Nashville Postmaster Provisional Stamps
Nashville is a city located in the state of Tennessee, within the United States of America, situated in North America. As a major American city, its postal history is entirely integrated with the United States Postal Service (USPS), utilizing federal issues and denominations.
- 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
Stamps from this region exclusively feature English, reflecting the dominant language of the United States. Nashville's postal administration has remained consistent under the federal structure of the US, with no independent postal authority or distinct colonial legacy impacting its stamp issues.
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
How to identify them
- Look for 'PAID' handstamps or printed stamps with 'NASHVILLE, TENN.' and a denomination (typically 5 or 10 cents).
- Examine the paper and printing method; these were locally produced and often show crude characteristics compared to federal issues.
- Authenticity is crucial; seek expert opinions for any suspected Nashville provisional.
Popular series
-
Nashville Postmaster Provisional
1861
Issued by the Nashville postmaster during the early days of the American Civil War, before official Confederate stamps were widely available. These are handstamped or printed locally.
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
- Not applicable; all Nashville provisionals are rare.
- Scarce stamps
- $5,000–$50,000+
Nashville Postmaster Provisionals are extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors of Confederate States philately. Their value depends heavily on condition, specific variety (e.g., handstamped vs. printed), and whether they are on or off cover. Authenticity is paramount due to their rarity.
Catalogs. Nashville 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 Nashville Postmaster Provisional stamps
Nashville stamps refer specifically to the Postmaster Provisional issues produced in Nashville, Tennessee, during 1861, at the outset of the American Civil War. These were local stamps issued by the postmaster to facilitate mail service before the Confederate States of America began issuing their own general postage stamps.
Yes, Nashville Postmaster Provisional stamps are exceptionally valuable. They are among the rarest and most historically significant issues in Confederate philately, with individual stamps often fetching tens of thousands of dollars at auction. Their value is due to their extreme scarcity and historical context.
Nashville provisional stamps typically feature a handstamped or locally printed design with 'PAID' and 'NASHVILLE, TENN.' along with a denomination (e.g., '5 Cents'). They were issued on various papers. Due to their rarity and value, expert authentication is highly recommended. A photo in the Stamp Identifier app gives a first identification; check the catalog number in a specialised catalog before relying on it.
Nashville Postmaster Provisional stamps are prominently listed in the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers, typically within the Confederate States of America section under 'Postmasters' Provisionals'. They are not generally found in international catalogs like Michel or Stanley Gibbons, which focus on broader national issues.
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