the express mail of 1836-1839, james w. milgram, m.d. (1984)

THE EXPRESS MAIL OF

1836-1839

TO PROVIDE A FASTER MAIL SERVICE BETWEEN

THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH AND THE EAST AND THE WEST

BY JAMES W. MILGRAM, M.D.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 77-78944

Copyright 1977 by the Collectors Club of Chicago Printed in the United States of America

To my wife Christine For her indulgence in permitting me to pursue this hobby.

CONTENTS Publisher's Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..

1. "Per Express" Military and Civilian Express Mail

2. The Origins of the Express Mail .

3. Express Mail Postal Rates . . .

4. Routes of the Express Mail . .

5. Dates of Express Mail Usage .

6. Town Markings .. . ... . . .

7. Handstamped Express Mail Markings .

8. Ship and Trans-Atlantic Express Mail Usages .

9. Forwarded Usages . .. .. .

10. Free Mail in the Express .. .. .

11. Decline of the Express Mail . . . .

12. 1845 Revival of an Express Mail.

Appendix ........ ... .. . .

7

9

11

22

32

49

84

98

. 119

. 125

. 138

. 151

. 159

. 175

. 187

Cabeen House Collectors Club of Chicago

1029 North Dearborn Chicago, Illinois 60610

PUBLISHER'S PREFACE This book is the seventh in a continuing series of philatelic handbooks published

by the Collectors Club of Chicago since 1968. It is the fifth such publication produced in the past five years. We consider this to be an especially significant work in that it represents the first comprehensive study of a particularly interesting aspect of the early postal history of the United States.

We wish to congratulate Dr. James W. Milgram for his philatelic scholarship and to express our deep appreciation for the opportunity to publish his work.

The handbooks of the Collectors Club of Chicago are supported by the financial aid and help of the Clarence W. Hennan Memorial Fund of the Collectors Club of Chicago, as established by the late Blema and Richard McP. Cabeen. The fund is administered by the Chicago Community Trust, through theN orthern Trust Company as trustee, and is devoted to helping finance philatelic publications initiated or sponsored by the Collectors Club of Chicago.

Previous publications in the series are:

New York Foreign Mail Cancellations, by Arthur Van Vlissingen and Morrison Waud (1968) Chicago Postal History, edited by Harvey M. Karlen (1970) Franks of the Western Expresses, by M. C. Nathan (1973) The United States 1869 Issue, An Essay-Proof History, by Fred P. Schueren (1974) The United States Mail and Post Office Assistant, edited by Michael Laurence (1975) Colorado Territorial and Pre-territorial Postmarks, by David L. Jarrett (1976)

Committee on Publications and Administration of the Clarence W. Hennan Memorial Fund

Charless Hahn, Chairman

Alfred Diamond Joseph Eisendrath Harvey M. Karlen Michael Laurence Rev. Ckorge C. Muresan

7

Paul C. Rohloff Fred P. Schueren Harold M. Stral Raymond Vogel Morrison W aud

·. ; · --;-

(Frontispiece-Amos Kendall)

INTRODUCTION The writer's interest in the express mail stems from an experience which occurred

in 1958. At that time an 1837 sea chest that contained approximately 50 express mail covers was located in lower Manhattan. A study of this material formed the basis for an article in The American Philatelist. 1 That article in turn led to the purchase of the Stanley B. Ashbrook Collection of express mail covers and a second article.2 A third article 3 and a new section of The American Stampless Cover Catalog followed .

Delf Norona has been the most serious student of this special postal service. His research on the express mail led him into many other subjects based upon original source material in the Post Office Department Library. His 1943 article on the express mail is the single most definitive study on the history of this service.4 Lester Downing and Stanley Ashbrook both found a fascinating subject in the express. Notes from their album pages have provided information about specific usages. Mr. Downing, before his demise, communicated personally to the author the results of his researches on the southern route of the express. The two maps illustrating the routes were originally drawn by him.

Richard Meyer kindly lent the author his entire collection of express mail covers for research purposes. Many others have helped in this project by providing the writer access to individual covers. The names which can be recalled include: Thomas Alexander, Sandy Arnold, Egburt Bacon, Hugh Baker, David Beals, Ted Behr, William Coles, Richard DeKay, John Fox, Perry Fuller, Leonard Hartmann, Bruce Hazelton, Herman Herst, Jr., Martin Hutchinson, David Jarrett, Seymour Kaplan, Harold Longfellow, Clinton McGee, Charles Meroni, William Peterman, John Pope, Roger Powers, Leon Reussille, Paul Rohloff, Norton Sampson, Robert Siegel, Hubert Skinner, Henry Spelman III, Mark Swetland, Harvey Teal, Alex ter Braake, and AI Zimmerman.

Susan McDonald and Len Persson have graciously reviewed the manuscript before publication. The writer is also grateful to Charless Hahn, Harold M. Stral, and other members of the Publications Committee of The Collectors Club of Chicago for the opportunity to present the study in book form. Michael Laurence and Paul Rohloff were responsible for the excellent quality of the illustrations.

'James W. Milgram: "Express Mail Usages, 183&-1839," American Philatelist, January, 1961, pp. 273-276.

2 James W. Milgram: "U.S. Express Mail Usages: 183&-1839," American Philatelist, January, 1963, pp. 255-258.

3 James W. Milgram: "183&-1839 Express Mail Usages," American Philatelist, July, 1969, pp. 595-605.

4 Delf Norona: "The Express Mail of 1836 to 1839," American Philatelist, September, 1943, pp. 77 4--785 .

9

10 EXPRESS MAIL OF 1836-1839

It is hoped that the readers of this book find in it either historical data about the express or specific information about their covers that will help them to understand this unique postal service.

James W. Milgram, M.D. Chicago, Illinois, 1976

CHAPTER 1 ((PER EXPRESS"

MILITARY AND CIVILIAN EXPRESS MAIL

The origins of express mails historically lie near the origins of hierarchal organized societies since a messenger acting for a monarch was essentially an express . However, for a more meaningful use of the term express, it should be used to denote a special messenger service in order to differentiate it from the regular mails. The concept of rapid speed of transmission is inherent in the idea of an express . Although the word express is commonly used by postal historians to refer to the transmission of letters, most expresses today convey parcels rather than letters . Certain early expresses also sometimes contained printed newspapers. The telegraph, telephone, wire services, radio, and television have eliminated the practical need for written express service in modern life.

Within the continental United States from colonial times until the end of the Nineteenth Century, there were two principal types of expresses. These can be designated as military expresses and civilian expresses, the latter closely linked to the official post office services.

The first types were special couriers designated by commanding officers to transmit particular messages and reports as swiftly as possible to another individual, usually in the military. Sometimes such an express messenger would have been a civilian who had been remunerated for his efforts. At other times he would have been a member of a branch of the military who was ordered to carry the express as part of his official duty.

Civilian expresses began with special messengers acting on behalf of the colonial authorities. Sometimes these messengers would have been permitted to transmit letters with personal messages as well as their official dispatches. Regular express service on a scheduled basis is also found between various points at different times .

The covers which will be described in this chapter are physical evidence of such early civilian and military express usage. These letters must be differentiated from the express mail usage that is the subject of the remainder of this book, and from the private express companies which carried a considerable load of mail in the United States from the 1840's through the 1890's, particularly in the Far West.

It is difficult to ascertain which seventeenth century mail carriers merit to be known by the term express rider. A man who undertook a special journey and who was paid for this service ran an express . No covers dated in the 1600's are known to have survived with any notations indicating express transmission. But Calvet

11


Figure 1. "On His Majestys Service" and "Express B. Wentworth" to "Col. Joshua Wingate at North Hampton" 1746. The earliest known American express cover.

Hahn 1 cites quite a few primary references to both military and civilian expresses during the late Seventeenth Century. It appears that most of the earlier examples were military in nature.

The earliest letter bearing express notations that is known to the writer is shown in Figure 1. This cover bears the frank of Benning Wentworth, Colonial Governor of New Hampshire and the word "Express". It was sent to Colonel Joshua Wingate, a military officer at North Hampton. The letter contains very interesting information about an Indian attack:

Province of New Hampshire

Having certain advice that the Indians, in number about twenty, had taken and killed in a Most barbarous manner seven persons at Gorehams Town near Falmouth in Casco Bay on Saturday last about ten of the clock in the Forenoon, it is my Express command that you put the stated Garrisons in the Frontiers of your regiment in the best posture of defence you can, to prevent any surprize of the Inhabitants, if that party of Indians, or any other, should make an attempt in your Quarter To committ the like outrages.

It is likewise my orders that you cause to be Impressed, or enlisted ten men out of your regiment and order them Immediately to march to Canterbury,

1Calvet M. Hahn: "The Colonial Great North Post," American Philatelist, October, 1973, pp 901-918.

"PER EXPRESS" 13

to strengthen that Garrison until they are relieved, which will be about the 20th of May.

You are to put the men you Impress under the Command of a prudent man, they are to march with provisions & subsistence only for four days, as they may be supplied there, unless the men incline to subsist themselves.

Given at Portsmouth at Arms April 21st 1746. B Wentworth

Coll 0 Joshua Wingate

I . ··F"····R·· .··E··,s··u ·.· l l' •.· ·, .· ' . · · ,~~: I . . . •. ·, .. , , , ... . .... .. -~,. .£· ~~~.r . s.· 1-~ . ·.v·,Y . •

I I 1

! i

I

I I I I

I I !

J U S .T · .A R R I V E .D

An. Express . ' '

From the Provincial-Camp near Bofiop, with the following interefii.ng Account of an Engagement at Charlefiown, between about Three Th<"l.tCmd of the King's Regular Forces, and about half the Numbc.:r of Provincills, . on Sar,urda y Lhc t 7th ln(bnt.

O N Friday night, Ju.ne 17, 1 soo of the provincial~ went to Bunker's-Hill, in order to intrench thert>, and continued intrcnchin:; till Saturday 1 o o'clock,

. when two t.houfand Regular• rnarc!>ed out of Bolton, l:.nded in Chariellown, and p!undering it of ail Its v.th1ahh: df~Cls, f~t lire to it at to .ditferent places at once; then dividing their army, one of them mMched up in the front of the

Pro\·inthl·~ inttcnchnJcnt, and bc:;.tn to att,,·,k the Provinci.l13 at long !hot; the other plrt of the army m.arched round \he towrJ of Charldlovrn, under cover of the fmo~k occlfioned b·r the fire of the town. The Provinci.•l Cen:iacls clit.:o\·ercd the Re~l)brs mlrching up.on their left wing Upon notil·e uf this, r.ivcn by the C~ntinel to the Connetticut fo rces polled on that wing, Captain Nolt<Hl, ot Alhford, wid1 4 0 0 of hid fo rces, immediately rep .. ired to, and pultccl up a poll an ,J r~il fc1Ke, and c.rryin~ the polls and r~i l s to another fCJJCe, put them together lor a hreall: w,ork . Capt. Nulton ~~vc orders to the tJV'fl, not to lire until the enemy v.·cre got within 15 rods, ~nd <hen not till the word Waj; given. At the worJ kin~ given the enemy fc11 furprizint,ly . It W J S th 0t1_;ht by fpccbtors who fiood at a rlifi.tnce, that our men did gre.tt exc.:ution. The ac'l. ion co• ~ tinu~d a'.>•.Jut two hours, wheu the H ~~ulars on the rit~ht wing were put into cuntu li .. n, "".l g.tvc way. The ConneCticut rroop' clolcly purfucd them, ~nd were on the poillt <.>f J'U ihing 1i1rir bayonets ; when <• r dtr~ wcr.: roccivcd from General Pomeroy , f,,r thule: , ... ~ , o had hrc n in ~Ciion two hnurs, 10 f~ll hJck, and their places tu be luppl i~d hy fr~ 1 11 {or.: t >. Thci'c ordc:s bdng mifhken fur :1 dirc:dion to rctrCJt, our troop~ on tb ri;;ht w in(.~ lh·i: 'n a ~cnc r.tl rctrc.1t, which was l1.1n<lcd to the )eft; the rr;ncip:~l pl.tce of a<.1ion, ,·,- here C.• pt~i ll; , l\' o!t :J:J, Chdlcr, Cl~rke,

-.-- -----·--·-- ... _. ______ .. _______ .. _____ .. _______ _

I

Figure 2. 1775 broadside mentioning an express from the Battle of Bunker's Hill.


