unused provisional envelope, just four cut squares and five entires of the Ringgold provisional are recorded, with this being the unique example used with general issues

Provenance: Arthur Hind (Phillips, 1933)

David Carnahan (Sotheby Parke Bernet, 1978)  $ 750

136 6 101UX1, Savannah, GA, 5c Black entire, Type I, octagonal control mark and “Paid 5” in oval at upper left of cover addressed to Milledgeville, Georgia, “Savannah Ga Paid Aug 2 1861” datestamp at upper right, repaired backflap, very fine (Scott $450) $ 75

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

137 6 93XU1, Sparta, GA, 5c Red entire, provisional handstamp at upper right with matching “Sparta Ga. Dec 16” datestamp on 1861 cover to “Lieut Lafayette Powell, Waynesville, Wayne Co., Geo.”, docketed “Care of Capt J. H. Corley”, piece of backflap missing, fine and scarce, the earliest recorded of seven recorded Sparta 5c provisionals (Scott $2,250) $ 250

Hancock County Courthouse in Sparta

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

138 6 78X3, Spartanburg, SC, 5c Black on brown, Type II, cut square, margins clear on all four sides, tied by straightline “Paid” to cover to “Mr. John Minter, Mount Tabor, Union District, S.C.”, “Spartanburg S.C Jan 28 1862” double circle datestamp at left, portion at top of cover expertly replaced with “RTANBU” of postmark painted in, very fine appearance, the only recorded example of the Spartanburg 5c provisional on brown, additionally this is one of two Spartanburg provisionals cut square in sound condition, an extraordinary rarity (Scott $18,000, it is illogical that the Scott catalogue prices this stamp used as no offcover examples are known)

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956) $ 5000

Wofford College in Spartanburg

Con F ederate states

139 6 82XU2, Thomasville, GA, 5c Black entire, Type II, provisional handstamp at upper left with “Thomasville Ga. Jul 26” datestamp on 1861 cover to Tallahassee, Florida, very fine and choice (Scott $1,000)

Provenance: Arthur Hind (Phillips, 1933)

A. Murl Kimmel (R.A. Siegel Sale 492, 1976) $ 200

140 6 108XU2, Walterborough, SC, 10c Carmine entire, fancy “Paid 10” provisional handstamp at top right with matching “Walterborough S.C. Mar 18” datestamp at left on 1864 cover to Green Pond, South Carolina, very fine, just six examples of this provisional envelope recorded (Scott $4,000)  $ 750

ConFederate states

Postmasters ’ Provisionals

141 6 114XU var, Wytheville, VA, 5c Black entire, Type II, “5 Paid” provisional marking at upper right and circular undated control mark at upper left on 1861 cover to Salem, Virginia, “Wytheville Va. Jun 11”

datestamp, docketing at left, very fine, the “5” in this provisional handstamp does not match the example listed in the Scott Catalogue and in our opinion deserves its own listing, the unique example of this marking $ 300

View of Wytheville

142 1/ 4

143 1/ 4

Con F ederate states

general issU es

1, 1861 5c Green, Stone 1, mint block of four, margins large to clear, toned original gum, small faults including pinhole in top right stamp, fine appearance (Scott $1,650) $ 100

1, 1861 5c Green, Stone 2, mint block of four, original gum, mostly large margins to just in at bottom, horizontal crease between rows, very fine and fresh (Scott $1,750) $ 200

144 6 2, 1861 10c Light blue, Patterson, four large margins and pretty pale shade, tied by blue Charlotte, North Carolina handstamp to cover to Wytheville, Virginia, endorsed “via Petersburg”, very fine (Scott $325) $ 50

Con F ederate states

145 6 2b, 1861 10c Dark blue, Hoyer & Ludwig, top left margin single with four huge margins tied by “Tudor Hill Va Dec 22 1861” datestamp to cover to Nicholson’s Store, Alabama, cover repaired at right and backflap replaced, very fine appearance (Scott $1,000)

