CSA 3, 2¢ green L-shaped strip of 4 and a single (bottom stamp with sharp broken crease) tied by triple strike of SHREVEPORT / LA // JAN / 22 /1863 (year date inverted and appears more like 1853) double circle cancel on homemade cover to  Mrs. Sarah Cole, Marion La.; missing bottom back flap. Only three covers with the 2c Green used from Louisiana are listed in the Warren census. Census no. La-003. Pictured in 2011 Congress Book on p. 41. Ex Felton, SCV  $13,500.  $4,500

CSA 3, 2¢ green (tiny scissor s cut lower right margin) tied by blue COLUMBIA / S.C.  NOV  / 15 cds on drop cover, top back flap missing, addressed to Gov. Gist, Columbia with docketing on verso that is from Col. Preston and is to be answered. The Warren census records only seven examples of the 2¢ lithograph used from Columbia, including three circulars, one of which was used locally. This is the only recorded drop-letter use in the census. Warren Census # SC-029. Pictured in 2011 Congress Book on p. 49; 1982 P.F. certificate #105 224. Ex Felton, SCV  $3,500.  $2,750

William Henry Gist, Governor South Carolina 1858-1860, left office the same day the Secession Convention met to consider the question of secession following Lincoln's election as President of the United States.

CSA 3, 2c Green with 4 margins  tied by light SAVANNAH / GA. // JAN / 15 star cancel on charming diminutive homemade drop cover addressed to Mr. W. O. Von Voorst, Savannah, Very Fine. Delightful and scarce cover, probably Warren Census No. GEO-43 (no photo record of this entry and missing referenced enclosure), classic tiny Dietz guarantee on back flap. SCV $3,500. $2,500.

CSA 3, 2¢ green tied BLACKVILLE / S.C. // AUG / 24 cds on small pink cover to Miss Laura Waldron, Augusta, Georgia; with manuscript “Due 8 cts” written over 10 cts for correct rate, bit reduced at top with flap tear, ex Keeling. RARE USE. Sold in 1986 Frajola sale for $2,730 – almost 30 years ago. Ex Brandon. SCV $3,500.  $2,000.

CSA 3, 2¢ green with huge margins on two sides showing part of adjoining stamp at right plus CSA 7-R 5¢ blue single on local paper, large to huge margins including left sheet margin, tied together by partial RICHMOND / VA. (month?) 19 / 1862 cds on homemade cover to Miss Mary E. Hoover, Williamson's Mills, S.C., Fine and VERY RARE COMBINATION “representing an underpayment of postage that got by” as expressed on the included 1993 CSA Certificate, ex Wiltsee, Everett and Brandon with pencil guarantee by Robert Laurence (Laurence & Stryker) on verso. $2,500.

CSA 3, 2¢ green vertical strip of 3 overpaying the 5¢ rate, tied by double strike of blue COLUMBIA / S.C. // JUN / 21 cds on cover to Mrs. Hutson Lee, Abbeville CH, So Ca. with 2004 CSA Certificate #04479. Ex Judd, Bogg, and Cantey, signed Dietz. RARE showpiece. $6,000

Major Hutson Lee (1843-1899) was a Quarter Master in the Confederate Army at Charleston. His 1858-1865 papers are in the South Carolina Historical Society which include broadsides for the sale of his slaves at auction, QM documents from the war concerning supplies, blockade runners, medical services, and one letter complaining of the inhumane treatment of prisoners at Columbia.

CSA 3, 2¢ green, three singles, each with full margins (one has pre-use crease), used with CSA 7, 5¢ blue, tied by double strike of MACON / GA. // NOV / 14 double-circle on small cover to Miss A. F. Powell, Thomasville Ga.; minor faults including small piece out of top and flap missing, ink smears, one stamp partly eroded and reinforced, nevertheless a wonderfully restorable cover, EXCEEDINGLY RARE COMBINATION, OVERPAYING THE 10¢ RATE, signed Dietz, ex Keeling and Brandon. $1,900.

