CSA 1863 Jackson mimics its U.S. 1863 counterpart

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

The Confederate States of America existed from Feb. 8, 1861, until May 9, 1865.

The Confederacy included 11 Southern states — South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina — that seceded from the United States and formed their own federal republic after the election of Abraham Lincoln, the nation’s first Republican president.

The Union ended the rebellion by force of arms. Four years of civil war resulted in 620,000 military deaths but ended slavery in America.

Confederate States stamps are popular with many U.S. collectors.

During its existence, the Confederacy produced 14 Scott major-number listed general stamp issues. In April 1863, the CSA issued an imperforate 2¢ brown red Andrew Jackson stamp (Scott 8).

Ironically the stamp design was based on the same portrait of Jackson used for the U.S. 2¢ black Andrew Jackson stamp (Scott 73).

Although he was a Southerner, Jackson was an odd choice as a stamp subject for the CSA because he was a proponent of a strong national government vis-à-vis states’ rights.

The engraved CSA 2¢ Andrew Jackson stamp was printed by Archer & Daly of Richmond, Va., from one plate of 200 subjects. The sheets were divided into two panes of 100 for distribution and sale.

The 2¢ stamp paid the drop letter and circular rates. Strips of five were also used to pay the 10¢ letter rate.

The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values the stamp at $75 in unused, original gum condition and at $350 in used condition with the value in italics.

The stamp is a good buy in unused, original gum condition at full catalog value. Examples in mint, never-hinged condition bring a premium.

The Scott U.S. Specialized catalog also lists and values a pale red variety (Scott 8a) and various types of color cancellations on used examples.

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