Provenance: Marc Haas $ 150

146 6 2b, 1861 10c Dark blue, Hoyer & Ludwig, left margin single with margins huge to full at bottom right, tied by Tudor Hall, Virginia datestamp to cover to Greenville, North Carolina, very fine, a beautiful marginal example of this rare stamp (Scott $1,000 $ 200

Con F ederate states

general issU es

147 1/ 4 3, 1862 2c Dull yellow green, mint block of 12, original gum, margins large to clear at bottom, light creasing mostly in the second row, very fine and attractive block (Scott $16,200 as singles) $ 1500

Con F ederate states

148 6 4, 1862 5c Blue, Stone 2, bottom margin horizontal pair with selvage so wide it is folded over the bottom edge, other margins large to clear, tied by “Dalton Ga Oct 13 1862” datestamp to cover to Selma, Alabama with second strike at top left, an extremely fine gem (Scott $450)

Provenance: Howard Lehman

Marc Haas $ 100

149 6 4, 1862 5c Blue, Stone 2, bottom right corner margin single, portions of adjacent stamps at top and left, tied by blue “Columbia S.C. Apr 5” datestamp to cover to Chester, South Carolina, docketing at top left, an extraordinary gem stamp on a fresh cover, extremely fine, 1981 Philatelic Foundation certificate

Provenance: John R. Boker, Jr. (Private transaction)

Marc Haas $ 400

Con F ederate states

150 6 5, 1862 10c Rose, four large margins, tied by blue “Petersburg Va Aug 3” datestamp to cover to Lexington, North Carolina, slightly reduced at left, very fine and choice (Scott $750) $ 150

151 6 5, 1862 10c Rose, pretty pale shade with large margins, used alongside two 5c Blue (6), all tied by “Richmond Va. Aug 3 1862” datestamps to cover to Mattox Depot, Virginia, backflap reattached and with faults, very fine $ 200

ConFederate states

general issUes

152 6 6, 1862 5c Light blue, Archer & Daly, horizontal pair tied by green “Chester C.H. S.C. May 8 1863” double circle datestamp to wallpaper cover to Eagle Mills, North Carolina, refolded to show inside of cover, very fine, a rare combination of a colored cancel with an adversity use (Scott $1,350) $ 200

Wylie Mills and settlements of Chester

ConFederate states

general issUes

153 6 8, 1863 2c Brown red, horizontal pair with large margins, deep shade and sharp impression, tied by “Charleston S.C. Sep 10” datestamp to folded letter to Cheraw, South Carolina, manuscript “Due 6” indicating the stamps were accepted as partial prepayment of the 10c rate, extremely fine gem, pairs of the “Red Jack” are extremely rare on cover and this partial prepayment is believed to be unique, letter is addressed to the President of the Cheraw & Darlington Railroad from the Wayside Home in Charleston requesting a charitable donation, pictured in Brian M. Green’s The Confederate States Two-Cent Red-Jack Intaglio Stamp

Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 1114, 1957)

Marc Haas

“Tara” (Dr. Paolo Bianci) Collection (Christie’s Robson Lowe, 1986) $ 2,000

View of Charleston

Con F ederate states

general issU es

155 10, 1863 10c Blue, “Frameline” Issue, mint strip of seven, original gum and bright color, full frame lines on all sides except at extreme right, two light vertical creases and two negligible thin spots, extraneous black ink on four stamps (believed to be cancellation ink from the fingers of a Confederate postmaster), very fine, an extraordinary Confederate States multiple, one of two mint strips of seven of the Frameline issue which are the largest known multiples of the issue (Scott $47,500)

The Frameline issue is the rarest Confederate issue in unused condition (particularly with original gum). A small handful of strips of four, plus a single block of four, are the only other large multiples recorded. The other strip of seven (ex-Lilly and Kilbourne) shows full frame lines at top and left, but is very slightly in at bottom and right. The strip offered here has been widely recognized as one of the greatest Confederate States rarities since its appearance in the Ferrary Collection over a century ago.

