Athens Ga., 5c Purple (5X1).
Type II showing large "Paid", clear to ample margins all around, unusually
deep shade, tied by grid cancel, faint but readable strike of "Athens Ga.
Paid Dec. 31" (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Col. John B. Lamar at
Macon Ga., fresh and Fine, ex MacBride
(Image) 
Athens Ga., 5c Purple (5X1).
Types I-II in horizontal pair, obviously from the top right corner of the
sheet with huge rough-cut margins at left and bottom (touches at bottom
right) and evenly-cut margins at top and right, beautiful deep shade on
bright paper, tied by grid cancels, part strike of "Athens Ga. Paid Oct.
14" (1861) circular datestamp on cover to Lieut. John B. Cobb of Cobb's
Georgia Legion at Yorktown Va., negligible corner crease at bottom right,
light fold in cover at right, Very Fine, one of the finest of the 21 pairs
on cover recorded in Crown census, ex Ferrary, Emerson, Brooks, Duckworth
and Wulfekuhler, signed Ashbrook (Image) 
Athens Ga., 5c Purple,
Tete-Beche Pair (5X1a). Types I and II in foot-to-foot vertical pair,
full margins at sides, large at top and bottom, light and dark shades --
another distinctive feature of the work-and-turn printing method that
created the tete-beche variety -- tied by lightly-struck grids, faint but
readable "Athens Ga. Paid Dec. 2" (1861) circular datestamp on bright
yellow cover to Capt. Porter King, 4th Ala. Regt., Manassas Junction Va.,
slightly reduced at right, couple slight edge nicks at right reinforced
with paperVERY FINE. ONE OF THREE RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE ATHENS TETE-BECHE VARIETY.
Only four post offices are known to have produced tete-beche provisional varieties: Athens, Macon, Memphis and Nashville. In each case the tete-beche multiple was created by the work-and-turn printing method, as opposed to an inverted cliche among subjects on the plate. All are extremely rare.
Of the Athens 5c tete-beche vertical pair, Crown records four covers, one of which no longer exists as a cover (in chronological order): Nov. 25 (1861) to Dr. E. D. Newton, ex Jack Solomon, Dec. 2 (1861) to Capt. Porter King the lot offered here, Jan. 6 (1862) to A. H. Stephens, ex Ferrary, and date unknown, top of Type II clipped off down to oval, on cover to Dr. E. D. Newton, ex Walcott (the pair was removed and offered off cover in the Meroni sale). We also record two additional off-cover tete-beche pairs -- one with large margins (ex Caspary) and another severely cut into (Siegel Sale 280) -- for a total of three off-cover pairs.
Ex Brooks and Weatherly. Signed Ashbrook (Image)
Athens Ga., 5c Red (5X2).
Type II, large even margins all around, beautiful rich color and fine
impression, lightly tied by grid cancel, "Athens Ga. Paid Mar. 31" (1862)
circular datestamp on fresh white envelope (Washington D.C. stationer's
embossing on back) to Mrs. Howell Cobb, in care of Col. John B. Lamar,
Macon Ga., stamp slightly roughened at upper right corner, lifted to apply
tiny reinforcement in margin, corner of envelope neatly mended (prior to
Caspary sale and noted in that auction description)EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE EIGHT RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE RARE ATHENS 5-CENT RED PROVISIONAL STAMP.
The Crown survey lists one half-cover and eight genuine covers with the 5c Red (a suspect ninth cover has since been certified as having the stamp added). All genuine examples are dated in March or April 1862. Based on margins and overall condition, this cover ranks among the three or four finest. In addition, we record fewer than six off-cover examples of the 5c Red.
Pencil note on back "May 6, 1896" (prior sale date). Ex Caspary, where acquired by the Kilbournes (Image)