GAINESVILLE / GA. hand stamped PAID (no rate) JAN 22 (1864) to Atlanta “Care Dr. Harden Empire Hospital” on turned cover with pre-war use of Augusta, Ga. integral “5” cds to Gainesville, open 3 sides and slightly cut down. William P. Harden was the surgeon at Empire Hospital during the War. Ex-Katz

CARTERSVILLE / Ga./SEP/24 handstamped PAID (no rate) on cover addressed to “Capt Thomas F. Jones, 16th Geo Batt Partz Rangers Lt. Col. Nix, Knoxville, Tennessee”, Fine  Thomas Franklin Jones was in three different Georgia companies during the War and severely wounded in the arm at Morristown TN in 1864. (Military bio included)

EATONTON / Ga./JUN/15 handstamped PAID 5 on small embossed ladies cover to “Miss Rebecca L. Griggs, Macon, Geo.”, Ex-MacBride, a Charmer  

ROSWELL / GA/JAN (1862) cds with handstamped PAID 5 Type 1, all in VIOLET color! A gem with nice markings and very scarce! 

 ATHENS Ga PAID JAN 1 (1862) handstamped PAID 5 on commercial cover to Mr. Shelton H. Oliver, Cranford, Oglethorpe Co., Ga., slightly reduced at right; business letter enclosed that is erroneously dated Jan 1, 1861 instead of 1862 (typical turn of the year mistake)

Bottom of the letter cropped in scan as no writing on it, but is the full lettersheet.

SAVANNAH GA / PAID / DEC / 17 (1861) handstamped PAID 5 addressed to “Col. Jno B. Lamar, Macon, Geo”, back flap with blind embossed seal of Bank of the Republic / New York.

Hon. John B. Lamar was one of the largest planters in Georgia. He was serving as the Aide-de-Camp to Gen. Howell Cobb (the Cobb and Lamar families very intertwined – Lamar was Cobb’s brother-in-law). Col. Lamar was wounded at Crampton Gap, Maryland in September 1862 and died the next day. Cobb was given charges of the seven Lamar plantations and had 800 slaves under his supervision.

AUGUSTA / GA. PAID 10 over 5 (Dietz Type I B/A) scarce revalued handstamped paid addressed on edgeworn cover to “Lt. Col. F. T. Johnson, Maryland Regiment, Genl Elzeys Bridgade, Manassas, Virginia”. This is a rare Maryland Regiment addressed cover with rare markings to a (later to be) General.  Docketing on verso “from various correspondents re Army matters” – no doubt why this was an overweight cover.

Bradley Tyler Johnson (1829 - 1903) was elected Major after forming his Militia Company which became part of the 1st Maryland Infantry. He was promoted to Lt. Col. in July 1861 and to Col. in March 1862. The 1st Maryland fought at the First Manassas, served under "Stonewall" Jackson during the 1862 Shenandoah Valley Campaign and participated in the Seven Days Battles. At Harrisonburg, 6 JUN 1862, Col. Johnson had his horse shot from under him, and on the death of Gen. Turner Ashby, Johnson with his regiment "drove the enemy off with heavy loss," capturing Lt. Col. Thomas C. Kane of the Pennsylvania "Bucktails." In June of 1864 Johnson was promoted to Brig. General. He died in Amelia, Virginia in 1903, and is buried in Loudon Park Cemetary, Baltimore. 

AUGUSTA / GA. / NOV 12 (1861) double circle with matching straight line "PAID 5" handstamp and additional straight line "PAID 10" handstamp, on 1861 pale blue folded letter (later docketing says 1862, but actual letter dated 1861) re sales of cotton to, “Mr. S. T. Peck, Penfield, Green Cty, Geo.”, Very Fine. Nice scarce use of two rates. 

SAVANNAH, GA./JUN. 24, 1861/PAID, cds on lovely mourning cover to Athens, Ga. with matching "5" rate handstamp with black edged flaps, tiny piece of side flap missing otherwise Very Fine, Ex- Emerson, Grant, Bogg and Ballard

AUGUSTA / GA./Jul. 30 (1861) postmark with small PAID 10 handstamp on rare illustrated corner card showing the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, not listed in Dietz, Addressed to “Honl A. H. Stephens, Richmond, Virginia” (Vice President of the CSA) with the usual contents docketing on reverse indicating Wm J. Vason is soliciting an appointment as a surgeon for his bother Dr. M. E. Vason in the Albany Guards, part of flap torn off as is usual with Stephens correspondence. Included military record shows that Marcellus E. Vason was appointed Assistant Surgeon and served in 4th Georgia Infantry, 46th VA Infantry and 32nd VA Cavalry. A wonderful and rare use.

MACON / GA double circle with matching PAID 5 on Wesleyan Female College blue cameo corner card cover addressed to “James M. Robertson, Esq., Greenville, Ga.”, Very Fine 

AMERICUS / Ga. / NOV / 9 (1861), cds with handstamped PAID and manuscript "10" on cover addressed to "Rev. J. E. Rylander, Care of Col. E. Johnson (later Major General Edward Johnson), 12th Ga. Regt., Company A, Monterey, (West) Va." and "Please forward to Camp Bartow, N.W. Va." at bottom left, Very Fine. Military bio included. Although he enlisted as a 1st Sgt., John Emory Rylander was promoted to Capt and then Major and served in Co. C 10th Battalion GA Infantry; he was killed at Cold Harbor.

Gen. Edward Johnson entered the CS Army and quickly promoted to Brig. Gen. (Mexican War experience) under Stonewall Jackson and in 1863 was promoted to Maj. Gen. with illustrious service in both the Army of Northern Virginia and Army of Tennessee. Ex-Kohn and Ballard.  

AUGUSTA / GA. / AUG. 16 (1861), double circle postmark with matching straight line PAID handstamp and manuscript "20" rate on cover to “Wm. M. D’Antignac Esq., Bailey Springs, Lauderdale County, Ala.”, flap faults, slightly reduced at top and file fold at left, Very Fine, a scarce double rate cover. William M. D'Antignac was in Company K, 10th Regiment, Georgia Infantry. Ex-Ballard.

BARNESVILLE / Ga. / SEP / 12 (1861) cds with matching handstamped PAID and 10 on adversity cover made from blue business form of dealer in foreign and domestic dry goods, addressed to “Mrs. O.C. Gibson, Griffin, Ga.”, cover repair in top right corner made using part of back of cover, affects "D" of PAID which is partly drawn in with pencil. Most attractive use. Ex-Ballard.

CRAWFORDSVILLE / GA. / NOV / 22 (1861)cds with handstamp PAID 10 on cover to “Hon. A.H. Stephens, Richmond, Virginia” on cover with printed corner card for Farm Equipment, "Manufacturers of Cotton Gins, Seed Crushers and Feeders" and, flap missing and mended nick at top just into frame edge of "If not called for…" imprint, Extremely attractive use. Ex-Ballard.

DARIEN / GA. / FEB. 14 (1862), cds on cover noted “From J.A. Lester” to “Mr. J. W. Lester, Americus, Sumter County, Ga.” with matching handstamped PAID 5; pencil drawn floral design and with Valentine date it is not a stretch to think it contained same; quite the charmer;  Ex-Kohn, Gallagher and Ballard.

LAWRENCE VILLE / GA. / JUL / 15 (1861) cds with matching handstamped PAID and 5  on cover to “Hon. Howell Cobb, Athens, Ga.”, docketed at bottom left, "to be forwarded to Richmond if the Hon. Gentleman has gone there", slightly reduced at top, Very Fine. Cobb served as president of the Confederate Provisional Congress (1861-62) and was a major general of the Confederate army. His personal history is well-known and illustrious. Ex-Ballard.    

MACON / GA. / JUN / 4 (1861) double circle postmark on cover to Griffin with matching handstamped PAID and 5, minor cover wrinkles, Very Fine. Ex-Ballard. 

MACON / GA. / APR / 6 (1862), double circle postmark with matching large encircled PAID 5 on cover to “Mr. D.A. Jewell, Warrenton, Ga.”, Very Fine. Ex-Ballard. 