Provenance: Count Philipp von Ferrary (Gilbert, 1922) $ 7,500

154 6 9, 1863 10c Blue, “T-E-N”, four huge margins, tied by “Harrisonburg Va. Jun 12” datestamp to cover to Sangerville, Virginia, 1863 dated enclosure, extremely fine and choice (Scott $1,500) $ 300

Con F ederate states

general issU es

156 6 11, 1863 10c Blue, Type I, Archer & Daly, horizontal pair tied by indistinct violet cancel to cover to street address in Charleston, South Carolina, endorsed “Care of Penny Post” at lower left, light wear and just reduced at left, otherwise, fine, the Charleston Penny Post originated in 1849 and continued to operate in a limited capacity after the outbreak of the Civil War $ 150

157 6 12, 1864 10c Blue, Archer & Daly, Type II, margins large to close at top left, on United States 3c Nesbitt entire, tied by Madison Court House, Virginia handstamp, addressed to “Warren Moseley Esq, Co. H. 4th Geo. Regt. Phil. Cook’s Brig., Rhodes Division, Richmond, Va”, very fine $ 75

Con F ederate states

158 6 12, 1864 10c Blue, Type II, Archer & Daly, right margin single with four huge margins tied by “Richmond Va. Mar 18” datestamp to green all-over advertising cover for “Spotts & Harvey, Grocers & Commission Merchants, Richmond, Va.”, addressed to Jeffries Store, Nottoway County, Virginia, Eaves imprint on flap, extremely fine and attractive, M. Hubert Judd notation on reverse

Provenance: Marc Haas $ 100

159 1/ 4 14, 1862 1c Orange, mint bottom right corner margin block of four, original gum, large margins all around, very fine and fresh (Scott $475) $ 75

160 1/ 4 14, 1862 1c Orange, mint left margin block of 12, original gum, margins large to clear at bottom, trivial wrinkle in margin, very fine (Scott $1,390 as blocks and singles) $ 200

ConFederate states

ConFederate PatriotiC Covers

161 6 “Cain of Baltimore”, captured Union patriotic design in black depicting George Proctor Kane, “Jackson Miss. Sep 23 1862” datestamp and arced “Due 10” (Type F), on cover addressed to Saltillo, Mississippi

“Care of Capt. Hoskins, Co. A, 38th Regt Miss Vol”, small faults including repaired edges and corners, affixed to black construction paper, very fine appearance, an unusual captured patriotic usage

As the Marshal of the Baltimore City Police Department, George Proctor Kane played a pivotal role in the Baltimore Riot of 1861. His strong and outspoken Confederate sympathies led to his arrest and imprisonment at numerous facilities including Fort McHenry and New York’s Fort Lafayette. Upon his release in 1862 he moved to Montreal, before running the blockade and arriving in Richmond in 1864. It has been suggested that he was an acquaintance of John Wilkes Booth, and it was feared in 1861 that Kane might have involvement in an assassination plot against Abraham Lincoln upon his inauguration. Despite his checkered past, in the 1870s he served as both Sheriff and Mayor of Baltimore. $ 250

George Proctor Kane

C on F ederate states

Con F ederate PatriotiC Covers

162 6 “Davis Invincibles, Capt. S.D. Irwin”, red and blue patriotic design of tent and 11-star flag, Reynolds imprint, addressed to Williamsburg, Virginia, “Richmond Va Aug 31 1861” datestamp and matching two-line “Paid 5Cts” (Type F), cover lightly cleaned and affixed to black construction paper, very fine and attractive, the “Davis Invincibles” name was used by Company D of the 18th Infantry Regiment from Dougherty County, Georgia $ 200

