cut square, margins clear on all four sides, tied by straightline "Paid" to cover to "Mr. John Minter, Mount Tabor, Union District, S.C.", "Spartanburg S.C Jan 28 1862" double circle datestamp at left, portion at top of cover expertly replaced with "RTANBU" of postmark painted in, very fine appearance, the only recorded example of the Spartanburg 5c provisional on brown, additionally this is one of two Spartanburg provisionals cut square in sound condition, an extraordinary rarity (Scott $18,000, it is illogical that the Scott catalogue prices this stamp used as no off-cover examples are known)
Provenance: Alfred H. Caspary (H.R. Harmer Sale 991, 1956)