Jonesboro, Tenn., 5¢ dark blue provisional entire (Scott 45XU2) EARLIEST RECORDED USE / NEW DISCOVERY. Bears no postmark but is considered postally used, as noted in the CSA catalog. Addressed to Mrs. Ellen R. Middleton, Lexington, Virginia, with pencil docketing “Aug 17th, 1861.” Lot includes photocopy of original letter, which no longer accompanies, from John W. Middleton who was in Company H, 27th Virginia Infantry, On the organization of the Stonewall Brigade, it was assigned with nine other Companies to the 5th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Slightly reduced at left, impression somewhat muddy but unmistakable. Military records list Middleton’s residence as Jonesboro, E. Tenn.; others in the Middleton family lived in Lexington, Va.

Jonesboro provisionals were prepared by impressing a circular brass seal inscribed “J. E. WILLIAMS. / PAID *5* / JONESBORO. T.” on envelopes where J. E. Williams was the postmaster. The Crown surveys list fifteen examples of the Jonesboro handstamped provisional entire, including five struck in black and ten in dark blue. Several of these do not have a town datestamp.

Incredibly interesting backstory on this cover which appears in the March 2018 edition of the American Stamp Dealer and Collector. ONLY TEN JONESBORO 5¢ BLUE PROVISIONALS RECORDED IN CROWN, the prior earliest recorded was October 1861. SCV $5,000.             $3,500.

PMP-2 + LL (letter)