Austin Miss., 5c Red on Amber
entire (8XU1). Distinctive ornamental provisional design, typeset and
press-printed on upper right corner of yellow-amber envelope to Mr. James
Philpott, Wood Lawn Tenn., clearly-struck "Austin Miss. 1861 [inverted] 2
Dec." circular datestamp and "Paid" straightline struck over red
provisional, lightly creased away from markings, slightly reduced at right
but clear of design, right side also has slight wear at corners reinforced
with backing paperFINE. THE UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE AUSTIN, MISSISSIPPI, POSTMASTER'S PROVISIONAL ENTIRE.
There are sixteen unique Confederate postmasters' provisional adhesives (A) or press-printed entires (E): Austin Miss. (E), Beaumont Tex. (A--large 10c), Bridgeville Ala. (A--pair), Charleston S.C. (E), Fincastle Va. (E), Franklin N.C. (E), Hallettsville Tex. (A), Hillsboro N.C. (A), Jetersville Va. (A--pair), Kingston Tenn. (E), Knoxville Tenn. (A--10c), Mt. Lebanon La. (A), New Smyrna Fla. (A), Port Lavaca Tex. (A), Rutherfordton N.C. (A) and Salisbury N.C. (E--damaged). This Austin entire was discovered by Harold C. Brooks in 1925 and to date is the only recorded example.
Ex Brooks and Wulfekuhler (Image)