Lot
4154 
(Confederate Use - New Orleans) New Orleans La. Aug 14, 1861, double-circle river mail cds on cover to Port Gibson Miss. bearing New Orleans, La., 1861, 5¢ Brown (62X4), mostly large margins to just touching, tied by clear strike of "PD 5 CTS/N.O.P.O." two-line provisional handstamp and with partial "J. L. RIDDELL, P.M." straightline, endorsed Steamboat "Lafourche", "Grand Gulf Oct 15" transit cds; cover staining and edge wear, Fine. Scott No. 62X4 Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE CONFEDERATE STEAMBOAT USE SHOWING THE COMBINATION OF PROVISIONAL HANDSTAMP TO CANCEL THE NEW ORLEANS 5¢ PROVISIONAL STAMP AND THE RIVER MAIL CDS AS POSTMARK.
The "provisional" handstamp was also used at the New Orleans wharf office to cancel mail put on board steamboats where the small double-circle datestamp was used to postmark the mails. This cover was carried by Confederate Steamboat "Lafourche" from New Orleans to Grand Gulf, where put off for the 7 miles to Port Gibson.
Realized: $4,250