Tuscumbia Ala., United States 3c Rate, Red on Buff Confederate Provisional entire (6AXU1; formerly 12XU1). Handstamped provisional in upper right corner of cover to Mr. C. H. Howland in St. Louis Mo., light strike of Tuscumbia circular datestamp at left, missing bottom flap, edgewear and nicks

FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE TUSCUMBIA 3-CENT PROVISIONAL, ISSUED PRIOR TO ADOPTION OF NEW CONFEDERATE RATES.

The Tuscumbia Postmaster's Provisional is one of seven adhesive stamps or entires that the Scott Catalogue now lists separately as "3c 1861 Postmasters' Provisionals". They are distinct from the 5c and 10c Confederate Provisionals in that the postmasters who issued the stamps were still technically under the control of the U.S. Post Office Department, and were remitting postal receipts to the Department (and in some cases were avoiding ordering new U.S. stamps in anticipation of a final change in administrative control of their offices). The 1861 Provisionals are all 3c adhesives or handstamped entires, reflecting the then-current U.S. letter rate. The Tuscumbia entires were handstamped as 3c provisionals, but the postmaster evidently received (or had) a supply of U.S. stamps, as some of the few known examples bear the 3c 1857 Issue. The Crown census on the Civil War Philatelic Society website records only four covers.

With 1993 P.F. certificate as the old No. 12XU1. Scott value $17,500.00

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