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| On 16 OCT 1861, Confederate postage stamps made their first appearance. Stamps were issued first in the 5c denomination (CSA #1) followed a few weeks later by a 10c stamp (CSA #2). The 2c stamp for drop letters (CSA #3) did not see usage until MAR 1862. In all, the Confederacy would issue 13 different major stamps (16 stamps when the different printers are taken into account) which would see postal usage. The remaining stamp (CSA #14 1c) was never officially issued and saw no postal usage.
As the war progressed, shortages of basic material including envelopes and paper became a very real problem. Patriotic covers which were so carefully and beautifully produced in 1861 and 1862 saw very little usage as the war progressed into 1863 and 1864 due to these shortages. |
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Since the date of this cover is not apparent on the postmark, the date can be narrowed down by two basic facts. The 13-Star flag became the official and final version of the Stars and Bars on 9 DEC 1861. Therefore, this cover must fall between that date and 10 MAY 1862 which is the date that Pensacola was occupied by Union forces.
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