Annapolis, Maryland Postmaster Provisional

United States · 1846 · 5 Cents

The stamp features the text 'ANNAPOLIS MD' at the top, '5 CENTS' prominently in the center, and 'PAID' at the bottom, all enclosed within a simple rectangular border.

This stamp is a Postmaster Provisional issue, created by the Annapolis, Maryland postmaster before the U.S. federal government introduced its first general issue postage stamps in 1847. It reflects the early, decentralized efforts to prepay postage in the United States.