CSA #4, 5¢ blue, roughly torn from sheet, tied AUGUSTA/GA double circle cancel on cover with a couple tiny edge tears at top otherwise Fine

CSA #4a & #6, rare mixed franking of 5¢ milky blue lithograph and 5¢ blue typograph, #4a is a "narrow stamp", but matters not, tied together by neat LIBERTY/Va./22/JUL cds on homemade cover to "Mr. J.F. Phillips Petersburg Va In care of Capt. R. M. (?) Co A 46 Regt. on turned cover with hand carried inside use to "Mr. Orren Phillips, Lumberton NC In care of Mr. H. Pitman Jr.", worth more research to ID the officer

CSA #4, vertical pair 5¢ blue (bottom stamp with colorless streak printing variety) tied neat together by neat blue COLUMBIA/S.C./AUG/5 cds on cover to "Rev. R. B. Barnwell, Richmond, Virginia", 2007 SCV $450.00

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue pair tied by almost discernible Virginia town cancel Sep 28 on pristine cover to Fancy Hill P.O., Va.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied by indistinct cds on small homemade cover, slightly reduced at left, addressed to "Mr. J.M. Garelnees, In care of Capt. McAul(a)y 7th Reg. N.C. State Troops, Gordonsville, Va."

Capt. James R. McAulay was a 25-year old teacher when he enlisted in Co I, NC 7th Infantry. He was wounded at Gaines Mills in 1862, again in 1863 at Chancellorsville and finally killed at Reams' Station in 1864. Detailed military bio included.

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue, two singles, clear to mostly ample margins, tied by large Canton grid cancels on pale green cover to Williamsboro, N.C., "Canton, Miss, Dec 9, 1862" origin cds alongside, F.-V.F., a scarce usage, with 2004 C.S.A. certificate noting a sealed cover tear in error - it is actually the end of a stitch watermark in the paper. Ex-Boshwit.

CSA #4a, 5¢ dark blue (deep color noted on verso as “Indigo” by the late Jack Molesworth) tied  by neat AUGUSTA/GA. cds on cover to Warrenton, Ga., Very Fine, Ex-Tate 

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue horizontal pair tied OAKS/N.C. cds to Hillsboro, NC on pristine homemade cover, slightly reduced at right. Operating from 1845-1865, the Bingham School at Oaks, NC served as a preparatory school for young men seeking entrance to the University of North Carolina at nearby Chapel Hill, for which reason the Oaks cancellation is considered by many students to be a college postmark. Ex-Tate 

CSA #4, 4-margin 5¢ blue tied neat RICHMOND/Va./JUN/9/1862 cds on homemade cover to “Mrs. John A. Benbury, Enfield, No.Ca. Care of Gov. Branch” which has been crossed out and redirected to Warrenton, N.C. John Avery Benbury (1827-1862) was a  captain in the 1st North Carolina Regiment, C.S.A. in Virginia       

CSA #4, 5¢ blue,  clear color and impression, large margins all around, tied by "Richmond Va./Mar 13 1862" cds on homemade cover to Clarksville, Va., tiny overall age speckles, Very Fine, 1982 PF certificate  

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied by indistinct cds (likely Gordonsville, Va) on cover addressed to “Rufus Lenoir, Esq., Lenoir, Caldwell Co., N.C.” with Lenoir crossed out and redirected to Fort Defiance; verso has contemporary docketing “Gordonsville” and in hand of sender on top back flap is noted “Jackson has cut off a whole lot of the Yanks on the Potomac & sent for reinforcements”, reduced at left. Neat piece of history. 

CSA #4, 5¢ blue used on cover with Boykins Depot Va April 27/62 manuscript cancel on cover to “John W. Cunningham Esq Raleigh N.C.”, Ex-Wyche and Tobias. 

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair, Stone 2 positions 37-38 (plated/signed by Daniel C. Warren) tied neatly on cover by RICHMOND / VA. / JAN / 17 /1863 cds on homemade cover with restored piece at upper left, addressed to “Mr. N. J. B. Whitlock, Dunville Enoch (County) Va”, 2008 SCV $450 – oddly enough a pair and a pair on cover catalog the same?  

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (close at left to showing large part of adjacent stamp at right), tied bold clear socked-on-the-nose ATLANTA / Ga. / JUN / 9 (1862) cds on cover to Catarrh, So. Carolina with profuse docketing on the face, some flap faults and ink erosion but very appealing use 

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied by blue cds on small black edged mourning cover (sound black edged flaps as well); stamp plated by the illustrious student Edward Knapp as Stone 3, position 33; addressed to “Dr. Daniel A. Langhorne, Shawsville P.O., Montgomery Co., Va.” 