CSA 3, five singles (couple with small edge faults) tied triple strike of bold MARIETTA / GEO. // APR / 16 [1864] cds on legal sized cover to Wm. F. Ritchie, Esq, Richmond, Va. with manuscript “Due 10” for underpayment. Docketing on back flap indicates it was sent from “S. Isidor[e] Guillet, Lieutenant & Post Adjutant, Marietta, Geo Ap[ril] 16/64.” FASCINATING BACK STORY of young officer killed at the Battle of Columbus on the same horse on which three of his brothers were also killed. Story in one of my upcoming columns. Cover with strip of five CSA 3 catalogs $13,500. $5,500.

Guillet, S. Isidore was killed in action at the Battle of Columbus on April 16, 1865, the last formal battle of the war. William F. Ritchie was a printer and publisher in Richmond and served as the Public Printer for the state of Virginia. Much more information on both men on linked page.

CSA 3, 2¢ green, large margins all around, some gum staining, tied by RICHMOND / Va. // DEC/ 26 / 1862 cds on legal-size drop cover with scarce "Confederate States of America Adjutant and Inspector General's Office" semi-official imprint (CSA Catalog type WD-AG-07), addressed to [Col] William H. Hidell who was private secretary to Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens, docketing on reverse "Gen. S. Cooper Adjt. & Insp. Gen. Dec. 26, 1862", missing back flap as usual for this correspondence, some wear and staining, still a very presentable and extremely rare use. It appears that a pair of stamps was originally under the 2¢ stamp. It was not uncommon for pairs of 5¢ stamps or single 10¢ issues to overpay the drop use when carried to Richmond from out of town by courier and dropped in the mail for local delivery. My personal speculation is that a pair of uncanceled stamps was removed for use elsewhere and the appropriate 2¢ drop rate stamp use instead. Fascinating backstory which will be written up in one of my columns. $1,850.

General Samuel Cooper was adjutant and inspector general of the Confederate States army throughout the entire war. When President Davis fled Richmond after Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox, Cooper fled with him. Much more information shown on linked page.

Colonel William Henry Hidell (1843-1906) served as the personal secretary to Alexander Hamilton Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America. Much more information shown on linked page.

Listed in both Imprints and CSA 3 Covers

CSA 3, 2¢ green, pre-use tear, used in combination with CSA 4, 5¢ dark blue, approximately one-third of stamp has been replaced with a piece in identical shade, both stamps tied by blue PETERSBURG Va. // DEC / 23 cds on cover to Mrs. E. H. Harding, Care of Mrs. C. H. Richmond, Milton, N.C. Manuscript "DUE 3¢" FOR 10¢ RATE, minor wear, A REMARKABLE MIXED FRANKING, Nicely restored, Ex Keeling. $2,000

CSA 3, 2¢ green right sheet margin, tied bold blue ALBANY / Ga. // SEP / 16 / 1862 cds on homemade cover to Capt. Wm. E. Smith, Albany, Geo with docketing from James Briggs, Newton Ga, slightly reduced at left. Nice drop use with sheet margin copy. Ex Brandon. SCV $3,500. $1,900.

CSA 3, 2¢ green with large margins to barely touched at lower left, tied by partly clear strike of RICHMOND VA. cds on Oct. 23, 1863 Auditor's Office printed notice announcing a Confederate General Assembly joint resolution concerning Commissioners of the Revenue, addressed to the Clerk of the County Court at Dinwiddie C.H. Va., Very Fine, unlisted in Warren Census, with 1980 CSA certificate, SCV $3,500. $1,900.

CSA 3, 2¢ green, (sealed pre-use vertical tear) 3 large irregular margins just into at left, tied indistinct strike of SAVANNAH / GA. / Paid CDS on printed Savannah Volunteer Guards Company Orders used as a WRAPPER on CIRCULAR use to Miss Leila Villard, Robertville, So Ca, 2000 PSE certificate 40859. Shown open from address side. Extremely showy adversity use and great exhibit piece. The Heidt-Villard Correspondence. SCV $3,500. $950.

John Wesley Heidt married Leila Villard. Much more information on linked page.

CSA 3, 2¢ green, 3 large to into at top due to rough separation, tied bold blue PETERSBURG Va. / AUG / 21 cds on drop cover to Mrs. Julian C. Ruffin, Care of Col. R. M. Harrison, Petersburg, Va.; TURNED and addressed to Mrs. Julian C. Ruffin c/o Mrs. David Callender, Petersburg, Va. with note at top “Please send this the first opportunity you have,” but never postally used. Original long two-page adversity letter headed Petersburg, April 12th, 1864, in which “J.C.R.” says “I am sorry, my dear Lottie, that I gave you reason to expect me home today…only three men are permitted to come to P(etersburg) a day.” Mostly family and planting info - letter written in clear pencil on blue Farmer’s Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Virginia printed form. 1999 CSA certificate 3439, SCV $3,500. $1,000.  

