Nashville, Ten., 5¢ carmine 61X2, tied by blue town postmark AUG 13 1861 on cover to E. Cooper Esq, Shelbyville Ten., large professionally sealed tear at left as well as tiny one at upper right; fresh, great looking cover and scarce use. SCV $3,500. $1,500.

Edmund Cooper (1821-1911) was a US Representative from Tennessee. He studied law at Harvard University, admitted to the bar and practiced in Shelbyville. He served as member of the State House of Representatives in 1849. He served as presidential elector on the Constitutional Union ticket in 1860. He was a Union delegate to the State constitutional convention of 1861. Cooper was again elected to the State House of Representatives but in 1865 resigned. Upon the readmission of the State of Tennessee to representation, Cooper was elected as a Unionist to the Thirty-ninth Congress and served from July 24, 1866, to March 3, 1867. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Fortieth Congress. On October 3, 1867, he replaced Robert Johnson, Andrew Johnson's son, as private secretary to the President. He was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Treasury by President Johnson November 20, 1867, and served until March 20, 1869. He resumed the practice of law at Shelbyville and died there July 21, 1911.