Memphis, Tenn. 5¢ red vertical pair #56X2, gum stains, tied bold DEC 11 (1861) town cancel on lightly stained cover to "John H. Randolph, Esq., Bayou Goula, La" from John Shelby & Co., Ex-Matz, Scott Retail Value $3,500.00;a longer interesting bio of Randolph accompanies $975.

John Hampden Randolph (1813-1883) was a Louisiana planter. During the Civil War he took slaves and valuables to Washington County, Texas, where he farmed for the duration of the war on rented land. Algernon Sidney Randolph (John's oldest son) was killed fighting for the Confederate Army during the siege of Vicksburg in 1863.

Petersburg Va., 5¢ Red #65X1, Position 10, huge right sheet margin, tied by blue "Petersburg Va. Jan. 23" town cancel on 1862 folded letter to Weldon N.C., both the cover and stamp have minor surface abrasions possibly caused by vermin, otherwise Fine, Ex-Tobias, 2008 SCV $2,500.

New Orleans, La. 5¢ brown on white #62X3 with four nice margins all around, tied town cancel on cover to Livonia, La. 

Petersburg, Va. 5¢ red postmaster provisional, Scott #65X1, position 10, tied by usual blue town cancel on commercial cover to Raleigh, N.Ca., top back flap repaired, 2008 SCV $2,500.   

New Orleans, La. 5¢ brown on bluish #62X4 tied neat bold 23 October 1861 town cancel on cover addressed to “Hon. J. Alex Ventress, Woodville, Miss.” (the town where Jefferson Davis was reared), small portion top back flap missing, 2008 SCV $425.  

Memphis, Tenn 5¢ red postmaster provisional #56X2 tied on small neat cover to Nashville, flap faults, 2008 SCV $1,750.  

Abingdon, Va. 5¢ black #2XU2 nicely struck on partial cover, essentially a front, but nice examples of the strikes.  2009 SCV $1,400. 

New Orleans La., 5¢ brown on white #62X3, position 2, large margins including a trace of imprint at top, tied by indistinct New Orleans circular datestamp on cover to “Mr. Lestan Prudhomme, Natchitoches La.”, from a very old aristocratic Nathchitoches family (much may be found online about them), Very Fine  Ex-Gunter

Columbia, S.C. 5¢ blue #18XU4a with seal control mark on back flaps, addressed to “Mr. Ralph Gorrell Greensboro, N.C.”, Very Fine and scarce handstamped provisional entire, 2009 SCV $1,250.  Ex-Cantey.

Click on thumbnail images at left individually to enlarge.

Milledgeville, Ga. 10¢ black, type I, # 57XU5 provisional handstamp on overpaid drop cover addressed locally with no accompanying cds, Very Fine, Ex-Ballard, SCV $800 

Atlanta, Ga. 5¢ black #62XU2 postmaster provisional, uncanceled but contemporarily addressed to Memphis so most likely went through the mail, beautiful strike on pristine cover, Ex-Ballard, SCV $700.

Petersburg, Va. 5¢ red #65X1 tied blue town cancel on cover addressed in peacock blue ink to “Mrs. James Haskins Pres L.L. Aid Society Kennedy’s P.O. Brunswick, Va”, slightly reduced at top and couple expertly sealed cover tears at top, Handsome use, 2009 SCV $2,500.

Atlanta, Ga. 10¢ black handstamped provisional #6XU9 used with July 9, 1861 town cancel, faded or removed address, soiled, edge worn and folded down all around to enhance appearance; Ex-Ballard, 2009 SCV $2,750.

Charleston, S.C. 5¢ blue #16X1, tied by CHARLESTON / S.C. / JAN / 21 / 1862 dc on folded business letter to “N. B. Knapp, Esq., Savannah, Geo., 2010 SCV $2,500.  $1,250.

