Confederacy, Greensborough, Ala./Jul. 4 (probably 1861) bold cds with "Paid" & "10" handstamps on demonitized 1853-55 3¢ Nesbitt entire with military address to William Tinker, Care Col. R.E. Rodes, 5th Regt. Ala. Vol. in Fairfax C.H., Va., some minor wrinkles, Very Fine. Estimate  $150 - 200. Effective June 1, 1861, the Confederate Post Office Department assumed responsibility for the South's postal system. All unsold US stamps and postal stationery in a post office's possession were to be returned to the US Post Office Department in Washington, DC. The Confederate Post Office Department would not accept any mail that had US postage on it. Beginning June 1, 1861, Southern post office patrons had to pay the new Confederate postal rates. Any unused US postage in their possession was no longer valid for mailing. Because of the shortage of paper in general and envelopes in particular, Southern citizens sometimes employed an unused demonetized US postal stationery envelope to send a letter but still were required to pay the necessary Confederate postage. This adversity cover is a perfect example of this practice. $0 (Image)