Austin, Texas Provisional Stamps
Identification, history, popular series & stamp values
About Austin, Texas (Local Post) Stamps
Austin, Texas, is a major metropolitan area located in the South Central region of the United States, not a sovereign stamp-issuing entity. As a state capital within the US federal system, its postal services have historically been governed by the United States Post Office Department and later the United States Postal Service. Consequently, stamps used in Austin exclusively feature English text and denominations in US currency, reflecting the national postal administration. Any distinct philatelic issues would be related to local postal history or specialized city post services that predate or operated parallel to the federal system, rather than sovereign national issues.
Issuer Overview
- Region:
- Americas
- Subregion:
- North America
- Issuing period:
- 1861 – 1861
- Languages:
- English
- Currency:
- USD
- Parent issuer:
- United States
Stamp Catalogs
Austin, Texas (Local Post) stamps are listed in the following catalogs:
Popular Austin, Texas (Local Post) Stamp Series
Austin Provisional Postmaster's Issue (1861)
Stamps issued by the local postmaster during the early days of the Confederacy, before CSA national issues were widely available.
issuer:austin-tex.series.items.1.name (issuer:austin-tex.series.items.1.period)
issuer:austin-tex.series.items.1.description
issuer:austin-tex.series.items.2.name (issuer:austin-tex.series.items.2.period)
issuer:austin-tex.series.items.2.description
Austin, Texas (Local Post) Stamp Value Overview
Value Notes: Austin provisional stamps are exceedingly rare and highly sought after by specialists in Confederate and U.S. local post philately. Values depend heavily on condition, cancellations, and specific varieties. Most 'common' stamps from Austin would be standard U.S. or CSA issues.
How to Identify Austin, Texas (Local Post) Stamps
Key features to look for when identifying Austin, Texas (Local Post) stamps:
- 1 Look for 'Austin, Tex.' or similar town name in the design or cancellation.
- 2 Provisional issues typically feature simple designs, often hand-stamped or lithographed, with denominations like '5 Cents' or '10 Cents'.
- 3 issuer:austin-tex.identification.tips.2
Related Issuers & Topics
Explore stamps from related regions and historical entities:
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Austin, Texas stamps?
Austin, Texas, as a city, did not issue sovereign postage stamps. However, during the American Civil War in 1861, a local provisional postmaster in Austin issued its own stamps due to the disruption of federal postal services. These 'provisional' stamps are highly collectible and distinct from regular U.S. or Confederate issues used in Austin.
Are Austin, Texas stamps valuable?
Yes, genuine Austin, Texas provisional stamps from 1861 are extremely valuable. They are among the rarest and most historically significant of U.S. local post issues, with individual stamps fetching thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. Standard U.S. or Confederate stamps used in Austin are generally less valuable, depending on their rarity and condition.
How can I identify Austin, Texas stamps?
Identifying genuine Austin provisional stamps requires expert knowledge due to their rarity and the existence of forgeries. Key features include the specific design (often a simple 'Austin, Tex.' with denomination), paper type, and cancellation. For definitive identification, especially for valuable items, it's recommended to consult a philatelic expert or use a stamp identifier app that can help distinguish rare provisional issues from common stamps.
Which catalogs list Austin, Texas stamps?
The primary catalog for Austin, Texas provisional stamps is the Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers. These issues are typically found in the 'Confederate States of America - Postmasters' Provisionals' section or a dedicated U.S. Local Posts section. Other international catalogs like Michel or Stanley Gibbons generally do not list these highly specialized local U.S. issues.
Not sure if your stamp is from Austin, Texas (Local Post)?
Identify it instantly with our iPhone app
Download on App Store