Dr. Daniel Allen Langhorne military bio enclosed. He enlisted in the 42nd Virginia Infantry Field & Staff 9/8/1861 as a Lieut. Col. He was listed as wounded 3/23/1862 at Kernstown, Va (horse shot out from under him) and detailed to Lynchburg for local duty 4/21/1862 for the remainder of the war. He was part of influential Langhorne family described in delicious detail in Five Sisters: The Langhornes of Virginia by James Fox.

CSA #4, 5¢  blue, Stone 2, plated by prior owner as position 6, large margins to clear, tied by two strikes of "Richmond Va. ? 18, 1862" cds on homemade cover to “Revd Wm N. Ward Care of Revd J. Peterkin, Richmond,Virginia”, Very Fine, overpaid drop letter, Ex-Gunter 

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue pair tied to cover by army grid cancels, matching FARMVILLE / Va / JUL 16 cds; addressed to “John T(hruston). Thornton, Lieut. Col. 3rd Regiment Va. Cavalry, Richmond, Virginia.”  Cover and (scarce shade) stamps with small faults. Detailed military bio included. Thornton was a 32 year-old lawyer when he enlisted as a captain. He was killed on September 17, 1862 at Sharpsburg. 

CSA #4a, 5¢ dark blue, four margins, tied on darling embossed ladies cover by GRIFFIN, GA cds, missing most of back flap, otherwise Very Fine. Note that the stamp is upside down, which is said to be an expression of love and there is a verse within the top of the embossing which says "LOVE IS THE LOAN FOR LOVE". A total charmer.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue used on cover with manuscript “Columbia, Va April 10 / 62” cancel addressed to “Surgeon S. W. Carmichael, Camp Winder near Richmond Virginia”, small flap tears wrapping around in one tiny place at top otherwise Very Fine, Spottswood Wellford Carmichael was a surgeon in the Confederate States Infantry. He was born and died in Fredericksburg, Va. (1830-1904) and during the war served in various hospitals in Culpeper C.H., Danville, Chaffin’s Bluff, Richmond and Lynchburg. 

CSA #4a, 5¢ light blue, with ample to mostly large margins, cancelled with neat grid and matching CHAPEL HILL / N.C. / JUN / 30 (1862) cds, the Last Day of the 5¢ rate, minor flap tear, Extremely Fine, 1982 PF certificate #110 409, noted on verso as Stone 3 (not verified by me), Ex-Tate.

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue pair tied double strikes of neat RICHMOND / Va. / JUL / 6 / 1862 cds on pristine folded business letter to “Mssrs Thos Branch & Sons, Petersburg, Va.” from Dunlop, Moncure & Co., Extremely Fine Gem, Ex-Tate  

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, two singles from different printing stones, left is Stone 2, position 24 and right bottom sheet margin is Stone 3, position 49 as plated by Knapp, tied together by neat clear GILLISONVILLE / S.C. / AUG / 11 cds (1862) on pristine cover to “J. Bomar & CO, Bivingsville, S.C.” Bivings initially owned a cotton mill in that area and the town  took his name. Bomar later became part of a group that bought said mill. A spectacular cover with different shades and stones of the 5¢ blue lithograph. Ex-Knapp and Tate.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, three singles tied triple strike of RICHMOND / Va. / APR / 24 / 1862 cds on fresh cover to “Mr. W. R. Johnson, Petersburg, Va.”. Although not plated, the left stamp appears to be different plating or for sure different shade. A wonderful multiple use on what was no doubt an overweight letter. Ex-Tate.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, Stone 3 Position 33 with C and E joined variety, tiny tear along right edge, affixed over uncanceled U.S. 3¢ #26 and tied CHARLESTON / S.C. / APR / 22 / 1862 cds on printed S. Wyatt & Co. Tobacco Corner Card of Southern Tobacco Agency, #4 lifted and moved to left to display the 3¢ stamp, flap missing and large cover repair at top into 3¢. Handsome and scarce use. Ex-Tate.

