Bowling Green Ky. Blue circular datestamp under-inked and faintly struck on buff cover to Maj. J. F. Gilmer in care of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston at Bowling Green, forwarded to Nashville Tenn. (under 100 miles), bold "PAID" and "10" handstamps in pitch-black ink, "Savannah Ga. Paid Nov. 22, 1861" circular datestamp and "Paid 10" in oval handstamp in a lighter grayish ink, a smaller type of "Savannah Geo. Nov. 22" circular datestamp with stars struck on back, in old sales we attributed the "Paid 10" straightline marking to Bowling Green, but we revised our opinion -- Bowling Green did not use a rate marking such as this, and the forwarding rate would be 5c, not 10c (the single rate from Savannah to Bowling Green is 10c for over 500 miles; to Nashville is well under the 5c limit); therefore, the only logical explanation is that the "Paid 10" straightline was applied as a provisional marking and the circular datestamp on back may be a control mark (if issued at Savannah) or a receiving datestamp (if the cover was sent from outside Savannah); small tear at upper right corner just into "10", still Very Fine, an outstanding use and potentially an unlisted postmaster's provisional entire, ex Hart, MacBride, Kohn, Everett and Powell

Image Magnifier / Download

Power Search for Comparables