MACON / GEO. / SEP / 23 (1862), cds with matching handstamped PAID and 5 on cover to “Dr. James N. Le Conte, Nickajack, Tennessee”, included is long literate letter, flap missing and tiny nick at top into cds o/w Very Fine. Nickajack was the name of a proposed neutral state of Unionist areas of North Alabama and East Tennessee with an interesting history. Ex-Ballard.    

MONROE / GA. / NOV / 2 (1861) cds with matching handstamp PAID and 10 in circle on homemade cover to "Major John B. Cobb of Genl. Howell Cobb’s late Command, Quincy, Fla.", fresh, Very Fine. Ex-Ballard.  Howell Cobb served as president of the Confederate Provisional Congress (1861-62) and was a major general of the Confederate army. His personal history is well-known and illustrious. Ex-Ballard.       

ROME / GA. cds with handstamped “3” date corrected to “4” in ms with matching handstamped PAID and ms “10” on cover to "Mssrs Jno T Hardie & Co., New Orleans, La., C.S.A.", small part of flap missing, fresh, Very Fine.  Ex-Ballard.   

ATHENS Ga / PAID / SEP 20  with revalued PAID 10 over 5, considered a provisional use of the 5¢, on cover addressed to “Lieut John B. Cobb, Cobbs Georgia Legion, Yorktown, Virginia”. A cover similar to this one contains the note, “Andrew had these envelopes stamped & I am obliged to use them or loose the postage.”  The revaluing of the 5¢ rate also seems to hold this up. Very Fine and quite scarce. Cobb was part of Co. D, A.K.A. The Mell Volunteers or Rifles from Athens, Ga.  John Cobb was related to Howell Cobb who served as president of the Confederate Provisional Congress (1861-62) and a major general of the Confederate army; his personal history is well-known and illustrious. 

BLAKELY / Ga. / NOV (inverted month) / 17 (1862) with pencil manuscript “Paid 10” on folded letter to “Gov Brown, Milledgeville, Geo”; letter to the governor is singed by M. G. Stamper and John T. Hurvand who “recommend to your favorable consideration Col. Arthur Hood as a candidate for the position of Judge of this Circuit…not withstanding the high opinion I entertain of the other aspirants”. Pristine, Extremely Fine. Ex-Ballard. 

SANDERSVILLE / Ga. / APR / 3 / (1862) handstamped PAID 5 (double strike) with manuscript “Due 5” and black crayon slash applied in Richmond, addressed to “Hon A. H. Stephens, Richmond, Va.”; back flap missing, as is usual for Stephens correspondence, with characteristic contents docketing on verso “James S. Hook Sandersville Ga April 2, 1862 Enclosed $5.50 to pay Mr. Stephens what he expended in telegraphing the condition of brother while sick. Ex-Ballard, pristine, 2003 CSA certificate #4459 as genuine with no opinion as to crayon marking which was once thought to be a carrier marking, but that has yet to be proved. 

CANTON / Ga. / JUL / 11 cds with matching handstamped PAID 5 used on cover to “Mrs. Martha O. Thomas, Griffin, Geogia Care of Mary Anne Stark”, slightly reduced at left into cds. Scarce town marking, ex-Ballard.

BAINBRIDGE / Ga. / Jan 28 (1862) with matching handstamped PAID 5 on cover addressed to “Mrs. F. W. Haywood, Raleigh, N.C.”, slightly reduced at right, ex-Ballard.

ELLAVILLE / GA. cds with matching curved handstamped PAID 10, all in blue, plus manuscript “Pd 10” at upper right, on homemade cover to “Dr. Nathan Bozeman Care Dr C Norton, Montgomery, Ala”; opened slightly down into face but all paper there, Scarce town marking, ex-Oswald and Ballard.

BARTOW / Ga. / NOV / 1 cds with neat bold matching handstamped PAID 10 on pristine homemade cover addressed to “Wm. H. Baldy Esq, Macon, Ga.”, Extremely Fine, ex-Ballard.