Click on thumbnail images individually to enlarge.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair with huge margins to just touching at left, tied by STAUNTON / Va. / JUN / 12 / 1862 cds on oversized cover to “R.I. Echols A.Q.M. (Assistant Quarter Master), Charlotte, N.C.” but misdelivered to Fayetteville where it received a double circle town cancel dated June 20th and ms. “Missent to & For(warde)d”, cover reduced at sides and edge worn, but a wonderful use. There is no additional fee assessed for the missent cover.  Echols is shown in military records as a Major in the field and staff of Gen. and Staff of CS Infantry. Ex-Tate.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, Stone 2 Position 8 with huge left margin showing part of adjacent stamp, tied neat blue COLUMBIA / S.C. / MAR / 2 cds on small homemade cover with some cover edge wear, addressed to “Miss Cora R. Jordan, Georgetown, S. Carolina”,  Ex-Tate.

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue pair tied neat HALIFAX C.H. / VA. JUL / 24 / 1862 cds on spectacular thick bordered mourning cover addressed to “Mr. Thaddeus McGee, Rlaeigh, N. Carolina via Richmond”, back flaps beautifully edged as well; Ex-Tate.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (torn in half prior to use) tied SALEM / VA. / JUN / 23 (1862) cds on pristine Roanoke College printed corner card, addressed to “Miss E. Jane Younce, Wytheville, Va”, Very Fine, Ex-Warren and Tate. 

CSA #4, 5¢ blue (pre-use creases) tied by beautifully struck bold GRIFFIN / GA. / JUN / 23 (1862) cds on college corner card of Synodical Female College, Griffin, Georgia, flap tears, Very Fine, Ex-Simon and Tate.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied ORANGEBURG / S.C. / JUN / 24 cds on fresh elaborate Papergoods Advertising cover addressed to “Robert N. Gourdin, Charleston, S.C.” cover missing back flap and slightly reduced at top and with tiny repairs along top edge of face. Ex-Tate.  Stunning appearance.

CSA #4 and #6, 5¢ blue lithograph and 5¢ blue typograph tied together by neat clear ORANGEBURG / S.C. / NOV / 12 (1862) double circle cancel on neat adversity cover made from a Patent Circular, addressed to “Hon. Wilmot G. DeSaussure, Adjutant Inspector Gen(eral), Columbia, So.Ca.”, a scarce mixed franking on a wonderful adversity cover. The DeSaussure family played heavily into South Carolina history and politics from the Revolutionary War through the Civil War and beyond. Signed Brian Green, Ex-Tate.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, Stone 2, position 21 with “spur” (Scott listed variety) tied blue PETERSBURG / VA / JAN / 27 cds and second strike at left, stamp lifted and hinged in place to show WILKES BARRE / PA cds underneath with matching black grid at left; cover addressed to Prisoner of War "Lt. Col. S. Brown (Prisoner of War) Richmond, Va." (most likely Libby Prison); reverse franked with manuscript canceled U.S. 1861, 3¢ rose over back flap (torn when opened). 2000 PSE certificate #47597. Ex-Tate. Some diligent research would no doubt expose the story of this prisoner.

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue tied ANDERSON C.H. / S.C. / JUN / 30 (1862) cds on small cover to “Miss Lucy Mills, Abbeville C.H., South Carolina”, Last Day of 5¢ Rate, a key date exhibit item.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, Stone 2 position 10 with scarce ragged oval frame plate variety, 4-margins tied bold WILMINGTON / N.C. / 5 PAID / 14 / MAY (1862). This is the pre-war “altered 3” town cancel, scarce for this town, used on pristine homemade cover to Raleigh, N.C., Extremely Fine Gem.

Click on thumbnail images individually to enlarge.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied neat large MOCKSVILLE / N.C. / JUN / 30 (1862) cds – the Last Day of 5¢ Rate. Used on pale pink cover addressed to “Capt. W. B. Clement of the Wise Legion, Richmond, Va”, missing back flap and small cover restoration at upper left corner. William Bailey Clement was 26 years old when he enlisted in NC as a captain and was commissioned into the VA 10th Cavalry (Army of Northern Virginia) where he was promoted to Major, then Lt. Col. Fair amount of detail in the included military record.

