H.R. Harmer is to conduct the sale of the "ERIVAN" Collection of United and Confederate States Postal History on December 10, 2020. This auction will introduce to collectors’ attention a great variety of rare provisional covers, one of them is the famed “Livingston cover,” which is considered by many to be the greatest Confederate item in existence. It features an extraordinary example of the Brattleboro “Devil with Pitchfork” fancy cancel.
There are numerous factors contributing to the fact that the "Livingston Cover" is widely considered to be the most significant Confederate States item in existence. First is the design of the stamps themselves, which stand apart from all other Confederate Provisionals in their beauty. The second factor contributing to the cover's fame is the scarcity of Livingston stamps either on- or off-cover. It is considered that only 11 genuine examples exist. Although there are Confederate Provisionals, which are decidedly rarer, the unique combination of beauty and scarcity elevates Livingston above all other issues. The lot is expected to fetch $75,000.