163 6 “I go to Illustrate Georgia”—Bartow, red and blue patriotic design with hand holding 11-star flag, franked with horizontal left margin pair of 1861 5c Green (1) tied by bold “Tudor Hall Va. Feb 24 1862” datestamp, addressed to Griffin, Georgia, very fine and fresh, a gem

Francis S. Bartow was a two-term member of the United States House of Representatives prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, after which point he became an inaugurating member of the Confederate Provisional Congress. It was in Savannah on May 21, 1861 that he delivered his most famous phrase, “I go to illustrate Georgia”, to a group of soldiers assembled to travel to the frontlines in Virginia. Bartow would be killed at the First Battle of Bull Run. $ 200

ConFederate states

ConFederate PatriotiC Covers

164 6 “Abe Lincoln the destroyer” with Hanging Lincoln, dramatic Confederate patriotic design showing Abraham Lincoln hanging by his feet with his rail tie and axe hanging from his neck as Winfield Scott looks on, franked with 5c Green (1) tied by blue “Nashville Ten. Jan 4” (1862) datestamp, addressed to Camden, Mississippi, imprint at bottom left reads “Copyright claimed, HM&WC, Box 417 Nashville Tenn.”, small repairs along right edge, very fine, one of just 12 recorded examples of the famous “Hanging Lincoln” patriotic cover which is the most famous of all Civil War patriotic designs, only two of which are franked with 5c Green general issues, an extraordinary rarity $ 5,000

View of Nashville

C on F ederate states

Con F ederate PatriotiC Covers

165 6 “May those Northern fanatics, who abuse their Southern Neighbors”, verse on patriotic cover bearing two mounted dragoons, Bonitz imprint at left, 1862 5c Blue (4, margins cut in) tied by “Goldsborough N.C. Apr 28” datestamp, addressed to Knob Creek, North Carolina, very fine and scarce $ 150

166 6 “For Land & Life, Children and Wife”, soldier with 11-star flag in oval, design in black on gray cover, 10c Blue (12) tied by “Chattanooga Tenn. Jul 20 1863” datestamp, addressed to Conwayboro, South Carolina, very fine, a scarce design (SN-4) $ 750

Terms and conditions

BIDDING

Bids below the listing start Price will not be accepted

1. Unless announced otherwise by the auctioneer, all bids are per lot, as numbered in the printed Catalogue. H.R. Harmer, as agent for the consignor or vendor, shall regulate the bidding and shall determine the manner in which the bidding shall be conducted. Harmers reserves the right to withdraw any lot prior to sale (without liability to any potential purchaser or agent), to re-offer any withdrawn lot, to divide a lot or to group two or more lots belonging to the same consignor or vendor, and to refuse any bid believed not made in good faith.

2. The highest bid acknowledged by the auctioneer shall prevail. Should a dispute arise between bidders (including a dispute between a floor bidder and the auctioneer acting on behalf of a mail bidder, consignor or vendor), the auctioneer alone shall determine who is the successful bidder and whether to reoffer the lot in dispute. Should a dispute arise after the sale, the auctioneer’s sale records shall be conclusive. On all lots sold, a commission of 18% on the hammer price is payable by the buyer.

3. (a) The auctioneer reserves the right to bid on behalf of clients (and consignors or vendors) but shall not be liable for errors and omissions in executing instructions to bid, however received, and whether such errors or omissions be those of the bidder or agent or those of the auctioneer.

(b) All lots are offered subject to a reserve price. The auctioneer may implement such reserve price. The auctioneer may implement such reserve price by bidding on behalf of the consignor vendor.

(c) It may also be assumed that all consignors have been advanced monies against the sale of their stamps and Harmers therefore has a security interest over and above the normal auction commission.

(d) Purchases made by a consignor or vendor or his agent on his own lots shall be considered as a sale subject to commissions and sales tax as applicable.

(e) Agents are responsible for all purchases made on behalf of their clients, unless other arrangements have been confirmed in writing prior to the auction.