Julian Calx Ruffin served in Batty B Company, Virginia 12th Light Artillery. He was a son of Edmund Ruffin. Much more information on linked page.

CSA 3, 2¢ green (tiny sealed tear and faint crease) tied on drop cover by CHARLESTON / S.C. // JUN / 9 (Henry Welch Type A-25 and RARE USE of this prewar canceling device during the war per Richard Calhoun book on Charleston), addressed to S.D. Kirk, Esqr, Care of Macbeth & Binse, Charleston, S.C. with docketing up left end, sealed tear at upper right, 1980 PF Certificate 82043, Ex Wm. A. Fox. SCV $3,500. $1,600.

Charles Macbeth (1805-1881) was the 37th mayor of Charleston, serving 3 full terms and a partial term 1857-1865

CSA 3, 2¢ green (raggedly torn at right) tied RICHMOND / Va. CDS on narrow cover to Miss Joyce Clopton Care Mrs Judge Clopton, Richmond, Va. 1984 and 1999 CSA certificates. Judge John B. Clopton (1789-1860) was an American politician and jurist from Virginia. Joyce was one of his daughters. SCV $3,500. $1,400.

CSA 3, 2¢ green (minor scuffs), canceled by grid on unsealed wrapper fashioned from printed form for Army rations, addressed to Miss Mary Lomax, Cokesbury, Abbeville District, S.C., This possibly held a newspaper or some other printed matter, the Army form is also doubtless an adversity use rather than the intended subject of the communication as the form is not filled out, with 2007 CSA certificate, Scott value as normal use $3,500. $1,900. 

CSA 3, 2¢ green with 4 great margins, tied by neat MACON GA double-circle datestamp on NEWSPAPER WRAPPER. To N.M. Crawford, Penfield, Geo. Wrappers are much scarcer than drop uses. SCV as drop use $3,500. 1986 CSA certificate 01580. Ex Ralph Swap. $4,500.

 N.M. Crawford was a Baptist minister in Penfield, accepting the position in 1850 but resigning in 1852 due to ill health. He joined Shiloh Church in 1853.

CSA 3, 2¢ green tied by bold CHARLESTON / S.C. // FEB / 7 / 186- cds on CIRCULAR RATE semi-official cover with manuscript endorsement "Medical Purveyors Bureau, Charleston S.C. Official", to A. A. Surgeon James Morrow, Bee's Cross Roads, St. Andrews Parish, S.C., with original 1863 official enclosure referring to enclosed invoices from Francis Lee, Surgeon & Medical Purveyor, to Acting Assistant Surgeon James Morrow, slight edgewear and minor toning spots, Very Fine. The envelope is unsealed, as mandated for a circular, because St. Andrews Parish was considered part of Charleston – but it was not properly a circular, rather a drop use. Warren census No. SC-009 and illustrated in his 2011 Congress Book article, ex Keeling, 2005 PF certificate. $3,000. Listed in both CSA 3 and Imprints, Section 1

CSA 3, 2¢ green strip of five, light pencil markings, faint diagonal pre-use crease which is slightly rubbed, large margins all around, bottom left corner slightly irregular, tied by two strikes EUTAW / ALA // JUL / 5  / 1862 double-circle datestamp on pristine brown paper cover to Lt. A. J. Sanderson, Vaiden Artillery, Columbus Miss. Dr. Warren Census of 2¢ lithograph covers (2011 Congress book) lists only two covers used from Eutaw; this is No. ALA-001. SCARCE SHOWY STRIP PAYING THE 10-CENT RATE. Stellar provenance: Ex Brooks, Emerson, Finney, Duckworth and Kilbourne, SCV $13,500.  $5,500. 

Alexander J. Sanderson enlisted April 1, 1862, as a private in Company L (Vaiden Artillery), Mississippi 1st Light Artillery. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant when officers were killed in Siege of Vicksburg and he served until the end of the war.