New Orleans La. Apr. 22 (1867). Clear strike of circular datestamp and "15" (cents) in circle due handstamp, "New York 12 Apr. 27(?)" 12c debit datestamp on Andrew Jackson "The Hero of New Orleans, On the Square before the St. Louis Cathedral" illustrated cover to Bordeaux, France, red Havre arrival datestamp (May 10) and "8" decimes due handstamp, Paris (May 11) and Bordeaux (May 12) backstamps

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE ANDREW JACKSON "THE HERO OF NEW ORLEANS" ILLUSTRATED DESIGN ON A COVER MAILED IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CENTENNIAL OF HIS BIRTH, FROM THE CITY WHERE THE WAR OF 1812 ENDED WITH HIS GREATEST VICTORY.

General and President Andrew Jackson was a popular figure in both the South and the North prior to and during the Civil War. Along with Thomas Jefferson, he was one of two great Americans whose likeness appeared on stamps of both sides during the war (U.S. No. 73 and C.S.A. Nos. 3 and 8). This "Hero of New Orleans" design, while giving the initial impression that it was created as Civil War patriotic stationery, is not present in any of the major Civil War catalogues or auction catalogues we searched, and we have not seen an example used during the war. Based on what we know and its use from New Orleans in 1867, it seems quite possible this design was created after the war, in 1867, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of "Old Hickory's" birth on March 17, 1767. Certainly in this case, it was used to celebrate the centenary.

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