Columbia SC Postmaster Provisional Stamps
Columbia, South Carolina, is a state located in the southeastern United States, not an independent stamp-issuing country. As a constituent part of the United States, its postal history falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Postal Service, with stamps denominated in US currency and primarily featuring English text.
- Issued stamps
- 1861–1861
- Region
- Americas, North America
- Currency
- USD
- Languages
- English
- Issuer type
- Local postal administration
- Part of
- Confederate States of America
History and background
The region's postal administration reflects the broader history of the US federal postal system, evolving from early post roads to modern nationwide services, without independent treaty or colonial postal heritage.
Further reading: Wikipedia
Inscriptions to look for
Words printed on the stamp that point to this issuer. Search any of them in the issuer directory.
- COLUMBIA S.C.
How to identify them
- Look for 'COLUMBIA S.C.' handstamps or locally printed designs, often with denominations like '5 CENTS' or '10 CENTS'.
- These stamps were typically applied to covers (envelopes) and are rarely found unused.
- Authenticity is paramount; expertization is required due to their rarity and value.
Popular series
-
Postmaster Provisional
1861
Handstamped or locally printed stamps issued by the Columbia, SC postmaster due to the disruption of federal postal services at the outbreak of the Civil War.
Value overview
Typical ranges as orientation, not prices for a particular stamp. Condition, variety and demand decide the value of your copy; for current asking prices, check listings or the app.
- Common stamps
- N/A (all are rare)
- Scarce stamps
- $5,000–$50,000+
Columbia SC Postmaster Provisionals are extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors of Confederate philately. Their value depends heavily on condition, type (handstamp vs. printed), and specific varieties. Most examples are unique or nearly so.
Catalogs. Columbia SC Postmaster Provisional stamps are listed in the major world catalogs: Scott, Michel and Stanley Gibbons. Catalog numbers and groupings differ between them; the Stamp Identifier app shows the numbers it can find for your stamp.
Questions about Columbia SC Postmaster Provisional stamps
Columbia SC stamps refer to 'Postmaster Provisionals' issued by the postmaster of Columbia, South Carolina, in 1861, at the beginning of the American Civil War. These were temporary stamps created locally to maintain postal service after the Confederate states seceded from the Union and before the Confederate States of America issued its own general postage stamps.
Yes, Columbia SC Postmaster Provisionals are among the most valuable and rare items in Confederate philately. Due to their limited production and historical significance, individual stamps or covers can fetch prices ranging from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on their specific type, condition, and provenance.
Identifying Columbia SC stamps requires careful attention to detail. Look for distinctive handstamps or locally printed designs bearing 'COLUMBIA S.C.' and a denomination. These are almost exclusively found on period covers. Due to their extreme rarity and value, authenticating these stamps typically requires the opinion of a recognized philatelic expert. The Stamp Identifier app can suggest the issue from a photo; confirm the catalog number, and ask an expert about anything valuable.
Columbia SC Postmaster Provisionals are primarily listed in specialized catalogs focusing on United States and Confederate States philately, most notably the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers. Due to their highly specialized nature, they are less likely to be found in general world catalogs like Michel or Stanley Gibbons.
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