Howardsville Va. Nov. 26.
Lightly struck but readable blue circular datestamp with brownish-black
"Paid" and "5" rate handstamp on cover to Pattonsburg Va. with
illustrated Elsom & Co.'s Mail Packet Line advertisement, list of
steamboats Clara, Viola, Percy and Pioneer with their
respective captains, identifying service between Richmond, Lynchburg and
Lexington, contains original enclosure datelined Howardsville Va., Nov. 25,
1861, from proprietor R. W. Elsom asking for prices on baled hay and a
hay-baling machine, minor opening tears in flapFRESH AND VERY FINE. THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF A CONFEDERATE PACKET ON THE JAMES RIVER. AN OUTSTANDING EXHIBITION ITEM.
Examples of Mississippi and Alabama River Confederate packet covers are rare, but a fair number survived in the Carroll Hoy & Co. New Orleans correspondence. The activity on the James River was never nearly as extensive, and no large correspondences containing James River packet covers have been found. (Image)
Per Steamer Wm. Jones, Jr.
Printed advertising label on back of folded letter dated April 11, 1861, to
Mobile Ala., bold "Steam 6" in double oval applied at Mobile, "Elm
Bluff" docketing inside indicates originVERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE CONFEDERATE STEAMBOAT USAGE.
This cover is the basis of the catalogue listing and is, to our knowledge, the only recorded example. Ex Simmons. (Image)
Natchez Miss. "Steam".
Neat straightline handstamp and ms. "Due 6" rate on U.S. 3c Red Star
Die entire to Natchez, not recognized as valid and marked "Due 6", July
11, 1861 docketing at left, fresh and Very Fine
(Image) 
Natchez Miss. Jun. 9,
1861. Circular datestamp with bold "Steam" and "6" handstamps on
cover to Natchez, ms. "With a box of peaches" at top and "Mary
T." steamboat designation at bottom, Fine usage, the Mary T. was
a contract steamboat (Image) 
New Orleans La., 5c Brown
(62X3). Irregular margins just in, faint stain, tied by one of two
strikes of "6" rate handstamp with matching Natchez "Steam"
straightline applied on arrival, 5c rate plus 1c fee, no other markings on
pale orange overall lithographed grocer's advertising cover to
Natchez, endorsed "Mary T."FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE NEW ORLEANS PROVISIONAL CANCELLED ON ARRIVAL AT NATCHEZ AFTER A STEAMBOAT TRIP UP RIVER.
Ex Everett (Image)
New Orleans La., 5c Black
entire (62XU1). Orange cover with "New Orleans La. Dec. 4, 186?"
double-circle datestamp to Natchez Miss., neat "Steam" handstamp
applied on arrival, endorsed "Pr. Petrona", slightly reduced at
left, Very Fine (Image) 
New Orleans La., 5c Red Brown
on Bluish (62X4). Large margins to touching, tied by "New Orleans La.
Oct. 9, 1861" double-circle datestamp on cover addressed to Carroll Hoy &
Co. at New Orleans, boldly struck blue "Steamer Genl. Quitman" oval
handstamp, small mended tear at topVERY FINE AND RARE. AN UNUSUALLY CLEAR STRIKE OF THIS NAME-OF-BOAT MARKING ON A CONFEDERATE PROVISIONAL COVER FROM NEW ORLEANS.
The General Quitman operated as a mail boat. (Image)
New Orleans La. Dec. 2,
1861. Neat double-circle datestamp with "Steam 7" handstamp on
incoming cover to Carroll Hoy & Co., usual small filing hole, Very Fine (Image) 
New Orleans La. Feb. 23,
1861. Bold double-circle datestamp with matching "Way" handstamp
on 3c Red Nesbitt entire to New Orleans, Extremely Fine Confederate Way
usage (Image) 
Richmond Va. Jan. 1, 1863.
Neat circular datestamp with "Due 10" handstamp and bold "Way"
handstamp on blue incoming cover, ms. soldier's endorsement at top left,
Very Fine, ex Wiseman (Image) 
10c Blue, Die A (11). Huge
margins all around incl. sheet margin at bottom with part plate no.
tied by "Wilmington N.C. Sept. 15" circular datestamp on cover to Gibson's
Store N.C., neat strike of "Way" handstamp, Extremely Fine (Image)