CSA 13, 20¢ green (4 margins, faint corner crease), tied by RICHMOND VA. AUG 10 circular datestamp on cover boldly addressed to Oliver H. Middleton, Esqr., Columbia So.Ca. with signed endorsement of Wm. Porcher Miles M.C. (Member of Congress), tiniest tear at top edge and sealed opening flap tears not mentioned on 1983 CSA certificate. Very Fine, SCV $1,250. $800.

Confederate congressmen were permitted to send letters without the prepayment of postage. The postage was to be paid on delivery by the recipient. All letters were to be endorsed with the signature of the congressmen. This privilege was not widely used because congressmen were doubtless reluctant to have their constituents pay to receive their letters. Nonetheless, these endorsements are seen on Confederate mail, usually as a holdover from having been in the U.S. Congress in years prior.

William Porcher Miles (1822 –1899) was an ardent fire eater, states’ rights advocate and supporter of slavery. He is notable as the designer of the Confederate battle flag, the most popular variant of the Confederate flag that was adopted as the battle flag by the Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E Lee. He represented South Carolina in the Confederate Congress. Prior to the war, he was elected mayor of Charleston in 1855 for a two-year term, and served in the United States House of Representatives from 1857 until South Carolina seceded in December 1860.

Oliver Herring Middleton (1798-1892) was born at Clifton, Gloucestershire, England; educated at South Carolina College; entered U. S. Naval Academy but resigned and retired to his estates and the life of an opulent planter. His son was part of the Charleston Light Dragoons and mortally wounded at Cold Harbor May 30, 1864. Oliver Middleton was a businessman involved in shipping from Charleston. The Middleton plantation correspondence was quite large, notably producing a prolific number of wallpaper covers