John Tyler. Free frank "J. Tyler" as ex-President, Richmond Va. May 19, 1861 circular datestamp on folded letter to Jerusalem Va., free frank applied as former U.S. president on mail carried after Virginia voted to secede from the Union and was admitted to the C.S.A., addressed to Tyler's grandson, Lt. James Rochelle Tyler, in the "Provisional Army," complete letter datelined Sherwood Forest Va. May 18 also signed "John Tyler," flap tear just barely extends to front at top

VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FREE FRANK OF FORMER PRESIDENT JOHN TYLER -- THE ONLY UNITED STATES PRESIDENT TO JOIN THE CONFEDERACY -- ON A LETTER POSTED IN VIRGINIA SHORTLY AFTER THE STATE'S ADMISSION TO THE CONFEDERACY.

Virginia Governor, U.S. Representative and Senator John Tyler succeeded to the presidency on April 4, 1841, upon the death of William Henry Harrison, after only one month as Vice President. He was the first Vice President to assume the office of President due to the death of his predecessor and was derisively known as "His Accidency" by political opponents. After losing support of the Whig and Democratic Parties he abandoned hopes of election to a full second term and retired to his Virginia plantation on the James River. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was the only living former President from the South (among a record five former Presidents who were alive at the time). He sided with the Confederacy and was elected to the Confederate Congress from Virginia, before dying on January 18, 1862, prior to taking his seat. His death was the only one in presidential history not officially recognized in Washington, due to his allegiance to the Confederacy. At his funeral he was honored by Jefferson Davis and his coffin was draped with a Confederate flag, making him the only President to be buried under a non-U.S. flag.

Accompanied by transcript of the letter to Lt. Tyler and background on his military service

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