Evening star., 1945-02-18
Story Of onfederocy
Is Told in Stamps
New. Hand Book Throws Light
on the South as a Nation.
By James Waldo Faucet.

By James Waldo Faucet.
To what extent were the Confederate
States of America nation?
This question, repeatedly asked in re-
cent years, probably never can be an
swered to the satisfaction Of everybody.
But evidence continues to accumulate,
and much has been added by the publi-
cation of volume entitled "Catalog and
Handbook (Specialize6 of the Postage
Stamps and Envelopes of the Confederate
States of America" edited and printed
by August Dietz, proprietor of the Dietz
Press at Richmond Va.
The volume thus labeled is intended
primarily for the use of practitioners of
the hobby of philately. Mr. Dietz long
has been known as the "ace' authority
on the postal history and the postal
paper of the Confederacy. His latest
production is merely bringing together
of the results of a lifetime of careful
and patient study. No similar book ex-
lists anywhere. 1t is unique both in the
purpose it serves and the manner in
which it serves 1t.
An average reader, however, may not
realize to what an extent or in what
degree Mr.. Dietz has contributed to the
solution of the problem of the essential
character of the Confederate States as
"a general governments problem of
far greater significance as history than
it ever can be simply as philately.
Perhaps 1t is by accident that Mr.
Diets has demonstrated the essential
integrity of the Confederacy as "a going
concern" The point is that he has done
exactly that To common knowledge
that the Confederate States had con-
stitution, a capital, president, cabi-
net, an army and navy, diplomatic
corps and other authorized officers, this
"Catalog and Handbook" provides a
valuable supplement.
From the moment of South Cardinals
secession on December 20, 1860, Mr..
Dietz shows, there were in regular and
consistent operation several hundreds
of post offices through which mail
moved in systematic procedure. Most
of those Offices possessed and employed
indicia distinctively their own. These
markings gradually have been identified
and traced during the past eight dec
AIDES until now the list of them fills
rs pages of the "Catalog and Hand
Book" 1t starts with Athens, Ala, and
ends with Yorktown, Va. The phila-
telic value of envelopes bearing such
"hand-stamped" Endorsements is ap-
praised variously according to rarity
and condition-from 81 to SIS.
But Confederate postmasters also had
recourse to provisional stamps of many
different kinds. Collectors have To-
Gated and preserved adhesive labels
from more than $50 communities, in
cluding Aberdeen. Miss. at one extreme
and Winnsborough, S. c., at the other.
Some. obviously were of exceedingly
simple design-mere impressions Of Or
dinary cancelling devices bearing the
names of towns and numerals indicat-
ing the amounts of postal prepayment.
More than few, however, were printed
or engraved to the order of their spon-
sors. The stamp for Livingston. Ala,
is worth S3,000-a price which may
have a direct relation with its attrac-
tiveness as an artistic composition.
Local stamps naturally and in due
course gave way to general issues of
three classifications. The first Govern
ment-produced adhesive postage stamp
Of the Confederacy also was the first
to be adorned with the portrait of a
living Observation-Disclosures Davis-and
the first to be printed by ithography.
1t was a scent denomination, was
manufactured by Hoyer q Ludwig at
Richmond and went on sale October 16,
1861. For companion label-the 10
cent blue-a portrait of Thomas Jeffer-
son was adapted. Later, a 2-cent green
issue showing a likeness of Andrew
Jackson was brought out. In each in
stance these stamps were a credit to
the postal authorities who devised and
circulated them. Collectors pay from
So to 5000 for single specimens, and the
investment is justified by market
which has been rising for quarter
of a century.
Several Typographical stamps for gen.
eral use throughout the South also
were issued. A scent pale greenish
blue label was printed in London by
Thomas De La Rue g. Co., Ltd. It car
ried a portrait of Davis engraved by
Joubert. Most of the edition, as it hap
pened, was captured on a Confederate
blockade runner. To replace the lost
copies, Archer and DAILY of Richmond
were engaged to produce scent blue
from plates supplied by De La Rue.
Next followed 10-cent, 2-cent and 20
cent stamps from steel and copper plates
In the order indicated. The designs
featured portraits of Davis, Jackson and
Washington. John Archer, an engraver
who had been employed by the Amer
lean Bank Note Co. of New York, cut
the original die of the 10-cent; Freder-
lex Halpin those of the 2-cent and
2o-cent. The workmanship was better
than reasonably could have been ex-
pected. Collectors render homage to the
men responsible for it when they put
down as much as $3.50 for single speci-
mems of their achievements.
But Mr.. Dietzs "Catalog and Hand
Book" does not close with his detailed
and exhaustive examination of al the
different varieties of adhesive stamps
and cover markings of the Confederacy.
The portion of his volume which will
mean most to an ordinary, unspecial-
lied reader is that which deals with the
official envelopes of the Confederate
States.