THOMPSON / GA / OCT / 17 with matching handstamped PAID (no rate) on cover to “Mrs. S. P. Yancy, Atlanta, Ga.”; perfect scarce strikes on Fine cover, ex-Ballard.

MONTEZUMA / Ga./ with matching handstamped PAID 5 on pale yellow cover with great provenance; ex-Walcott, Kohn, Everett, Ballard.

GREENSBOROUGH / Ga. / SEP / 18 (1862) with large matching handstamped PAID 10 on cover addressed to “Rev. T. G. Bowen Care Dr Thos F Green, Milledgeville, Ga.”; great markings and provenance, Ex-Emerson, Zimmerman and Ballard.

KINGSTON / GA / SEP 25 handstamped PAID 10 rerated to 20 by “2”, perhaps the only recorded exemplar as not listed in 1986 New Dietz although will be in the forthcoming CSA Catalog; slightly reduced at bottom, ex-Ballard.

SANDERSVILLE / Ga. / JUL / 25 cds with matching blue handstamped PAID 10, Dietz type IB, on cover to “Richmond Virginia to Mr. Alexander Stephens” with top back flap missing, as is usual with Vice President Stephens’ correspondence; contents docketing on verso “Mrs. N. Cary July 25th 1862 Hiram William of the 28th Ga Regt is sick. She wants him discharged”; Apparently she did not get her wish.  He enlisted 3-4-62 in Co B 28th Ga Infantry. He was captured 3-5-65 at Kinston, NC and released from Pt. Lookout MD prison on 6-26-05. Very Fine  

INDIAN SPRINGS / GA. cds with manuscript “Paid 5” to “Hon E(dward). J. Harden, Savannah, Ga.” with docketing up left side “G. A. Violet Rec 16th Sept ‘61”. Scarce town. Judge Edward J. Harden was distinguished both as lawyer and judge. At the beginning of the war he was appointed by President Davis to the position of judge of the Confederate state district court for Georgia, and served in that capacity till the fall of the Confederacy. He was city attorney of Savannah both before and after the war.  $300.

SAVANNAH Ga. Paid / SEP/ 23 / 1861 cds with matching handstamped PAID 10 in oval on small cover to Richmond, reduced bit at right. $110.

GRIFFIN / GA. / JUN / 21 handstamped PAID 10, Dietz type III – the same type used in the postmaster provisional, very scarce and Superb, cover docketed as received 23 June 1864 and is addressed to “Hon. Edward J. Harden District Judge for Ga, Savannah, Ga.”  Harden (1813-1873) was appointed by President Jefferson Davis to the position of judge of the Confederate state district court for Georgia, and served in that capacity till the fall of the Confederacy. Ex-Crouch $325.

GRIFFIN / GA. / AUG / 3 (1861) handstamped PAID 5 on lemon cover addressed to “G. H. Winston, Esq., West Point, Ga.”, bit reduced at right and at edges by folding, Very Fine, Ex-Zimmerman, Crouch $250.

GRIFFIN / GA. / NOV / 6 (1861) handstamped PAID 5 on lemon cover addressed to “Dr. J. W. Wofford, Cassville, Geo.” Which has been turned and used after the war franked with 3¢ rose #65 tied target with matching Cartersville, Geo cds and October 1867 docketing to Dr. M.E. Carrere in Charleston. Very Scarce thus and shows continued adversity in reconstruction period. Ex-Oswald and Crouch. $350.

Click on thumbnails at left individually to enlarge.

GRIFFIN / GA. / JUL / 22 (1862) handstamped PAID 10 on cover to “Mrs. Emory Winship, Atlanta, Georgia” with original letter from Cousin Mollie relating the death by blind stagers and other escapades of some horses, Very Fine, Ex-Crouch $300.

GRIFFIN / GA. / OCT / 3 bold neat cds with matching handstamped PAID with no rate, but addressed to Griffin thus 2¢ drop rate understood. Ex-Kohn, Zimmerman and Crouch. $600.

