1861 Confederate States Postage Stamps Value & Price Guide

When the Confederate States of America took over mail delivery on June 1, 1861, they had a problem. They had a post office. They had mailbags and routes and postmasters. What they didn't have was postage stamps.

The US Post Office had stopped delivering mail to the seceded states, and any remaining US stamps were no longer valid. Confederate Postmaster General John H. Reagan had been in office since March, but standing up a postal service from scratch during the opening months of a civil war turned out to be harder than anyone anticipated. The first Confederate general-issue stamps wouldn't be ready until October 1861. That left a five-month gap where individual postmasters had to improvise.

Quick Value Summary

Item: Confederate States Postage Stamps (1861-1865)
Category: Stamps

Postmaster Provisionals (1861):
  Common provisionals (used): $100 - $1,000
  Rare provisionals (used): $5,000 - $50,000+
  On original cover: 2-5x stamp-alone values

General Issues (1861-1863):
  5¢ Jefferson Davis (green, Scott CSA #1): $15 - $200 (used)
  10¢ Jefferson Davis (blue, Scott CSA #2): $10 - $150 (used)
  2¢ Andrew Jackson (green, Scott CSA #3): $200 - $1,500 (used)
  5¢ Jefferson Davis (blue, Scott CSA #4): $5 - $50 (used)
  10¢ Jefferson Davis (rose, Scott CSA #5): $10 - $100 (used)
  5¢ Jefferson Davis (London print, blue, CSA #6): $5 - $40 (used)
  5¢ Jefferson Davis (local print, blue, CSA #7): $3 - $30 (used)
  2¢ Andrew Jackson (brown-red, CSA #8): $30 - $300 (used)
  10¢ Jefferson Davis (milky blue, CSA #11): $5 - $30 (used)
  10¢ Jefferson Davis (greenish, CSA #12): $5 - $25 (used)
  20¢ George Washington (green, CSA #13): $200 - $1,500 (used)
  1¢ John C. Calhoun (orange, CSA #14): $100 - $600 (used)

Unused examples command 2-10x used prices depending on issue.
Rarity: Varies widely by issue

The Story

The Confederate postal system is one of the more remarkable logistical achievements of the Civil War, even if it ultimately failed along with the nation it served. Jefferson Davis appointed John H. Reagan as Postmaster General on March 6, 1861. Reagan was a Texas congressman, not a postal expert, but he proved to be one of the Confederacy's more competent administrators.

Reagan faced immediate challenges. The Confederacy had no stamp printing facilities. The engraving and printing expertise was concentrated in the North. His first major contract went to a Richmond printer, Hoyer & Ludwig, but their lithographic printing was crude compared to the line-engraved stamps of the US Post Office. He also contracted with the London firm of Thomas De La Rue & Company for higher-quality typography-printed stamps, but transatlantic shipping through the Union naval blockade made delivery unreliable.

The Postmaster Provisionals (June-October 1861)

During the gap between the end of US mail service (June 1) and the first Confederate stamps (October 16, 1861), individual postmasters created their own provisional stamps and handstamped envelopes. These are among the most fascinating and valuable Confederate philatelic items.

Over 100 different postmaster provisional stamps and handstamp designs are known, from cities across the South:

• New Orleans: The most common provisionals, available in 2¢ and 5¢ denominations. New Orleans had the South's largest post office and produced relatively standardized provisional stamps.

• Memphis: Distinctive with a portrait design. Used examples: $200-$800.

• Mobile, Alabama: Handstamped envelopes. Used on cover: $500-$2,000.

• Charleston, South Carolina: Envelopes with a "PAID" handstamp. On cover: $300-$1,000.

• Nashville: Known provisionals with typeset text. Rare examples: $5,000+.

• Baton Rouge: Very rare. On cover: $10,000+.

• Livingston, Alabama: Among the rarest provisionals. On cover: $30,000+.

The provisionals were used only briefly, making them scarce. Most survived only on the envelopes (covers) they were mailed on, since loose stamps were used and discarded. Expert authentication is critical because forgeries have been produced since the 1860s.

General Issues (1861-1865)

The Confederacy produced 14 general-issue stamps between 1861 and the end of the war in 1865. All were imperforate (no perforations), except for a few experimental perforated varieties that are extremely rare.

First issue (October 1861): The 5-cent green (Scott CSA #1) featuring Jefferson Davis and the 10-cent blue (CSA #2) featuring Davis again were the first Confederate stamps available to the public. They were lithographed by Hoyer & Ludwig in Richmond. Print quality was inconsistent, and the stamps often have blurry details and uneven ink coverage.