Charleston, S.C. 5¢ blue #16X1, horizontal file fold through stamp, tied by CHARLESTON / S.C. / DEC / 4 / 1861 cds on folded business letter to “Revd H.A. Tupper, Washington, Geoa”, Ex-Kohn, 2010 SCV $2,500.  $1,250.

New Orleans, La.  5¢ brown #62X3, two singles both with large margins, tied by straight line PAID handstamps on 1861 folded letter sheet to Jackson, Miss. with matching New Orleans, La., Jul 21 cds at center; minor edge wear and file fold through postmark, otherwise Very Fine.  $975.

Macon, Ga.5¢ black handstamped provisional #53XU1, "5 over PAID" variety, (much scarcer than PAID over 5) used with OCT 30 (1861) town cancel on orange cameo corner card of Grocery and Staple Goods dealer, addressed to the mercantile firm of Messrs McWilliams & Roberts, Griffin, Ga., Ex-Crouch. $2,300.

New Orleans, La. 5¢ brown on bluish #62X4 pair (large to huge side margins) tied neat strike 22 Oct town cancel on pristine cover to “Mssrs McWilliams & Roberts, Griffin, Ga” (large mercantile firm). Pieces out of the back flap,1999 PF Certificate #0348103, Ex-Wm. A. Fox and W. Newton Crouch, Jr. 2010 SCV $700. $1,000.

Memphis, Tenn. 5¢ red #56X2 cut to shape and tied on cover by Nov 1861 town cancel on neat cover to “Dr. Jno W. Justice, Fulton, Miss.” Scarce and desirable. $1,000.

Memphis, Tenn. 5¢ red #56X2 tied by town cancel on patriotic cover with Jeff Davis Medallion design in blue (Dietz JD-1, verse 35) to “Thomas S. Waberman, New Orleans, La.”; ineffective attempt made to obliterate name of addressee, part of top flap missing, otherwise Fine, 2010 SCV $5,000.

New Orleans, 5¢ brown #62X5, two singles - positions 31 and 39 - tied by December town cancel on cover to Memphis, 2010 SCV for pair on cover $1,000. $350.

New Orleans La., 5¢ red brown on bluish #62X4 with clear to huge margins, tied by NEW ORLEANS / LA / 17 / OCT [1861] cds on cover from Louisville to “Miss Elve A. B. Moore, in care of Jos[eph] H. Moore, Morganza Post Office, Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana”, carried across the lines to New Orleans and placed into the C.S.A. postal system. Interesting letter enclosure datelined "Louisville Oct. 4, 1861” in which the writer states that a friend, Mrs. Tarlton, "kindly volunteered to take and mail this letter in the Confederate States, so that it would most certainly reach its destination. You may ask yourself if she can visit New Orleans, why cannot I? She is a lady and by the influence of a relation procured a pass from Gen. Anderson. Now I do not possess that same amount of good loyal Union influence and consequently am doomed to abide my time...Kentucky is now in a most deplorable condition; overrun by soldiers from the North and South: both parties seeming anxious to secure to themselves the rich prize...For good and sufficient reasons I will not mention in this letter any war news. Know one thing that we now possess very little freedom in the United States. No one is allowed to speak out his sentiments or to criticise the powers that be: if he does not desire to find a resting place in some miserable prison...There is no despotism outside of Turkey more oppressive than the United States at present.", cover with minor splits and small faults along edges, still Fine, a rare example of contraband mail carried across the lines, fabulous letter, illustrated in Special Routes (p. 178), Ex-Walkse. $2,300.

Columbia, S.C. 5¢ blue #18XU1 handstamped provisional entire addressed to Dr. J.R. B. Adams, Oak Forest, NC, bit reduced at right with lower right corner restoration, fresh 2010 SCV $900. $550.

New Orleans 5¢ brown on bluish #62X4 tied straightline PAID with matching town cancel, addressed to Mrs J.L. Wilson, Relief, Sunflower Co Miss”, cover creasing $350.

