Lot
4266 
Confederacy, New Orleans, La., 1861, 2¢ Red, radiant color with four margins, large except clear at right, tied by "New Orleans La. 7 Feb" cds on 1862 blue folded printed circular to members of the Southwestern Bible Society, addressed to Saml. Hollensworth at Blossom Hill La., couple unnoticeable stamp flaws, Very Fine and attractive; with 2005 P.F. certificate. Scott No. 62X2 $25,000.
AN OUTSTANDING CIRCULAR-RATE USE OF THE RARE NEW ORLEANS 2¢ RED PROVISIONAL ISSUE.
The New Orleans postmaster, J. L. Riddell, prepared provisional stamps in June 1861 and advertised them for sale on June 12th. The 2¢ red stamps were printed without the marginal inscription "Usable exclusively in the New Orleans Post Office". The 5¢ and subsequent 2¢ blue printings all have the imprint. It is the accepted theory that the 2¢ red stamps were printed first, before Riddell added the imprint, and were withheld from use until January 1862 when the supply of 2¢ blue stamps was exhausted.