CSA #2 –
A Civil War Relic!
Confederate stamps offer a direct window into this turbulent period of our nation’s history. In fact, just examining this Confederate stamp and how it was printed illustrates one of the main reasons the South was destined to lose the Civil War – lack of industrial resources.
After the Civil War broke out, the U.S. declared all of its stamps invalid, so the South was forced to supply its own stamps. However, the South didn’t have proper printing facilities. That’s why CSA #2 and other early Confederate stamps were printed by stone lithography.
Stone lithography involves the use of a grease-based medium on a stone surface. When ink is applied, the natural reaction between grease and water creates the printing pattern. It’s a fairly primitive way to produce stamps.