·-

Figure 3. "On Public service Henry Laurens," addressed "His Excellency George Washington Esquire General & Commander in Chief of all the forces of the United States of North America &c &c &c," 1778. From the President of Continental Congress

to the Commanding General.

' ! \ .

Yi~£: -- /J i . :7'~~-- -____ , I

I

Figure 4. "Pr Express" and "Public Service" in manuscript on 1779 cover to soldier "Near Long Hill," Revolutionary War express cover.

"PER EXPRESS" 15

A 1755 bill for a pony rider was in the Mayer collection.2 A letter of General John St. Clair in 1758 refers to " ... The express I sent to Winchester." Alex ter Braake 3 illustrated two manuscript "per express" covers sent during the decade prior to the Revolutionary War. These express riders were hired and paid for their special service and thus can be differentiated from regular mail carriers. Often they carried messages between points where there was no regular postal service.

The table for post office rates issued in 1763 by Benjamin Franklin and John Foxcroft contained the additional instruction "For all extraordinary Posts and Expresses sent along the Post Road, and for all Expresses sent from any Stage to any place out of the Post Road, there must be charged and paid One Penny-weight of Silver for every mile such Express shall be sent."

With the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, a greater reliance was placed upon the military expresses. A 1775 broadside printed by John Anderson at New York just a few days after the bloody encounter on Breed's Hill described a colonialist's version of the famous battle (Figure 2). But surviving covers rarely indicate express service. The 1778 letter from Henry Laurens to George Washington shown in Figure 3 was obviously sent by a special messenger. The letter even asks Washington for a reply by the returning courier. There are no express notations on the cover.

One of the few Revolutionary War covers that does bear an express notation is shown in Figure 4. This cover contained a letter from "Camp near Veule Town December 20, 1779 ... I saw Col. Biddle yesterday and he desired me to send of an Express immediately to you to request that you would immediately make out a Return of all the Forage . . . Please to send a Return by the Bearer of this .... "

A 1780 cover showing a similar military express usage from Fishkill, New York has been noted. 4 Alex ter Braake 5 illustrated a 1782 cover to Major General Nathaniel Greene with notations "Express" and "On Service" from General Francis Marion. A 1785 cover to Scotland originating in Camden, New Jersey bears notations "pr William Rae, Express" and "Paid this Express 1 Shilling." Since the notations were written by the writer of the letter, the express usage must have been American. A 1797 letter addressed to a "Colonel Henley, Knoxville" bears a manuscript "Express" notation.6 The Colonel was fighting Cherokee Indians in Tennessee at the time.

The earliest Nineteenth Century express usage seen by the writer was reported by Arthur Bostwick.7 This is an 1801 cover from Detroit to Cincinnati bearing only a military address and the word "Express". At this time the state of Ohio was still a part of the Northwest Territory. An 1807 letter written by the famous soldier, Matthew Arbuckle, at Natchitoches, Orleans Territory (Figure 5) appears to have

2The Edwin Mayer Collection of Pre-stamp and Stampless Covers, H.R. Harmer, Inc. February 17, 1967.

3Alex L. ter Braake: The Posted Letter in Colonial and Revolutionary America 1628-1790. American Philatelic Research Library, 1975, pp V3-V4.

4 Herman Herst Jr. Auction, February 18, 1966. 5 Alex L. ter Braake: The Posted Letter in Colonial and Revolutionary America 1628-1790.

American Philatelic Research Library, 1975, pp B36. 6 William Tower: "A Sheaf of War Covers," The Stamp Specialist, H.L. Lindquist, 1943, Volume

11, pp 36. 7 Arthur R. Bostwick: "By 'Express' from Detroit to Cincinnati in 1801," Stamps, September

18, 1976.


been carried by military express to Natchez, Mississippi Territory where it entered the regular mails and was transmitted to Fort Adams.

During the War of 1812 a number of letters were sent by expresses. An 1813 despatch from Lexington, Kentucky to General Green Clay bears the notation "Express" (Figure 6). The letter states "The enclosed letter from Gov. Shelby to you has just been put into my hands. I forward it by Express. I am very anxious to see you on the subject of the route the troops under your command will march to join Genl. Harrison's army before the place of Rendezvous is fixed ... Should you pass through Lexington will you be so good as to give me a call or if you determine to go on any other road to Frankfort be pleased to let me know by the return Express when you will be at that place .... " One 1812 franked cover by William Henry Harrison was carried out of the mails by a similar courier system and bears an express notation.

Pitt Petri has written at length on the express mail service that functioned during the War of 1812.8 This express was intended to dispatch important letters and government reports, particularly in cases where mail contractors failed or when road conditions prevented passage of stages. These expresses were arranged by Postmaster General Granger over certain routes between Washington and Knoxville, Cincinnati, and Plattsburgh, New York with extensions to Detroit and other port cities on the Great Lakes. Covers from this organized express are very rare; it is possible that many of the letters were not specifically marked "express".

In Figure 7 is a cover datelined Sackett's Harbor (New York) August 3, 1813 ordering supplies and transportation for General Dearborn. Susan McDonald has analyzed this cover and believed the cover was carried by the War of 1812 express mail. The letter took two days to travel the express route from Sackett's Harbor to Utica, New York ("Express mail" in manuscript). There it was postmarked in manuscript "Utica Aug. 5" when it entered the regular mail system. The distance between Utica and Albany is about 92 miles for which the single rate was 12 1/2

cents. Evidentally the Jetter was rated at a triple rate; the contents of the letter mention several enclosures.

Because of interruption of the mails in the region of the Mississippi Territory during 1814, Postmaster General Return J . Meigs, Jr. established another military express line between Mobile, Alabama and Rhea Court House.9 Two official letters sent over this special express route have been noted.

However, the express routes established by the Postmaster General during the War of 1812 were intended to convey only military and other public despatches on official business. It was not a service available to the general public even though a few non-official letters seemed to have been transmitted over certain express routes.

Several military express usages have been seen during the two decades from 1830 to 1850. Two examples from 1835 that were used during the Texan war of independence were illustrated by ter Braake.10 Two other covers were carried between two small

8 Pitt Petri: "Express Mails of the War of 1812; First 'Pony Expresses' in the U.S.A.," Postal History Journal, March, 1959, pp 63-67.

9 D. Edward Starnes, Jr.: The Express Mail of 1814-1816, American Philatelist, September, 1976, pp 684-686.

10Alex L. ter Braake: Texas. The Drama of its Postal Past, American Philatelic Society, 1970, pp 203.

"PER EXPRESS" 17

/Q

__).<'J~ !!JL~_L~ ~a~~UAo

-WaY£~ Figure 5. "NATCHEZ* Oct 20" (1807) in black straight line, and "10" to Fort Adams,

Mississippi Territory. From Natchitoches, Orleans Territory, "By Express."

Figure 6. "Express" in manuscript on 1813 cover from Lexington, Kentucky to General Green Clay, Madison County, Kentucky, a War of 1812 express mail cover.


Figure 7. "Utica, Aug. 5" (1813) and "37112" in manuscript to Albany. Cover carried by "Express Mail" from Sacketts Harbor lo Utica.

·· ·-/'

// .. ,- / / :• t' / :/~L I .· ·

-----· -·-·-----. ):' / · !',

' /

·., / /~ ' 1'

Figure 8. "Express Mail" in manuscript to Lt. Morgan, Fort Dade, East Florida, 1838, from Fort Foster, Florida, a military express usage.

"PER EXPRESS" 19

Figure 9. "ELKRIDGE LANDING Md. APR 18" (1849) and "5" in red, rerated "40" to Monterrey, Upper California, forwarded to San Diego.

Figure 10. Reverse of cover: "This was reed. from San Francisco by express with the seal broken and was resealed by me. W. H. Ohevers."


. '

_/l;;i/~4 d. t!(~. '

:~

~'\J .. g:.' , w~.

