Thomasville, Georgia Provisional Stamps
Thomasville is a city located in the state of Georgia, within the Southeastern United States. As a municipality within the United States, its postal services have historically been governed by the United States Post Office Department and later the United States Postal Service.
- 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 issued for use in Thomasville would feature English text and denominations in US currency, reflecting its integration into the national postal system following the establishment of the US Republic. There are no distinct national postal issues for Thomasville as it operates under the federal postal administration.
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.
- THOMASVILLE
How to identify them
- Look for a 5-cent denomination, typically printed in black on yellowish paper.
- The stamp features the words 'THOMASVILLE' at the top, 'GA.' at the bottom, and '5 CENTS' in the center.
- These are handstamped provisional issues, often showing variations in impression and paper.
Popular series
-
Thomasville Provisional
1861
A single provisional stamp issued by the postmaster of Thomasville, Georgia, during the early days of the Confederacy, before official Confederate stamps were widely 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 (no common issues)
- Scarce stamps
- $10,000–$50,000+
Thomasville provisional stamps are exceedingly rare and highly sought after by collectors of Confederate philately. Their value depends heavily on condition, cancellations, and provenance. Only a handful of examples are known to exist.
Catalogs. Thomasville, Georgia 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 Thomasville, Georgia Provisional stamps
Thomasville stamps refer to a rare postmaster provisional stamp issued in Thomasville, Georgia, in 1861. These were temporary stamps created by the local postmaster to facilitate mail service after Georgia seceded from the Union and before the Confederate States of America issued its own national stamps.
Yes, Thomasville provisional stamps are among the most valuable and rare items in Confederate philately. Due to their extreme scarcity (only a few examples are known), they can command prices ranging from tens of thousands to over a hundred thousand dollars at auction, depending on their condition and authenticity.
Thomasville provisional stamps are typically 5-cent denominations, often printed in black on yellowish paper, featuring the town name 'THOMASVILLE' and 'GA.' along with '5 CENTS'. Due to their rarity and the existence of forgeries, expert authentication is crucial. A photo in the Stamp Identifier app gives a first identification; check the catalog number in a specialised catalog before relying on it.
Thomasville provisional stamps are listed in specialized catalogs focusing on United States and Confederate States philately, most notably the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue under the Confederate States Postmasters' Provisionals section. They are not typically found in general world catalogs like Michel or Stanley Gibbons.
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