Confederacy, 8-Star Flag Patriotic. In red, white & blue (Dietz type F8-7) on cover postmarked "Athens, Ga." cds with straight line "Paid" and "10" rate handstamps at top right, addressed to "Lieut. John B. Cobb, Cobbs Georgia Legion, Richmond, Va.", slightly reduced at right, Very Fine, a wonderful gem, Ex-Ballard, Judd. Estimate  $2,000 - 3,000. A very rare 8-Star flag design as Arkansas was admitted as the 9th state only 11 days after Virginia had been admitted as the 8th State on May 7, 1861. A cover virtually identical to this one, from the same correspondence contains the note, "Andrew had these envelopes stamped & I am obliged to use them or loose the postage." That specific example will be listed in the forthcoming CSA Catalog as provisional ATH-GA-E01, and although this mate is also likely a provisional (sold in advance of use with handstamped rate), there is no guarantee that this is not a handstamped paid use (handstamped at time of mailing). Article on these provisionals is enclosed from The Confederate Philatelist by Francis J. Crown, Jr., April-June 2010. John Cobb was related to Howell Cobb who served as president of the Confederate Provisional Congress (1861-62) and a major general of the Confederate army. His personal history is well-known and illustrious. $0 (Image)