Fredericksburg Va., 5c Blue on
Thin Bluish (26X1). Complete sheet of 20, comprising two impressions
from setting of ten subjects (5 x 2), full original gum, creases not
readily apparent on face, translucent fingerprint mark, three small holes
in top rowAS FINE AS THIS FREDERICKSBURG PROVISIONAL EXISTS IN SHEET FORM. ONLY FIVE SHEETS RECORDED, AND IT IS UNLIKELY THAT ALL FIVE REMAIN INTACT.
Ex Lilly. Scott Retail as four blocks of four and four singles (Image)
Fredericksburg Va., 5c Blue on
Thin Bluish (26X1). Position 3, huge margins all around including top
sheet margin, one wide-positioned ornament touched at lower right, tied by
"Fredericksburgh Va. Paid Oct. 10" (1861) circular datestamp on light buff
homemade cover to Lieut. Robert D. Minor, Confederate Navy Department,
Richmond, faint stain spots and vertical fold clear of stamp, most of
backflap removedEXTREMELY FINE STAMP AND ATTRACTIVE COVER WITH CONFEDERATE NAVAL ADDRESS IN THE HAND OF FAMED CONFEDERATE NAVAL OFFICER, MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY.
In October 1861, Matthew F. Maury, the famous "Pathfinder of the Seas", was working closely with Lieut. Robert D. Minor in waging experimental torpedo warfare against Federal gunboats off Newport News, which occured on October 10, the day this cover was postmarked.
Ex Ferrary and MacBride (where acquired by the Kilbournes in 1953) (Image)
Fredericksburg Va., 5c Blue on
Thin Bluish (26X1). Positions 4/9, vertical pair with top sheet margin,
other sides mostly large, tied by "Fredericksburgh Va. Paid Sep. (3?)0"
(1861) circular datestamp on pale yellow cover to Camden Ark., sender's
routing "Via Vicksburg & Monroe", pair has minute flaws along edge
of margins and small corner crease at bottom rightEXTREMELY FINE. BY THE FAR THE FINEST OF THE THREE RECORDED FREDERICKSBURGH PROVISIONAL PAIRS ON COVER -- THE ONLY USED VERTICAL PAIR KNOWN.
Our records and the Crown census confirm the existence of three covers with pairs, the largest known used multiples. One of the three covers has a third stamp removed, and the other pair on cover has faults.
Ex Grant and Meroni. Illustrated in Dietz. (Image)