1864 Lexington MS to Canton MS CSA Postal Accounting Form Overcharge Noted ZAYIX

1864 CSA Postal Accounting Form – Lexington, Mississippi to Canton, Mississippi – Overcharge Notation & Lexington Datestamp

This scarce Confederate postal accounting form documents mail transferred from Lexington, Mississippi to Canton, Mississippi in 1864 during the final year of the Civil War. Produced on thin wartime brownish paper typical of late-war scarcity, it records one letter rated at 10¢ unpaid, a standard CSA distance rate. The form includes a bold manuscript notation:

“Overcharged 10¢ / all were paid by stamps – one on back”

This indicates a billing dispute between post offices—an uncommon postal accounting remark that adds significant collector appeal.

The form bears a faint but fully legible LEXINGTON / MISS. circular datestamp struck at lower right, alongside the manuscript accounting. The postmaster line is printed “E. Hoskins, P.M.” (a known CSA-era Lexington postmaster), with no manuscript signature present on this specific item.

Historical Context

During 1863–1865, postal forms in Mississippi were increasingly improvised as paper shortages worsened. Towns such as Lexington and Canton served as key north–south inland routes for the CSA's internal postal network. Postal accounting slips like this were essential for reconciling unpaid letters and for documenting the exchange of mail between offices.

Overcharge disputes are especially desirable because they give a glimpse into real operational problems faced by the Confederate postal system, including stamp shortages and inconsistent rating practices. The explicit note regarding stamps—“one on back”—is a rare commentary from a postal clerk, preserved exactly as written in 1864.

Condition & Collector Grade Analysis

• Paper: Original thin brown wartime paper, complete except for a tiny spindle hole (normal), and one small pinhead-sized spot; no repairs.
• Ink: Manuscript remains dark and fully readable. Overcharge notation bold. Lexington datestamp faint, but clearly identifiable on close inspection.
• Edges: Light handling typical of CSA clerical ephemera; minor tear on lower right side does not effect any printed or written matter

Overall grade: Very Fine for a fragile 1864 Mississippi CSA accounting form. Excellent postal history content, especially with the rare overcharge remark and datestamp.

Scarcity & Appeal

Mississippi CSA postal forms are significantly scarcer than those from Virginia, the Carolinas, or Georgia. Lexington forms with bold manuscript notations and strikes are especially desirable. This is a premium example suitable for exhibit or advanced Confederate postal history collections.

Size

Approx. 123mm x 110mm

Authenticity
This item is original Civil War–era Confederate postal ephemera from 1864, not a reproduction.