Charleston S.C., 5c Blue
(16X1). Huge margins all around showing three outer framelines and top
sheet margin, tied by perfect bold "Charleston S.C. Sep. 23, 1861" circular
datestamp on small cover to Flat Rock N.C.EXTREMELY FINE. A REMARKABLY CHOICE STAMP ON A FRESH AND IMMACULATE COVER.
Ex Gehrmann and Emerson. (Image)
Charleston S.C., 5c Blue
(16X1). Huge margins to just touched incl. huge sheet margin at
right, tied by neat strike of "Charleston S.C. Nov. 8, 1861"
double-circle datestamp on cover to Sumterville S.C., expertly cleaned with
minor cosmetic improvementsEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. AN IMPRESSIVE SHEET-MARGIN STAMP ON AN ATTRACTIVE COVER.
Ex Emerson and Hill (Image)
Charleston S.C., 5c Blue
(16X1). Huge even margins with framelines all around, tied by neat
strike of "Charleston S.C. Sep. 19, 1861" double-circle datestamp on yellow
cover to Eagle Mills N.C., slightly reduced at leftVERY FINE. REMARKABLE FOUR-FRAMELINE EXAMPLE OF THE CHARLESTON PROVISIONAL ON COVER.
Ex Caspary and Hill (Image)
Charleston S.C., 5c Blue
(16X1). Clear margins to just touched, rich color, tied by "Charleston
S.C. Nov. 28, 1861" double-circle datestamp on cover with embossed
Commission Merchants design at left, to Walkins P.O. S.C., slightly reduced
at left, gently cleaned and few sealed tears, otherwise Very Fine, ex Hill
(Image) 
Charleston S.C., 5c Blue
entire (16XU1). Bold "Charleston S.C. Aug. 22, 1861" circular
datestamp, to the Hon. R. F. W. Allston at Georgetown S.C., small sealed
tear in backflap not mentioned on accompanying certificateEXTREMELY FINE. AN IMMACULATE EXAMPLE OF THIS RARE ENTIRE -- ONE OF THE FINEST EXTANT.
Ex Walcott. With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)
Columbia S.C., 5c Blue entire,
Seal on Front (18XU4). Mostly clear strike of oval provisional seal,
overstruck by blue "5" with "Paid" in circle (Dietz Ty. IIA) and "Columbia
S.C. Aug. 23 5 cts." (1861) pre-war integral rate circular datestamp on
buff cover to Hopkins S.C., ms. note "SCRR" (South Carolina Rail
Road), minor repaired corner at upper leftVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF SEVEN RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE COLUMBIA OVAL PROVISIONAL SEAL STRUCK ON THE FACE.
Our records contain just seven Columbia provisional entires with the oval seal struck on front and not on the flaps, all dated in August and September 1861 with the pre-war integral rate datestamp.
Ex Green (Image)
Fredericksburg Va., 5c Blue on
Thin Bluish (26X1). Large margins all around, tied by "Fredericksburg
Va. Paid Oct. 22" circular datestamp on cover to Early's Brigade at
Manassas Junction, stamp with few small faults, cover gently
cleanedVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT FREDERICKSBURG PROVISIONAL ON COVER.
Only 27 are recorded in the Crown census. Ex Hill. (Image)
Fredericksburg Va., 5c Blue on
Thin Bluish (26X1). Large margins all around incl. sheet margin at
top, tied by "Fredericksburg Va. ? 5" circular datestamp on 1861 cover
to Junction P.O. Va., stamp with few small faults incl. sealed tear at
left, cover gently cleanedVERY FINE APPEARING EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT FREDERICKSBURG PROVISIONAL ON COVER.
Only 27 are recorded in the Crown census. Ex Seybold, Caspary and Hill. (Image)
Greenville Ala., 5c Red & Blue
on Pinkish Glazed, Ty. I (33X1). Unused (no gum as always), beautiful
rich colors and impressions of the blue ornamental border and red town name
and denomination, discoverer's note on back "L.W.D. 6/1/78"
(1878)EXTREMELY FINE AND FRESH. THE FINEST OF THE FOUR RECORDED OFF-COVER EXAMPLES OF THE 5-CENT GREENVILLE PROVISIONAL STAMP (TWO OTHER COVERS KNOWN). UNLIKE THE OTHER THREE STAMPS OFF COVER, THIS EXAMPLE IS COMPLETELY SOUND AND ALSO HAS RICH COLOR. ONE OF THE FIRST BI-COLORED POSTAGE STAMPS TO APPEAR IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE. AN OUTSTANDING RARITY OF CLASSIC AMERICAN PHILATELY.
The stamps prepared by Greenville postmaster, Judge B. F. Porter, are remarkable not only for their rarity, but even more so as one of two Confederate provisionals printed in two colors -- the other being the Baton Rouge 5c in green and carmine. These are the first government-issued, bi-colored adhesive postage stamps to appear anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, and, as such, they deserve special recognition by philatelists.
After a thorough search of relevant records (auction sales, Levi clippings, Philatelic Foundation and Confederate Stamp Alliance certificates) we have located only eight examples of either Greenville denomination, including four off-cover 5c stamps (all uncancelled and Type I), two 5c covers (both Type I), and two 10c covers (both Type II).
Illustrated in the 1929 Dietz book (p. 47) and in color in the 1986 edition. Ex Lilly, Birkinbine and Hill. P.F. certificate 12426 no longer accompanies stamp. (Image)
Jonesboro Tenn., 5c Dark Blue
entire (45XU2). Unusually clear strike of provisional handstamp on
cover to Dandridge Tenn., provisional marking struck almost completely
inverted in relation to others contained in our records, small repair at
topFINE. ONLY TEN EXAMPLES OF THE JONESBORO PROVISIONAL ARE RECORDED IN BLUE.
The Crown survey counts fifteen examples of the Jonesboro provisional entire, including five struck in Black and ten in Dark Blue. Some of these, such as the example offered here, do not have any town datestamp.
Accompanied by an equally clear strike of this provisional on a cut square (not included in catalogue value). (Image)
Knoxville Tenn., 5c Brick Red
on Grayish Laid (47X1). Large margins to barely touched at bottom
right, tied by neat "Knoxville Ten. 12 Jan." circular datestamp on cover to
Louisburg N.C., expertly restored along top edge and in places on
backVERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 5-CENT KNOXVILLE PROVISIONAL TIED ON COVER BY A HANDSTAMPED MARKING.
Our records indicate that approximately 22 covers are known with the 5c Brick Red Knoxville Provisional. Of these, over half are pen cancelled. Perhaps ten covers exist with the stamp tied by a handstamped marking.
Ex Caspary, Gallagher and Hill. (Image)