CSA #7, two singles 5¢ blue with small edge faults, tied together by RICHMOND/VA. /FEB/17(?)/1863 cds on 11-star flag patriotic, bit reduced at right and light water stains, but extremely nice use to Summervill(e), SC

Richmond, Va. straightline PAID (2), type III, on 7-star flag patriotic cover, type F7-7, used as a semi-official manuscript from the "Subsistence Department/Official Business" as a local drop cover. Circular datestamp was unnecessary when local use of Richmond to Richmond. Addressed to a member of Congress, "Hon. Thos. W. Venable, M(ember) C(ongress), Exchange Hotel, Richmond, Va." This is the illustrative listing copy for "Paid Markings" on page 70 of Peter W. W. Powell's 1987 definitive work Confederate States of America Markings and Postal History of Richmond, Virginia. Ex-Hardy (1944) and Powell. Part of top back flap missing and slightly reduced at top but a rare and highly desirable item. A key definitive piece for Richmond postal history.

CSA #7, 5¢ blue vertical pair tied neat blue PETERSBURG/VA cds on 11-star flag patriotic cover (Dietz F11-16) with verse “Gather around your country’s flag…” 

Infant seated on globe holding 11-star flag and a snake with "ABOLITION" inscribed "THE SUNNY SOUTH OUR COUNTRY", imprint, WE ARE IN THE FIELD AND THE BARS ARE UP, Dietz type MS-5, only one is known used, although without the imprint, also scarce unused. 

CSA #7, 5¢ blue pair used on captured Union patriotic with Union and Constitution blind embossed eagle and shield on red-edged top back flap which lifts to display nicely. Bottom back flap is edged in blue and also intact/could also be exploded. Used with “Old Church (Va) June 20th / 63” manuscript cancel to “Miss Mary B. Cocke, Care Dr. C(ary). C. Cocke, Bremo Bluff P.O. Fluvanna Co (Va)”  Old Church is known for a Civil War campaign in the area. U.S. where Brig. Gen. Alfred Torbert defeated C.S. Brig. Gen. Matthew C. Butler's forces, resulting in about 900 casualties.

CHURCHLAND VA. Oct. 28. neat red circular datestamp with matching handstamped "Paid" and "5" in circle handstamps on red and blue 11-Star Confederate Flag and Tent Patriotic cover with imprint of "Baldwin Blues, 4th Reg. Ga. Vol." to Culpepper C.H. Va., ms. "Unpaid" at top crossed out, expertly cleaned and with top and one side flap added, still Very Fine, colorful and rare use, Ex-Gunter 

Genl. G. T. Beauregard medallion patriotic, Dietz type GB-1 in brown on narrow eagle-watermarked envelope, top flap missing, addressed to “Mr. Grant C. Smith” with no postal markings, likely hand-carried with original small receipt/enclosure in the same hand, to wit “may the 9th 1863 recd of W. P. Smyth by the hand of Eavin C. Smythe fifteen dollars & fifty cents on act of Wright & Grant Store act. G. Grant” Likely from a soldier, but with all the Smith or Smythe combinations and variations, you’re on your own on this one! This design, if used, cataloged $1,250 in 1986 – far more today. A scarce and most desirable patriotic which is used, just not postally.

CSA #1, 5¢ green used 11-Star Flag patriotic (Dietz F11-16, verse 2, slogan 2, imprint 11) on cover to Lynchburg, Va., with manuscript "Centreville, Va., Dec 24" postmark;, addressed to “Aaron James, Esq. Round Hill, Loudoun Co., Va.” with wonderful  printed hymn enclosure (printed back and front – no doubt torn from a book and asking recipient to “read it for my sake”), imprinted from the “Diocesan Missionary Society of Protestant Episcopal Church in Va.”  2009 SCV $2,500.  

IUKA, MISS cds and manuscript “Paid” ( no rate evident), to “Rockyford, Miss” on Jefferson Davis Medallion patriotic in brown (Dietz JD-1, verse 12), cover with small edge tears and trimmed cover edges, scarce in brown

CSA #7, 5¢ blue pair used with manuscript cancel of “Millers (Tavern) Va 7th June / 63”, addressed to “Mr. David Middleton, Rockingham, Va” on Cannon & Flag patriotic (Dietz CN-1, verse 9), slightly reduced at top, stamps with pre-use creases not mentioned in 2007 CSA certificiate #05090, clean and pretty, scarce and desirable design 

CSA #4, 5¢ blue tied by RICHMOND, VA. cds on Mounted Dragoon patriotic cover front (Dietz SM-1, verse 7, slogan 38) with top flap only, addressed to City Point, Va., bit worn but scarce design

CSA #6, 5¢ blue vertical pair (faulty) tied by WINCHESTER / Va. / SEP 25 cds to “Ridge Spring, NC” with original soldier’s letter (signed Lazarus Smith and addressed to his mother) datelined "Camp Lee near Richmond Va….16th Sept." with interesting content “We expect to go to Gordonsville tomorrow. The North Carolinians in general are not satisfied to remain here they want to go to NC again. It is said that we are to go under Jackson but where he is no one knows…The general opinion is in Maryland cut off from his return by the Yankees” Only two Lazarus Smith listed in records, one from MS and other from TN, thus more research to be done. Scarce design.

CULPEPPER, VA. cds with matching arched DUE 10 on Large Mounted Dragoon patriotic (Dietz SM-1) with verse at top on rebacked cover front to “Mr. Ezra McCrary, Warrenton, Ga” endorsed by “Private McCrary, F.M. Heath Capt Co H. 22 Regt Ga. Vols”. Fancy handstamp which appears to be probably fancy personal indicia. Military records show this to be Isaac McCrary who mustered into said company on August 31, 1861 and surrendered May 20, 1865 at Augusta, Ga.  Ex-Ballard.

PETERSBURG  Va. / DEC / 24 blue cds with matching soldier’s (due) 10 on 11-star flag patriotic addressed to “Mr. Willey Smith, Wisdom Store Harris Co Georgia”, endorsed “R. Teel Co ‘K’ 7th Confederate Regmt Partizan Rangers”.

Richard Teel is shown as in the Seventh Confederate Cavalry Claiborn’s Regiment Partisan Rangers and 10th Georgia Cavalry. The Partisan Ranger Act was passed by the Confederate Congress in June of 1862. Various Partisan Ranger outfits were likely combined to form the 7th Confederate Cavalry. Their commanders were Col. William C Claiborne and Lt. Col. Thomas D Claiborne. About a dozen members of the unit died at Point Lookout, most of whom were taken at Gettysburg in July 1863, but most of the members of Claiborne’s Partisans were captured at Deep Bottom during the final defense of Richmond. In early 1864 the Confederate Congress dissolved all Partisan Ranger units. The 7th Confederate Cavalry was reorganized in July 1864. Company C and others went to the 10th Georgia Cavalry, Young’s Brigade, Hampton’s Division, Army of Northern Virginia.

CSA #7, 5¢ blue vertical pair (pre-use crease top stamp) tied RICHMOND / VA. cds on 11-star flag patriotic, type F11-13 with verse 9, Very Fine, Ex-Bogg and Howard Green 

GORDONSVILLE / VA. / JUL / 10 / 1862, cds with matching handstamped PAID 10 on red and blue Washington portrait captured Union patriotic cover to Mount Solon, Va; design shows the States named in serrated circle with the Union States crossed out, cover backed and reduced at sides, Ex-Antrim. Showy and attractive. $950.

Handcarried Confederate Patriotic with deeply waving 11-star flag design in red, white and blue, addressed to “Lieut. B(enson) W. Roberts, En Ville” with original small pink ladies’ enclosure dated August 30th 1864 from Miss Rebecca Hopkins saying that she would be pleased to see him this evening. Full research enclosed on Roberts who served in Co. A 22nd Battalion Georgia Heavy Artillery (Bartow Artillery) as well as the 60th Georgia Infantry Regiment, Co. A. In later life Roberts became a Judge and there is an accompanying 1879 banknote franked cover addressed to “Judge Benson Roberts, Griffin, Ga” with a wedding invitation enclosure. W. Newton Crouch, Jr.’s full provenance and research included – acquired from a family estate dispersal in the 1990s along with a photocopy likeness of a young Roberts in uniform (shown here). A scarce patriotic design with great provenance. $1,000.

Click on thumbnails, including photo of Roberts, individually to enlarge.

CSA #2a, 10¢ light blue Paterson (faulty) tied by blue PETERSBURG / Va. cds on rare patriotic of Sailor Nailing Palmetto Flag to Mast, cover edge wear of little import on this rare and desirable patriotic. $2,500.

COLUMBUS / KY / NOV / 8 (1861) bold cds with matching PAID in oval and ms. "5" on 10-Star Confederate Flag, Cannon and Verse patriotic cover to “Mrs. D. W. Bristol, Pleasant Hill, Desoto Co., Miss.”, barely reduced at left, small scuffs and minor cosmetic repairs, otherwise Very Fine, rare Kentucky patriotic, Ex-Judd, Walske $3,000.

COLUMBUS / KY / OCT / 23 (1861) bold cds with matching PAID in oval and ms. "5" on 10-Star Confederate Flag, Cannon and Verse patriotic cover to “Mrs. D. W. Bristol, Pleasant Hill, Desoto Co., Miss.”, expertly repaired edge tear and slightly reduced at right otherwise Very Fine, rare used during Kentucky occupation (joined C.S.A. in December), Ex-Gallagher, Schwartz  $3,000.

U.S. 3¢ rose #65 straddle-pane margin at right, tied by blue grid, matching LOUISVILLE / KY. / DEC / 17 / 1861 double-circle on cover to “W.P.R. Wood, Esq., Oaks, Sauk Co., Wisconsin” with red 13-Star "Excelsior" Flag Pro-Southern Patriotic design. Very Fine, this extremely rare cover is illustrated in the Wishnietzky book on Confederate patriotics, because the 13 stars in this flag is believed to represent Kentucky as the 13th Confederate State but is accepted by most Confederate students as a “captured Union patriotic” – either way, a spectacular design and rarity. Ex-West and Schwartz.   $4,000.

CSA #11, 10¢ blue (did not originate) on red and blue 11-Star Confederate Flag and "Pelican Regimt." Flag, Tent and "Crescent Rifles, Company H, 7th Reg't. La. Volunteers" regimental patriotic - exceedingly rare - produced early in the war, only six of which are recorded, including this one. As a Colonel, Harry T. Hays was the original commander of the 7th Louisiana Volunteers, which was called the Pelican Regiment. Although composed of farmers, laborers and clerks, the Louisiana 7th Regiment was described as a "crack regiment" by Gen. Richard Taylor. Hays went on to become a General. Some staining, and one flap detached/reattached. Genuinely used covers of this design sell in the thousands. Ex-Dr. Griffin Frazier and Dr. Karl Agre. . $550.