Interesting, the provenance (history behind article) shows it belonging to "Confederate Memorial Literary Society of Richmond, forerunner of the Museum of the Confederacy, in 1916. The flag remained on display there until 1956. " Then nothing this should raise an extremely large RED FLAG for the potential buyer. Hopefully the MOC can get FBI involved like what happened when they recovered the 14th La flag that also was stolen,
JIMT

PROVENANCE: Property from a Private Collection.
The Richmond Whig of August 18, 1864 reports that this "handsome battle flag" was presented to the Louisiana Guard Battery on August 17th, 1864, through Professor Alex Dimitry "by New Orleans ladies now residing in our city." It was carried until the end of the war. This is the third flag of the Louisiana Guard Battery; the first was retired, and the second, captured in the battle of Rappahannock Ford, November 7, 1863.
According to tradition, the night before General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, as artillery and accoutrements were surrendered to Federal troops, the color bearer, Private William C. Ahern of New Orleans tore the flag from its staff and wrapped it around himself under his shirt. He successfully hid the flag during the surrender proceedings at Appomattox and during troop transport to New Orleans. Ahern continued to hide the flag fearing confiscation during the Reconstruction years. He eventually presented the flag to the Confederate Memorial Literary Society of Richmond, forerunner of the Museum of the Confederacy, in 1916. The flag remained on display there until 1956.