De La Rue prints (1862): The London-printed stamps (CSA #6) were far superior in quality, with crisp typography and consistent color. But getting them through the Union blockade was a constant challenge. Many shipments were intercepted.

Local Richmond prints (1862-1864): As the war continued, Richmond printers Archer & Daly took over production. Their stamps (CSA #7, #8, #11, #12) were adequate but showed the increasing strain on Confederate resources. Paper quality declined. Colors became inconsistent. Some stamps were printed on wallpaper or other improvised paper stock.

Late issues: The 20-cent Washington (CSA #13) and the 1-cent Calhoun (CSA #14) were issued in 1863 but are scarcer because they saw less use. The 20-cent paid the letter rate to foreign countries. The 1-cent was for newspapers and circulars.

How to Identify Confederate Stamps

Key characteristics:

• Imperforate (cut with scissors; perforated Confederate stamps are extremely rare fakes or fantasy items in most cases)

• Portraits of Confederate leaders: Jefferson Davis (most issues), Andrew Jackson (2¢ values), George Washington (20¢), John C. Calhoun (1¢)

• Text: "CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA" or "CONFEDERATE STATES" and denomination

• Paper: Varies from thin, hard paper (De La Rue prints) to soft, porous paper (late Richmond prints)

Print quality tells you a lot:

• Sharp, crisp impression with even color: likely De La Rue (London) print

• Slightly blurry, uneven inking: Hoyer & Ludwig (Richmond) lithography

• Acceptable but declining quality on various papers: Archer & Daly

Color variations: Confederate stamps exist in many shades due to inconsistent ink formulations and paper stocks. The Scott catalog lists major color varieties separately. Rare shades (particularly the "milky blue" and certain greens) command premiums.

Value by Issue

Most affordable (entry points for collectors):

• CSA #7 (5¢ blue, local print): $3-$30 used. The most common Confederate stamp.

• CSA #11 (10¢ blue): $5-$30 used. Widely available.

• CSA #12 (10¢ greenish): $5-$25 used.

Mid-range:

• CSA #1 (5¢ green, first issue): $15-$200 used. The first Confederate stamp, with historical appeal that drives value beyond its rarity.

• CSA #2 (10¢ blue, first issue): $10-$150 used.

• CSA #4 (5¢ blue, later printing): $5-$50 used.

• CSA #8 (2¢ brown-red): $30-$300 used. The 2¢ drop-letter rate was less commonly used.

Premium issues:

• CSA #3 (2¢ green Andrew Jackson): $200-$1,500 used. Scarce.

• CSA #13 (20¢ green Washington): $200-$1,500 used. Limited use for foreign-rate mail.

• CSA #14 (1¢ orange Calhoun): $100-$600 used. Late issue, not widely distributed before the war ended.

Unused examples: Multiply used values by 2-10x depending on the issue. Unused CSA #1 with original gum: $500-$1,500. Unused CSA #13: $800-$3,000+.

On cover: Stamps on their original envelopes with clear postmarks are highly desirable. A common CSA #7 on a well-struck cover: $20-$100. A CSA #1 on cover: $100-$500+. Covers with military camp postmarks, blockade-run markings, or prisoner-of-war endorsements command significant premiums.

Authentication and Fakes

Confederate stamps have been extensively forged since the 1860s. Key concerns:

• Springertype forgeries: Early 20th century forgeries by Sam Allan Taylor and others are well-documented but still catch inexperienced collectors.

• Color changelings: Stamps with chemically altered colors to resemble rarer varieties.

• Fake cancels: Unused stamps with applied fake cancels to make them appear used (since some used values are higher for certain issues), or vice versa.

• Fake provisionals: Postmaster provisional stamps are the most heavily forged category. Any provisional worth more than $100 should be expertized.

• Repaired stamps: Tears, thins, and margin additions are common repairs that can be difficult to detect.

The Confederate Stamp Alliance (CSA) and the Philatelic Foundation provide authentication services. Expert certificates are essential for any Confederate item worth more than $200.

Frank Crown's "The Confederate Stamp Manual" and Patricia Kaufmann's expertise are definitive resources for authentication.

Where to Sell

Auction houses: Robert A. Siegel handles major Confederate philatelic material. Heritage Auctions and Daniel F. Kelleher also handle Confederate stamps and covers.

Specialist dealers: Patricia Kaufmann (CS specialist) and other dealers who focus on Confederate philately will pay fair prices for quality material.

Civil War shows and societies: Confederate philately has a dedicated collector community through the Confederate Stamp Alliance.

Selling costs: Expert certification: $30-$100 per item. Auction commissions: 10-20%. Shipping: $10-$20 insured.

Not sure about your Confederate stamps? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for help with preliminary identification.

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