GRIFFIN / GA. / SEP / 10 with handstamped 10 in circle on cover addressed to “Mrs. G. R. Niles, Griffin, Georgia” and manuscript “Politeness Mr. J. D. George”. Griffin had no 2¢ handstamp. This was illegally handcarried to the city for drop use. Captain George R. Niles was  in Georgia's Bartow Artillery in Charleston as part of the Siege Artillery; his wife lived in Georgia during the war. John D. George was initially enlisted in the Griffin Light Artillery and then transferred to the same unit as Niles. He no doubt facilitated the transmission of this correspondence. Ex-Crouch. $400.

GRIFFIN / GA. / AUG / 10 (1861) with handstamped 10 in circle on cover addressed to “Hon. A. H. Stephens, Richmond, Virginia” (Vice President of Confederacy) with usual contents docketing on verso say “Capt A. C. Dunn Griffin Ga 15th Aug wishes Dr. Jas Knott released from service at Pensacola that he may act as surgeon for his company”, reduced slightly at top otherwise Very Fine, Ex-Oswald and Crouch. Dr. Knott was a professor of anatomy at Middle Georgia Medical College in Griffin in 1860. Initially mustered in as a private into Co D 1st Confederate Regt Infantry, Fort McRee near Pensacola. November 4, 1861 shows discharge by request of Georgia Governor and various appointments as Asst. Surgeon and Surgeon, mostly in 53rd Ga. Infantry. Very detailed records included. Will be the subject of my column in ASD&C. $380.

ROSWELL / Ga. DEC 19 cds in violet with matching handstamped PAID 5 on cover addressed to Mess. McWilliams & Roberts, Griffin, Ga” (a large mercantile firm), bit reduced at right otherwise Very Fine, Scarce color cancel. Ex-Crouch.  $300.

AMERICUS / Ga. / MAR / 10 (1862) bold cds with matching handstamped PAID on small homemade cover to “Maj. J.C. Rylander, Camp Stevens near Griffin, Ga.” Ex-Crouch.  $300.

John Emory Rylander enlisted on June 15, 1861 as a 1st Sergeant in Co. “A” of 12th Georgia Infantry. He was discharged for promotion on March 4, 1862 when he was commissioned a captain and only two weeks later a major in Co. “C” 10th Georgia Infantry when this was written. He was killed at Cold Harbor, Virginia on June 2, 1864 and is buried in Americus, Georgia.

ATHENS / GA./ JUN / 8 with matching handstamped PAID 5 on cover to “Miss Lucy Blanton, Griffin, Georiga”, tiny edge tears at top and small part of back flap missing, otherwise Fine, Signed E(dward) S. Knapp, Ex- Knapp and Crouch.  $230

BARTOW / Ga. / OCT / 28 cds with inverted day/date, handstamped PAID 10, two nice strikes, on clean homemade cover to “Mrs. Eliza Jane Baldy, Griffin, Ga”” with interesting contemporary “patch” of “a” in “Ga.”, Very Fine, Ex-Crouch.  $230.

GRIFFIN/ GA. JUN / 1 (1861) handstamped PAID 5 – used on large blue cameo corner card cover of Synodical Female College. It is addressed to “Miss Hattie D. Cleveland, Limestone Springs, Spartanburg District, Republic of South Carolina, Confederate States of America”. Although there is no year date in the cds, the address as “Republic of South Carolina” cements the time line as it could not have been prior to secession nor is it likely to have been a later year when stamps were by then readily available, thus in my opinion making this the First Day of the Confederate postal system. Top back flap missing. Ex-Roger Oswald, where it was the lynchpin of his award winning exhibit, and more recently Ex Newton Crouch. Original March 1861 letter enclosed from the same correspondence, but clearly not sent in this envelope – an unfortunate switch of contents somewhere over the years. 2010 CSA and PF certificates stating genuine but - not unexpectedly - expressing no opinion as to the year date. $8,000.