Raleigh, N.C. 5¢ red #68XU1 handstamped provisional with blue Aug 27, 1861 town cancel on pristine orange envelope to “Dr J . F. Shaffner, Salem, N.C.”, top back flap missing, docketing re contents on back flaps, 2010 SCV $600. $400.

Raleigh, N.C. 5¢ red #68XU1 handstamped provisional with blue Aug 12, 1861 town cancel on cover to “Mrs. A. M. McPhuters Care Thos L. Leftwich Esq., Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia.”, red wax seal on flaps, some cover light staining, 2010 SCV $600. The Leftwich family was well known and prominent in Virginia. $350.

Raleigh, N.C. 5¢ red #68XU1 handstamped provisional with blue town cancelon small ladies cover to “Miss Sallie E. Bragg, Care of Mr. Joe Dunn, Petersburg, Va.”, flap faults, 2010 SCV $600. Ex-John Luff. $350.

RALEIGH, N.C. 5¢ red handstamped postmaster provisional #68XU1 with matching Raleigh July (1861) double circle that appears red on top and blue on the bottom, addressed to “Miss Lucy Plummer, Independence, Va”, bit reduced at bottom, Ex Brugh and Gallagher, Scott SCV $600.  $400.

MONTGOMERY / Ala. / JUN / 7 / 1861 / 5¢ red T.Welsh handstamped postmaster provisional entire #59XU1 front only (no back), 2010 SCV for cover $1,100, slight offset of red PMP marking immediately to right of cds as well, to Mrs. M.A. Chadwick, Greensboro, Ala.  $400.

Charleston, S.C. 5¢ blue #16X1 tied light double circle town cancel on narrow commercially made cover to Miss A M. Hagen, High Point Female College, High Point, N.C., tiniest cover edge faults, 2011 SCV $2,500, 1989 CSA certificate #01869. $2,000.

Thomasville, Ga. 5¢ black #82XU2 beautifully struck handstamp provisional with Jun 28 [1862] – verified as the latest known use not long before the change to the universal 10¢ rate. Addressed to “Col. W. D. Mitchell, 29th Regt Ga. Vol., Savannah, Georgia”, missing back flap, Ex Brown, 2011 SCV $900. $1,000.

William Dixon Mitchell of Berrien County, Ga. enlisted October 1, 1861 as a Captain in Co. G of the 29th Ga. Infantry. He was wounded at Chicamauga, taken prisoner at Nashville and imprisoned at Johnson’s Island. More detailed military records included. The 29th Infantry Regiment, organized at Big Shanty, Ga. during the summer of 1861, contained men from Thomas, Berrien, Tift, Stephens, and Dougherty counties. For a time, Companies A and G served as heavy artillerists in the Savannah area and the rest of the command was at Charleston. It then was assigned to General Wilson's, C.H. Stevens', and H.R. Jackson's Brigade and in September 1863 was consolidated with the 30th Regiment.

Raleigh, N.C. 5¢ red #68XU1 handstamped provisional with beautiful strong clear markings on small cover to Mrs. Mary Ann Bitting, Rural Hall, Forsythe Co NC, ex Emerson and Everett, 2011 SCV $600. $800.

Columbia, S.C. 5¢ blue pristine orange entire #18XU1 with matching straightline PAID Dec 13 [1861] cds addressed to Mrs. Mary P. Dawkins, Grindal Shoals PO, Union Dst, So. Car., tiny portion of upper right corner restored, 2011 SCV $900. $500.

Columbia, S.C. 5¢ blue square white entire #18XU1 (not reduced, is a naturally square envelope) with matching straightline PAID Dec 16 [1861] cds addressed to Judge Withers, Camden, So. Ca., from W. R. Withers (docketing on back and front). W.R. Withers was Judge Withers’ son. Edge tears at top and bottom. 2011 SCV $900. $500.

