Confederacy, (Trans-Mississippi) Folded Letter To Dr. James H. Starr. 1862 Cover to Dr. Starr in Nacogdoches, Texas postmarked with "Minden. La./Jul. 20" cds with matching "Paid 10" handstamps, Very Fine (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 60). Estimate  $500 - 750. By an act of the Confederate Congress, approved on February 16, 1864, Dr. James Harper Starr was appointed Agent for the Trans-Mississippi Department to manage the operations of the Confederate Post Office Department west of the Mississippi River. This action was necessitated when the Union gained complete control of the Mississippi River. This cover was mailed to Dr. Starr by a friend, James Jackson Bryan, a Louisiana planter. It was sent approximately 18 months before Dr. Starr's appointment. What makes this folded letter most interesting is the information provided to Dr. Starr about a new private Trans-Mississippi express service which was established and running once a month. Mr. Bryan wrote on July 20, 1862: "There has been a monthly express established between our section of country & the armies east of the Mississippi River. It will leave Shreveport on the 19th of every month and Minden on the 20th. I sent up the letters on yesterday".It appears that the express service referenced by Mr. Bryan is Hart's Express which was advertised in June 1862 by Mr. J. L. Hart. It serviced both Minden and Shreveport, as well as three other Louisiana towns plus Marshall, Texas. There are no known examples of an envelope that used this express service. $0 (Image)