Uniontown Ala., 10c Red on
Gray Blue (86X5). Position 1, large margins incl. sheet margin at
top, intense shade on deeply blued paper, well-tied by unusually clear
strike of "Uniontown Ala. 9 Jan." (1862) circular datestamp on brown cover
to "John D. Pitts, Co. D4 Regiment Ala. Vol., Near Richmond
Virginia", faint vertical file fold well clear of provisional and
markingsEXTREMELY FINE STAMP AND A FRESH ATTRACTIVE COVER. ONLY EIGHT EXAMPLES OF THE UNIONTOWN POSTMASTER'S 10-CENT PROVISIONAL ARE RECORDED, OF WHICH FIVE ARE SOUND STAMPS ON COVER. THIS IS ONE OF THE FINEST IN EXISTENCE.
Postmaster P. N. Booker was responsible for issuing the 2c, 5c and 10c provisional stamps at Uniontown, Alabama. One typeset form of four subjects was used for the three denominations. The numeral in parentheses between the "PA" and "ID" of "PAID" was changed for each value, and different color ink was used - Dark Blue (2c), Green (5c) and Red (10c). All three values were printed on gray blue paper - probably used for the first printing -- and the 2c and 5c are also known on white paper, which was probably used for subsequent printings. The 10c has not been found on white paper.
Eight examples of the 10c Red are known to us. These are (in order of plate position): 1) Pos. 1 on Sep. 22 (1861) cover to Maria L. Kidd, Port Royal Va., ex Kimmel, Haas, Birkinbine (our Sale 795, realized $35,000 hammer), 2) Pos. 1 on Jun. 9 (1862) cover to John D. Pitts, Richmond Va., ex Ferrary, Caspary and Isleham (our Sale 662, realized $37,500 hammer), the cover offered here, 3) Pos. 2 on Apr. 21 (1862) cover to Col. A. P. Calhoun, Pendleton S.C., illustrated in 1986 Dietz, p. 16,, 4) Pos. 2 on undated cover to Maria Louisa Kidd, Port Royal Va., ex Brooks, Meroni and Kilbourne (our Sale 815, realized $35,000 hammer), 5) Pos. 2 repaired stamp on undated repaired cover to Mrs. John B. Carey, 6) Pos. 3, corner crease, small tear, on Sep. 27 (1861) lady's embossed cover to Mr. Richmond Christian, Richmond Va., ex Hind, 7) Pos. 4 on Jul. 5 (1862) cover to Col. A. P. Calhoun, Pendleton S.C., ex Sweet, Muzzy, and 8) Pos. 4 uncancelled on large piece dated Sep. 27 (1861) with part of addressee's name "S. Price", Virginia destination, ex Caspary. The Scott Catalogue prices the 10c as an off-cover stamp, both unused and used, but we have not been successful in locating any off-cover examples other than the ex-Caspary piece.
Very few post offices east of the Mississippi River issued and used 10c adhesive (A) or press-printed (E) provisionals. This small group is as follows: Baton Rouge La. (A - three known), Charleston S.C. (E - unique), Danville Va. (E - probably not used), Fincastle Va. (E - unique), Fredericksburg Va. (A - never used), Greenville Ala. (A - two known), Greenwood Depot Va. (A - six known), Knoxville Tenn. (A - unique, and E - rare used), Marion Va. (A - six known on cover), Nashville Tenn. (A - seven known on cover), Tellico Plains Tenn. (A - never used), and Uniontown Ala. (A - eight known). All other 10c provisionals were used in Texas or were issued as handstamped entires.
Ex Ferrary, Caspary and Isleham. Caspary's note on back reads "Cost $3,500 1929". "W.H.C." Colson and Ferrary trefoil handstamps at lower right (Ferrary sale notation in pencil at left). (Image)