Statesville NC Provisional

The Statesville NC Handstamp Provisional

Tony L. Crumbley

From the dates recorded, it appears the Statesville provisional first appeared in September 1861. Three revalued covers exist, two of which were not carried over 500 miles. This indicates the provisional may have been used after July 1, 1862, when the rate was increased to ten cents. It appears the postmaster struggled from June to September with the inability to provide prepaid postage. It could also have been that by September the supply of Union coins was exhausted and the need arose to provide the provisionals as handback change to postal patrons. Whatever the case, only 26 copies of this provisional have been recorded to date, 23 five-cent provisionals and 3 ten-cent revalued copies.

Figure 1 -- Five-cent black Statesville NC Provisional used to Davidson College NC. The postmark is dated March 24 (1862). Note the weakness of the woodcut strike. All genuine examples appear this way.

Figure 2 -- Fradulent unused Statesville Provisional. Note the boldness of the handstamp and the wider lines of the box. All known examples are on the same straw paper.
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Figure 3 -- This five-cent Statesville Provisional to another office in North Carolina is revalued to ten cents by overprinting the control marking with a handstamped numeral "10." The cover was either posted after July 1, 1862 or was an overweight letter -- as it traveled less than 500 miles. Two such examples have been recorded.

From the dates recorded, it appears the Statesville provisional first appeared in September 1861. Three revalued covers exist, two of which were not carried over 500 miles. This indicates the provisional may have been used after July 1, 1862, when the rate was increased to ten cents. It appears the postmaster struggled from June to September with the inability to provide prepaid postage. It could also have been that by September the supply of Union coins was exhausted and the need arose to provide the provisionals as handback change to postal patrons. Whatever the case, only 26 copies of this provisional have been recorded to date, 23 five-cent provisionals and 3 ten-cent revalued copies.

Both The New Dietz and Scott Catalog list unused copies of this provisional. I have recorded three unused examples, all on straw paper. It is clear to me that these copies are fraudulent. Close examination of the marking indicates they were not made with the same wood cut of the used examples. The unused examples are much bolder and darker than the used copies. The box lines are wider and the corners are more curved than the used examples. These fraudulent covers appear to have been created on envelopes of the period and have been around for some time since one was included in the Ferrary Collection.

PAID 5 Statesville Handstamp Provisional Covers

1 Jan 1 W J Colvert Esq, Eagle Mills NC
2 Feb 4 Noah Spainhow, Lenoir NC
3 Mar 24 Miss Julia Sloan, Davidson College NC
4 Apr Robert G Allison, Charlotte NC
5 Apr W Turner Esq, Turnersburg NC
6 Apr 14 Sallie Rankin, Lenoir NC
7 Apr 2 ??
8 Sep 2 J W Thomas, Raleigh NC
9 Sep 13 Miss Betty U Bocoy, Mansion House, Salisbury NC
10 Oct 12 W Colvert Esq, Eagle Mills NC
11 Oct 15 Miss Lizzie Brody, New Sterling NC
12 Oct 16 Mr L V Blum, Salem NC
13 Oct 21 Messers Mornder Gaille & Co, Eagle Mills NC
14 Oct 23 Wm J Colvert, Eagle Mills NC
15 Oct 25 Capt A K Simonton, 4th Regt NC State Troops, Manassas Junction, Va
16 Nov 1 Cook, Granite Hill NC
17 Nov 14 George Law Esq, Hillsboro NC
18 Dec 12 Rev Jas H Peoples, Providence PO NC
19 Dec 15 Capt A K Simonton, Manassas Junction, Va
20 Dec 23 Mrs Isabella Watts, Catawba NC
21 --- 6 Mrs E A Gilmer, Mt Airy NC
22 --- 5 Miss Julia Sloan, Davidson College NC
23 --- 2 Miss Kate Kontin, Deep Well NC

Handstamp PAID 10 Over Paid 5

1 Jun 30 Capt W J Farrett, Valleytown Cherokee Co NC
2 Dec 30 J Heinhardt, Gainesville, Fla

Manuscript 10 Over Handstamp PAID 5

1 --- Miss Julia Sloan, Davidson College NC "Way"

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