(f) HR Harmer further reserves the right to ban any bidder from participation in its’ sales for any reason deemed appropriate in its’ sole discretion.

(g) HR Harmer retains the right to demand a cash deposit from anyone prior to bidder registration and/or to demand payment at the time the lot is Hammered down to the highest bidder, for any reason whatsoever. In the event that any buyer refuses or fails to make payment in cash for any lot at the time it is knocked down to him, the auctioneer reserves the right to reoffer the lot for sale to the highest bidder.

PAYMENT FOR PURCHASES

4. (a) Subject to any extension of credit (which shall be made in accordance with Harmers’ credit policies and requested prior to the commencement of the auction), payment for lots shall be as follows:

• (i) Floor Bidders. All floor bidders must register prior to the beginning of sale. All invoices to Floor Bidders shall be due on the day of the auction.

• (ii) Mail Bidders. A successful mail bidder will be notified of lots purchased. Payment is due within ten (10) business days of auction. Mailed delivery will be to the address on the bid sheet and proof by Harmers of receipt of a sending at the advised address shall constitute delivery. All charges for handling and delivery shall be added to your invoice. All shipments sent by Harmers are fully insured against loss in transit unless otherwise requested.

• (iii) Where an opinion of a generally recognized authority is desired, payment is still due within ten (10) business days of auction. We will hold the funds while we send the items to the recognized authorities.

(b) Payment is accepted in the form of

• (i) Check in U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank. If payment is made by check, Harmer’s reserves the right to hold shipment/delivery for up to ten (10) business days while it clears.

• (ii) By wire transfer. Harmers will credit your account with the actual USDs credited to our account net of any fees.

• (iii) By credit card (MasterCard, Discover or Visa). Payment by credit card is accepted as payment but will be subject to a 3% Convenience fee. This fee will be added to the total of the invoice including hammer price, buyer’s premium, shipping and other applicable taxes and fees.

TITLE; DEFAULT

5. (a) Subject to the fulfillment of all of the conditions set forth herein, on the fall of the auctioneer’s hammer, title to the offered lot will pass to the highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer, and such bidder thereupon (a) assumes full risk and responsibility therefore, and (b) will pay the purchase price as set forth in Conditions of Sale 4.

(b) In addition to other remedies available to us by law, we reserve the right to impose from the date of sale a late charge of 2% per month if payment is not made in accordance with the conditions set forth herein. Unless otherwise agreed by Harmers, all property must be removed from our premises by the purchaser at his expense not later than 10 business days following its sale.

(c) If any applicable conditions herein are not complied with by the purchaser, the purchaser will be in default and in addition to any and all other remedies available to us and the Consignor by law, including, without limitation, the right to hold the purchaser liable for the total purchase price,

including all fees, charges and expenses more fully set forth herein, we, at our option, may (x) cancel the sale of that, or any other lot or lots sold to the defaulting purchaser at the same or any other auction, retaining as liquidated damages all payments made by the purchaser, or (y) resell the purchased property, whether at public auction or by private sale, or (z) effect any combination thereof. In any case, the purchaser will be liable for any deficiency, any and all costs, handling charges, late charges, expenses of both sales, our commissions on both sales at our regular rates, legal fees and expenses, collection fees and incidental damages. We may, in our sole discretion, apply any proceeds of sale then due or thereafter becoming due to the purchaser from us or any affiliated company, or any payment made by the purchaser to us or any affiliated company, whether or not intended to reduce the purchaser’s obligations with respect to the unpaid lot or lots, to the deficiency and any other amounts due to us or any affiliated companies. In addition, a defaulting purchaser will be deemed to have granted and assigned to us and our affiliated companies, a continuing security interest of first priority in any property or money of or owing to such purchaser in our possession or in the possession of any of our affiliated companies, and we may retain and apply such property or money as collateral security for the obligations due to us or to any affiliated company of ours. We shall have all of the rights accorded a secured party under the New York Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).

