THE STARS AND BARS

CONFEDERATE USAGES AND RATES AS SEEN ON

PATRIOTIC COVERS CONTAINING THE CSA NATIONAL FLAG

The object of this exhibit is to illustrate standard usages and rates of the Confederate Postal Service as seen on Confederate Patriotic Covers. A discussion of the importance of Handcarried Items to CSA Postal History is also included. In addition, this exhibit tells the story of the "STARS AND BARS" as the national flag evolved from the original 7-Star design to the full 13-Star flag as seen on CSA Patriotic Covers. All major star designs from 7 to 13 stars are represented. The original "STARS AND BARS" contained 7 stars in a circle which represented the first 7 Confederate States. These states are listed below along with the date of secession.

1) South Carolina20 DEC 1860
*
5) Georgia19 JAN 1861
2) Mississippi9 JAN 1861
*
6) Louisiana26 JAN 1861
3) Florida10 JAN 1861
*
7) Texas1 FEB 1861
4) Alabama11 JAN 1861
*
A subsequent star was added for each new state until the full complement of 13 was reached. The remaining 6 Confederate States with the date of secession are listed below.
8) Virginia17 APR 1861
*
11) North Carolina20 MAY 1861
9) Arkansas6 MAY 1861
*
12) Missouri
10) Tennessee6 MAY 1861
*
13) Kentucky
Missouri and Kentucky officially remained as Union States, but they are listed with the Confederacy because each had a rival Confederate State Government with representation in the Confederate Congress.

PLAN OF THE EXHIBIT

The "Stars and Bars"Page 2
Handcarried CoversPages 3-8
Patriotic StickerPage 9
United States Stamp Used to the ConfederacyPage 10
Independent State UsagePage 11
United States Stamp Used in the ConfederacyPages12-14
Manuscript Confederate Postal MarkingsPages15-19
Handstamp PAIDSPages10-33
Handstamp ProvisionalPage34
Soldiers DUESPages35-38
General Issue StampsPages39-47
Union Usage of Confederate Patriotic CoverPage48

Look closely at the flags. Flags bearing from 7 to 13 stars can be found throughout the exhibit. To aid in viewing the exhibit, a rarity factor which refers to the flag design itself is assigned to each cover according to the following table.

*****
Believed to be One-of-a Kind
****
2-5
Covers RecordedThese rarity factors are based on published data as well as personal research.
***
6-10
Covers Recorded
**
11-25
Covers Recorded
*
26+
Covers Recorded

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