~f~d cf~~ §

~~~c7

Figure 11. "Estill & Cos. Express" in manuscript, red "WESTON, Mo. AUG 16" (1850) and "10" to Hoosick, Green County, Wisconsin. The letter was written June 24, 1850

"in the valey of the sweetwater river." The first overland express mail.

forts in Florida Territory. The one shown in Figure 8 was sent from Fort Foster January 21, 1838. The letter contained a description of the capture of Indians and other local military actions . One line reads "An express mail arrived at Tampa last evening from Fort Basenger." The other example was sent from Newmansville to Fort Dade and bears just the word "Express" in addition to the address.

Several letters have been seen which were sent from Santa Fe during the 1846-1847 Mexican War, by soldiers on the Kearny Expedition, and certain of these bear express notations. Again a strictly military usage is implied until the letters entered the regular mails in Missouri.

An unusual California military express mail usage is shown in Figures 9 and 10. This letter, previously illustrated in The Western Mails/ 1 was written in 1849 by a mother to her son in the army. The forwarding notation which was applied in Monterrey states that the means of transmission was by express. The cover was received by express and then forwarded to a second military post in San Diego with no notations on the cover to indicate private express usage (for which the date is probably too early). It therefore seems probable that the express usage was of the military type that has been previously cited.

11 James W. Milgram: The Western Mails, Society of Philatelic Americans, 1966, pp 44.

"PER EXPRESS" 21

Figure 12. "Ft. Whipple, Arizona, Apr 26, 1864. By Military Express." in straight lines. Three cents rose, manuscript "Las Cruces, N.M. May 14/ 64" to Santa Fe, forwarded "SANTA FE N.M. MAY 21" due "3" to Mount Vernon, Ohio. Only known

example of this marking.

The cover shown in Figure 11 is one of three similar covers/2•13 all written by persons who were crossing the country overland in 1850 at points west of Fort Laramie. All three bear the postmark "WESTON Mo. AUG 16" in red and were addressed to different cities. James M. Estill, a friend of James Denver and Brigham Young, proposed a pony express service with stations at set intervals across the country just like the famous Overland Pony Express of later date . These letters are from the only known trip of the Estill and Company Express and are the earliest overland express covers. The express usage represented by these covers is typical of the express service made available to civilians who were beyond the regular mails. Such expresses frequently connected with the post office system although they were sometimes in competition with the mails.

Military express usages during the 1850's and 1860's are usually undistinguished covers bearing no particular markings. One exception is the cover shown in Figure 12 which bears a straight line handstamp "Ft. Whipple, Arizona, Apr. 26, 1864. By Military Express." It was carried by express to Las Cruces, New Mexico where the stamp was cancelled. At its original destination, Santa Fe, it was forwarded due "3" to Mount Vernon, Ohio.

12James W. Milgram: "Estill and Company, Express," American Philatelist, October, 1959, pp 47-49.

13James W. Milgram: "More on Estill and Company, Express," American Philatelist, February , 1965, pp 333-335.

CHAPTER 2 THE ORIGINS OF THE EXPRESS MAIL

The concept of an express mail can be credited to Postmaster General Amos Kendall although Postmaster General John McLean had discussed fast mail routes in 1825.1•2

To understand the need for a special express service to handle only letters and newspaper slips by swift means of transportation, it is necessary to describe the post office system in 1836 when the express originated.

Post offices in the large cities were not too dissimilar to our post offices of today. There was a postmaster who hired various clerks to do different jobs as needed. But a postmaster did not have to spend all of his time at duties associated with the post office. Many of the postmasters in the United States held other jobs which often supplied the majority of their income. A postmaster's compensation was related to the volume of business conducted at his office with certain limits at the largest offices. The clerks were responsible primarily to the postmaster, not to the Post Office Department.

The mails were carried only between post offices. There was no mail pick-up and no mail delivery . Important clients and firms rented locked boxes within the post offices to which their mail could be charged.3 Others received their letters in "general delivery" and mailed their letters individually at post office windows.

The mails were carried between post offices by individual contractors. The government awarded the contracts to carry the mail to the lowest bidder who would fulfill the terms of the contract, which might be, for instance, to transmit a twice weekly mail over a seventy-five mile route. There were three possible weak links in this system: the actual transmission of the mail between any two points with the available means of transportation, the handling of the mail at the post offices, and the linking of the many contractors into a long chain to transmit any individual letter over long distances. A delay on the part of a single contractor or postmaster could disrupt any type of consistent service.

Perhaps even more significant as causes of mail delay were the means of transportation available in the 1830's. The most widely used form of transportation was the stage coach, which was, after all, only a special form of wagon that was pulled by horses (Figure 13) . Passenger delay, equipment failure and the necessity for an intact team of animals all contributed to the uncertainties in maintaining a regular

1W. E. Rich: History of U.S. Post Office. 2 Delf Norona: "The Express Mail of 1836 to 1839," American Philatelist, September, 1943,

pp 774. 3James W. Milgram: "Charge it to My Post Office Box," American Philatelist, July, 1975,

pp 613-622.

22

THE ORIGINS OF THE EXPRESS MAIL 23

Figure 13. "CHARLESTON S.C. FEB 26" (1836), "50" and "Land Mail" in manuscript to New York, arriving in eight days, a double rate letter.

service. The roads of the 1830's were often little more than cleared paths through the forest and hills of the relatively virgin land of America. Inclement weather also could greatly hinder any particular stage run. Water travel was limited to either the Atlantic Ocean or certain large rivers (Figure 14). The day of the inland steamboat was yet to come, so little mail was regularly transported by inland waterways in the middle 1830's.

Although the steam engine had been adapted for railroad locomotives, this important means of transportation was yet in its infancy at the time of the origin of the express mail. It is of interest that in April of 1836 the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads of the Senate reported on "the expediency of authorizing permanent contracts to be made for the transportation of the mail with the different railroad companies. . . ." This committee recommended a bill "to authorize contracts for carrying the mail and public property of the United States upon railroads."

From the Globe, Washington, D.C., January 15, 1836:

Word has just been brought by Mr. Peters, the contractor, that the Western mail which left the office this morning has been returned . . . the passage of the railroad having been found impracticable in consequence of a deep fall of snow .. .

The real need for an express mail was along the route of the Great Mail: Boston-New York-Philadelphia-Baltimore-Washington-Mobile-New Orleans.4 Most of the impor-

4 Leonard Huber: The Great Mail, American Philatelic Society, 1949, pp 37-45.


/ . ,

\

Figure 14. "CHARLESTON S.C. APR 1" (1837) in red, "25" and "Steamer" in manuscript to New York, arriving in four days . The letter originated in Charleston.

tant cities were ports bordering on the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, slow communication between the northern and southern centers of commerce became a pressing problem calling for postal reform. Merchants engaged in the purchase and sale of both raw materials and manufactured goods would be the potential users of any postal service which offered more swift, communication. News of the British markets was very important in New Orleans. The lag period in communication between New York and New Orleans was frequently two weeks, an astonishing delay when today's rapid communication is considered. Private expresses that were controlled by cotton speculators frequently took advantage of weak links in the chain of transfer of the regular mail from contractor to contractor. These letters could gain a day or more in transit time thus allowing the speculators an advantage over their competitors. It was naturally the Southern newspapers which were most vocal in their demands for a better postal service:

The mail arrived yesterday! It brought us among the few later papers, two letters postmarked Washington, July 2. One of these letters announces the death of Mr. Madison; the other contains an order from the Commissary of Subsistance, to publish the proposals for supplying the army with provisions; which is rendered nugatory by the time for receiving these proposals having expired.

THE ORIGINS OF THE EXPRESS MAIL

Mr. Kendall, we perceive by the Globe, is about taking effective measures in regard to the southern route, which he acknowledges is very bad; and we hope in a few weeks to be able to give him a full share of credit, for we would rather praise than censure."5

"This mail is getting very much out of order. Tuesday's mail came to hand yesterday. And that was the last we have been blest with. Of course we are without any news of the election [Van Buren vs White] in Louisiana.

If our contemporary knew, that the contractors here prefer, whenever it suits their convenience, to forfeit the penalty upon the non receipt of the mail, 1 hundred dollars, it would at once have understood why the mail is so irregular. And we may here remark, that so long as freight shall continue to be the principal object of the boats employed by the government to convey the mail, so long will public convenience be rendered secondary to the interests of the contractors.6

25

Amos Kendall first reached public prominence in 1816 at age 27 when he became the co-editor of the Argus of Western America, a newspaper at Frankfort, Kentucky. In 1824 after enthusiastically supporting Andrew Jackson for President, Kendall developed a friendship with the old general. In 1829 he was appointed by Jackson as Fourth Auditor of the Treasury. Many of his free franks have survived (Figure 15). Due to Kendall's sharp and witty pen, he became one of the most powerful political writers in the country, composing several of Jackson's state papers. In 1835 he was appointed Postmaster General and is credited for many reforms in that department, in addition tc the creation of the express mail. In later years he became a close associate of Samuel F . B. Morse and was in no small way partly responsible for the telegraph's commercial success.

Kendall became very involved in the Post Office Department which he felt was vital for the rapid development of the United States.

The Postmaster General is making a great many changes in the mode of transporting the mails and managing the offices, which bid fair to bring the department to the best possible condition, and to save a great amount of expense. One important change is brought about by making up the letters at the office where they are received, directed at once to the distributing office nearest to their ultimate destination. Letters for places beyond Cleveland, Ohio, for instance, used to be sent with a great mass for all the south and west to Albany, where they were sorted for Rochester, and at Rochester for Cleveland. Delay and mistakes were the necessary consequence of handling them so many times. By the new .arrangement, a mail is made up at once for Cleveland, at the New York office. A reform of this sort is making throughout the country, and the effect must be very seriously felt. Indeed, the clamors of discontent which filled the air from one end of the country to the other, are already silenced, and the Post Office Department is getting to enjoy the public confidence in a larger degree than it did under the popular administration of Mr. McLane. The business of the Post Office, more than anything else, required at its head a sagacious, working man, and such a man is Mr. KendalJ.?

5 New Orleans Bee, October 21, 1836. 6 New Orleans Bee, November 16, 1836. 7 New York Journal of Commerce, June, 1836.


20/n~d 2 /drr//La-£--r ~7L~~

@N/mz-t/f~ Figure 15. "CITY OF WASHINGTON. OCT 11" (1833) and "FREE" in red, franked

"A Kendall, IV Aud: Office" to Boston.

On July 2, 1836 President Andrew Jackson signed into law a Post Office bill which included authorization for the express mail. Section 39 of that bill reads:

