Gainesville Provisional Stamps
Gainesville is a city located in the state of Florida, within the Southeastern United States. As a municipality within the United States, its postal services have historically been administered by the United States Postal Service (USPS), meaning its stamps are federal issues rather than distinct national issues.
- 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
Therefore, stamps associated with Gainesville primarily reflect broader American postal history, featuring English text and denominations in U. S. currency. The city's postal administration is subject to the administrative and political transitions of the United States federal government.
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.
- PAID
- GAINESVILLE
How to identify them
- Look for a 5-cent denomination, typically printed in black on yellowish paper.
- The stamp features the word 'PAID' at the top, '5' in the center, and 'GAINESVILLE' at the bottom, often with a hand-stamped cancellation.
- Authenticity is paramount; expertization is required due to its rarity and value.
Popular series
-
Gainesville Provisional
1861
A single provisional stamp issued by the Gainesville postmaster during the early days of the American Civil War due to a shortage of official Confederate stamps.
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 (no common issues)
- Scarce stamps
- $10,000–$50,000+
The Gainesville provisional is exceedingly rare, with only a handful of examples known. Its value is highly dependent on condition, provenance, and whether it is on or off cover. It is considered a major rarity in Confederate philately.
Catalogs. Gainesville 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 Gainesville Provisional stamps
Gainesville stamps refer specifically to a rare Postmaster Provisional stamp issued in Gainesville, Florida, in 1861, during the American Civil War. These were local issues created by the postmaster due to a lack of official Confederate stamps.
Yes, Gainesville provisional stamps are extremely valuable. They are among the rarest and most sought-after Confederate Postmaster Provisionals, with known examples fetching tens of thousands of dollars at auction. Their value is due to their scarcity and historical significance.
Gainesville provisional stamps are typically 5-cent denominations, often printed in black on yellowish paper, featuring 'PAID', '5', and 'GAINESVILLE'. Due to their extreme rarity and high value, authenticating a Gainesville provisional requires expert philatelic examination. For a first lead, photograph the stamp in the Stamp Identifier app, then confirm the catalog number; valuable stamps deserve an expert opinion.
The Gainesville provisional stamp is listed in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers under Confederate Postmaster Provisionals. It is a key entry for collectors of Confederate philately.
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