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Confederate States of America (1860-1865) Plate numbers appeared only on the last two Confederate issues, Scott 11 and 12. Some earlier issues had imprints, but no plate numbers. Illustrated here are printings from Hoyer & Ludwig, Richmond, VA; Keating & Ball, Charleston, SC; and Archer & Daly, Richmond.
CSA Scott 1c, 5¢, imprint pair
CSA Scott 2b, 5¢, imprint single
CSA Scott 5, 10¢, imprint single
CSA Scott 11, 10¢, Keating & Ball printing, plate number 1 (right)
CSA Scott 11, 10¢, Keating & Ball printing, plate number 2 (right)
CSA Scott 11, 10¢, Keating & Ball printing, plate number 2 (center)
CSA Scott 11, 10¢, Keating & Ball printing, plate number 2 (left)
CSA Scott 11, 10¢, Archer & Daly printing, plate number 2 (left)
CSA Scott 11e, 10¢, plate number 1
CSA Scott 12, 10¢, Archer & Daly printing, plate number 3 (left)
CSA Scott 12b, 10¢, Keating & Ball printing, plate number 3 (left)
CSA Scott 12b var, 10¢, Keating & Ball printing, plate number 3
CSA Scott 12b, 10¢, Archer & Daly printing, plate number 4 (right)
CSA Scott 12d, 10¢, Keating & Ball printing, plate number 5 (left) Some Confederate postmaster's provisional issues are known with imprints. Examples are New Orleans Scott 62X1 (top imprint), 62X3 (top), 62X3a (top), 62X4 (top and bottom imprints), 62X5 (top and bottom). However, none are known to have been printed with plate numbers. Reprints, facsimiles, forgeries, counterfeits and other fakes of Confederate issues abound. None have been reported with plate numbers.
The Free and Independent State of Scott (1861-1986) When Tennessee joined the Confederacy in 1861, this was unpopular in East Tennessee. Scott County, in turn, declared itself independent from Confederate Tennessee, becoming a Southern Unionist enclave. The State of Scott successfully repelled an invasion sent by the Confederate governor of Tennessee. Stamps issued by the Confederacy were not issued to Scott postmasters. Scott County is adjacent to Kentucky, which remained in the Union, so covers bearing 1861 U.S. issues are possible from Huntsville, Oneida, Winfield or other Scott County, Tennessee towns. No examples have been reported, and no plate number items are known. Scott County's secession from Tennessee was not formally repealed until 1986.
Nickajack (1861) When Alabama and Tennessee joined the Confederacy in 1861, pro-Union areas of eastern Tennessee and northern Alabama where slavery was not popular discussed seceding from their respective states and remaining in the Union as the new state of Nickajack. Consistently held by Union forces throughout the war, U.S. stamps would have been used on any mail. No plate number items are known.
Free State of Winston (1861) Other than Scott County, Tennessee, pro-Union Winston County, Alabama came the closest to actually seceding in 1861 when its representative refused to sign Alabama's Articles of Secession. A series of local resolutions declared the Free State of Winston officially neutral in the conflict. Winston County was isolated until the area was recaptured by Union forces in April 1862. Since the area remained under Union control throughout the war, becoming a haven for deserters from the Confederate army, U.S. 1861 stamps were used.
Searcy County, Arkansas (1861) Union support was strong in Searcy County and other northern Arkansas counties near the Missouri border. In 1861, Searcy County passed a pro-Union resolution similar to the one passed by the Free State of Winston. After the Arkansas militia destroyed the Arkansas Peace Society in late 1861, underground resistance continued throughout the war, with Arkansas enlisting more residents in the Union Army than any other state than Tennessee. Searcy County officially remained as part of Arkansas, so Confederate covers from the period likely exist. No plate number items are known.
Free State of Jones (1863-1865) There were so many Confederate deserters in Jones County, Mississippi that they banded together on Oct. 13, 1863 to form a separate government known as the Free State of Jones. By the spring of 1864 they effectively controlled the county, raised the U.S. flag over the courthouse, and sent Union general William Tecumseh Sherman a letter declaring Jones County's independence from the Confederacy. It is unclear what kind of stamp would have been used on that letter -- or on any other mail, for that matter -- since the southern Mississippi county was isolated from the Union. While there is still debate over whether the county and surrounding areas actually seceded, it is undisputed that there was no control either by the state government nor the Confederate post office. No covers from the Free State of Jones have been reported, and no plate number items are known.
Other U.S. micronations Micronations have been proclaimed for the Conch Republic (Key West, Florida, 1982), Maritime Republic of Eastport (Annapolis, Maryland, 1998), the Kingdom of EnenKio (Wake Island, 1994), Ganienkeh (Moss Lake, New York, 1974), the Republic of Molossia (Nevada, 1977), the Most Serene Federal Republic of Montmartre (Manhattan Theater District, 1965), United Territories of the Sovereign Nation of the People's Republic of Slowjamastan (Imperial County, California, 2021), Washitaw Nation (African American ethnic group, rather than territory, 1990s), and the Republic of Zaqistan (Utah, 2005). None are known to have issued stamps.
Celestia / Nation of Celestial Space (1948-??)
Celestia, denomination 100 M (thousand? million?) ergs of energy, plate number 12048 (Image courtesy of Lewis Burchett - eBay / honestyplus) I frankly don't know quite where to put this "Cinderella" issue. Celestia, or the Nation of Celestial Space, was a micronation declared as the owner of all outer space on Dec. 21, 1948. The deed to space was officially recorded by the Cook County, Illinois Recorder of Deeds in 1949. While the claim to space is not recognized, at some point, the U.S. government acknowledged a form of recognition by granting a registered trademark for the name Celestia, as indicated by the ® on the stamp. This plate number single was photographically cropped from a first day cover of a plate block of 4 issued for the 15th anniversary of the founding of the micronation. Other Celestia stamps are known to have been issued; please report any plate number items. In addition to stamps denominated in Ergs, the country also produced a silver 1 Joule coin and a gold 1 Celeston coin.
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This page last updated July 18, 2026.
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