5c Green, Stone 1-2 (1). Full to ample margins, small internal tear at lower left, tied by bold strike of "New Orleans La. 2 Dec." (1861) circular datestamp with "Steamer Empire Parish" name-of-boat oval handstamp on buff cover to Jackson Miss., missing backflap and cover repaired at top left above the handstamp

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A RARE NAME-OF-BOAT HANDSTAMP ON A CONFEDERATE 5-CENT FIRST ISSUE LITHOGRAPH COVER, POSTED IN NEW ORLEANS AND CARRIED UP THE RIVER TO JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, BY THE STEAMER EMPIRE PARISH.

According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, the Empire Parish was built in 1859 to operate out of New Orleans, where she served as a tow and dispatch boat for the Confederacy at the beginning of the Civil War. On June 23, 1863, she carried dispatches from Semmes' famed Confederate raider Sumter into New Orleans. Empire Parish came into Union possession with the fall of New Orleans in April 1862 and was taken into the United States Navy for duty as a towboat of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

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