New Orleans La., 5c Red Brown on Bluish (62X4). Three large margins, ample to just in at top, used with General Issue 5c Green, Stone 1-2 (1), margins cutting in, both stamps tied by "New Orleans La. 11 Jan. (1862)" circular datestamp on cover to "Captn. J. M. Carter, C.S.N., C.S. Steamer Genl. Polk, Columbus Ky.", 5c has faint gum toning

VERY FINE COVER. ONE OF EIGHT RECORDED COVERS SHOWING CONJUNCTIVE USE OF CONFEDERATE POSTMASTERS' PROVISIONALS AND THE GENERAL ISSUE. ONLY FOUR OF THESE COVERS HAVE ADHESIVE PROVISIONALS, AND ONLY ONE IS KNOWN WITH THE NEW ORLEANS STAMP. IN MANY RESPECTS, WE CONSIDER THIS TO BE ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING CONFEDERATE COVERS EXTANT.

We record a total of eight covers with combinations of Confederate provisionals (either adhesive or handstamped) and General Issue stamps to prepay postage -- we have excluded from this count a few covers on which the provisional served no postal duty. In our opinion, these combination frankings are significant and quite undervalued -- imagine what price would be paid for a Baltimore provisional handstamped entire with a U.S. 5c 1847 stamp, or a St. Louis "Bear" and 1847 combination.

The following is a list of the eight mixed-franking covers: 1) Columbia S.C. (18XU1) and 5c Green (1), Jan. 4, 1862, our Sale 810, lot 1862; 2) Columbia S.C. (18XU1) and 5c Green (1), Jan. 1, 1862, Crown book, p. 80; 3) Columbia S.C. (18XU1) and 5c Blue, Local (7), Sep. 1, 1862, our Sale 810, lot 1861; 4) Charleston S.C. (16X1, repaired) and 5c Blue, London (6), Aug. 5, 1862; 5) Memphis Tenn. 5c Red entire (56XU2) and 5c Green (1), date unclear, Siegel 1983 Rarities sale, lot 357; 6) New Orleans La. 5c Brown on Blue (62X4) and 5c Green (1), Jan. 11, 1862, Siegel 1983 Rarities sale, ex Skinner (realized $16,500 hammer), the cover offered here; 7) Petersburg Va. 5c Red (65X1) and 5c Green (1), Jan. 5, 1862, ex Muzzy; and 8) Petersburg Va. 5c Red (65X1) and 5c Green (1), Feb. 7, 1862, ex Kilbourne (realized $52,500 hammer).

Ex Knapp, Ackerman, Grant and Skinner

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