Sec. 39 And be it further enacted, that in case the Postmaster General shall deem it expedient to establish an express mail, in addition to the ordinary mail, on any of the post roads in the United States for the purpose of conveying slips from newspapers, or letters, other than such as contain money, not exceeding half an ounce in weight, marked "express mail" and public despatches, he shall be authorized to charge all letters and packets carried by such express mail with triple the rates of postage to which letters and packets, not free, may be by law subject, when carried by the ordinary mails.

An editorial in the Washington Globe commented on the proposed express:

EXPRESS MAIL

In this day's Globe will be observed an advertisement of the Post Office Department for the conveyance of an express mail from New York to Mobile, Alabama, where it will fall into the great mail, and be carried by steamboats to New Orleans. The time proposed to be occupied in the conveyance between New York and New Orleans is about six days and a half; the regular time for the present mails is a little over thirteen days.

Regulations to govern the "express mail" will be published before it goes into operation.

It is the desire of the Postmaster General to extend the benefits of this mail to other sections of the country, but he thinks it not safe to attempt it until


he be more fully apprized of the means which he shall be able to devote to the object. The improvements ordered since the first of January last, and the new mails put into operations will cost about $100,000 a year. Congress at the last season established an unprecedented number of seven hundred and thirty eight new mail routes, which will probably cost more than $500,000 annually. The express mail, now advertised, will probably cost $150,000 more, making an extension of expenditure equal to $650,000 a year. Although the Postmaster General believes he can bear a greater extension without embarrassment, yet he does not think it right to hazard any thing by an attempt to place expresses on other routes, and he refrains from doing so until the expense of the new routes and of the mail now advertised, shall be known. The day is not distant, however, when he expects to run an express to the west, starting probably from Baltimore and running on the national road through to St. Louis, throwing off branches or improving and expediting the existing lines, to the right and left, so as to diffuse its benefits to all the country upon the upper rivers and lakes.

An express cannot be run from New York to Boston, within the time now occupied, by the steamboat and railroad line through Providence. It may, however, be useful to run one east of Boston to Portland. It may also be expedient to run one from Boston through Albany to Buffalo, which would operate, by connecting with the North river steamboats, as an express mail between New York and Buffalo.

From the southern express, now advertised, branches may be advantageously thrown off through Alabama into Mississippi and Tennessee.

The great outline of an express mail system would be completed by a line from New Orleans to Nashville, thence to Louisville, Kentucky, and thence connecting with the eastern and western line.

The present policy of the Department is to run from New York to New Orleans by the route which can be most rapidly travelled, and scatter the benefits to the cities, towns and country, right and left, by improving the existing mail lines. The upper line advertised from Fredericksburg, Virginia, to Columbus, Georgia, is about 60 miles nearer than the lower line, which is now the great mail route, but on the lower line there are two railroads, and if contracts shall be obtained with them on favorable terms, it will be expedient to run the express on that line. But if no contracts are obtained with them, it is probable the Department will adopt the upper line, where the speed will be less rapid, and consequently the mail more certain and less expensive than on the lower line. The point will be decided when the lettings are to be made.

So far as the service of the Post Office Department is concerned, one of the principal advantages expected from express mails is, that they will rende·r it measureably independent of the railroads. By running night and day, this mail will outrun their cars. The interest which the community now feels in the expedition of the great mail will measurably cease when the news shall be brought much sooner by the express. It will b,ecome a matter of comparatively little moment whether that mail be carried a little faster or a little slower, and if the railroads will not carry it at a reasonable price, there will be no public inconvenience, and but little complaint, if it be carried in stages or wagons.

Yet, it will be a matter of interest that the railroads should carry the great mail. Wherever they undertake to do so, and conform to the hours of the Department, the whole mail will travel with the expedition of an express, and the triple postage will be saved to the citizen. Such will be the case between New York and Philadelphia, between Baltimore and Washington, between

27


Fredericksburg and Richmond, and between Petersburg and Blakely Depot. Desirous of accomplishing that object as far as possible, the Postmaster General has invited proposals on the portions of the line occupied by railroads, for carrying the great mail and the express also in railroad cars. We trust there is a spirit on both sides which will lead to the formation of satisfactory contracts with the railroad companies, where their roads are completed on this great line." 8

Another editorial in the same paper contains further comments on the express:

The New York Journal of Commerce denounces the proposed Express Mail as "the Speculator's Mail," and concludes about half a column of comment on that theme with saying, "We have no doubt that the effect will be mischievous and unpopular, and that the scheme will finally be abandoned in disgrace."

The Postmaster General doubtless differs with the Journal of Commerce in his anticipations as to the result of the experiment. The country has already afforded abundant illustrations that such a project is practicable, and we think there is an energy and determination in the Department which will not stop short of any practicable result.

The objections to this project certainly come with a bad grace from the Journal of Commerce. Who has forgotten the express run by the editors of that paper and of the Courier and Enquirer, between Washington and New York, during the last season of Congress, for the purpose of anticipating the mails, and monopolizing the news from Washington, to the injury of all the other New York papers? If not in their paper, the Post Office Department was frequently jeered in others for suffering itself to be outdone by private enterprise. The Department was then powerless as to any remedy, because, having no power to discriminate, all mail matter must be sent by the swiftest mail, and a Post Office Express would have been immediately broken down by its weight. The Postmaster General was, therefore, obliged quietly to submit to these jeers, and suffer the express set on foot by the Journal and its ally to run on without competition. But he was not indifferent to the injury brought by this monopoly upon the other printers in New York, who had not the means to run expensive private expresses. As an additional postage was absolutely necessary to enable the Department to run an express at all, the provision, which is now law, was suggested to the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, adopted by them unanimously, and passed without objection through both Houses of Congress. By next session of Congress all the printers in New York can get the Washington news, at a cost within their means, as soon as the two great aristocratic establishments. This is one of the results which the Journal denounces as an "enormous wrong in principle," and an "enormous wrong in practice." We question whether the rest of the printers in New York will think it so very enormous a wrong, in principle or practice, to take from the Journal and Courier the power to play over again the game of last winter, and monopolize the news from Washington by means of their private express.

If the distant subscription of the Journal shall suffer by this measure, its editors will have the comfort of reflecting that it is the result of their own monopolizing disposition. They will gain an advantage over their fellow printers in New York by outrunning the mails, and, in their attempt to do so, they

8 Washington Globe, July 25, 1836.


taught the Post Office Department that it can send the news to the printers, in distant cities and towns, quicker than the heavy sheets of the Journal of Commerce and Courier and Enquirer can be carried there . . .

Other editors take other views of the express mail. The Petersburg Constellation speaks of it as follows, viz:

The Express Mail-in our last, we briefly adverted to the fact, that Mr. Kendall, with the most commendable zeal for advancing the public interest and accommodation, had advertised for proposals to carry an express mail from New York to Mobile. The annexed explanatory article from the Globe more fully sets forth the general views of the head of the Post Office Department, in reference to this important measure, than any thing we could say on the subject. In its local effects, the express mail will benefit our market, and indeed all the Southern markets by, effectually, sheltering them from Northern speculators, the public express travelling as rapidly, if not more rapidly, with newspaper slips and mercantile letters, containing the latest intelligence, than any private conveyance, which can be established. With the aid of faithful correspondents at New York, this will effectually guard the seller of produce at the north against speculation from a rise to the market, and at the same time protect the purchaser from loss in the event of a decline. Through its means too, the newspaper press will be able to disseminate among their town and country patrons foreign intelligence of every kind, much earlier than they can do at present. This will particularly benefit the planters, as it will guard them as effectually against domestic speculation, as it will the merchants against speculation from the north. The credit of originating the scheme of an express mail belongs exclusively to Mr. Kendall, and his successful execution of, and the putting in operation, that scheme, will greatly add to the already solid and enviable reputation he has acquired in the public service.9

29

The first official announcement of the opening of the express mail was made three weeks before its commencement:

EXPRESS MAIL

This mail will commence running on the 15th of November next. Between New York and Philadelphia, there will be two mails daily upon

the railroads, running with the speed of the express, and carrying the entire mail matter, in consequence of which the additional postage will not be charged between those cities. The same policy will be pursued between Philadelphia and Baltimore, and further south, as soon as the Department, by the aid of the railroads or other means, can give the whole mail the same expedition as the express.

The Department will endeavor to make such arrangements as will give the towns on the upper line through New Jersey, the same mail facilities they now enjoy, and expect shortly to improve them.

Annexed are the regulations formed by the Postmaster General in reference to the matter to be conveyed by this mail.

Post Office Department October 23d, 1836

9 Washington Globe, August 3, 1836.


Regulations for the Express Mail

1. No letters will be sent by this mail, except such as have written upon them the words "Express Mail."

2. No free letters, nor letters containing money, nor letters exceeding half an ounce in weight, except public despatches, nor any newspapers or pamphlets, will be sent by this mail.

3. If letters bearing a frank, or containing money, or weighing more than half an ounce, be put into post offices marked "Express Mail," the postmasters will erase those words, and send them by the ordinary mail.

4. All letters and public despatches sent by this mail will be charged with triple the usual rates of postage.

5. Letters marked "Express Mail," and put into post offices not on the line of the express, will be sent by that line when they reach it, and will be charged, where put in, with triple postage for the whole distance.

6. Editors of newspapers have a right to receive free by this mail slips from all newspapers which they may now receive free by the ordinary mail, but cannot receive the slips and the newspapers both. If both come to them, the postmasters will charge the newspapers with postage.

7 . Slips from newspapers are small parts of newspapers cut out, or strips specially printed by newspaper publishers, to convey the latest news, foreign and domestic. But one slip can be received from the same newspaper, and in no case must it exceed in size two columns of such newspaper.

8. Newspaper slips must show on their face from which newspapers they come, and be put into the post office open, with the name of the editor or newspaper for whom designed distinctly written upon them.

9. Postmasters will put all slips for the same place into a packet directed to that place."10