Thomas Jefferson Withers (1804-1865). Withers had an illustrious legal career, but in death is perhaps best immortalized through Mary Boykin Chestnut in her famous Diary from Dixie. Withers was her guardian and she shared many fascinating glimpses of him in her diary. The subject of a forthcoming column in The American Stamp Dealer and Collector.

Columbia, S.C. 5¢ blue white entire #18XU1 with matching straightline PAID, 28 Nov [1861] cds with blind embossed American Telegraph Company cameo at upper left, addressed to Wm Lyon, Greenwood SC, war weary and restored at lower right, would benefit from professional restoration.  2011 SCV $900+ $350.

New Orleans, La. vertical pair 5¢ red brown on bluish #62X4, tied double strike of PAID cancel as well as town cancel, docketing on verso Sept 27 ’61, bit reduced at right and small stamp faults, addressed to Samuel A. Love Esq, Doaksville, Arkansas,  2011 SCV $700.  $300.

Doaksville was the principal antebellum town of the Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory located immediately north and west of the present Choctaw County community of Fort Towson. Named for Josiah Doak, Doaksville was founded between 1824 and 1831. Doaks co-owned the Mississippi trading post where a Choctaw removal treaty was negotiated in 1820. He and his brother preceded the Choctaw to Indian Territory and erected a store above the mouth of the Kiamichi River. They relocated north when Fort Towson was established in 1824, or after the army reoccupied the site in 1831. Served by steamboats plying the Red River, Doaksville prospered. Several general stores, a gristmill, blacksmith, and hotel operated there before 1840, and two newspapers, the Choctaw Telegraph and the Choctaw Intelligencer, were published there. Doaksville served as the capital of the Choctaw Nation 1860-63. A convention held there in 1860 resulted in the ratification of the Doaksville Constitution, the document that guided tribal government until 1906. Doaksville was where Confederate General Stand Watie surrendered in 1865 and it declined after the Civil War. The Choctaw capital was moved to Chahta Tamaha in 1863, but the Doaksville post office functioned until 1903.

Raleigh, N.C. 5¢ red entire #68XU1 with blue Dec 22, 1861 town cancel, addressed to “Maj. Wm. A. Prevo (Or Commanding Officer) Jackson’s Creed, Randloph Co., N.C. “and manuscript at top left “Adutant General’s Office / Official Business” at top right. Very nice use, 2011 SCV $600. William A. Prevo was a Major in the 63rd North Carolina Militia (b: 5/31/1820; d: 4/18/1901)  $600.

Raleigh, N.C. 5¢ red entire #68XU1 with June 20 [1861] blue town cancel, addressed to “Capt William H. Easley, Yorktown, Va.”, tears across bottom, 2011 SCV $600. $250.

William H. Easley (1831-1861), a graduate of VMI, was listed as a 29 year-old farmer when he enlisted 5-20-61 at Black Walnut, Va. as a Captain, mustered into Co. C, 3rd Virginia Cavalry (the Black Walnut Light Dragoons). He died of typhoid at home on 12-11-61. Military record included as well as heart-wrenching long description of his last hours and last words as he soared heavenward.

Memphis, Tenn. #56X2 5¢ red with large margins slightly cut in, minor margin stain, tied by Memphis, Ten. cds on cover to Miss Lou Scott, Care of Capt. [C.C.] Scott, Camden, Ark., with Camden /Ark. / Jul / 15 cds with manuscript "Forwarded, Due 5cts", back flap with ms “Mrs. Martha A. Jones, Memphis Care of Shelton Jones, Tenn” and sent back to Memphis, slightly reduced at left, Choice, Ex Matz with Weill backstamp $4,000.

