Lot
2265 
Confederacy, New Orleans, La., 1861, 2¢ Blue, vertical pair, three large margins, in at left, bright shade, tied by full clear strike of "New Orleans La. 3 Sep" cds on 1861 cover addressed to "Miss Martha Maddern, 34 Gasquet St., New Orleans La.", additional fine strike of "N.O.U.S. City Post" carrier rimless datestamp, small opening tear at top center has been invisibly sealed, Very Fine, ex-Needham, Skinner. Scott No. 62X1 Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A UNIQUE USE OF POSTMASTER PROVISIONAL STAMPS TO PREPAY THE CARRIER FEE AND DROP RATE FOR INTRA-CITY MAIL.
The New Orleans U.S. City Post continued to operate after Louisiana entered the Confederacy in 1861. Prior to the Confederate period, there is only one cover known with the carrier fee and drop rate prepaid by stamps; the cover will be found in our Sale 791 as lot 182. The pre-war cover has a U.S. 1c 1851 pair for the 1c fee plus 1c rate. During the Confederate period, the N.O.U.S. City Post charged 2c for a letter, and the post office charged the standard 2c rate for a drop letter. We have no record of another Confederate cover with both rates prepaid by stamps, and the use of a New Orleans 2c Blue provisional pair -- a major rarity in its own right -- to prepay the 2-plus-2 postage is a fantastic example of a theoretical possibility actually surviving for collectors.
Another cover addressed to Miss Martha Maddern in the same hand was offered in the Meroni sale (lot 165). It has a faint strike of the "N.O.U.S. City Post Sep. 7" circular datestamp and 5c 62X4 provisional tied by the "New Orleans La. Sep. 6" river-mail double-circle datestamp, indicating that it arrived by steamboat and was mailed at the wharf, using carrier service to bring it to the addressee. The identical handwriting and use of the city name "New Orleans La." in the address are evidence that this cover was brought in by someone on a steamboat, who mailed it as a drop letter with carrier service to the addressee.
Realized: $8,500