Among the more than 80 lots of Confederate postmasters’ provisionals in this auction are some particularly rare items.

The auctions include choice items from the Besancon, Dubois, Schindler and Erivan collections.

U.S. 20th-century stamps and U.S. possessions headline the second day of the auction.

The current Erivan sale offers the only complete example of the 1846 5¢ red on buff postmaster’s provisional stamp from Lockport, N.Y.

Collectors seeking to start a new collection can get a jump start by bidding in the Aug. 16 general sale, which includes 1,055 lots of stamps, covers, and collections and accumulations.

The sale consists of 482 lots, of which 440 are devoted to worldwide literature and 42 to Great Britain literature.

Included with the signed Franklin postal card is a presentation pack of Great Britain’s 2007 Beatles Album Covers stamps.

Catalogs for all three Spink sales are available as downloadable PDF documents. Online bidding options are available.

The auction includes 615 lots of China and Asia stamps, covers and collections.

The uncanceled stamp is affixed to part of a Vin Fiz souvenir card, the back of which shows a portrait of pilot Calbraith Rodgers and part of his Vin Fiz Flyer biplane.

The Rarities of the World sale celebrates the 90th year of the firm founded by Robert A. Siegel.

While there are high-priced rarities in this sale, collectors will also find many items that are available with much more modest bids.

The second part of the Byerley Nicaragua collection consists of 307 lots of stamps, postal history, specimens, plate proofs and more.

A number of name collections will be sold during the three-day auction.

The CIA Invert block is one of the 1,215 lots of U.S. and worldwide stamps, proofs, postal history, large lots, collections and additional material offered in the upcoming sale.

The two-day U.S. sale features almost 900 lots and opens with an attractive selection of essays and proofs, specimens and postmasters’ provisionals.

The auction includes more than 2,100 single lots and 4,400 collections.

First to cross the Spink auction block will be 400 lots of Great Britain stamps and postal history.

Numerous appealing and eye-catching items of postal history to satisfy a broad range of collector budgets will be up for bids in both sales.

Highlights of the sale in New York City include free franks, autographed letters, imperforate classics and Civil War patriotic covers.