A month after the express began to operate, Postmaster General Kendall enthusiastically described his successful experiment in his Annual Report .

An express mail has been started within the last month from Philadelphia to Mobile, a distance of 1,230 miles, adding to the rate of annual transportation 895,440 miles . . .

To render the department measurably independent of the railroads and accomplish other important results, an express mail has been started on the great mail line between New York and New Orleans. From New York to Philadelphia, and from Mobile to New Orleans, it is merged in the great mail carried in railroad cars and steamboats. The great mail is 12 days and 17 hours, according to contract, in going from New York to Mobile, and 12 days 12 hours returning. The express mail is 5 days 17 hours going from New York to Mobile, and 5 days 23 hours returning. One day is occupied in transporting the mails between Mobile and New Orleans.

The success of this experiment is not doubted, and the size of the mail already affords an assurance that it will produce an income more than sufficient to support it.

This mail leaves far behind all news conveyed upon railroads, or by any other means.

10Washington Globe, October 24, 1836.

EXPRESS MAIL POSTAL RATES 33

the express mail set the legal limit for an express mail letter at 1/z ounce, and therefore there are four possible express mail rates, single, double, triple and quadruple, all letters weighing 1/2 ounce or less.

Postal charges in 1836 were determined by the distance that a letter was carried between post offices. The fee was based on mileage. Postal rates in 1836 were those determined by the Act of April 9, 1816 as modified by the Act of March 3, 1825. A table can be composed for the rates of postage on ordinary and express mail letters based upon the mileages.

Not over Over 30 and not over Over 80 and not over Over 150 and not over Over

30 miles 80 miles

150 miles 400 miles 400 miles

Ordinary Single

.06

.10

.12112

.183/4

.25

Single

.18

.30

.37 1/2

.561/4

.75

Express Mail Double Triple Quadruple

.36 .54 .72

.60 .90 1.20

.75 1.121/2 1.50 1.12 1/2 1.683/4 2.25 1.50 2.25 3.00

Because the vast majority of existing express mail letters travelled over the southern route between the great northern centers of commerce and Mobile or New Orleans, most express mail covers are found with 75 ce~ts single express rates or a multiple

Figure 17. "NEW ORLEANS La. JUL 12" (1838), and "PAID" in red, "75" and "Xpress Mail" in manuscript to New York, received July 20, transit time 8 days.


of the single rates. The typical cover, as shown in Figure 16, i.s postmarked during the period of the express, is triple rated, and ALWAYS bears the notation "Express" or "Express Mail." An odd variation "Xpress" is shown in Figure 17. Figure 18 is a single rate cover sent over the same Great Mail route from New Orleans to New York by ordinary mail. It is rated 25 cents, the correct single rate for a distance of greater than 400 miles. Figure 19 is a North-South usage from New York rated at the triple rate of 75 cents. It is identical to other express mail covers from the same correspondence which bear the same address except for one missing feature-it does not bear the word "express" on its face . Therefore , it is not an express mail cover. The contents reveal an enclosure of five notes, so this letter should have been rated as a quadruple . The letter is headed "Regular mail to Natchez" and one sentence reads "our last was by express to Natchez yesterday . . . "

The cover in Figure 20 is also rated at a 75 cents triple rate, but it even bears the notation "Slow Mail" to indicate that it was not to be sent by express. It also took twice as long to reach New York as the usual express mail letter.

The double, triple, and quadruple express rates are illustrated in Figures 21, 22, and 23. Even in our day of postal inflation, these triple charges would be astronomical and are even more so when one considers the purchasing value of the dollar in 1837. Of the 75 cents rate and its multiples, the two higher rates are slightly more uncommon but all are by no means rare.

/ ./ ' ;'\,

. 'I .I \ ' - I

/ ·. r J

, ... . \ ; _.,".; ; r;J~ ----/~ . y- . ~~. l

I'

.. /

•. ·

' '

l

•

Figure 18. "NEW ORLEANS La. FEB 13" (1836) in blue, manuscript "25" and "single" to New York by ordinary mail, arrival February 29, transit time before the express

service 16 days.


It will give unprecedented activity to commercial transactions between the North and the South. New York communicates with New Orleans in half the usual time; all enterprises are expedited; the whole intervening country, and the valley of the Mississippi, will feel the impulse.

The editors and people of New Orleans will receive the news from New York in less than half the time it has heretofore occupied in the transit. The editors will have the advantage of being the original dispensers of the news to their subscribers; and the people will obtain it through their own papers, without postage, five or six days sooner than it can reach them in the New York papers, with postage. The editors and people along the whole route, and to the right and left, will participate in the same advantages in a greater or less degree . On the other hand, the circulation in the South of newspapers from the principal cities of the North will undoubtedly be diminished. This injury is more than counterbalanced by the benefits secured to the local establishments; and if it were not, it is not to be brought in competition with the advantages of an earlier transmission and dissemination of commercial and other intelligence. No measure should be taken with a view to injure the great city establishments; but it would be unreasonable and unjust in the Department to withhold information from the people of the South because it cannot carry with equal expedition the cumbrous sheets from the Northern newspaper presses. It is, and doubtless will continue to be, the policy of the Department not to send the news with less expedition, but to bring the whole mail to the speed of the express as fast as it can secure continuous railroad or steamboat transportation.

The undersigned confidently believes it will be found expedient within the coming year to start express mails from Washington city, along the route of the national road to St. Louis; from New Orleans, through Nashville, Louisville, and Cincinnati, to connect above with the great Eastern and Western route; and from Boston, through Albany to Buffalo, New York . Such mails on these routes he believes would immediately support themselves, and give an activity to business and correspondence in every direction, which would much enhance the general revenues of the Department, and promote public intelligence and prosperity. But, should experience or reflection lead to the conviction that these enterprises will not produce an increase of revenue sufficient to support them, they will not be undertaken. 11

llPostmaster General's Annual Report, 1836.

31

CHAPTER 3 EXPRESS MAIL POSTAL RATES

It was clearly defined in the Act of Congress that authorized the express that triple postage rates were to be leveled on these letters . During the 1830's and earlier, people paid their postage on the basis of the number of sheets of paper enclosed in the folded letter as well as its weight. Today we can see that this was quite unfair, but such rules grew out of previous customs. Since there were no envelopes in 1836, all express mail letters are folded letters . The number of enclosures determined whether a letter was charged a single, double, triple, or quadruple rate.

The Act of March 3, 1825 provided that an additional rate of postage was to be charged on each additional enclosure up to a total of three (four sheets total) . Thereafter, letters were charged by weight with one ounce equal to a quadruple rate no matter how many enclosures over three in number were present. The legislation regulating

Figure 16. "NEW ORLEANS La. NOV 28" (1836) in blue. Manuscript "Express Mail," "single," and "75" to New York, arrival December 7, transit time 9 days (two days over contract time). Very early fifth day of usage from New Orleans, single 75 cents

rate.

32


the express mail set the legal limit for an express mail letter at 1/2 ounce, and therefore there are four possible express mail rates, single , double, triple and quadruple, all letters weighing 1/2 ounce or less.

Postal charges in 1836 were determined by the distance that a letter was carried between post offices. The fee was based on mileage. Postal rates in 1836 were those determined by the Act of April 9, 1816 as modified by the Act of March 3, 1825. A table can be composed for the rates of postage on ordinary and express mail letters based upon the mileages.

Not over 30 miles Over 30 and not over 80 miles Over 80 and not over 150 miles Over 150 and not over 400 miles Over 400 miles

Ordinary Single

.06

.10

.12 1/2

.183/4

.25

Single

.18

.30

.37 1/2

.561/4

.75

Express Mail Double Triple Quadruple

.36 .54 .72

.60 .90 1.20

.75 1.121/2 1.50 1.121/2 1.683/4 2.25 1.50 2.25 3.00

Because the vast majority of existing express mail letters travelled over the southern route between the great northern centers of commerce and Mobile or New Orleans, most express mail covers are found with 75 ce~ts single express rates or a multiple

Figure 17. "NEW ORLEANS La. JUL 12" (1838), and "PAID" in red, "75" and "Xpress Mail" in manuscript to New York, received July 20, transit time 8 days.


of the single rates. The typical cover, as shown in Figure 16, is postmarked during the period of the express, is triple rated, and ALWAYS bears the notation "Express" or "Express Mail." An odd variation "Xpress" is shown in Figure 17. Figure 18 is a single rate cover sent over the same Great Mail route from New Orleans to New York by ordinary mail. It is rated 25 cents, the correct single rate for a distance of greater than 400 miles . Figure 19 is a North-South usage from New York rated at the triple rate of 75 cents. It is identical to other express mail covers from the same correspondence which bear the same address except for one missing feature-it does not bear the word "express" on its face . Therefore, it is not an express mail cover. The contents reveal an enclosure of five notes, so this letter should have been rated as a quadruple. The letter is headed "Regular mail to Natchez" and one sentence reads "our last was by express to Natchez yesterday ... "

The cover in Figure 20 is also rated at a 75 cents triple rate, but it even bears the notation "Slow Mail" to indicate that it was not to be sent by express. It also took twice as long to reach New York as the usual express mail letter.

The double, triple, and quadruple express rates are illustrated in Figures 21, 22, and 23. Even in our day of postal inflation, these triple charges would be astronomical and are even more so when one considers the purchasing value of the dollar in 1837. Of the 75 cents rate and its multiples, the two higher rates are slightly more uncommon but all are by no means rare .

/ .

--" I . -.......... ~ I

/

/

• /• ..

Figure 18. "NEW ORLEANS La. FEB 13" (1836) in blue, manuscript "25" and "single" to New York by ordinary mail, arrival February 29, transit time before the express

service 16 days.


Figure 19. "NEW-YORK JAN 31" (1839) in red, ms. "75" and "via N. Orleans" triple rate, no express service, to Natchez, Mississippi.

Figure 20. "MOBILE A. MAR 2" (1837), ms. "75" and "Slow mail" by ordinary mail to New York, arrival February 15, transit time 13 days, triple rate.


Figure 21. "NEW ORLEANS La. APR 23" (1837) and "PAID" in blue, ms. "double only-Express mail" and "1.50" to New York, arrival May 1, transit 8 days.

Figure 22. "NEW ORLEANS La. FEB 1" (1837) in blue, ms. "2.25" and "Express Mail" to Hartford, Connecticut, a triple rate.


Figure 23. "NEW ORLEANS La. MAR 31" (1837) in blue, ms. "pr Express Mail" and "3.00" to New York, arrival April 8, transit time 8 days, a quadruple rate.

. . ~.4'~~~ · · . .

' .

_¢'~~~ · Figure 24. "NATCHEZ MI. FEB 5" (1838) and "PAID" in red, ms. "Express Mail charge Box P" and "$3.00" to Philadelphia. A prepaid quadruple rate letter charged

to a post office account.


( I

--,

Figure 25. "MOBILE A. FEB 28" (1837) in blue, ms. "Exp. Mail" and "2.25" (triple) rerated "3.00" (quadruple) to New York, arrival March 7, transit time 9 days.

Figure 26. "NEW ORLEANS La. NOV 10" (1837) and "PAID" in blue, ms. "1.50," "Due 1.50," and "Express mail" to New York, arrival November 18, transit time 8

days. An early example of required prepayment.


A quadruple rate from Natchez is shown in Figure 24. After Mobile and New Orleans, the higher rates are most commonly seen from Natchez. The quadruple rate is rare from other towns. This cover contained six bank drafts; the combined weight of the cover and its enclosures must have been less than 1/2 ounce to have been accepted in the express.

In Figure 25 is a cover from Mobile rated at the triple 75 cents rate. It contained 4 bills and therefore was rerated to the quadruple rate, this being the highest express rate. The cover in Figure 26 was sent from New Orleans at a prepaid $1.50 double rate. It contained two bills. Someone rerated it at the quadruple rate requiring $1.50 to be collected from the addressee . This appears to have been an overcharge of 75 cents. Sent after the first of November, 1837, this misrated cover would be one of the few legitimate unpaid usages by the express after that date when prepayment was required.

