Columbus, Ga, 5¢ blue provisional entire #19XU1, no town cancel as frequently the case, but addressed and no doubt delivered to John A. Cobb, Esq., Athens, Ga, to whom it is addressed. Reduced at right with restoration strip at right just into the address. ONLY 27 RECORDED in the Crown surveys. SCV $1,200. $600.

John Addison Cobb, Jr. (1783-1885) was the father of Georgia Governor and Confederate Major General Howell Cobb, as well as Confederate Brig. Gen. Thomas Reade Rootes Cobb who is crediting with writing the Confederate Constitution.

New Orleans, La. 5¢ brown #62X3 tied by usual blurry bold town cancel (canceling device deteriorated with time) on cover to Jas. Elliott, Orchard Green, La. Bit of soiling and edge wear. SCV $450. $350.

Uniontown, Ala, 5¢ green on gray blue #86X3 tied to small pink-lined cover by 10 Mar town cancel, to Porter King, Marion, Ala. 1984 CSA certificate mis-characterized as “genuine stamp with large tear on repaired envelope.” The stamp does not have a tear. The entire right side of the cover and stamp have been restored, including a masterful job of creating a matching right side of the stamp with virtually perfect ink match. ONLY 9 RECORDED in Crown by Hart and Phillips. Ex Hessel. SCV $15,000. $6,500.

Charleston S.C., 5¢ blue #16X1, large margins to in where separated a bit roughly, uncanceled, neat strike of November 24, 1861, double-circle town cancel on ad cover to B. F. Brown, Esq, Anderson S.C., with J. N. Robson Commission Merchant's oval corner card, stamp with some toning, cover expertly repaired at top, otherwise Fine, perhaps 14 such are recorded in the Calhoun census and several are embossed and difficult to see clearly. Ex Calhoun with his owner backstamp. $500.

J.N. Robson & Son was established in 1839; Robson was a pioneer in introducing Western trade into Charleston. Much more information online from various sources.

Mobile, Ala. 2¢ black #58X1 tied neat [J]an Mobile town double circle datestamp on tiny local cover to Miss Anna W. Dorr, Care of S. W. Dorr Esq, Office [Mobile] Advertiser & Register. ONLY 23 RECORDED in the Crown combined surveys. 2016 CSA Certificate stating that stamp has nick at left center and top margin cuts into design; envelope reduced slightly at top and most of top back flap missing. SCV $6,000. $5,000.

Mobile, Ala 5¢ blue postmaster provisional #58X2, superb 4-margin copy tied neat Mobile Sept 22, 1861, double circle datestamp on darling small fancy laid paper envelope to Miss Cecilia Labadie, Galveston, Texas, with fabulous 6-page (4 pages plus 2 cross-written) original letter (extensive file splits that have been repaired with acid-free archival document tape) from a soldier, S. Badie, saying, in part, “We were somewhat alarmed that three nites ago after the federals bombarded Galveston…took possession of Ship Island. Our Confederates had Ship Island but the fire of the enemy was stronger than ours so we abandoned the Island & took our ammunitions & all our property...[a] great battle took place in Kentucky between 1800 Federals & 800 Confederates. Federals completely routed & Confederates Captured 400 stand of arms…on 19th in town of Barbourville in Eastern Kentucky…Captain Alden sent bomb shells in the City…here made by us Mobile at Foundry so we can defy those who enter our City. Old Abe has promised England & France to give them our Cotton but I am afraid he will look out & he will be…a hooter if he comes near this…” and on and on – excellent content. Lovely cover and letter, Ex Markovits. SCV $2,000. $2,750.

Mary Cecelia Labadie was one of the 3 daughters of Physician, businessman, and San Jacinto veteran, Nicholas Descomps Labadie. Much more detailed information on this Texas man on the linked page.

MACON GEO. / PAID 5, 5¢ black provisional entire #53XU1 used with Macon, Ga. Nov 12 [1861] cds, addressed to Messrs McWilliams & Roberts, Griffin, Ga. Lightly cleaned. “Plantation Collection” SCV   $650. CCV $750. $600.

Charleston, S.C., 5¢ blue #16X1 with large margins to just in, tied by bold clear town postmark Oct. 1, 1861, on cover to W. R. Johnston, Petersburg, Va. missing part of back flap and small cover repair at top not near the stamp. SCV $2,500. $1,100.

