Lot
1151 
Confederacy, Memphis, Tenn., 1861, 2¢ blue, large margins to just into frameline at bottom, tied by bold strike of "Memphis Ten. May 6, 1862" cds on blue folded part printed insurance policy addressed locally; vertical file fold, few faults only apparent, when the notice is opened, Very Fine, ex-Pratt, MacBride, Hart, Dr. Graves, Boshwit; with 2007 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 56X1 $12,500.
AN EXTREMELY RARE AND DESIRABLE 2¢ MEMPHIS PROVISIONAL USAGE PAYING THE 2¢ DROP RATE. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST OF ONLY FIFTEEN COVERS RECORDED BY CROWN.
Samuel Mosby is believed to have been co-owner of the Mosby & Anderson Storage, listed in the 1859 Memphis City Directory. The business was located on Union between Second and Third streets (where the Hotel Peabody is today).
The census by Billy Matz (Confederate Philatelist, Mar. 1967) identified twelve 2c Memphis provisional covers, and the Crown book reported an additional three covers. The cover offered here has a clipping of the Mozian auction description from 1941 affixed on the reverse, "…Mr. Pratt who plated this stamp and examined most of the known copies, mentioned it is the finest he has ever seen…".
Realized: $10,000