In Figure 27 is shown the only express mail cover known to the writer that does not bear an "express" notation on the front of the cover. In fact, this cover was specifically marked "ordinary mail." However, it was sent in error by the express mail at the quadruple rate of $3.00. There were three enclosures. The proof of this letter being an express mail cover lies not in the $3.00 rate but in the notations as to the dates of departure and receipt. It was written and mailed on March 17, 1837 and was received March 24, only seven days later, an impossible journey except by express.

. /

Figure 27. "MOBILE A. MAR 17" (1837) in blue, ms. "Ordinary Mail" and "3.00" to New York, arrival March 24, transit time 7 days by express, not ordinary mail.


Figure 28. "NEW ORLEANS La. MAY 31" (1837) in blue, "Express Mail" and "25" to Hartford, Connecticut, mistakenly rated as ordinary mail.

Figure 29. "NEW ORLEANS La. JUN 20" (1837) in blue, "Express Mail" and "75" in manuscript to Hartford, Connecticut, see Figure 28.


The two covers shown in Figures 28 and 29 were mailed only three weeks apart at a time when the express mail letters could be sent unpaid. The example which was sent at the 25 cents rate is the only express mail cover seen by the writer that was misrated at the regular rate of postage, not the triple rate. The position of the "Express Mail" notation at the edge of the cover may have led to its being overlooked by the post office clerk in New Orleans. However, the Smith Correspondence contained many letters with the notation in that position that were properly rated.

Express mail covers that were carried for distances less than 400 miles were rated at lower rates than 75 cents and multiples. Collectively they are known as short rate covers. The lowest possible express rate would have been 18 cents for a single letter travelling under thirty miles. No covers are known at this rate.

The next single rate was 30 cents for a distance between 30 and 80 miles. All three known covers at the 30 cents rate are illustrated in this book (Figures 30, 49, 152 ). The one in Figure 30 was mailed at Baltimore, May 12, 1837 to Postmaster General Kendall in Washington.

The 37 1/2 cents short rate is shown in Figures 31 and 32. The first is a very rare usage that travelled over the Charleston branch of the express. The other paid the triple 121/2 cents rate between two Georgia towns. On exhibit in the Smithsonian Institution is an express mail cover sent from Milledgeville, Georgia via Macon to Jeffersonton, Georgia, a triple rate express mail cover of the single 37 1/2 cents rate which was rated $1.12 1/2. This particular cover also bears a handstamped "EXPRESS" marking.

Figure 30. "BALTIMORE Md. MAY 12" (1837) in red, manuscript "Express Mail" and "30" addressed to Amos Kendall, P.M.G., Washington, by rare triple 10 cents

rate.


Figure 31. "CHARLESTON S.C. MAR 21" (1838) and "PAID" in red, ms. "Express Charge Key Box 34" and "37 112" to Camden, South Carolina. This letter was charged

to a post office account, scarce short rate.

' '\ 4}lLdJ ;f/z~ ' ,, . ~ ~ .< • ..., , \ .,,

' '

·,'

,. (_____#//J:?~~

.d/Z5_l Figure 32. "MACON GEORGIA DEC 13" (1837) and "PAID" in red, ms. "Express

mail," "37112," and "Single" to Augusta, Georgia, unusual short rate.

EXPRESS MAIL POSTAL RATES

• · .• "!.',.

" --

~~ .. .£'~~ ;co~r----:

43

Figure 33. "WASHINGTON CITY D.C. JAN 11" (1837) in red, manuscript "Express Mail, " "37112 " (obliterated), and "75" on double short rate usage to Philadelphia.

The cover in Figure 33 is rated 7 5 cents like so many express mail covers, but in this case the amount of postage does not represent a triple 25 cents rate for a distance greater than 400 miles . The single rate by regular mail for this letter from Washington to Philadelphia was 121/2 cents. The express rate was 371/2 cents. But the letter contained an enclosure, so the rate was corrected to 75 cents, a double 37 1/2 cents rate. Of even greater interest is the fact that the letter was written by Francis Scott Key, the writer of the words for "The Star Spangled Banner."

The most common short rate is 561/4 cents which is triple the 183/4 cents single rate for a distance of 150 to 400 miles . Three covers from the Abraham Bell correspondence depict the single 183/4 cents ordinary rate between Baltimore and New York, the single 561/4 cents express mail rate, and a ver. rare double express mail rate of $1.121/2 (Figures 34, 35, and 36). The two express mail covers bear notations "single" and "Double Paid" in the hand of the writer.

A very scarce North-South short rate cover is shown in Figure 37. This cover traveled in a direction that is essentially the reverse of the three covers previously illustrated.

A South-North usage from Mobile, paying a short rate to Montgomery, Alabama, (Figure 38) contained a letter describing a race with the express mail rider.

" . . . I arrived at Stockton ... 5 minutes too late for the mail boat, which leaves the moment the Express arrives, with the express rider who overtook me two miles from the place. I kept up for some time but ... finally yielded the victory . . ."

~.. ·~. ' ' •,.,

I

Figure 34. "BALTIMORE Md. APR 23" (1837) in red, "18%" in manuscript, single rate to New York, transit two days by ordinary mail.

·~ .

Figure 35. "BALTIMORE Md. APR 26" (1837) in red, "Express Mail," "Single," and "56 114" to New York, arrived in one day.

44

Figure 36. "BALTIMORE Md. FEB 23" (1837) and "PAID" in red, ms. "Express Mail," "Double Paid" and 1.12112" to New York, arrived February 24, only known example

of double 561/4 cents rate.

~ ~

i

y~~l// #-~~~~

'··

......... . . .... u \ .. V' .. "-,, -...:.---

-~-

Figure 37. "NEW- YORK DEC 23" (1836) in red, "pr Express Mail" and "56114" to Baltimore. North-South short rate covers are rare.

45

Figure 38. "MOBILE A. OCT 10" (1837) in blue, manuscript "Express mail" and "561/4" to Montgomery, Alabama.

·--------

Ado-N4/ ( j/{/~~2-;,z('

·'

Figure 39. "TUSCUMBIA Ala. APR 5" (1838) and "PAID" in red, "Express Mail" and "56114" in manuscript to Columbus, Georgia, carried over Great Mail route.

46

EXPRESS MAIL POSTAL RATES

/. , (_ ,, ! ~. \ --

'....._:. : ' .1-.Ltw~ v. ..?d//.v:

u--.~,,;, Jb ~7.o/d / _;' / ~~ ~.//;}. "'J-

~rv:- ~ .... j' oe. h/y/ ~~ .&'l,a;-d

&~ ~a;;----A:a:;-1'/~~~ ... •' / ..

. .~.;:.. _______ _

47

Figure 40. "PHILADA PA. JAN 28" (1837) in blue, manuscript "By Express Mail" and "1114 oz. 3. 75," unique illegal quintuple rate.

Figure 41 . "BALTIMORE Md. DEC 30" (1836) in red, rated "37112 " (double 183!4) and ms. "pr Express Mail," the latter obliterated in red manuscript "too late" to Boston,

sent by ordinary mail.


Another scarce example from Tuscumbia, Alabama to Columbus, Georgia is illustrated in Figure 39. This cover also travelled over the Great Mail route.

Although a weight limit of 1/2 ounce was prescribed for the express mail, the cover in Figure 40 demonstrates that early in the existence of the express service, (the express being just over two months old at the time) certain exceptions were made. This cover probably had heavy court document enclosures and thus it weighed 11/4

ounces which is indicated on the cover front. The Philadelphia postmaster rated it $3.75 due. This appears to be a totally arbitrary rate because there were no provisions in the postal regulations regarding an express charge based on weight except for the one-half ounce weight limit. Certainly the rate was not 75 cents per 1/4 ounce. The cover can be considered very broadly as a quintuple rate (25 x 3 x 5).

A very interesting cover that was not carried by the express is shown in Figure 41 . It originated in Baltimore and was to be sent "pr Express Mail" to Boston. However, it must have been received after the closing of the northbound express because the express mail notation is deleted and the words "too late" were added in red pen. Since the rate was 37 1/2 cents by ordinary mail, it must have been a double letter of the 183/4 cents single rate for 150 to 400 miles. The express rate would have been $1.121/2.

CHAPTER 4 ROUTES OF THE EXPRESS MAIL

The original advertisement for express mail contracts by Postmaster General Kendall appeared in the July 25, 1836 issue of the Washington Globe. It was repeated in the August 1, August 13, August 16, August 17 and August 18 issues of the same paper.

EXPRESS MAIL

Post Office Department Washington, July 23, 1836

Proposals will be received until the 15th day of September next, at 12 o'clock A.M. (to be decided the next day) for carrying a daily express mail on horseback, in railroad cars, or in steamboats, for the purpose of conveying slips from newspapers in lieu of exchange newspapers and letters (other than such as contain money) not exceeding half an ounce in weight, marked "express mail," and public despatches, on the routes and during the times hereinafter stated, to wit:

From New York to Philadelphia, 90 miles and back, to stop at not more than three intermediate offices.

Leave New York at 5 p m, arrive at Philadelphia by 2 am next day. Leave Philadelphia at 7 am, arrive at New York by 3 p m. Proposals from the Railroad Company for carrying the great mail as well

as the express mail, will be considered at the same time. Service to continue until the 30th June, 1840. From Philadelphia to Baltimore, 100 miles and back, to stop at not more

than two intermediate offices. Leave Philadelphia at 21/2 a m, arrive at Baltimore by 1/2 p m. Leave Baltimore at 81/2 p m, arrive at Philadelphia by 61/2 am, next day. Service to continue until the 30th June, 1840. From Baltimore to Washington, D.C. 38 miles and back. Leave Baltimore at 1 p m, arrive at Washington by 5 p m. Leave Washington at 41/2 p m, arrive at Baltimore by 8 p m. Proposals from the Railroad Company to carry the great mail as well as

the express mail, will be considered at the same time. Service to continue till 30th June, 1840.

From Washington to Fredericksburgh, Virginia, 61 miles and back, to stop at not more than one intermediate office.

Leave Washington at 51/2 p m, arrive at Fredericksburgh by lP/2 p m. Leave Fredericksburgh at 10 am, arrive at Washington by 4 p m. Service

to continue till the 30th June, 1839.

49

THE EXPRESS MAIL ROUTES OF 1836-1839

WISCONSIN

INOI ANA

ILLIN OIS

\ r J NASHVILLE

TE NNESSEE

fAlETlES\IILLE •MEN PH IS

~ )

)

r' ~MIS SISSIPPI

VICKSIUAG

MICHIGAN

,'

/ /

LAK!LY

OHIO

GEORGIA

50

ONTARIO

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

I WEST

VIRGINIA

NORTH

CAROLINA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

VI RG INIA

OllJt.'AIA

.r..UGUSTA

Wli.QREfHON CHARLEST

M LL.EOGEVIL.l.E.

MACON

'•

NEWBERNe

1+t+t+ttt' Railroad

----- Steamboats

---Horse

ROUTES OF THE EXPRESS MAIL

From Fredericksburgh to Greensboro, N.C. 243 miles and back, to stop at not more than seven intermediate offices.

Leave Fredericksburgh at 12 night, arrive at Greensboro (25 hours) by 1 am the next day after.

Leave Greensboro at I0 1/2 am, arrive at Fredericksburgh by 91/2 am the next day. Service to continue till the 30th June, 1839.

From Greensboro to Yorkville, S.C. 124 miles and back, to stop at not more than four intermediate offices.

Leave Greensboro at 1112 am, arrive at Yorkville by 2 p m. Leave Yorkville at 101/2 p m, arrive at Greensboro by 10 am next day. Service to continue till the 30th June, 1839. From Yorkville to Washington, Ga. , 146 miles and back, to stop at not more

than four intermediate offices. Leave Yorkville at 21/2 p m, arrive at Washington by 5 am next day. Leave Washington at I01/2 p m, arrive at Yorkville by 10 am next day. Service to continue till the 30th June, 1839. From Washington to Columbus, Ga., 181 miles and back, to stop at not more

than five intermediate offices. Leave Washington at 51/2 am, arrive at Columbus by 111/2 p m. Leave Columbus at 31/2 p m, arrive at Washington by 8 am next day. Service to continue till the 30th June, 1839. From Columbus to Montgomery, Ala. 81 miles and back, to stop at not more

than one intermediate office. Leave Columbus at 12 night, arrive at Montgomery by 8 am next day. Leave Montgomery at 71/2 am, arrive at Columbus by 3 p m. Service to continue till the 30th June, 1838. From Montgomery to Mobile , 198 miles and back; to stop at not more than

four intermediate offices. Leave Montgomery at 9 am, arrive at Mobile by 5 am next day. Leave Mobile at 12m, arrive at Montgomery by 7 am next day. Service to continue till the 30th June, 1838. To enable the Postmaster General to select between the two principal mail

routes through the South, proposals will also be received for carrying the daily express mail from Fredericksburgh, Va. to Columbus, Ga. as follows , viz:

From Fredericksburgh to Richmond, 67 miles and back; to stop at not more than one intermediate point.

Leave Fredericksburgh at 12 night, arrive at Richmond by 6 am next day. Leave Richmond at 4 a m, arrive at Fredericksburgh by 91/2 a m. Proposals from the Railroad Company for carrying the great mail, as well

