Alexandria, Virginia 5-cent Provisional

United States · 1846 · 5¢

The stamp features a large numeral '5' within a circular frame, with 'ALEXANDRIA' printed above and 'VA' (Virginia) below. It is printed in black on a buff-colored paper.

This stamp is one of the famous U.S. Postmasters' Provisionals, issued by local postmasters before the first general issue of U.S. federal stamps in 1847. It represents a critical period in early American postal history.