Macon, Ga., 5¢ black, Comma After "Office" #53X1, Type II, tied by MACON / GA double-circle datestamp on small cover to Mrs. Edward D[orr] Tracy, Huntsville Alabama, original letter enclosed, sister Hattie to sister Ellen, mentions knitting socks for the soldiers by candlelight, slightly reduced at top with top back flap removed, minor edge wear, lightly cleaned, Very Fine appearance.  Ex Everett and Pegram, 2009 CSA Certificate, SCV $7,500. $5,750.

General Edward Dorr Tracy led the 19th Alabama with great distinction at the battle of Shiloh.  He was killed on May 1st, 1863, while leading his Alabama regiments at the battle of Port Gibson. 

Mobile, Ala., 5¢ blue #58X2 tied by MOBILE / ALA // NOV / 8 / 1861 double-circle datestamp on cover to Mrs. R. H. Lee Care of Jabez Curry, Greensboro, Ala., letter enclosure matches handwriting but is from a different cover (based on date), slight stamp toning, cover slightly reduced at top and left, otherwise Very Fine. SCV $2,000. $1,100.

Nashville, Tenn., 5¢ violet brown #61X5 with large margins all around, tied by blue Nov. 26, 1861, town circular datestamp on cover to Mrs. A. E. Bardwell, Macon Miss., care of Lucretius Gillespie, few sealed tears at top from opening, not affecting stamp or mentioned on accompanying 1991 CSA certificate. Ex Caspary and Agre. Worth professional restoration. SCV $4,250. $2,200.

Canton Miss., 5¢ Black entire #14XU1, clear strike of “PAID / 5 / P” Star in Circle provisional handstamp, the "P" in center of the star is the initial of Postmaster William Priestly; light Jan. 17, 1862, cds on cover to Carroll Hoy & Co., New Orleans, usual filing pinholes this correspondence, late use. SCV $4,000.  $2,250.

Canton Miss., 5¢ Black entire #14XU1, clear strike of “PAID / 5 / P” Star in Circle provisional handstamp, the "P" in center of the star is the initial of Postmaster William Priestly; light Dec. 24, 1861, cds on cover to Carroll Hoy & Co., New Orleans, usual filing pinholes for this correspondence, Very Fine. Ex Hall. Undated H.E. Harris certificate, SCV $4,000.   $2,500.

Columbia, S.C., 5¢ blue #18XU1, clear strike of provisional marking; 28 NOV [1861] town postmark and PAID handstamp on entire to S. W. Davis, Esq, President, N.C. Powder Co., Charlotte, N.C., slightly reduced at right, Very Fine, SCV $900.  $750.

S.W. Davis was an attorney who established the North Carolina Power Manufacturing Company. More detailed information on linked page.

Milledgeville, Ga., 5¢ black #57XU1 used with Sep. 17 [1861] town postmark, entire addressed to miss S. R. Hawkins, Macon, Ga, Care G. B. Roberts, slightly reduced at top with two small sealed tears, one of which just touches provisional rim, fresh, 1985 PF Certificate, 21 listed in Crown surveys, SCV $500. $250.

Mobile, Ala., 5¢ Blue #58X2, tied by Mobile Oct. 12 [1861] double-circle datestamp on cover to "Miss Lewis, Care of Maj. Gen. Jno. L. Lewis, New Orleans La.", endorsed at left in same hand "Lieut. A.J. Lewis La. Infy", slightly reduced at left and light overall soiling. SCV $2,000. $950.

Andrew J. Lewis served in Company E, 12th Louisiana Infantry. Much more detailed information on linked page.

Montgomery, Ala., 5¢ red #59XU1 with bold strike of provisional marking on somewhat mottled blue-lined entire with black Jun 12 town cds, addressed to Mrs. L. T. Taylor, Pendleton, S.C.; tiny cover faults. 1983 PF Certificate, SCV $1,100. $550.

Charleston S.C., 5¢ Blue #16X1 tied by neat Charleston, S.C., Oct. 2, 1861, double circle datestamp on cover to Mrs. A. L. Hershman in Camden, So. Ca., with "Office of the Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph, Main Guard House, Charleston S.C." red imprint; left edge of cover restored as well as the stamp, Extremely Fine appearance. One of the two recorded "Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph" imprint covers with the Charleston postmaster's provisional, both from the same correspondence. Ex Calhoun. $2,800

Listed in both Provisionals-3 and Advertising

The Fire Alarm and Police Telegraph system history is recounted in detail on the linked page.

