Robert E. Lee. Bold
signature "R. E. Lee Genl" at top right of manila cover addressed in
his hand to "Mrs. Margaret B. Daingerfield, Ingleside, Amelia Court
House, Virginia", the cover also bears a 10c Milky Blue, Die A
(11a), ample to huge margins, tied by "Richmond Va. Jun. 14, 1863"
circular datestampEXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES OF GENERAL LEE'S SIGNATURE IN COMBINATION WITH A CONFEDERATE GENERAL ISSUE STAMP. MAILED DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF LEE'S INVASION OF THE NORTH, CULMINATING IN THE HISTORIC BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG. A MARVELOUS COMBINATION OF HISTORY AND PHILATELY.
General Robert E. Lee's letters sent from the field were enclosed in envelopes signed "R. E. Lee Genl". The letters and other important papers were carried by military courier, usually to Richmond. Letters addressed to locations outside Richmond were mailed at the post office with postage prepaid, locally-addressed mail was usually delivered by hand, although a few examples were given to the post office.
The Richmond postmark on this cover is dated June 14, 1863, which coincides with Lee's advance toward the North. The Confederate invasion of the North was stopped at Gettysburg a little more than two weeks later.
Ex Haas and Dr. Green (Image)
Adams Ex. Co. * Louisville,
Ky. * Aug. 6, 1861. Full clear strike of circular datestamp on 10c
Green Star Die entire with red Wells, Fargo & Co. frank, to Mobile Ala.
with blue "Nashville Ten. Aug. 3, 1861" circular datestamp (date inverted),
matching "Paid" and "10" C.S.A. rate, ms. "2" (two bits, or 25c)
thru-the-lines express charge, bottom flap missing, couple small tears at
bottomONE OF FOUR RECORDED WELLS, FARGO & CO. FRANKED ENTIRES USED TO THE CONFEDERATE STATES. AN OUTSTANDING COVER LINKING TRANSCONTINENTAL AND NORTH-SOUTH THRU-THE-LINES EXPRESSES.
There are no markings to confirm the route prior to reaching Louisville, but Wells, Fargo & Co. presumably carried this letter from San Francisco to New York City via Panama, then handed it to Adams Express Co. for transit to Louisville and Nashville, where it entered the Confederate mails.
Ex Meroni, Roser and Gallagher (Image)
Mobile Ala. Feb. 4, 1861 --
First Day of Confederate States. Incredibly bold double-circle
datestamp with entire date fully and clearly struck, ties 3c Dull Red (26)
on bright white cover to Carroll Hoy & Co. in New Orleans, banker's
embossed return card on flap, usual filing pinholes, Extremely Fine Gem,
one of the finest known covers bearing this historic February 4th
Montgomery Convention date -- the First Day of the Confederacy -- ex Richey
and Birkinbine (Image) 
Pine Level Ala. Paid 5.
Negative letters in circular ornamental brass handstamp, complete and bold
strike -- the "5" and "ALA" at center showing little detail, but "PINE
LEVEL" and "PAID" are clearly defined -- on buff cover to Madisonville
Tenn., ms. "Nov 18" (1861) date, small faint stain spotsVERY FINE EXAMPLE OF THIS EXTREMELY RARE HANDSTAMPED "PAID", WHICH IS ONE OF THE FEW NEGATIVE TOWN MARKINGS USED IN THE CONFEDERACY.
The extreme rarity of the Pine Level handstamp -- only three are believed to exist -- makes it impossible to draw any definite conclusions regarding its status, however, it is possible that the marking was applied to envelopes in advance of sale and, if so, they can be classified as a postmaster's provisional. Ex MacBride (Image)
Norfolk Va. Aug. 1, 1861.
Blue double-circle datestamp with matching "Paid" in circle and "10" rate
handstamps on druggist's blue double-cameo corner card cover to
Nashville Tenn., left panel shows building at 3 & 5 Main St., right panel
shows building at 51 Bank St., marvelously detailed engravings, edges of
cover skillfully improved to counter effects of previous
refoldingEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. THIS DOUBLE CAMEO IS WIDELY REGARDED AS THE MOST OUTSTANDING OF ALL CONFEDERATE ADVERTISING COVERS.
Illustrated in color in Dietz catalogue. Ex Kimmel and Haas. (Image)
Abingdon Va., 5c Black entire
(2XU2). Clearly struck provisional handstamp and "Abingdon Va. Jul. 23,
1861" circular datestamp on red and blue 7-Star Confederate Flag
patriotic cover (Dietz F7-7) to member of Washington Mounted Rifles
care of Capt. William Jones at Winchester, redirected to Manassas Junction,
flap expertly replaced, couple short sealed edge tears, address faded at
right, still Fine and attractive, illustrated in Confederate Patriotics
and Their Usages where described as the only reported Abingdon
patriotic (p. 33) (Image) 
Athens Ga., 5c Purple
(5X1). Type I, large to huge margins, rich color, tied by open grid
cancel and exceptionally clear "Athens Ga. Paid Mar. 14" circular datestamp
on small neat cover to Mrs. Howell Cobb, in care of Col. J.B. Lamar at
Macon, slightly reduced at right, Extremely Fine, this provisional very
rarely found tied by the townmark, ex Crocker, Schenck, and Moody (Image) 
Athens Ga., 5c Purple
(5X1). Type II, huge margins to ample at upper left, deep shade, grid
cancel, matching "Athens Ga. Dec. 20" circular datestamp (usual indistinct
strike) on cover to Col. John B. Lamar at Macon Ga., a bit reduced at top,
otherwise Very Fine, with 1992 P.F. certificate
(Image) 
Athens Ga., 5c Red (5X2).
Type I, three enormous margins, ample to just barely into frameline at
right, bright color, grid cancel vaguely tying stamp, matching "Athens Ga.
Paid Mar. 28" circular datestamp boldly struck on orange cover to Atlanta,
1862 docketing at left, reduced slightly at right, couple folds in cover,
partially split along horizontal fold at bottomVERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY 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. In addition, we record fewer than six off-cover examples of the 5c Red.
Signed Colson. Ex Green, Caspary and Everett. (Image)
Atlanta Ga., 5c Black entire
(6XU2). Bold strikes of provisional handstamp and "Atlanta Ga. Sep. 18,
1861" circular datestamp on red and blue Hand-Held 11-Star Confederate
Flag and "Fast Colors...warranted not to run" Patriotic cover to
McKinley Ala.VERY FINE. FEWER THAN A DOZEN PATRIOTIC COVERS KNOWN WITH THE ATLANTA PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP, OF WHICH ONLY FOUR ARE THIS SCARCE HAND-HELD FLAG DESIGN.
Crown records only eleven patriotics with this provisional. This cover and the one offered in the following lot come from the Addie Thomas correspondence. (Image)
Atlanta Ga., 5c Black entire
(6XU2). Mostly clear provisional handstamp with mostly bold "Atlanta
Ga. Sep. 11, 1861" circular datestamp on red and blue Hand-Held 11-Star
Confederate Flag and "Fast Colors...warranted not to run" Patriotic
cover to McKinley Ala., Addie Thomas correspondence (as previous
lot)VERY FINE. FEWER THAN A DOZEN PATRIOTIC COVERS KNOWN WITH THE ATLANTA PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP, OF WHICH ONLY FOUR ARE THIS SCARCE HAND-HELD FLAG DESIGN.
From our 337th Sale, which offered one of the most outstanding Confederate patriotic cover collections ever formed. (Image)