1860's Antique Cdv Civil War Era Photo Zanesville Ohio Interesting Single R5c Margin Copy Revenue

I bought it, thank you!

I had this on my watchlist, but forgot about it and it sold. I'm curious about the stamp being perforated shorter than normal, what caused that? Was it intentionally trimmed shorter by someone? According to the listing this McDowell was a civil war general.

Butler and Carpenter had a lot of trouble with the perforating machines. They came from England and no one here was very good at adjusting them. Plus the First Issue stamps came in 10 different sizes. That is the reason why imperf and part perf stamps exist; the Union desperately needed the money, so they told B&C to just send them out ASAP.

Now I wish I wouldn't have forgot about this auction, the final price was $29 and change, which isn't too bad for general Irvin McDowell from the First Battle of Bull Run, not to mention the stamp was perforated improperly.

Very interesting, and not just because of the perf issues...

I've been aggregating examples of stamps with that very cancel, because they seem to be rife with perforation issues, including "impossible" part perfs, etc.

I have this same cancel attributed as "F.C. Shepherd" with the Bank of Ilion, not a photographer.

All such cancels have diminuitive type as shown, and the vast majority are dated 1863, which predates the tax on photographs by a substantial period of time.

Examples:







It's possible that my attribution is wrong (I'd have to dig back and find the source), or that stamp was stuck on a CDV after the fact in an attempt to manufacture value (sadly not uncommon).

Interesting, it definitely is "F.C.S." but I can't make out the last digit in the year, but it's likely a "3" since you say most have the date of 1863. I don't know what to think, but it's beginning to look like the stamp was added later as you were suggesting, because I think the chances of a photographer using a cancel with dimunitive type that is spooky similar to the non-photographer attribution you mentioned is likely nil, lol.

Is it in the Shellibear book?

General McDowell led the Union Army at First Manassas against the Rebel Troops of Beauregard. Green army met green army, consequently not much slaughter."A year later when these armies meet they'll know how to get the killing done", (Shelby Foote in his trilogy). McDowell is famous for saying "his headquarters would be in the saddle". A Union wag famously stated that his headquarters were where his hindquarters should be.
Not particularly liked by his troops as I recall.
cheers mark

edit to insert quote

Which Shellabear book? I'm aware of three: railroads, insurance, and ship cancels. I don't know that any of the 3 apply here.

Is there a Shellabear reference I'm forgetting?

I recall an orange ARA pamphlet that listed printed cancels that were known at the time and who used them. So names were attached to initials when known. I might possibly have the author wrong, but…..

Howard Beaumont. "Printed Cancellations 1862-1883", published in 1972.

I've got a copy floating around somewhere...

I have too, somewhere.

I'm trying to find an inexpensive used copy for sale somewhere, probably would be a worthwhile reference to have.

I would think that Richard Friedberg or Eric Jackson have one.

They do, but I found one at an online bookseller for a better price including shipping.