(d) Payment will not be deemed to have been made in full until we have collected good funds. Any claims relating to any purchase, including any claims under the Conditions of Sale, must be presented directly to Harmers. In the event the purchaser fails to pay any or all of the total purchase price for any lot and Harmers nonetheless elects to pay the Consignor any portion of the sale proceeds, the purchaser acknowledges that Harmers shall have all of the rights of the Consignor to pursue the purchaser for any amounts paid to the Consignor, whether at law, in equity, or under these Conditions of Sale.

EXHIBITION AND INSPECTION OF LOTS; QUALITY AND AUTHENTICITY

6. (a) On Premises Inspection and Postal Viewing. Ample opportunity is given for on premises inspection prior to the auction date, and, upon written request and at Harmers discretion, for inspection by postal viewing (all as detailed elsewhere in this Catalogue).

(b) Each lot is sold as genuine and correctly described, based on individual description as modified by any specific notations in this Catalogue, including but not restricted to the section entitled “Key to Cataloguing”.

(c) Quality. Any lot which a purchaser considers to be incorrectly described may be returned to Harmers within two weeks of its receipt by such purchaser ( “Returning Purchaser”), provided, however, that the same is received by Harmers

within four weeks of the date of the auction; however, Harmers may, in its discretion, refuse acceptance of such returned lot. If an opinion of a generally recognized authority is desired, the period of time within which a lot must be received by Harmers will be extended in accordance with Condition of Sale 8. In the event that a dispute cannot be resolved by reference to a generally recognized authority, and Harmers thereupon undertakes to re-offer the lot with a description identical to the description disputed, the Returning Purchaser shall be liable for thedeficiency, if any, between the proceeds of the sale to the Returning Purchaser and the proceeds of a sale to a subsequent purchaser, as well as for all costs and expenses of the re-sale, including commission, and all incidental damages. Any lot, the description of which is disputed, must be returned intact in the condition received by the purchaser. The following lots are not returnable except at the discretion of Harmers: (i) lots from purchasers who attended the exhibition of the lots; (ii) lots examined by postal viewers; (iii) lots on account of their appearance, if they are illustrated in this Catalogue; (iv) lots described as having repairs, defects or faults—for any reason; (v) U.S. stamps (through 1918) for reasons of paper inclusions, (vi)no encapsulated stamps unless originally offered in this condition. (vii) Multiple stamp/item lots including sets of 15 or more stamps, collections, large lots and group lots, whether certified or not, as sold “As Is” and are not returnable for any reason.

(d) Authenticity. Any lot which is declared otherwise than genuine by a generally recognized authority is returnable, provided such lot is received by Harmers within four weeks of the date of the auction. Proof that a generally recognized authority declines to express an opinion is normally grounds for the return of a lot.

(e) Expenses incurred in the submission and the return of a lot under Conditions of Sale 7-9 are not refunded.

EXTENSION OF TIME

7. All lots to be sent out on extension must be paid in advance and submitted by H.R. Harmer.

(a) If a lot is certified by a generally recognized authority to be other than as described:

• (i) the sale (and the invoice with respect thereto, if outstanding) will be cancelled; and,

• (ii) to the extent set forth in Condition of Sale 9, payment of the expense of certification will be made to the purchaser.

• (iii) in the event any item “not as described,” the buyer will be refunded the purchase price and certification fee up to $500 unless otherwise agreed.

(b) Any lot with a P.F. or PSE certificate issued in the last six years is not eligible for extension.

Terms and conditions

EXPENSES OF CERTIFICATION

8. Expenses of certification shall be borne by the purchaser except where a lot is certified other than as described and is returned to Harmers in accordance with Condition of Sale 8.

SALES TAX

9. All lots sold are subject to any applicable sales tax (or customs duty for non-U.S. buyers) unless a valid resale permit is presented.

