US 26, 3¢ dull red (small corner creases at lower left) tied by unusual manuscript cancel that seems to put Washington behind bars, matching Cumberland C.H. Va. April 19th (18)61 manuscript postmark on cover to Miss Mary A. Ralston Care of Peter Ralston Esq., Richmond, Va., on small envelope, Very Fine Independent State use (ISU); Virginia seceded April 17 and joined the Confederacy May 7 – a very short window for ISU; illustrated in previous edition of Dietz Catalog, Ex Thayer. $375.

Peter Wyse Ralston (1811-1884) was one of the developers of the Navy Hill neighborhood of Richmond, an early “planned community.” He was Assistant Clerk for the Richmond City Auditor. Clan Ralston is a Scottish clan.