CSA #4b, 5¢ light milky blue tied KINSTON / N.C. / JUN / 21 (1862) cds on homemade cover to “J.J. Hoyle, Esq. C. F. 55th Regt. N.C.T. Camp Mangum, Raleigh, N.C.” The 55th Infantry Regiment was organized at Camp Mangum, near Raleigh, NC in May 1862. The unit served in the Department of North Carolina, then moved to Virginia where it was assigned to General J.R. Davis' and Cooke's Brigade. It fought with the Army of Northern Virginia in Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Appomattox. The regiment lost 31% of the 640 engaged at Gettysburg and 59% of the 340 at The Wilderness. It surrendered with 4 officers and 77 men on April 9, 1865. Joseph J. Hoyle was not one of the lucky ones. He mustered in as a private at age 24 (a teacher) and rose to the rank of 1st Lieut. He was wounded at Globe Tavern, Va 8-18-64 and died of wounds in Richmond 9-1-64. Detailed military bio included

CSA #4, 5¢ blue vertical pair tied grids with ms “Hurtville, Ala, Oct. 24” cancel on commercially made cover addressed to “Mrs. Eliza J. Arnett, Macon, Georgia”. Cover was not claimed in Macon and was advertised in the local paper as indicated by the very scarce straight line handstamp ADVERTISED. Rare this nice. Ex-Ballard. 

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, small defect at left, tied by CHARLESTON /  S.C. / MAY 19 cds on cover to addressed to Mrs. John H. Chiles, New Market P.O., Abbeville District, South Carolina with manuscript endorsement at lower left "Please send by Millway Carrier”.  $450.

The "Millway Carrier" notation has always been somewhat of a mystery. Even though the cover originates in Charleston, the mark is associated with the Millway S.C. post office. Pre-war and C.S.A. covers are both known with the "Millway Carrier" notation. "Millway" was also the name of a plantation in that area. Noted C.S.A. Philatelist Dick Krieger wrote a two-part article on the "Millway Carrier" notation which appeared in the May-June and July-August 1988 issues of the Confederate Philatelist. In his article, he outlines the very confusing mail routes in the Millway region of the Abbeville District and points out that the "Millway Carrier" notation is seen only on covers addressed to New Market S.C. New Market was a depot on the Greenville and Columbia Railroad some 15-20 miles distant from Millway. Neither New Market nor Millway appear on a current map of South Carolina. He further concluded that the notation was a routing instruction applied by the sender to make certain that the letters were carried on to Millway by the official government mail routes. In other words, this was not a private carrier service. There has been some speculation among SC Postal Historians that a slave from the plantation may have been used at least part of the time to bring the mail from New Market to Millway, but this remains as speculation and has not been proven.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, stone 3, position 11, left sheet margin single tied by blurry ROME / Ga cds on small cover to Fairburn, Georgia, missing back flap. $120.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue, stone 2,  tied by RICHMOND / Va. cds on overpaid drop cover to “Judge R C L Moncure, Richmond, Va.”, flap faults, 2009 SCV $400.  $250.

CSA #4b, 5¢ milky blue, stone 3, positions 35-36 (4 margins) tied by RICHMOND / Va. / JUN 18 / 1862 cds (Powell 3b) on cover to Greenville CH, SC, slight cover reduction at right, 2009 SCV $500. $400.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied blue FRANKLIN DEPOT / Va. / APR / 21 / 1862 cds on narrow cover (top back flap missing) to “Rev. Jno R. Lee, Martinsville, Henry County, Va.” with original soldier’s letter headed Fort Dillard, SC April 18th 1862 from his soldier son C.D. Lee. Letter has been transcribed and is an insight into camp life. He mentions “the boys”that three soldiers brought with them to do their wash and such. They give him $120 a year and split it three ways. He asks that his father honor his debt should he not make it through the war. $450.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied light GRIFFIN / GA. MAR / 25 (1862) cds (4 margins) on neat homemade cover to “Mrs. M. A. E. Mooney, Greenville, So Ca”, small bit of back flap missing, otherwise Very Fine, Ex-Kohn and Crouch  $400.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied GRIFFIN / GA. / APR / 14 cds (4 margins), prior owner notes this as Stone 3 (not verified by me), on most interesting folded letter (fold splits) to the Georgia governor “His Excellency J(oseph).E. Brown, Milledgeville, Georgia” from Rev. Wm. Moseley saying “Col. J. H. Logan went to Savanah (sic) and was pressed into service & the notorius Briggs a Yankee who has been twice arrested is the operator in the Telegraph office and many of the citizens of Griffin are dissatisfied and wish him and every other Yankee that is not above suspicion removed from such responsible stations”, Ex-Crouch  $500.

CSA #4, 5¢ blue pair (4 margins) tied neat JACKSON / Miss / AUG / 4 (1862) cds on fresh cover to Ripley Mississippi via Pontotoc, most of back flap missing and shallow piece out at top with small tear. $250.