U.S. #U26, 3¢ star-die used with AT(HENS)/GA./May 15 (1861) cds partly struck off top of cover; addressed to former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and future Confederate General Howell Cobb while he was in the provisional congress in Montgomery, Ala. Addressed by T.R.R. Cobb (Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb) to his older brother, Howell.

U.S. #U27, 3¢ star-die entire, tied ATLANTA/Ga./MAY/10/1861 cds to “Mr. James Whitaker, Valley Town, N.C.”, Nice CSA Use 

U.S. 3¢ red #26, two copies - first canceled grid with matching WASHINGTON/D.C./MAY/7/1861 cds addressed on nifty small cover, reduced a bit at right, to “Mrs. Howell Cobb, Macon, Georgia”, undoubtedly from her husband Howell Cobb. From Macon it was forwarded with a second 3¢ red canceled by neat double circle MACON/GA/MAY/14 (1861) to Athens. Following Georgia's secession from the Union in 1861, Howell Cobb 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. A delightful and historic forwarded cover. Ex-Hall

U.S. 3¢ star-die entire #U27 tied blue PETERSBURG / Va. MAY 22 (1861) cds, CSA Use of U.S. stamps, addressed to “Mr. John E. ? Care of Capt Dodson, Petersburg Regiment Norfolk, Va.” This one ripe for research. Many choices in the military records. Ex-Hunter Thomas and Toby Tobias.

US 3¢ star-die entire #U26 tied by Washington, DC May 1861 cds addressed to Winchester, Va with unlisted DUE 3 receiving handstamp of Winchester during independent state or  Confederate use of US stamps period, Ex-Marcus White 

U.S. #26, 3¢ red with sealed pre-use tear, tied bold neat MOBILE / ALA / APR / 5 / 1862 double circle cancel on cover to “Hon. Milton Potter, Galveston, Texas” with docketing indicating that contents were from Mrs. Townsend re land matters. .

SHREVEPORT LA. JAN 1861 double-circle datestamp without day slug tying U.S.12¢ black #36 on buff legal-size courthouse cover to Rusk Tex., docketed with Jan. 27, 1861 receipt date (received after secession but probably mailed from Louisiana before it seceded), reduced at left (also folded to reduce width for display purposes), some wear at bottom, otherwise Fine, scarce use of single 12¢ 1857, Ex-Gunter 

KIRK'S FERRY LA. APR 2 (1861) cds on 3¢ Red Star-Die entire to Natchez Miss., 1861 docketing at left, Very Fine Confederate State use,  Ex-Gunter 

"West Fork P.O. Jany 28 /61". blue ms. postmark on folded letter to London, England, sender's notation "Paid" sufficed without any indication of rate, red "19" credit handstamp and no other markings, slight edgewear, Very Fine, rare transatlantic use during brief Louisiana Independent State period, Ex-Gunter 

Paris to New Orleans, May 1861, folded letter with France 80c Napoleon tied by diamond of dots and "Paris 2e/16 Mai 61" double-circle datestamp, red "Boston Paid 15 Jun. 1" credit datestamp, red "PD" and "Br Service" framed handstamps, "due 10" straightline handstamp applied at New Orleans for Confederate postage, this letter to the western CSA crossed the lines just prior to the June 7 discontinuance order, extensive erosion from writing ink (some pieces are breaking loose - needs restoration) - otherwise Fine, extremely rare, Ex-Gunter

U.S. 3¢ star-die, size 3, knife 2, tied indistinct 1861 cancel that is either independent state or CSA Use of U.S. rate on cover addressed to “Honr Howell Cobb, Montgomery, Ala”. Howell Cobb served as president of the Confederate Provisional Congress (1861-62) and thus this cover is a use while in that position in Montgomery before June 1, 1861. He was also a distinguished major general of the Confederate army. His personal history is well-known and illustrious.

U.S. #26, four copies of 3¢ red, two of which are tied by NEW YORK December 21, 1860 (day after SC seceded) cds and grids, used on slightly oversized/overweight linen-lined money envelope addressed to “Hon. Howell Cobb, Macon, Ga.” Howell Cobb 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. The address crossed out and forwarded from Macon to Clarksville, GA with two more stamps/cancels. From there it received the usual light blue indistinct cancel at lower right from Clarksville, Ga and a manuscript “Forwd 6c” to the left of the stamps. It appears to have made its last journey from Clarksville to Waresboro which address is sandwiched in between the bold initial address in light pencil (see light pencil arrows for placement). While this is in rather rough shape, it is a fascinating journey from north to south and around the state of Georgia with FOUR different towns in play.

U.S. #U26, 3¢ star-die tied GRENADA / Mi APR / 9 (1861) to Holden Mass. Signed John Kimbrough. Nice CSA use

U.S. #26, 3¢ dull red tied by CHARLESTON / S.C. / APR / 21 / 1861 cds on cover to “Mr. L. W. White, Abbeville C.H., S.C.” Lovely use of U.S. stamp in Confederacy

US #U27, 3¢ Star-die used with grid cancel and SAVANNAH  Ga ( prior owner says JAN but I really can’t so ascertain the month)  21, 1861. More likely U.S. used in the Confederacy. Addressed to “S. F. Dickinson Esq, Macon, Ga.” Georgia seceded from the Union on 19 JAN 1861, and joined the Confederacy on 4 FEB 1861, thus the period of independent use was only 16 days. Minor backflap opening tear otherwise Very Fine.

