VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE CONJUNCTIVE USE OF A NASHVILLE 5-CENT POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL AND THE APALACHICOLA "UNPAID 5" RATING FOR POSTAGE DUE ON ARRIVAL.
The distance from Nashville to Apalachicola is just over 500 miles. This was recognized by the Nashville postmaster, who applied the manuscript "Due 5" notation. Upon arrival at Apalachicola (Benjamin F. Simmonds postmaster) it was struck with the "Unpaid 5" straightline. There is one other cover known with this straightline -- a Tent and Flag Patriotic use to Apalachicola, which is held in the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond. This is the only recorded "Unpaid" marking used by a Confederate post office.
Ex Corwin. Accompanied by an article from the Confederate Philatelist (Nov.-Dec. 1990) discussing the Apalachicola marking and illustrating this cover. With 1964 B.P.A. certificate