SHIPPING OF PURCHASED LOTS TO ADDRESSES OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

10. Lots will be shipped by Federal Express (street addresses) or by USPS Express Mail (PO boxes) with a minimum fee of US$50 per shipment. If you wish to have your purchases delivered by another method, you must make your request in writing before the sale. You will need to prepay your invoice in full and guarantee that once the package is accepted by the postal service or other courier that HR Harmer, GPN Inc. is not liable for any loss or damage to the package, and that should any loss or damage take place, HR Harmer, GPN Inc. is not obligated to make refund or restitution.

JURISDICTION, VENUE, CHOICE OF LAW:

11. (a) Dispute resolution shall occur in New York County, New York, USA. The provisions of the Conditions of Sale will be construed and disputes determined by application of New York Law.

(b) Notice, Service of Process: Buyers agree to accept all notices and service of process relating to dispute resolution at the address provided by Buyer on any registration forms required to be executed as a condition of bidding in our auction.

(c) Dispute Resolution: All disputes and claims arising out of or relating to events and actions covered herein, brought by or against us, shall be resolved by mediation or binding arbitration in accord with the procedures set forth below. This provision does not apply to claims brought by the Buyer directly against the Consignor, including, but not limited to any action brought pursuant to the rescission provisions noted above.

MEDIATION AND ARBITRATION PROCEDURES

12. (a) Within 30 days of written notice that there is a dispute, the parties or their representatives may meet at a time and place mutually agreed upon, to mediate their differences. If the parties agree, a mediator acceptable to the parties shall be selected. The mediator shall be an attorney, trained in mediation techniques and familiar with commercial law and

the UCC. The mediator’s fees shall be shared equally and paid by all parties. At the mediation, all parties shall have actual authority to settle the dispute. Any statements made during, and all aspects of, the mediation process shall be kept confidential and shall not be admissible in any subsequent arbitration or judicial proceeding. Any resolution shall be confidential.

(b) If the parties cannot agree to mediation, or if mediation does not resolve the dispute, or in any event no longer than 60 days after receipt of written notice referred to above, the parties shall submit the dispute for binding arbitration before a single neutral arbitrator jointly selected, or absent agreement, selected from the panel of Arbitrators provided by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). If, within 15 days, the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, then AAA shall select one (1) person as arbitrator in accord with AAA rules. The arbitrator shall be an attorney, experienced in commercial law and with the UCC. The arbitrator shall be required to follow the law in making his award, and the award shall be in writing and shall set forth findings of fact and legal conclusions.

(c) The arbitration shall occur within 60 days of the selection of the arbitrator, in New York County, New York, unless the parties agree to another location. Discovery and the procedure for the Arbitration shall, unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, follow the procedures and policies of AAA governing commercial arbitration, subject however to the following modifications:

• (i) All arbitration proceedings shall be confidential. None of the parties nor the arbitrator may disclose the existence, content or results of the arbitration without the written consent of all parties.

• (ii) The parties shall attempt to agree on the issues to be arbitrated, or identify the disputed issues in writing no later than 45 days prior to arbitration.

• (iii) Unless otherwise agreed by the parties, discovery, if any, shall be limited as follows: (a) Requests for no more than 10 clearly identified categories of documents, to be provided to the requesting party within 14 days of written request therefore; (b) Depositions: No more than two (2) per party, provided however, the deposition(s) are to be completed within one (1) day; (c) Compliance with the above shall be enforced by the arbitrator in accord with New York law.

• (iv) Each party shall have no longer than eight (8) hours to present its position. The entire hearing before the arbitrator shall not take longer than three (3) consecutive days, unless all parties agree otherwise in writing.

(d) The award shall be made in writing no more than 30 days following the end of the proceeding. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered by any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party shall bear its own attorney’s fees and costs in connection with the proceedings and shall share equally the fees and expenses of the arbitrator.

Center of the Philatelic Trade...