as the express mail, will be considered at the same time. From Richmond to Petersburgh, 21 miles and back. Leave Richmond at 61/2 a m, arrive at Petersburgh by 81/2 a m. Leave Petersburgh at 11/2 a m, arrive at Richmond by 31/2 a m. From Petersburgh to Blakely Depot, N.C. 64 miles and back; to stop at not

more than one intermediate office. Leave Petersburgh at 9 a m, arrive at Blakely Depot by 21/2 p m. Leave Blakely Depot at 8 p m, arrive at Petersburgh by 1 am next day. Proposals from Railroad Company to carry the great mail, as well as the

express mail , will be considered at the same time. From Blakely Depot to Fayetteville, 154 miles and back; to stop at not more

than three intermediate offices.

51


Leave Blakely Depot at 3 p m, arrive at Fayetteville by 5 am next day. Leave Fayetteville at 7 a m, arrive at Blakely Depot by 71/2 p m. From Fayetteville to Columbia, S.C., 154 miles and back; to stop at not more

than two intermediate offices. Leave Fayetteville at 51/2 a m, arrive at Columbia by 71/2 p m. Leave Columbia at 5 p m, arrive at Fayetteville by 6 1/2 am next day . From Columbia to Milledgeville, Ga. 163 miles and back; to stop at not more

than three intermediate offices. Leave Columbia at 8 p m, arrive at Milledgeville by 11 am next day . Leave Milledgeville at 31/2 a m, arrive at Columbia by 5 p m. From Milledgeville to Columbus, 133 miles and back; to stop at not more

than three intermediate offices. Leave Milledgeville at 111/2 am, arrive at Columbus by 11 p m. Leave Columbus at 31/2 p m, arrive at Milledgeville by 3 am next day . Service on these routes to continue till 30th June, 1839. With the hope of inducing the several companies that occupy the travelling

lines between New York and Washington to form such a connection as will carry the mails as well as travellers through in the least possible time, proposals are invited from them to carry both the great mail and the express according to the following schedule in steamboats and railroad cars, viz:

Leave New York at 4 p m, arrive at Philadelphia by 11 p m. Leave Philadelphia at 11 1/2 p m, arrive at Baltimore by 91/2 am, next day. Leave Baltimore at 10 am, arrive at Washington by 1/2 p m .

RETURNING

Leave Washington at 41/2 p m, arrive at Baltimore by 7 p m. Leave Baltimore at 71/2 p m, arrive at Philadelphia by 51/2 am, next day . Leave Philadelphia at 6 am, arrive at New York by 1 p m. Contracts for the foregoing service are to be executed by the 15th day of

October next. They will be sent to the post offices of the accepted bidders for the purpose in time.

The service is to commence on Tuesday, the 1st day of November next, and is to be daily both ways.

No proposal will be considered unless it be accompanied by a guarantee signed by two responsible persons, in the following form, viz.

"The undersigned and guaranty that , if his bid for carrying the Express mail from to be accepted by the Postmaster General, shall enter into an obligation prior to the 15th day of October next, with good and sufficient sureties to perform the service proposed." Dated " , 1836."

To which the guarantors shall sign their names. It is also required that the bidder or bidders forward with their bids the

certificate of a postmaster, in the following form, viz: "I certify that and , who have signed the foregoing as

guarantors of , in his bid for carrying the Express mail from ___ _ to , are men of property, and able to make good their guaranty." Dated ____ , 1836." Each route must be bid for separately. The route, the sum, and the residence

of the bidder, should be distinctly stated in each bid.


The Postmaster General reserves the power of changing the schedules, but not so as to increase the expedition.

The mails are to leave precisely at the time set. Three minutes only are allowed for opening and closing them at the intermediate offices.

For each failure to arrive at the time set in the schedule, the pay of the trip shall be forfeited, subject to be increased to a penalty of ten times that amount, and for a repetition of failures the contract may be annulled.

If it should become necessary at any time to discontinue the service contracted for (a result which is not expected) the contractors shall be entitled to receive two months extra pay.

Those who enter into the service must make up their minds not to let bad roads, nor storms, nor floods, nor casualties, nor dangers, prevent their performance according to contract. Water-proof bags will be furnished for the mails, and no excuse whatsoever will be taken for a failure to arrive at the time set in the schedule.

The proposals should be sent to the Department sealed, endorsed "Proposals for Express Mail," and addressed to the first Assistant Postmaster General, S. R. Hobbie.

AMOS KENDALL

An additional note appeared in the August 1, 1836 issue of the Globe.

P.S. If the mail shall regularly exceed seventy pounds in weight, the Department will consider itself bound to pay for an additional horse, when the express is carried on horseback, if an additional horse be employed. A. K.

53

On September 2 additional time allowances that were to be permitted were advertised. The entire advertisement for the express routes then appeared daily for the next four days in the Globe.

August 30, 1836 From recent information, it appears that the mail can be conveyed from

Blakely to Mobile between the hours of eight and ten in the morning, and despatched from Mobile, returning, at three in the afternoon, more advantageously than at any other hours of the day. The arrivals and departures at and from Mobile being fixed at ten A. M. and three P. M. the following additional running time may be allowed, viz:

One hours more time than is above advertised in running from Fredericksburg to Greensboro.

One hour more from Greensboro to Yorkville. One hour more from Yorkville to Washington. And, one hour more from Washington to Columbus. Half an hour more from Fredericksburg to Richmond. One hour more from Blakely depot to Fayetteville. One hour more from Fayetteville to Columbia. One hour more from Columbia to Milledgeville. And, half an hour more from Milledgeville to Columbus.

RETURNING

Four hours more time from Mobile to Montgomery. One hour and a half more from Montgomery to Columbus.


Four hours more from Columbus to Washington. Three hours more from Washington to Yorkville . Two hours and a half more from Yorkville to Greensboro. And, four hours and a half more from Greensboro to Fredericksburg. Two hours and a half more time from Columbus to Milledgeville. Three hours and a half more from Milledgeville to Columbia. Three hours more from Columbia to Fayetteville. Three hours more from Fayetteville to Blakely depot. Half an hour more from Blakely depot to Petersburg. Half an hour more from Petersburg to Richmond. One hour more from Richmond to Fredericksburg. And, half an hour more from Baltimore to Philadelphia. Arrival at New York to be at two P.M. The attention of builders is specially called to this extension of time. Alterations

in the schedules of the hours of arrival and departure at all the places above named, will be made to correspond.

S. R. Hobbie Acting P .M. General

It appears that the second of the two principal mail routes had been selected by the Postmaster General by September 2 because no time allowance changes were mentioned for the first route.

Written guarantees were requested on September 15, 1836:

EXPRESS MAILS

We are requested to state, that the new Post Office act of 2d July last requires, that every proposal for the transportation of the mail shall be accompanied by a written guaranty, signed by one or more responsible persons, to the effect that he or they undertake that the bidder or bidders will, if his or their bid be accepted, enter into an obligation in such time as may be prescribed by the Postmaster General, with good and sufficient sureties, to perform the service proposed. No proposal shall be considered, unless accompanied by such guaranty. Notice of this requirement, and the form of the guaranty, and are given in the Postmaster General's advertisement for proposals. There is no exception in favor of old contractors, or rail-road companies, as some erroneously suppose. The guaranty, as well as the bid, must be handed in before the expiration of the time set for their reception- to wit, 12 o'clock, noon, this day. Where bids have already been put in, the guaranties may be handed in separately. 1

It is of interest that the November 15 issue of the Globe contained complaints about the Great Mail. This was the very day that the express service commenced.

The southern mail by which we expected some intelligence from N.C. and Ga. did finally reach this city night before last. Tomorrow we shall be able to give some indications regarding the election . . .

The first report as to the success of the express appeared in the November 21 issue of the Globe.

1Washington Globe, September 15, 1836.


EXPRESS MAIL

This mail is running with entire regularity as far south as reports have been received, and generally in less than the contract time. The weight of the mail going south is already several pounds, and we understand the estimate of the Department to be, that ten pounds of letter mail will more than pay the expenses of the service.

Reports state that the route from Fredericksburg, Va. to the White Chimneys, run by Mr. J . A. Beckham, and from White Chimneys to Richmond and Petersburg, run by Messrs Boyd and Edmunds, are in prime condition, and the service executed with great spirit.

From Petersburg to Blakely depot, the express is carried by the Petersburg and Roanoke railroad company.

From Blakely depot to Louisburg, it is carried by Messrs. Williams and King, and from Louisburg to Raleigh, N.C. by Mr. Alexander Porter. Along this line the service has been commenced in the best style.

The following is from the Halifax (N.C.) Advocate of the 16th inst. , viz:

EXPRESS MAIL-This mail commenced running yesterday the 15th inst. Messrs . Williams and King are the contractors for carrying this mail from Blakely to Louisburg. On Sunday last they tried the experiment, to see what length of time it would take them to accomplish the distance, and performed it in one hour less than contract time. A letter was received by a gentleman in this place from a gentleman in Louisburg, by the Express Mail, in the short space of four hours, and an answer returned in five hours and five minutes, accomplishing a distance of one hundred and four miles in nine hours and five minutes. They have the best northern trotters and fine riders, which will insure them success.

55

Two days later (November 23, 1836) the first indication of express mail from Mobile was reported in the Globe. This note proves that the first express from Mobile was despatched on November 15, 1836. The New Orleans mail cited in the same note could not have arrived by November 22, as suggested, since the first express from New Orleans was not sent until November 24, 1836 (see Appendix and Chapter Five) . The importance of the new express mail service is indicated by the fact that it carried for the first time a report of the Presidential vote from southern states on November 23:

EXPRESS MAIL

The express mail came through yesterday from Mobile, bringing letters from that city, and a slip from the Commercial Register, dated the 15th last. We understand the mail contained letters from New Orleans for the eastern cities.

This first express from that region, brings us the annexed gratifying political intelligence: Extract from a letter, dated Mobile, (Ala) Nov. 15, 1836 Mobile county has given Van Buren 130 majority. Louisiana has gone for Van Buren by upwards of 600 votes.

The table, on the following page reproduced from the Postmaster General's Report of December 5, 1836, lists the main southern route of the express mail.

56

Ttrmini.

F retlericks!lurs tn W hite Chimnt'J'i

EXPRESS MAIL OF 1836-1839

100

38

61

r.xrnr.ss MAIL.

Tim(' of r tmning.

Dl'\w('tn-2~ 11.. m. and ~ p. m. going, :a n 1~ 1 p. m. ami s; •· m. nut tby

rt:turnin~. 1 p. m . At! cl 5 p. m. going, 2nd 5 p. m. :lnd 6~ p.m. returning

5~ p.m. :and II ~ p.m. going, ami U~ a. IT. and 2j p. m. ~turuing.

:J7 12 p. m. aml 3 :;t A. m. 11tt.t (];.~·, going, antl ·123' a. m. and

Name of contractor .

Jo&epb Kahon

Hammat, HulehiMOn, kWnrt.

Rammitt, HutehiMOn, Weart, & Steht.

Jamct A. lkckham f; ~- m. rl:turning .

. ~0 3 45' :a. m. :~ond 6 :JO' :~ . 1n. go'nr, anti I 3!/ a. m. and 4 1.5' Uoyd &. ~lmond a.m. rC'turni ng . .

2 1 Do. 7 a.m.:'"'' 9 a. m. going, :111d 10& p. m. and 1 :1. m. n(' :r.t day, relui nm,~ .

(}() 9~ :~. m. lln<l 2~ p. m. guiug, ~nd 4} p.m. :t.ncl 10 p. m . re- Petersbu rg R. n .. Co. tu r n ing.

6J 2i p. m. anJ ft~ )'· m. guing, :a nd 9f a. m. and 4 p. m. re- Williams &. King turning.

;;O 9 ~ · m 1t lllll 2 p.m. goitog, aml6 t\. nt. an1l 9ll. m. n turninr, Ale:undtt PortH 2 15 ~ a . m. antllV p. m. guing, 11tlll8 111 . m. ami 5 ~ a.. m. nut day J. H. Anry & Cu.

163 t~turn ing.

10; p. m. antl 2 ~ p. m. 1wxt <lay, goi ng, :.n1t 2! p. m. and 7i II . L. Robinson 11. m. ne xt d1y, re turni n}:'.

1~.; 3 p. m. and 3~ a. m. nut d11)', going, anti 12 p . m. antl2 p. m. Jiles S. Roggen nt''ll ltl:ty, re turniug. .

