Port Gibson Provisional Stamps
Port Gibson is a municipality located in Claiborne County, Mississippi, within the Southern United States. As a locality within the United States, its postal history falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Postal Service, reflecting national postal regulations and issues.
- Issued stamps
- 1861–1861
- Region
- Americas, Southern United States
- Currency
- USD
- Languages
- English
- Issuer type
- Local postal administration
- Part of
- Confederate States of America
History and background
Stamps issued for use in Port Gibson would feature English inscriptions and denominations consistent with U. S. currency. The area's postal administration has remained continuous under the federal structure of the United States, with no distinct historical period necessitating separate local postal 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.
- P. GIBSON
- PORT GIBSON
- PAID 5
How to identify them
- Look for a 5-cent stamp, typically in blue, with the inscription 'P. GIBSON' or 'PORT GIBSON' and 'PAID 5'.
- These are handstamped or crudely printed issues, often on colored paper.
- Authenticity is paramount; expertization is required due to their extreme rarity and value.
Popular series
-
Port Gibson Provisional
1861
A single provisional stamp issued by the postmaster of Port Gibson during the early days of the American Civil War, before Confederate general issues were available.
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 (extremely rare)
- Scarce stamps
- $10,000–$50,000+
Port Gibson provisionals are among the rarest and most sought-after Confederate postmaster provisionals. Their value is highly dependent on condition, provenance, and whether they are on or off cover. Only a handful of examples are known.
Catalogs. Port Gibson 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 Port Gibson Provisional stamps
Port Gibson stamps refer to a rare 'postmaster provisional' stamp issued in Port Gibson, Mississippi, in 1861, at the outset of the American Civil War. These were local issues created by the postmaster to meet postal needs before official Confederate stamps became available.
Yes, Port Gibson provisional stamps are extremely valuable. They are among the rarest and most prized Confederate postmaster provisionals, with known examples fetching tens of thousands of dollars at auction. Their value is due to their historical significance and scarcity.
Identifying a Port Gibson provisional requires careful examination for the specific design, inscription ('P. GIBSON' or 'PORT GIBSON' and 'PAID 5'), and paper characteristics. Due to their rarity and high value, expert authentication is essential. For a first lead, photograph the stamp in the Stamp Identifier app, then confirm the catalog number; valuable stamps deserve an expert opinion.
Port Gibson provisional stamps are listed in specialized catalogs focusing on United States and Confederate States philately, most notably the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue (under Confederate States Postmaster Provisionals). They are generally not found in general world catalogs like Michel or Stanley Gibbons.
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