Athens Ga., 5¢ purple #5X1 horizontal pair, left stamp type I, right stamp type II, full to large margins except right stamp just touched at top, tied by grids with Athens Ga. Paid Dec. 17 cds on cover to Col. Howell Cobb, 16th Regt Geo Vol, Camp Bryan, Yorktown, Va.  Small skillful repair at right center of right stamp but it is all but impossible to detect and is not mentioned on accompanying 1997 CSA certificate which does mention the replaced back flap. The Athens provisionals, issued by Postmaster Crawford, were printed from two woodcut typographic engravings. An impression from the plate normally shows the small "Paid" (Type I) at left and the large "Paid" (Type II) at right. Ex Judd. SCV $7,500. $3,250.

Memphis, Tenn., 5¢ red #56X2, with huge top margin including significant portion of adjoining stamp, other sides full to just in at bottom, tied by partly clear strike of Memphis cds on darling small cover to Miss Anna J. Goddard, Camden Ark., Dec. 4, 1861, docketing, stamp with light pre-use crease, Very Fine, ex Brandon. SCV $2,000. $1,200.

Nashville, Tenn., 5¢ violet brown #61X5 with full margins to barely touched, beautiful deep shade on blued paper, tied by one of two strikes of PAID straightline, Nashville, Ten., Oct. 3, 1861, cds on fresh cover to D. Cleage, Athens Ga., light horizontal crease across top of cover barely affects stamp, still Very Fine, ex Felton, with 1988 CSA certificate. SCV $4,250. $2,600.

Memphis, Tenn., 5¢ red vertical pair #56X2 with 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 & Katz. $900.

John Hampden Randolph (1813-1883) was a Louisiana planter. During the Civil War he and a partner took their slaves and valuables to Washington County, Texas.  Much more detailed information on linked page. 

Raleigh, N.C., 5¢ Red entire #68XU1, usual part strike of provisional handstamp, clear blue RALEIGH / N.C. dateless double-circle handstamp on cover to H[enry] J[ohnson] Spicer, Traphill, N.C., Fine, Traphill was a haven for Union sympathizers during the war. SCV $400. $200.

Thomasville, Ga. 5¢ black handstamped provisional entire #82XU2 (CV $900) with June 13 [1862] town postmark, addressed to Lt. Col. W. D. Mitchell, Cranston’s Bluff, Savannah, Ga. Slightly reduced at left and back opening tears. $600.

William Dickey Mitchell served in Co. G, 29th Infantry (originally in the Savannah area then joined the Army of Tennessee) Much more detailed information on linked page. 

DALTON, Ga., 5¢ black (20XU1), clear strike at top right and DALTON GA. SEP 29 1861 circular datestamp at top left on cover to Miss Fannie E. Kingsley, Varnell Station Georgia, slightly reduced at right clear of markings, Very Fine, 36 recorded in Crown census; Ex MacBride and Wm. A. Fox. SCV $850. $650.

MARION, VA., 10¢ black (55X2), commonly known as the “Marion Check” due to the “Check” label at top; with manuscript "X" cancel affixed to reverse across the flap of a folded letter datelined "Marion Nov. 2nd 1862" with bold PAID 10 straightline cancel at top right and MARION VA NOV 3 circular datestamp at bottom left. The business letter is from Look & Lincoln and is addressed to Mssrs. Jones & Miller Lynchburg Va. The stamp was damaged upon opening; it was repaired with the left edge of the letter neatly moved to the right to keep the stamp intact, Extremely Fine appearance, 2021 Pascal Scheller certificate. SCV $30,000. $13,000.

This rare piece was considered missing and lost for more than 100 years. It appears with a description but no photo in the Crown census, last known to have been sold in the Worthington collection in 1917. In Earl Antrim’s records of Marion provisionals (he died in 1976), he shows a photo of the stamp described as in the Worthington sale and it is the same stamp. Of the seven covers known, one is part of the Tapling collection at the British Library, thus only six are available to collectors. The Tapling copy is sound but most of the others all have condition issues with the stamp, cover, or both. An on-cover example with cosmetic restoration described as one of the finest available was hammered down for $62,500 at a Siegel auction in April 1999. AN UNPARRALLED OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE A CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL ARISTOCRAT at a reasonable price. It is also the latest recorded use on cover. The list of the various owners of the Marion checks reads like a who’s who of Confederate philately.

Montgomery, Ala., 5¢ red (59XU1), mostly clear strike at top right with a clear MONTGOMERY Ala. JUL 8, 1861 circular datestamp at left, addressed to Mrs. Rebecca M. Bell Care of T.B. Howard Esq., Columbus, Georgia; light soiling and part of top flap missing, otherwise Fine. SCV $950. $850.