U.S. 3¢ star-die with weak partial strike of MACON / Ga cancel. Addressed to “Master Andrew J. Cobb, Care of Mrs. Howell Cobb, Athens Georgia”; part of back flap missing and tiny edge faults. Howell Cobb 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.  $140.

U.S. 3¢ star-die entire #U27, canceled CHARLESTON / S.C. / APR / 26 / 1861 cds, CSA use a short time after Ft. Sumter; A bit soiled and slightly reduced at top. Nice Hastie, Calhoun & Co. Saddlery and Coach Hardware blind embossed advertisement on top back flap. The company was run by William S. Hastie and Edward S. Calhoun. Edward was the nephew of John C. Calhoun. Ex-Marcus White, Marcus Brown and  J.V. Nielsen. $250.

Click on thumbnails images at left individually to enlarge.

U.S. 3¢ star-die entire #U27, canceled CHARLESTON / S.C. / MAR / 26 / 1861 cds, nice CSA use to “Miss Sue E. Foster, Spartanburg, So Ca”. $120.

U.S. 3¢ dull red #26 tied grid and SAVANNAH Ga. / MAR 4 (18613) cds on folded business letter from Cohen & Hertz to David Lopez, Charleston, file fold down center and toning on right side. Nice CSA Use of U.S. stamps. $150.

U.S. #26, 3¢ dull red just tied by tail of squiggle pen cancel with matching ms. Bealeton (Va) April 17 (1861) – the day Virginia seceded from the Union, thus a First Day Cover. A pristine cover addressed to “Dr. Jno C. Gordon, Trevillians Depot, Louisa, Va.” Long articulate letter from a family member headed Edgewood, April 16/17, 1861 saying “I have become perfectly disgusted with politics, I have no faith in the Convention or the people of the State or I fear a majority are against”. Back flap tears, one of which extends a tiny bit over the top clear of the postmark. Dr. Gordon was appointed an Asst. Surgeon in the 38th VA Infantry on June 12, 1861 (only a week after marrying Mary Beall Pegram) but resigned on November 06, 1861. Post-war he practiced medicine in various locations in Albemarle County, Va. A wonderful FDC and scarce town cancel. The subject of my column in the Nov-Dec 2009 American Stamp Dealer & Collector: http://www.webuystamps.com/ASDNOVDEC09.pdf $2,500.

U.S. # 35, 10¢ green (type V) tied by San Francisco, Cal Feb 11 (1861) cds on folded letter to “The Hon. H. A. Lyons, Bayou Sara, Louisiana” and “pr mail of 11th feby 1861” and “Via Panama”, stamp has tiny pre-use tear at left otherwise Very Fine and Scarce U.S. postage used in the Confederacy from San Francisco. Henry Lyons, a lawyer from Philadelphia, took part in the Gold Rush in the 1850s, invested in real estate and became one of first to serve on the first Supreme Court of California. The 3-page letter is from Edmund Leon in the most exquisite script (and I rarely, if ever, mention such) where he details concerns of an account failing with liabilities over a million dollar (huge in those days), $600,000 already attached, etc. Many of the Lyons family papers reside in the Special Collections of LSU. $2,000.

U.S. 1857 1¢ Type V, #24,  uncancelled but tied by the tail of a manuscript "2" beside a handstamped green (could be oxidized blue but presents as green color) "PAID" on a folded circular - a political solicitation notice. The stamp was not accepted by the postmaster and the sender was required to pay 2¢ postage in cash. The circular is dated Clarksville, Virginia May 30th, 1861. The sender had hoped to mail it while the U.S. stamp was still valid, however, the mail apparently did not get to the post office until June 1st or 3rd (the 2nd was a Sunday) and thus was required to pay the Confederate postage in cash. This was the equivalent of U.S. post offices not accepting stamps of the 1851-60 issues after they were demonetized in August of 1861: the 'Old Stamps Not Recognized' markings. This Confederate version, however, is much rarer, especially on printed matter. While not proveable, this is also likely a First Day of Confederate postage use. 2006 PF Certificate and a wonderful provenance of Ex-Sam Zimmerman, Vernon Morris and Ron Cipolla. $3,000.

U.S. 3¢ star-die #U26 tied grid with matching THOMASTON / Ga. / FEB / 27 (1861) cds U.S. used in the Confederacy, addressed to “Col. O(bediah). C. Gibson, Griffin, Ga.” professionally cleaned to a very fine appearance. Gibson served as Captain in Scogin's Battery, Georgia Light Artillery (Griffin Light Artillery). Griffin Light Artillery was organized at Griffin, Georgia in May, 1862. It was attached to the Department of South Carolina, Georgia , and Florida and served on the Georgia coast and in the defense of Savannah. Ex-Hill and Crouch. $170.

U.S. 3¢ star-die #U27with weak partial strike of MACON / Ga cancel. Addressed to “Master Andrew J. Cobb, Care of Mrs. Howell Cobb, Athens Georgia”; part of back flap missing and tiny edge faults. Howell Cobb 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.  $140.