Rheatown Tenn., 5c Red (69X1). Position 2 in setting, Type II with distinctive inverted ornament at top right, huge margins, deep shade, neat manuscript cancel, "Rheatown Ten. Jun. 20" (1861) circular datestamp on small cover to "Lieut. D. R. Wilson, Knoxville Tenn., care of Col. J. B. McIntyre", two pressed creases in cover clear of stamp, address slightly faded, stamp has tiny corner margin crease at bottom right

VERY FINE. THE EARLIEST KNOWN USE AND ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE SIX RECORDED COVERS BEARING THE RHEATOWN POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.

The 5c provisional stamps issued by Postmaster D. Pence were printed by the same printer who produced the Tellico Plains Tenn. provisional. An affidavit by the Tellico Plains postmaster, M. F. Johnson, dated March 24, 1876, states that his stamps were printed in Knoxville by "Hawes Lea." The June dates recorded for the Rheatown suggest that it came first, and the postmaster's own recollections place the issue in "midsummer 1861" (see Crown book, p. 307). Although dated examples show use into April 1862, a relatively long period of time, the issue is extremely rare.

The same basic type form containing three subjects was used for the Rheatown and Tellico Plains Tenn. provisionals. For the Rheatown, all three were 5c denominations. The inside border at the top of each stamp is made up of seven ornaments; the unique arrangement of the ornaments in each subject enables philatelists to identify the position of any stamp.

Our records contain at least a half-dozen off-cover examples of the Rheatown 5c, including an unused pair, the only known multiple. The six covers we record and listed in the Crown census at the Civil War Philatelic Society website are as follows (in chronological order, type identified):

1) Jun. 20 (1861), Ty. II, cover to Lt. D. R. Wilson, ex Worthington (his source code on back "11/26/04 Luff BISSS"), Caspary, Antrim, Weatherly, Kilbourne and "D.K." collection, the cover offered here

2) Jun. 30 (1861), Ty. I, small cover, faint address, Siegel 1984 Rarities Sale

3) Feb. 8 (1862), Ty. III, lady's embossed cover to Eliz. Devault, the only tied example, ex Caspary, Gallagher and Haub

4) Feb. 13 (1862), Ty. II, on restored cover, ex Steves, Crown book (Sale 1104, lot 2275)

5) Feb. 15 (1862), Ty. I, cover to David Cleage, circular datestamp struck twice, ex Caspary and Haub

6) Apr. 9 (1862), Ty. II, cover to Mrs. Wm. Brown, ex MacBride, Dr. Graves, Boshwit and Dr. Brandon (Siegel Sale 1073, lot 329)

Ex Worthington (his source code on back "11/26/04 Luff BISSS"), Caspary, Antrim, Weatherly, Kilbourne and "D.K." collection. Scott value $17,500.00 on cover. E. 7,500-10,000

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables