Need Help To Identify Old US Cover

The following pics are related to a badly damaged US cover which appears to be dated from 1861. I usually collect Canadian stamps. However, any information concerning this cover would be appreciated.

I'd say that the cover is definitely Civil War, and the postmark appears to be Nashville, Tennessee, possibly dated April 17, 1864.

A very fine historical item. I believe the flag in the cachet is the original 1861 Confederate States Flag. That might date the cover to about then. The visible bottom serif in the cancel could easily be part of a figure 1. One for Londonbus1.

Terry

Thanks for the information. I like this old cover.

Can anyone identify the stamp please? I don't have the Scott catalogues.

Where can I find additional information about the flag?

This cover could be considered a Confederate patriotic cover? The Confederate flag corner card makes me feel it was used by a secessionist sympathizer. It probably was cancelled at Nashville, Tennessee on April 17, 1861. Tenessee adopted and ratified an ordinance of secession on May 6, 1861. It was put to vote of the people and passed on June 6,1861 by a vote of 108,339 to 47,233. I don't believe it could be dated 1864 since the 1851-1857 and before series of stamps was demonetized in late 1861 and this stamp would not have been recognized as payment of postage that late. Nashville was occupied by Federal Troops from February 23, 1862 until the end of the Civil War. All occupation covers I've seen are franked with stamps from the 1861 issues. Having said all this, I could be wrong. Perhaps others will add their thoughts. The stamp appears to be Scott #26 or possibly #26A--Little hard to be sure about the end of the right frame line.

Hi Major1044,

Here is a good place to start.

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefou...ate_Flag.htm

Terry

Thanks!

The information provided is greatly appreciated.

I'm no expert in Civil War covers, but somebody wrote "1864" on the cover next to the address. It looks like the same handwriting as the address.

Regards, Robert

It also looks like it has been re-addressed. Maybe delivery delayed because of the conflict?

Terry

There were many different Confederate flags, but there were only three main designs (with some variations) that were adopted as the national flag. The flag on the cover is the first version of the first national flag - it had 7 stars:

First national flag with 7 stars
(4 Mar 1861 - 21 May 1861)

First national flag with 9 stars
(21 May 1861 - 2 Jul 1861)

First national flag with 11 stars
(2 Jul 1861 - 28 Nov 1861)

First national flag with 13 stars
(28 Nov 1861 - 1 May 1863)

There was also a number of battle flags that were carried or flown by the various parts of the Confederate Army and Navy. For example, the Bonnie Blue was a blue rectangle with a single large white star in the center. Each regiment of soldiers often carried both the battle flag (which is different from the national flag) and a state flag or other regiment specific flag.

Al E. Gator, a fellow Tennessean is correct here--

The 3c 1857 stamps were demonetized in 1861, and were only in use for a very short time period and a short grace period after the 3c 1861 was first issued in August of 1861. This can only be an 1861 cover.....

There was a census in The Chronicle a few years back of verified (certified?) post-demonetized use of the 3c 1857 stamp. Not many ever slipped through, and dates that they were actually discontinued varied by the area of the country. There is a very, very slim chance of ever finding a postally-used 3c 1857 after the demonetization grace period.

Hope this helps-- Ray

It's a Confederate patriotic, used from Nashville, in 1861 during the period before US stamps became invalid for use in the Confederacy (until June 1, 1861). The 1857 issue was completely demonetized on a rolling basis as the new 1861 stamps became available in various cities and towns beginning mid August 1861.

An introduction to Confederate stamps and postal history can be read here: http://www.csalliance.org/Kimbrough.htm

Trish Kaufmann has some nice patriotics on her website at: http://www.csadealer.com/confederat...triotics.php
That may give you an idea of value of a patriotic cover, though yours is in pretty gnarly condition.

C.

PS:
Here's an attempted use of a demonetized 1857 stamp:



"Held for Postage" on red, affixed on orange cover to Rock Bottom, MA. "Feb. 7" datestamps indicates 1862 (or later) attempted use of demonetized 3¢ 1857 issue . Cancelled "No Go." and mailer notified. 3¢ 1861 issue later added for proper postage. Cancelled with "3" handstamp and dispatched to destination.