Raleigh N.C., 5c Red entire
(68XU1). Typically faint but readable strike of provisional handstamp,
also cancelled by red "Paid", blue "Raleigh N.C. Jun. 13, 1861"
double-circle datestamp on cover to Patterson N.C., slightly reduced at
left, Fine (Image) 
Raleigh N.C., 5c Red entire
(68XU1). Mostly clear strike of provisional handstamp, blue "Raleigh
N.C. Dec. 12, 1861" double-circle datestamp on orange cover to Bethania
N.C., Very Fine (Image)
Rheatown Tenn., 5c Red
(69X1). Position 1 in setting, huge margins all around, deep shade,
cancelled by part of Rheatown Ten. circular datestamp, without pen
cancel, two thins that do not detract from appearanceEXTREMELY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF TWO RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE RHEATOWN POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL CANCELLED BY THE TOWN MARKING.
The 5c provisional stamps issued by Postmaster D. Pence were printed by the same printer who produced the Tellico Plains Tenn. provisional. 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 usage 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 these ornaments in each subject enables philatelists to identify the position of any stamp.
Our records contain at least a half-dozen off-cover examples the Rheatown 5c, including an unused pair, the only known multiple. There are five recorded covers and one dated piece. Of the known examples, only this off-cover stamp and one cover are cancelled by the town datestamp -- all others are pen cancelled.
Ex Deats (acquired from Warren H. Colson in 1934). Scott value for usual pen cancel (Image)
Spartanburg S.C., 5c Black
(78X1). Cut circular, clear or just touching outer circle, tied by
"Paid" straightline, "Spartanburg S.C." double-circle datestamp with ms.
"June 22" (1861) date on orange-buff cover to Rev. A. Nettles, Summerville
S.C.EXTREMELY FINE. ONE OF THE FINEST OF THE APPROXIMATELY TWENTY KNOWN COVERS BEARING THE SPARTANBURG POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
Most of the recorded Spartanburg Type I provisionals (thin numeral at center) are cut in a circular shape. Some varieties exist, including Scott 78X1a (value omitted). Only one pair is known, used on a cover from the Dean correspondence.
Ex Ferrary and Hind. The Spartanburg cover in the Kilbourne collection (Sale 815, lot 144) realized $40,000 hammer. (Image)
Talbotton Ga., 5c Black entire
(94XU1). Bold strikes of provisional handstamps and "Talbotton Ga. Jul.
11, 1861" double-circle datestamp on folded letter to Macon Ga., from a
destitute woman writing to her nephew for a loan, ink smear, otherwise
Extremely Fine (Image)
Tellico Plains Tenn.,
5c-5c-10c Red, Se-Tenant Sheet of Three (81X1-81X2). Unused (no gum),
large margins to just into frameline at left, bright and freshVERY FINE. ONE OF THE THREE FINEST OF THE SIX RECORDED SE-TENANT SHEETS OF THE TELLICO PLAINS POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL IN PRIVATE HANDS.
The Rheatown and Tellico Plains provisionals were printed by the same printer, using a typeset form of three subjects. For the Tellico Plains provisional, which probably followed the Rheatown, the post office and postmaster's names were changed, and the third subject at right was reset with a 10c denomination. Only two are known used, including one on cover (both are December 1861 dates).
Our records contain eight se-tenant sheets, including two in the British Library's Tapling collection. Of the six available to collectors, two are completely sound with full margins (one realized $8,000 hammer in our September 1999 Kilbourne sale). This is the third sound sheet. One of the others is repaired, and two have small faults.
Ex Ferrary. (Image)
Uniontown Ala., 5c Green on
Gray Blue (86X3). Position 1, large bottom margin, ample at right and
just touching other two sides, tied by usual lightly-struck Uniontown Ala.
circular datestamp on brown cover to Montgomery Ala., from the Cobbs
correspondenceVERY FINE AND ATTRACTIVE COVER. ONLY NINE COVERS WITH THE UNIONTOWN 5-CENT ON GRAY BLUE PAPER ARE RECORDED IN THE CROWN CENSUS.
Ex Walcott. (Image)
Uniontown Ala., 5c Green on
Gray Blue (86X3). Position 2, the only one of four positions with Lobe
ornaments at top and Loop ornaments at bottom, close margins all around,
tied by usual light strike of Uniontown Ala. circular datestamp on brown
cover to Montgomery Ala., slight edge wearA VERY FINE AND ATTRACTIVE COVER FROM THE COBBS CORRESPONDENCE. ONLY THIRTEEN COVERS WITH THE UNIONTOWN 5-CENT ON WHITE PROVISIONAL ARE RECORDED IN THE CROWN CENSUS.
Although the Scott Catalogue does not distinguish between types, the distinctive typography of Position 2 should qualify it as a major variety of Uniontown provisionals.
Ex Ferrary and Hind. (Image)
Uniontown Ala., 5c Green
(86X4). Position 4, large margins at top and bottom, clear to barely
touched at sides, tied by usual faint "Uniontown Ala." circular datestamp
on yellow cover to Montgomery Ala., from the Cobbs correspondence, close
examination reveals a tiny scuff in the stamp at rightVERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONLY THIRTEEN COVERS BEARING THE UNIONTOWN 5-CENT ON WHITE PAPER ARE RECORDED IN THE CROWN CENSUS.
Ex Caspary and Antrim. With 1997 C.S.A. certificate. (Image)
Victoria Tex., 5c Red Brown on
Green (88X1). Original gum, huge margins at top and right -- presumably
from the corner of the sheet -- ample at left and bottom, clear impression
on bright green paperEXTREMELY FINE GEM. BY FAR THE FINEST OF THE FOUR RECORDED EXAMPLES OF THE VICTORIA 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL.
In addition to the stamp offered here, we record a top-left margin stamp also described as having original gum (ex Hessel, "small faults"), an original-gum stamp with vertical crease, ex Kilbourne (realized $7,000 in our Sale 815), and a left-margin uncancelled stamp, ex Steves (P.F. photo files). No cancelled Victoria 5c stamps or on-cover examples are known. Of the four recorded stamps, the example offered here is the finest.
Ex Ferrary and Hind. (Image)