Lot
1 
Confederacy, (Free Franks) W.P. Chilton/M.C. Blue manuscript free frank on 1862 cover to Greenville, Ala., franked with 1862 5¢ blue horiz. pair (four large even margins) tied by "Richmond, Va./Sep. 5, 1862" cds, Extremely Fine and choice (Pictured in Monroe Book, pg. 72). Scott No. 7 Estimate $150 - 200.
Confederate Congressmen were granted a limited franking privilege by the Confederate Post Office Department but it did not give them the privilege of free postage enjoyed by their Federal counterparts. They were allowed to mail letters postage due as long as they franked them. However, it was the norm for Confederate Congressmen to frank their mail but not take advantage of the postage due privilege. This cover is a nice example where the Congressman franked the envelope but still paid the postage.
Realized: $375