30th International Auction

Confederate Postmasters Provisional: Nashville Tenn., 5c carmine, TÊTÊ-BÊCHE PAIR. Vertical foot to foot pair -- one stamp is Position 4 (ornament at lower left extends into inner frameline) and other must be Position 6 in adjacent stereotype group, large margins except touched at one place along side, beautiful rich color, one stamp with small tear just touching the upper frame line, tied by blue "Nashville Ten. Sep. 15, 1861" circular datestamp on yellow cover to Thomas B. Lynch in Charleston S.C., only parts of the upper backflap missing and central toned spot. VERY FINE. THE FINER OF THE TWO RECORDED NASHVILLE TÊTÊ-BÊCHE PAIRS ON COVER. Confederate Postmasters Provisionals as Têtê-Bêche exist only from Nashville, Athens and Memphis, they belong to the most spectacular items of CSA philately. Peter W. W. Powell's study of the 5c Nashville ("Plating the Nashville Provisional," Confederate Philatelist, January-March 2008) reached the conclusion that the stereotypes were made in groups of six units, three wide by two tall. Working with photographs of the ex-Caspary têtê-bêche blocks of twelve (lots 313 and 314) and the strip of five on cover (Siegel Sale 874, lot 116), Powell determined that the printing plates had to have been built up from 3-by-2 stereotype groups. Based on plate flaws unique to specific positions, Powell also concluded that the plate size was no less than 18 subjects, made from at least three six-unit stereotype groups, and that more than one plate was made. This pair is proof that the stereotype "positions" determined by the ex-Caspary blocks were shuffled during the creation of additional stereotype groups, because this pair shows "Position 2" above "Position 1," not to the right of it, as in the ex-Caspary block. The têtê-bêche arrangement in printed sheets occurred when one impression was made, then the sheet was turned 180 degrees, and a second impression was made. The Ferrary collection contained two Nashville 5c carmine têtê-bêche pairs on separate covers to Thomas B. Lynch. One of these covers later appeared in the D. Scott Gallagher collection. The other pair was removed from its cover and repaired. Our cover, also from the Lynch correspondence, was acquired privately by Dr. Graves from an old-time collection. A GREAT CSA RARITY OF WHICH ONLY TWO COVERS AND ONE REPAIRED PAIR ARE RECORDED, THIS COVER BEING THE FINEST KNOWN, it was sold in 1999 for 37.350 USD (including buyers premium). Certificate Philatelic Foundation (2013) Catalog Price 26000.00