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

VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF A SPARTANBURG POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON A PATRIOTIC COVER. A SPECTACULAR ITEM IN IMMACULATE CONDITION.

John A. Lee was a prominent merchant who served as postmaster of Spartanburg from 1850 through the end of the war. Residents of Spartanburg remembered him as the "Wartime Postmaster" (John B. O. Landrum, History of Spartanburg County, available at Google Books -- thanks to Vince King for this citation).

Postmaster Lee created his provisional stamps by applying the "5" numeral rate marking inside the "Spartanburg S.C." double-circle datestamp on a sheet of paper. The stamps are known cut square and cut to shape. As one might imagine, the stamps come on a variety of papers. Two types of "5" markings were used, and one example is known with the denomination omitted. The paper and numeral varieties are listed separately in the Dietz and Scott catalogues.

Ex Ferrary and Clapp. From our 1964 Rarities sale. With 2004 P.F. certificate (Image)

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VERY FINE. A CHOICE EXAMPLE OF THE SCARCE SPARTANBURG POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ON COVER. APPROXIMATELY TWENTY COVERS ARE KNOWN .

John A. Lee was a prominent merchant who served as postmaster of Spartanburg from 1850 through the end of the war. Residents of Spartanburg remembered him as the "Wartime Postmaster" (John B. O. Landrum, History of Spartanburg County, available at Google Books -- thanks to Vince King for this citation).

Postmaster Lee created his provisional stamps by applying the "5" numeral rate marking inside the "Spartanburg S.C." double-circle datestamp on a sheet of paper. The stamps are known cut square and cut to shape. As one might imagine, the stamps come on a variety of papers. Two types of "5" markings were used, and one example is known with the denomination omitted. The paper and numeral varieties are listed separately in the Dietz and Scott catalogues.

Spartanburg S.C. takes its name from the "Spartan Rifles," a group of militia soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The name was adopted by Confederate soldiers from Spartanburg during the Civil War.

Corporal Edward J. Dean and the Dean correspondence were the subjects of an article by the late Daniel M. Gilbert, published in the Confederate Philatelist.

Joseph Walker was enrolled as captain of the Spartan Rifles on April 13, 1861. Micah Jenkins, a resident of Yorkville, South Carolina, was mustered into service as colonel of the 5th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment in June 1861. He was elected colonel of the Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, on April 13, 1862, and promoted to brigadier general in July 1862.

Ex Brown, Kohn and Birkinbine (Image)

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AN IMPORTANT AND VERY FINE COVER, BEARING THE ONLY RECORDED PAIR OF SPARTANBURG PROVISIONAL STAMPS -- APPROXIMATELY TWENTY EXAMPLES ARE KNOWN ON OR OFF COVER.

John A. Lee was a prominent merchant who served as postmaster of Spartanburg from 1850 through the end of the war. Residents of Spartanburg remembered him as the "Wartime Postmaster" (John B. O. Landrum, History of Spartanburg County, available at Google Books -- thanks to Vince King for this citation).

Postmaster Lee created his provisional stamps by applying the "5" numeral rate marking inside the "Spartanburg S.C." double-circle datestamp on a sheet of paper. The stamps are known cut square and cut to shape. As one might imagine, the stamps come on a variety of papers. Two types of "5" markings were used, and one example is known with the denomination omitted. The paper and numeral varieties are listed separately in the Dietz and Scott catalogues.

Spartanburg S.C. takes its name from the "Spartan Rifles," a group of militia soldiers during the Revolutionary War. The name was adopted by Confederate soldiers from Spartanburg during the Civil War.

Corporal Edward J. Dean and the Dean correspondence were the subjects of an article by the late Daniel M. Gilbert, published in the Confederate Philatelist.

Joseph Walker was enrolled as captain of the Spartan Rifles on April 13, 1861. Micah Jenkins, a resident of Yorkville, South Carolina, was mustered into service as colonel of the 5th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment in June 1861. He was elected colonel of the Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, South Carolina Volunteers, on April 13, 1862, and promoted to brigadier general in July 1862.

This pair on cover -- the only recorded pair -- is illustrated in the Crown book on page 328. Accompanied by 1899 letter to N.P. Strauss of Henderson, N.C., the original purchaser, identifying the Dean family as the original source.

Ex Schenck and Everett. With 2002 P.F. certificate (Image)

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