GRIFFIN / GA. / OCT / 1 [1861] cds with matching handstamped PAID 10 on cover to “Lieut S. C. Mitchell, Care of Capt C. W. Robinson, Stark Volunteers, W… Ector Company, Lewisburg [West] Va. 13th Co Ga Reg. Floyds Brigade” (Army of Northern Virginia), bit raggedly opened at right, long original letter from his wife, fully transcribed, included saying “you tell me not to be alarmed or uneasy about you but I can’t help it…Mr. Campbell lectured last night about the sufferings of the wounded soldiers…I wrote yesterday and carried the leter downstairs to one of the servants…this morning…I saw one of the little negroes carrying it to the office after office hours…now that won’t go until tomorrow…you must make your men kill the Yankees quick so they can come home and bring you with them” – much more lovesick talk. Very Fine. (Chloe Bartlett Mitchell – known correspondence) Ex Crouch $220.

“Conyers Ga 7 April [1862] Pd 10¢” all in manuscript on gray and white wallpaper cover addressed to Hon A.H. Stephens, Richmond, Va (Vice President of the Confederacy) with bottom back flap missing and worn left edge easily hidden by the displayed wallpaper flap, usual contents docketing on the back flaps indicating letter was from Daniel Scott, Conyers, Geo April 7, 1862 requesting continuance in the office as postmaster. $450.

EATONTON / GA double circle cancel with matching PAID 10 handstamped paid, type 1C on cover to “Capt. R. B. Nisbet, Brown Rifles, 3rd Regiment Georgia Volunteers, Portsmouth, Virginia”. Slightly reduced at top grazing cds otherwise Very Fine. $140.

Reuben B. Nisbett was an ancient 60 years old when he enlisted 4-26-61 as a captain, eventually rising to Lt. Col. Military records included. He was wounded 7-1-62 at Malvern Hill, taken prisoner at Sharpsburg where also wounded and transferred to Invalid Corps 5-16-64. He was also a physician but served as an infantry officer.

“Dallas, Ga, Nov 19 Paid 10” all in manuscript on cover to James Whitaker, Jr. S. Carolina Cherokee County Vally Town PO, cover bit rounded at bottom right corner, Scarce small town cancel, A new catalog listing!   $150.

SAVANNAH Ga. / Paid / SEP / 22 cds with matching PAID 10 in oval on cover to Dr. L. D. Ford, Augusta, Geo with pencil docketing up right side “Robertson xxx xxx Private”. Dr. Ford is listed as a surgeon on CS Staff. Ex Hill $125.

Dr. Lewis DeSaussure Ford (1801-1883) helded organize the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta in 1832 and was a professor there. He was appointed Surgeon in the Provisional Army of the Confederacy 10-09-61 and Surgeon in Charge of the Georgia Hospital, 20th Street, Richmond, VA (probably General Hospital #14 – “2nd Georgia Hospital”). Served at the General Hospital in Augusta Georgia in 1862-63. After the War, he practiced medicine in Augusta and was also the mayor of Augusta, Ga. A son, Dr. Henry William DeSaussure Ford also practiced medicine in Augusta in 1886 and preferred to be called “DeSaussure Ford” which sometimes caused confusion with his father.

* SAVANNAH * GEO / JUN / 29 [1861] with handstamped PAID and manuscript “Paid 2” in pencil on 12-page pamphlet (plus covers), 5½" x 8½", containing the text of the moving Sermon delivered to the Pulaski Guards by Rt. Rev. Stephen Elliott, D. D., Rector of Christ Church, Savannah  “On the Second Sunday after Trinity, being the Sunday before their departure to join the Army in Virginia”; pamphlet addressed to Dr. M.F. Daughtry, Portsmouth, Virginia with manuscript “Printed Matter Paid” at lower left. Pamphlets up to three ounces were charged 2¢ postage; abrasion on front cover matches that on inside back cover where the pamphlet would have been folded in half and sealed. Quite rare rate and pamphlet. Ex Cipolla $1,200.

Waynesville, Ga. Nov  9 cds with matching handstamped PAID 10 on pristine homemade cover to Mr. J. H. Clinch, Valdosta, Ga.  John Houston McIntosh Clinch was part of an influential and wealthy family of land and slave owners. Beautiful strikes of these very scarce markings. Listing copy for the CSA Catalog. $250.