Confederacy, New Orleans La. Jun. 8, 1861, clear sharp strike of river mail cds in red on June 8, 1861 folded prices current to St. Joseph La., manuscript "15c/Pd./J.L.R(iddell)./P.M." provisional marking at top, "Iberville" steamboat-name endorsement at bottom, reinforced horizontal split along file fold clear of markings, Fine, Ex-Freeland, Skinner. Estimate  $2,000 - 3,000. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF RIDDELL'S MANUSCRIPT 15¢ PROVISIONAL, USED PRIOR TO THE JUNE 12TH ISSUE DATE OF THE ADHESIVE PROVISIONALS. With the commencement of the Confederate postal system on June 6, 1861, Postmaster Riddell found himself without stamps or a sufficient supply of small coins to make change for cash payments at the post office. On June 6, Riddell contacted John V. Childs, a local printer and engraver, and ordered stamps for immediate delivery. The stamps were delivered and placed on sale on June 12 (a first day cover is recorded). Between June 1 and 12, there are very few covers to show how Riddell handled mail. This remarkable cover, with the red double-circle datestamp (three reported covers --all handled personally by Riddell in early June) and the 15c provisional applied and initialed by Riddell (unique), is evidence of the temporary measures to which Riddell resorted until his provisional stamps were printed.References: Illustrated in Huber and Wagner's The Great Mail on p. 152. $0 (Image)