The D.K. Collection of Southern Postmasters' Provisionals of the American Civil War continued...

VERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT COVER, WHICH IS ONE OF FOUR RECORDED ADVERTISING COVERS BEARING THE EARLY TYPE OF MACON 5-CENT PROVISIONAL.

The person most likely to be the Macon postmaster who issued the provisional stamps is Dr. Edward L. Strohecker, a graduate of the Medical College of South Carolina, who was elected three times as Macon's mayor. He helped to organize the Georgia Medical Association, and travelled to visit and treat Confederate troops during the war. Another postmaster and possible stamp issuer is Washington Poe, a relative of the poet, who also served a term as mayor and was elected as a Union delegate to the Georgia Secession Convention in Milledgeville.

All of the Macon provisional stamps were printed from typeset forms. The 2c and two of the three 5c settings simply state the denomination and nothing else, and they were the first stamps printed. These were followed by the four-line "square" stamp, which includes the words "Post Office" and "Macon, Ga." The order of issue is confused by the Scott Catalogue listings.

Based on dated examples, it appears that the 5c with plain border was the first stamp issued in Macon. Almost all of the recorded covers are dated during the first half of June 1861, including an uncancelled stamp originating on a cover dated June 1, the first day of the Confederate postal system. The Macon double-circle datestamp was often poorly struck, although this strike does not show the month, the "2" is very likely June 2, based on the use of the "Paid" and small "5" rate handstamp used in conjunction with the provisional, a marking pattern that disappears by late June.

Our records contain four Greer & Lake advertising covers with Macon provisionals, including two with 53X3 (floral border, one offered in the following lot) and two with 53X4 (line border). This cover, a cover in the 1940 Wickersham sale and the 53X3 cover offered in the following lot are illustrated designs.

Signed Dietz and Ashbrook. Ex Emerson, Brooks, Weatherly, Dukeshire, Golden and Hill. With 1998 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE MACON FLORAL-BORDER PROVISIONAL USED ON AN ILLUSTRATED ADVERTISING COVER. A SPECTACULAR EXHIBITION ITEM.

The person most likely to be the Macon postmaster who issued the provisional stamps is Dr. Edward L. Strohecker, a graduate of the Medical College of South Carolina, who was elected three times as Macon's mayor. He helped to organize the Georgia Medical Association, and travelled to visit and treat Confederate troops during the war. Another postmaster and possible stamp issuer is Washington Poe, a relative of the poet, who also served a term as mayor and was elected as a Union delegate to the Georgia Secession Convention in Milledgeville.

All of the Macon provisional stamps were printed from typeset forms. The 2c and two of the three 5c settings simply state the denomination and nothing else, and they were the first stamps printed. These were followed by the four-line "square" stamp, which includes the words "Post Office" and "Macon, Ga." The order of issue is confused by the Scott Catalogue listings.

Our records contain four Greer & Lake advertising covers with Macon provisionals, including two with 53X4 (line border, one offered in preceding lot) and two with 53X3 (floral border). This cover, a cover in the 1940 Wickersham sale and the 53X4 cover offered in the preceding lot are illustrated designs.

Illustrated in the Crown book (page 196). Ex Hessel and Dr. Green. With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST EXAMPLES OF THE MACON 5-CENT FLORAL BORDER PROVISIONAL STAMP KNOWN ON COVER.

Ex Caspary, Lehman and Haas (Image)

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EXTREMELY FINE. A COLORFUL AND REMARKABLY CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE MACON FOUR-LINE PROVISIONAL STAMP USED ON A HOTEL CORNER CARD COVER.

The Macon provisional with "Post Office, Macon, Ga." added to the setting is very rare on cover (Peter W. W. Powell reported 24 on cover in the Confederate Philatelist, Sep.-Oct. 2000). Only three advertising covers are known with this stamp, in addition to four or five printed college covers. This colorful hotel corner card cover led off the series of Macon provisionals in the 1956 Caspary sale, and it is certainly among the most beautiful of all Macon provisional covers.

Illustrated in the Crown book (page 194). Pencil note on back "10/26/03 J. W. Scott Co. Auction 21.50" (possibly Worthington). Ex Caspary, Freeland and Dr. Green. With 2000 P.F. certificate (Image)

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