Captain Christopher C. Scott (1830-1920) was born in Gainesville, Ala. and in 1844 the Scott family moved to Camden, Ark., where Capt. Scott was reared. In 1861, he enlisted in the Camden Knights, the first company from that section to take up arms in defense of the South, serving under General Fagan for one year in the Virginia campaign. He participated in the battles of Manassas and Corinth and was also at Hatchie Bridge, where for his bravery he was known to his comrades and to Southern historians as "the hero of Hatchie Bridge." The following year, he assisted in organizing the Appeal Battery and was elected lieutenant, serving with distinction until the death of his captain during the siege of Vicksburg, when he succeeded in command. After the exchange of prisoners following the capture of Vicksburg, Captain Scott was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, where his battery was incorporated into the 5th Arkansas Battalion, which finally surrendered in Marshall, Tex. Returning to his home in Camden, Captain Scott took up the practice of law, but later decided to embark in the mercantile business, removing to Arkadelphia in 1869

Danville, Va. #21XU3, 5¢ black on dark buff of "Southern" curved style, press-printed illustrated design to New Orleans, trivial edge wear, Very Fine and quite scarce. Addressed but likely hand carried as there is no date stamp, which wasn't unusual for this provisional; 2011 SCV $6,000 as postally used.  Ex Wiseman, who was known for collecting Danville provisionals and Frame Lines.  $3,000

Baton Rouge , La. 5¢ red and green provisional #11X2 tied by Sep 3, 1861 town cancel on pristine cover to Mrs. E. P. McCants, New Orleans, Louisiana; stamp retouched at bottom left. Note included that it was bought from W[arren] H. Colson, Boston (famous dealer of old) in 1919. A Beauty!  $4,250.

New Orleans, La. 2¢ blue #62X1 tied light October 29 [1861] town cancel on printed circular dated October 11, 1861 to S. H. Clark Esq, Attalaville Miss. Silas H. Clark was the founder of Attalaville; he owned and controlled the mercantile store and shops as well as owning and maintaining two large plantations. He was engaged in the commission business in New Orleans under the firm name of Thompson & Clark. The circular has interesting content specifying the difficulty of making collections in the country and wishing to facilitate efforts of their customers to meet their debts and offering discounts for gold and silver specie. Lovely clean use, Ex MacBride and Rosenberg.  $5,000.

Memphis, Tenn 5¢ pale red tied by October 2, 1861 town cancel on commercially made cover made from laid paper, bit reduced at right, addressed to Dr. Pugh Houston, Popes Depot, Mississippi. Ex Hambrecht 2011 SCV $1,750. $1,600.

Raleigh, N.C. 5¢ red #68XU1handstamped postmaster provisional with usual blue double circle town cancel dated Aug 12, 1861, addressed to Dr. W. A. Holt, Graham, North Carolina; bit of staining and couple odd tape-like adhesions at either side which could likely be carefully removed. Detailed bio included from the unpublished biographical register of  physicians who served the Confederacy in a medical capacity, courtesy of Drs. F. T. Hambrecht and J.L. Koste. A microfiche copy of special orders to Holt signed by Medical Director P.E. Hines also included. Ex Hambrecht  Passed through the hands of famous dealers Weill and Ward. $450.

Dr. William Alexander Holt (1828-1886) was born in Orange Co NC and received his M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He was Asst Surgeon in the 27th NC Infantry  early in the war and confirmed as Surgeon by the CS Senate in 1862. He served in various capacities and locations including the Board of Medical Examinations in both Raleigh and Goldborough. Division or Brigade Surgeon for General W. D. Pender.

Canton, Mississippi 5¢ black entire #14XU1, beautifully struck in upper right corner with Dec 24, 1861 town cancel and addressed to Messrs Carroll Hoy & Co., New Orleans, La with usual pin holes for this well-known correspondence. This provisional was prepared by handstamping envelopes with a design that features a solid star with “PAID 5” between the points of the star. The negative “P” in the center of the star stands for the last name of the postmaster, William Priestley. Ex Richard Hall, 2012 SCV $4,000. $4,000.

Mobile, Ala 5¢ blue #58X2 tied Nov 14, 1861 double circle town cancel on cover to Mr. R. L. Steel, McKinley, Ala; reduced at left, 2012 SCV $1,800.  $750.