Sale 59: The Robert J. Karrer Collection of Charleston Postal History

Lot 4198    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. Feb 6 1861, cds with matching circular grid cancelling 3¢ dull red (26) on cover to London Island N.Y., original letter was datelined Feb. 3rd, the day before the C.S.A. was formed but not postmarked until three days later, the writer reflected the mood of the times with a dateline of "Republic of South Carolina", Very Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Interesting content concerns censorship, "…a great many of the letters from the north were opened here, likewise those sent from here to the north too, for the purpose of finding out the correspondent of the Tribune who took such particular care & pleasure in writing the most palpable lies about the state of things in our so-little-understood city of Charleston…".

Realized: $150

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Lot 4199    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. Feb 21 1861, clear strike of cds ties 3¢ dull red (26), small flaw, on cover with blue South Carolina Palmetto State Flag Patriotic design to Smith's Turnout S.C., flag attached to pole with seven nails; some staining and edge wear, erosion hole affects flag, Fine, A rare combination of the scarce Palmetto flag patriotic design and Confederate use of U.S. postage. C.S.A. Catalog No. FSC-3A $3,500.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

This design was used almost exclusively in Charleston S.C.

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Lot 4200    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. Feb. 27, 1861 To Antrim, Ireland, wrapper bearing 1¢ blue (24) horizontal pair, tied by "Charleston S.C. 'Paid' Feb 27 1861" cds, blue "1" pence due rating; original newspaper adherence on reverse of stamps causing some flaws, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

A REMARKABLE U.S. USED IN THE CONFEDERACY TRANS-ATLANTIC USE AT THE 2¢ PRINTED MATTER RATE TO IRELAND.

Realized: $1,450

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Lot 4201    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. '24' Mar 8 1861, clear strike of cds with 24¢ integral due rating on folded letter to Edinburgh, Scotland, blue Tobias Sons company oval, "N. York Br. Pkt. '5' " integral exchange cds, although endorsed per Cunard Line Australasian, actually carried by Galway Line Adriatic from New York Mar. 13th to Queenstown arriving Mar. 23rd, Edinburgh (3.25) backstamp and manuscript "1/-" shilling packet due rating; vertical file fold, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

A RARE CONFEDERATE USE TO SCOTLAND WITH EXCELLENT CIVIL WAR CONTENT.

Great Civil War content written only four days after Lincoln took office, "…On 4th March President Lincoln of the United States delivered his Inaugural & from its tone regarded by many as a declaration of war. The commissioners from Southern Confederacy are now at Washington to demand the surrender of all the forts held by United States in our Territory & upon result this mission hangs either a peaceable separation or a bloody one. Since our last report the State of "Texas" has also seceded & joined the "Confederate States" & then "Arkansas" seceded, we will have all the cotton producing states with us…".

The Cunard Line "Australian" broke down enroute to New York and returned to Queenstown. Her mails were transferred to "Arabia". Cunard Line engaged Galway's "Adriatic" to carry mails for the scheduled return trip eastbound.

Realized: $675

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Lot 4202    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. Mar 15 1861, clear strike of cds with handstamped "24" cent due rating on folded letter to Edinburgh, Scotland, blue Tobias Sons company oval, "Boston B. Pkt. '5' 20 Mar" exchange debit cds, carried as endorsed by Cunard Line Niagara from Boston Mar. 20th to Queenstown arriving Apr. 2nd, handstamped "1/" shilling packet due rating, Edinburgh (4.4) arrival backstamp; vertical file folds, F.-V.F., A rare Confederate use to Scotland.
Estimate    $500 - 750.

This is the next letter in the correspondence and mentions, "…There is no change in political affairs, as the Commissioners from Confederacy not yet received by United States Government at Washington…".

Realized: $400

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Lot 4203    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. Mar 23 1861, two 3¢ star die entires, first #U26 entire is postmarked with double-circle datestamp and cancelled by circular grid to Washington D.C. with laid lines, postmark shows some early deterioration of the outer circle, reduced at left and stain; second is immaculate #U27 entires postmarked with larger cds to Camden S.C., F.-V.F. pair showing both styles of the cds used on the same day.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

Realized: $110

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Lot 4204    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. May 31 1861, cds ties U.S. 3¢ dull red (26), bright color, on cover with 7-Star and Bars Patriotic Flag design, addressed to Newberry C.H. S.C., original letter datelined "June 1st 1861", the first day of the Confederate postal system, Very Fine. C.S.A. Catalog No. F7-7B var.
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

A REMARKABLE USE OF U.S. POSTAGE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE CONFEDERATE POSTAL SYSTEM.

It appears that Charleston postmaster Huger authorized selected mail bearing now-invalid U.S. stamps to enter C.S.A. mails with a backdated May 31st postmark on the Jun. 1st first day of the new Confederate postal system.

In his letter, the writer made several comments about the situation in South Carolina such as when he writes of a nation church newspaper: "It seems the 'Missionary' has succeeded in lashing itself to the Lincoln traces, not one publication belonging to our church is now fit for circulation in our government.".

Realized: $4,500

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Lot 4205    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. May 31 1861, neat strike of cds ties 3¢ dull red (26) on yellow cover to Raleigh N.C., blue "Raleigh N.C. Oct 1" backstamp with matching "Advertised" straightline handstamp, apparently unclaimed and red initial "B" handstamp of Dead Letter Office
with manuscript number and "$18"; some edge faults, F.-V.F., A rare advertised use sent on the Last Day U.S. Stamps Permitted to Pay Postage in the C.S.A.; ex-Weatherly.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

Realized: $525

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Lot 4206    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. May 31 1861, clear postmark on U.S. 3c star die entire (U27) to Cleveland Tenn., Very Fine, Last Day U.S. Stamps Permitted to Pay Postage, ex-Kohn.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

This was an interesting use to Tennessee, which did not secede until June 8th 1861, hence this was from the Confederacy to U. S. Territory.

Realized: $400

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Lot 4207    

Confederacy, Charleston S.C. Jun 1 1861, partial cds ties mostly removed U.S. 3¢ dull red (26) on cover to Aiken S.C., additional more complete strike on reverse of cover, "Held for Postage" fancy handstamp; part of back removed, Fine.
Estimate    $200 - 300.

THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THE "HELD FOR POSTAGE" MARKING USED IN THE C.S.A. PERIOD.

As compared with the other Jun. 1st cover, this shows that the demonetized stamp was not recognized at the Charleston post office, with the stamp likely defaced before the letter was forwarded to Aiken S.C.

Realized: $1,350

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