Since the earliest days of the hobby, New York City has been the center of the philatelic trade in America. When the Harmer firm opened its first office outside of London in 1940, there was a reason they immediately chose New York; at that time nearly every important dealer and auction house had a presence in Manhattan. And although H.R. Harmer has moved a number of times since then, when it came time to relocate in 2019 we immediately once again settled on New York City.

The stamp trade is much different today than it was even several decades ago. The internet has made it so that dealers and auction houses can be located just about anywhere. However, in the minds of many collectors New York City still remains the center of the philatelic world.

Our office in Rockefeller Center, one of the most recognizable addresses on the planet, puts us a stone’s throw away from where our firm once held the legendary sales of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Alfred H. Caspary, and Alfred F. Lichtenstein collections and is conducting the ERIVAN sales today. H.R. Harmer is a New York company through and through, and we are proud to once again be situation in the city that has served as the backdrop for so much of our history.

Please contact us!

Phone: +1 929 436-2800 · E-mail: info@hrharmer.com

This auction catalogue shows selected stamps and covers from the ERIVAN Collection. They represent only a small amount of the extensive collection.

A series of about 30 auctions over a period of five years is planned for Erivan Haub's entire philatelic life's work – in Wiesbaden, New York, and Zurich, as well as at International Philatelic Exhibitions.

World's Leading Stamp Auction Houses

Heinrich Köhler in Wiesbaden, H.R. Harmer in New York, and Corinphila Auctions in Zurich were commissioned with the marketing and sale of this marvelous collection. The three stamp auction houses belong to the Global Philatelic Network, which has a total of five locations in Europe, America, and Asia. All of these auction houses contribute their knowledge of the most important international philatelic markets and bring decades of experience to the project. Together they offer unique expertise in the field of stamps and postal history on a national and international level.

Experienced Philatelists and Sought-After Experts

The network is made up of well-known and experienced philatelists from various countries who are active as globally recognized experts on national committees and as members of the international Association Internationale des Experts en Philatelie (A.I.E.P.). The Network’s companies operate and maintain large in-house libraries. They also have all the relevant auction catalogues and card indexes for the respective core areas.

Sell Your Stamps Where Your Stamps Sell Best

The Global Philatelic Network opens up the possibility of selling stamps where they can best be sold: “Sell your stamps where your stamps sell best.” Following this motto, the Global Philatelic Network supports collectors in offering their stamps on the best local collector markets - all over the world and with personal service.

Renowned Auctioneers: The Global Philatelic Network

• H.R. HARMER, New York City, United States

Stamp auctions since 1940

• HEINRICH KÖHLER Auktionshaus, Wiesbaden, Germany

The oldest stamp auction house in Germany, founded in 1913.

• CORINPHILA Auktionen, Zurich, Switzerland

The oldest stamp auction house in Switzerland, founded in 1919.

• CORINPHILA Veilingen, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Stamp auctions since 1974

• JOHN BULL Stamp Auctions, Hong Kong

The oldest stamp auction house in Hong Kong, founded in 1975.

The Global Philatelic Network

The Partners of the Global Philatelic Network Are

Germany’s Oldest Stamp Auction House

HEINRICH KÖHLER

Your Special Invitation to join the fascinating world of Civil War philately

Membership in the Civil War Philatelic Society serves an important role in collecting, preserving, and sharing the history of our nation. Our ongoing purpose is to further the study of the stamps and postal history of the Civil War and we need you. For over 85 years, we have worked together as collectors and students dedicated to preserving the philatelic history of a crucial time in our nation,s history, without the bias of politics or sectionalism. We hope you,ll join us in this important work.

Write, email, or visit us online for a packet of information describing the work and the benefits of membership in the Civil War Philatelic Society. You can also join easily and securely online at www.civilwarphilatelicsociety.org.

Larry Baum, Membership Chair 316 West Calhoun Street Sumter, SC 29150 brochure@civilwarphilatelicsociety.org www.CivilWarPhilatelicSociety.org Established 1935 •

ERIVAN COLLECTION