Lot 10048: Siege of Port Hudson J.L. Stockdale 50 Scrip Note

Spectacular Siege of Port Hudson J.L. Stockdale 50 Scrip Note

(Port Hudson, Louisiana). J.L. Stockdale. May 24, 1863. 50 Cents. Very Fine.

Small format scrip note printed on pink paper similar to that of some 1862 and 1863 Confederate Treasury Notes. Diamond shaped border prints. Serial no. 40 penned at top left. Date of May 24, 1863 printed at top right. "Due the Bearer FIFTY Cents" at center. Boldly penned signature of J.L. Stockdale over dotted line with "Major, and A.C.S." printed below.

John Lark Stockdale was born in Edgefield, South Carolina in 1831. He studied medicine in Charleston before moving to Alabama where he practiced as a surgeon. At the onset of the Civil War in 1861 Stockdale entered service as a member of the Alabama Mountain Rangers, later merged into the 8th Confederate Cavalry. He was transferred and commissioned a Major and brigade commissary in 1862.

By 1863 Stockdale was serving as Assistant Commissary of Subsistence for the Confederate's Western Department in Port Hudson, Louisiana. In addition to his duties as A.C.S. he served as the assistant surgeon at the nearby Confederate hospital. It was during Stockdale's time in Port Hudson that this 50 Cent scrip note was issued on May 24, 1863.

The Union siege of Port Hudson had begun just two days before. The fighting continued for 48 days until Port Hudson's commander Major General Franklin Gardner surrendered the stronghold on July 9 after hearing news of the fall of Vicksburg. The surrender of Port Hudson handed control of the Mississippi River to Union forces. While Union commanders granted parole to the enlisted Confederates at Port Hudson, officers were taken north as prisoners of war. Stockdale was sent to the Union POW camp at Johnson's Island, Ohio where he remained until the end of the war. In his post war life he made a name for himself teaching and practicing medicine in Talladega until his death in 1912.

Given the timing of this issue it is doubtful Stockdale issued any great number of these notes. To our knowledge this is the first example of this issue to surface and we believe the note is likely unique. The printed inks are bold and Stockdale's signature is dark and elegantly signed. Overall the paper is in remarkable condition given the circumstances that it endured.

There is a penciled inscription on the back "Confederate States of America Army Money" perhaps written by a Union soldier who took it as a souvenir. This is a note with broad appeal to both Confederate and Louisiana collectors both of which are unlikely to get a second chance at this note for a very long time.

Peter writes:

To read the complete lot description, see:
(Port Hudson, Louisiana). J.L. Stockdale. May 24, 1863. 50 Cents. Very Fine. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-54QLK)

Lot 10074: Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Alex. McGregor Scrip

Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Alex. McGregor "at my Store." January 8, 1815. 12-1/2 Cents. Good to Very Good.

(Wait-Unlisted). War of 1812 era scrip style. Imprint of" John K. Joline, Print. Freehold," in center. Denominations on ends and across top. Amazing note and Monmouth County imprint. Last offered in June 1990 and perhaps ex Muscalus Collection. Some petty corner voids are ignored. Unique is more likely than not. The estimate is conservative when weighed to its significance. Ex Smythe 1990 Memphis Sale, June 1990, lot 1404A.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Shrewsbury, New Jersey. Alex. McGregor "at my Store." January 8, 1815. 12-1/2 Cents. Good to Very Good. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-54K9Y)

Lot 10128: BEP Presentation Book of Engraved Portraits

Bureau of Engraving and Printing Presentation Book. Bound volume of Portraits. Volume containing approximately 112 Die Proof Vignettes. Very Fine.

A beautifully prepared bound presentation volume in full Morocco. The covers are subtle blue-green, while the spine has toned slightly to deep olive. 6.25 x 7.75 inches. Gilt ornaments on the cover and spine, which is divided into six panels, two of which bear the gilt titles. The second panel reads, "PORTRAITS AND VIGNETTES", while the fourth is impressed with "ENGRAVED BY THE BUREAU OF PRINTING AND ENGRAVING". Some wear to the cover edges and corner tips worn through, but completely intact and respectably tight otherwise.

The portraits are of government officials, including Presidents Washington through Chester Arthur who left office as the end of 1886, likely dating the volume to the mid-1880s. Also included are various Vice Presidents, Secretaries of State, Secretaries of the Treasury, Secretaries of War, Secretaries of the Navy, Secretaries of the Interior, Postmasters General, Attorneys General, one Chief Justices and United States Senators.

The portraits are clean and bright throughout with separation papers to protect them bound in. Marbled inside covers, that of the front partially separated, and gilt page edges. The final fifth of the volume shows a bit of light waterstaining on the lower right corners of the pages, increasing toward the back. However, on no page does this affect the portrait and it is thus of precious little consequence on this fine book. Scarce and quite desirable. Offered here to a numismatic audience for the first time. Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Presentation Book. Bound volume of Portraits. Volume containing approximately 112 Die Proof Vignettes. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-54IPG)

Lot 10339: 1890 $100 Treasury Note

Fr. 377. 1890 $100 Treasury Note. PCGS Extremely Fine 45.

The ornate backed 1890 series has long been a numismatic favorite, and rightfully so. The series was very short lived with the open back designed notes of 1891 replacing them. Official and public opinion of the 1890 series notes was poor during their circulation as they seemed too "busy" and easy to counterfeit. These notes did however trade at a premium when compared to the Legal Tender issues circulating at the same time period. This was due to the promise of being secured by coined precious metal.

Commonly referred to as the "Baby Watermelon", while its higher denomination sibling, the $1000 Treasury Note is classified by those involved in the hobby as the "Grand-Watermelon". This one year type note is represented by only a total of 35 known notes. Of those nine are permanently impounded in museums or government institutions.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Fr. 377. 1890 $100 Treasury Note. PCGS Extremely Fine 45. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-54PMC)

Lot 10366: 1882 $50 Gold Certificate

Fr. 1189a. 1882 $50 Gold Certificate. PCGS Fine 12 Apparent. Restorations. Rust Stains on Back.

Anytime an important note is added into the collecting community, it brings joy to all that are involved in this hobby, especially those who are privilege to catalog them. While this note isn't by any means the finest for the series, it has always been a favorite of this cataloger. With the addition of this note, there are now only 13 examples reported to the current census. A mere 9,000 examples were printed and feature the counter signatures of Assistant Treasure Thomas Acton. The note faces up quite nicely retaining good color and eye appeal for the grade. Some restorations are noted on the margins and some small rust specs throughout the back of the note.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Fr. 1189a. 1882 $50 Gold Certificate. PCGS Fine 12 Apparent. Restorations. Rust Stains on Back. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-54KUR)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
STACKS-BOWERS 2016 ANA SALE SELECTIONS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n30a20.html)
STACKS-BOWERS 2016 ANA RARITIES SALE SELECTIONS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n30a21.html)