New Orleans La., 2c Red (62X2). Intense Vermilion Red shade, full to large margins all around, tied by "New Orleans La. 9 Feb." (1862) circular datestamp on folded printed prices-current list to Cummings, Edwards & Co. in Memphis Tenn.

EXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE NEW ORLEANS 2-CENT RED PROVISIONAL USED ON AN IMMACULATE PRINTED CIRCULAR. ONE OF THE HIGHEST-QUALITY COVERS AMONG THE 12 RECORDED.

New Orleans postmaster, J. L. Riddell, prepared provisional stamps in June 1861 and advertised them for sale on June 12th. The 2c Red stamps were printed without the marginal inscription "Usable exclusively in the New Orleans Post Office". The 5c and subsequent 2c Blue printings all have the imprint. It is the accepted theory that the 2c Red stamps were printed first, before Riddell added the imprint, and were withheld from use until January 1862 when the supply of 2c Blue stamps was exhausted. The Crown census at the Civil War Philatelic Society website lists 12 2c Red covers.

Ex MacBride, Kimmel, Haas, Dr. Green and "D.K." collection. With 2000 P.F. certificate

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