~~~ j ·: ~-- :: :~: : : ~ ~- ~~~·::~~~:· ~~~~-:~K~;,~: ::::: -~ 1l',:;."~~~~~~~~~·:~~ ! Warcl ~~~- lnr . --' ow:.: t < I a ~·· T<!'h trniug. ; 1,:/.>0 1 !i <Iii~ 'I aml 7~ hu;ot·~ !{"'"~:'• .'; ol11~• ami 14! louotr!l rr-tn~niHg · '

77~~~~~~----------~~~~~------' '

ll ~ ~-------·--==- uf "'""'"~· --------. 90 I Tot 1111, from 5 p. m. lu ':' ::. m. llt'Xt ,J."Y• !;uiu~, :mtl fru:n 6 a.m.

lu ~ fl· m. rcturniq;.

J . ~~U 5 t!:t)t aud 171wut•s ft" lll ~t'W Yurk t:J ~luhilt•.

1 5<111 \ Htt u<l :!.i lu •ur" frm11 .\ lu!i:1 1·tul',·w \' twk .

. Anu_illl' r clu} bk(·,o tin: u.ai l t u Nl"\1-' 1 tr•~.::~ns, " fu1tl •t r· ,Ji.t:m("t' o·l I

! H>4mik•.

--------------~~~--------- ;

ll ut wa\ mt' tgt·tl in the Gtt':t. t and Ci' \' ~ l ai l lone", v.·hich "" t'r~ :lt· tll.l;lft·clto run ""ilh tho• exPf'(ll· tiun lt"quirt.'cl rc.r tlu· t:xprf' ... Thc.--~t" ma• l ~ are ld to thr- Trr-ntun, t:IUI!IIo·n, and A n,hu) llaiiHnaol t.:un•p:oni\·~ at llw 'lllottal Ct>ll>JH' II':al .un ,,j :'17,:\• .U.

The steamboat trip to New Orleans from Mobile, a distance of 164 miles, took another day . The scheduled time for the ordinary mail, the Great Southern Mail, was 12 days, 17 hours from New York to Mobile and 12 days, 23 hours from Mobile to New York. As the table indicates, the scheduled express mail transit time was 6 days and 17 hours from New York to New Orleans and 6 days, 23 hours from New Orleans to New York.

Several examples of covers that were carried over the southern route were shown in Chapter Three. The cover shown in Figure 42 was also sent from New Orleans, but the destination was Richmond, Virginia rather than New York or Boston, yet the rate was still the 75 cents single express rate because the distance from New Orleans to Richmond was greater than 400 miles. This cover bears a red longitudinal pen marking which probably indicated a single letter (no enclosure).

Reverse North-South usages over the southern express mail route are less common than the usual Mobile or New Orleans covers (Figure 43 ). The rare cover shown in Figure 44, which is the only known cover from Portland, Maine, began in a town not on the express route . It did not enter the express until New York City. It was

ROUTES OF THE EXPRESS MAIL 57

Figure 42. "NEW ORLEANS La. JUL 7" (1837) in blue, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to Richmond, Virginia. A vertical pen marking probably indicated that

the letter was a single sheet without enclosures.

/f/.- ~~ ,. -f ~. c..;~~[

•·, -.. ¥' c/A..,~v '·. 1. ~t/lhl~

"

.· .

Figure 43. "NEW- YORK APR 4" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to New Orleans.


~ ('. .,..I

~u'j,j~\1\~ "~, ~ ~' dL~~~ t l\!m- 1L[' { !

~~~l ~ lJ- l~ \l ll- Ll 'u) .l L._

11 /e. ~ /-L_

Figure 44. "PORTLAND Me. APR 26" (1839) and "PAID" in red, ms. "Express Mail" and "75" to New Orleans, printed illustrated bill of lading. Only recorded example from Portland, Maine. Entered express route at New York City. Faint manuscript

"Please charge Box 101 A. Cox."

emphasized in the regulations that the complete distance that a letter travelled, and not just the distance over an express route, was used to compute the express mail rate. Several New Orleans covers addressed to Maine towns are known.

Delf Norona2 excerpted a letter to the postmaster of Wheeling, Virginia dated June 17, 1837, which described in detail how the express mail was wrapped, sent and charged:

.. . You will make up and transmit by the Express Mail all letters received at your Office, to be conveyed by Express and which are for that purpose marked Express Mail, unless they be free letters, or letters containing money, or letters (no public documents) exceeding half an ounce in weight,-All letters including public despatches you will charge the triple the usual rates of postage,-

You will mail each Express letter direct to the Office addressed, if it be an office at which the Express mail is opened,-If not to such an office you will mail it for distribution to the distributing office on the Express Mail route, nearest to the Office addressed.

You will make up the mails in firm compact bundles well wrapped and tied, and when the bundles are thin, the wrappers should be secured by sealing wax, and in all cases addressed in a large plain hand, with the name of the Office and State,-

2 Delf Norona: "Further Notes on the Express Mail of 1836-1839," American Philatelist, October, 1943, pp 33--35.


Slips from Newspapers not exceeding in each case two columns of the paper may be sent free from one publisher to another in exchange,-These should be duly mailed in the most compact form.-The whole mail should be secured in India rubber bags.

Your mails should be closed and in readiness to be delivered to the carrier punctually at the time set for his departure.

Report failures promptly to the 3rd Assist. P.M. Genl. I am Respt.

Yr. Obt. Svt. S. N. HOBBIE

59

1st. Assist. P. M. Genl.

Postmaster of Wheeling, Va.

The express route Number 1 between New York and Philadelphia "was merged in the great city mail lines which were arranged to run with the expedition required for the express, and let to the Trenton, Camden and Amboy Railroad Company." 3

Although there were no express riders between these two cities "the matter for the express mail south was put in a separate bag at New York ... no express postages ever having been charged between New York and Philadelphia."•

The Newbern, North Carolina cover in Figure 158 travelled North-South over a much shorter distance than the usual New York to New Orleans cover, and yet the rate was still three times 25 cents for a distance greater than 400 miles.

Figure 45 is a cover that travelled first over an express route and then by ordinary mail. The distance betweeP Cheraw, South Carolina and Fayetteville, North Carolina, north on the southern express route, is about seventy miles. The cover then probably was sent south back into South Carolina to Marion, a town which is only sixty miles southeast of Cheraw. The total distance must have been just under 150 miles justifying the 37 1/2 cents single express rate; the letter was charged 75 cents and thus is a double short rate usage. The postage was charged on the total mail route distance between the town of origin and town of destination.

In many of the newspapers along the southern route of the express were columns "BY THE EXPRESS MAIL." TheN ew Orleans Bee used a woodcut which had previously been employed for reporting horse races. These columns lasted into the second or third quarter of 1837.

The times for express routes No. 11 and 12 were altered as of March 15, 1837:

No. 11. From Milledgeville to Columbus, 133 miles and back, daily, on horseback, to stop at not more than three intermediate offices. Leave Milledgeville at 3 p m, arrive at Columbus next day by 3112 a m Leave Columbus at 12 p m, arrive at Milledgeville next day by 2 p m No. 12. Columbus, Ga. to Montgomery, Ala and back, daily, on horseback, to exchange mails at one intermediate Post Office, if required . Leave Columbus at 4 am, arrive at Montgomery by 12m Leave Montgomery by 21/2 p m, arrive at Columbus by 11 1/2 p m The service on the above routes is to commence on the 15th of March, 1837, or earlier if practicable.

3 Report of the Postmaster General, December 5, 1836. 4 Report of the Postmaster General, January 17, 1839.

Figure 45. "CHERAW S.C. OCT 1" (1837) and "PAID" in blue, manuscript "Express Mail," "via Fayetteville" and "paid 75" to Marion Court House, South Carolina. A

double short rate cover routed via North Carolina.

/

L

Figure 46. "CAMDEN S.C. MAR 9" (1838) and "PAID" in blue. "Express" and "37112" to Charleston, carried on Charleston-Camden branch route.

60


Route 7 between Petersburg and Blakely Depot was changed from Blakely Depot to Gaston, North Carolina on June 10, 1837.6 The mail then continued south through Louisburg to Raleigh. Route 9 was altered April 24, 1837 to include only the 61 mile distance between Raleigh to Fayetteville, North Carolina. Route 9a comprised the section from Fayetteville to Columbia, North Carolina.7

A branch from Columbia to Charleston, South Carolina to be effective from July 1, 1837 to June 30, 1839 was advertised in the April 18, 1837 issue of the Globe.

Contracts July 1, 1837 to 30th June 1839 No. 15 Columbia, S.C. to Charleston, 123 miles and back Leave Columbia every day at 10112 p m, arrive at Charleston by 12 m next day. Leave Charleston every day at 5112 p m, arrive at Columbia by 71/2 a m next day. Dated March 23, 1837 Amos Kendall

Covers from Charleston, South Carolina to northern cities such as Boston and New York are known from the inception of the express in 1836. A cover is known dated December 8, 1836, only three weeks after the beginning of the express. However, the mail from Charleston to Columbia and back was carried by stage contractors until July 1, 1837 when the branch express service commenced. The cover in Figure 46 is a scarce example of an express cover carried over the Charleston-Columbia branch, Camden being an intermediate town north of Columbia on the southern express route . This cover is a West-East usage and paid 37112 cents-triple the 121/ 2

cents rate for 80-150 miles. Figure 31 illustrates the reverse East-West usage over this branch. Charleston postmarks are probably the fourth most common town marking after Mobile , New Orleans, and New York because of its importance as a commercial port in the 1830's. It was certainly the volume of express mail carried north from this city that induced Kendall to extend the express routes to include Charleston. Later the express mail from Charleston to Branchville, South Carolina was carried on the South Carolina Railroad. The mail went by pony rider from Branchville to Columbia.

In 1837 two Representatives from the then frontier of the United States requested Postmaster General Kendall to extend the express mail routes to St. Louis. Kendall, always one step ahead of the opposition, had already been investigating the advisability of western routes of the express and had decided that such was feasible. In fact, his original message on the express discussed branches to St. Louis.

Sir:

EXPRESS MAIL

CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO AN EXPRESS MAIL FROM WASHINGTON CITY TO ST. LOUIS, MO.

House of Representatives Jan. 18, 1837

A sense of duty to those we represent; of justice to 'the true west,' to its growth in population, and its wonderful increase and prosperity in trade and commerce, has induced us to ask that the same mail facilities which you have

5Washington Globe, January 14, 1837. 6 Delf Norona: "The Express Mail of 1836 to 1839," American Philatelist, September, 1943,

pp 780. 7 lbid, pp 781.


extended to other portions of this Union, may be conferred upon us, at least as far as the city of St. Louis . We allude to the "express mail." The important advantages of this mail to commercial men, are too plain not to be seen. Already have those portions of the country to which it has been extended, responded to its importance, and felt the beneficial results of what was thought by many at first to be a hazardous experiment. Certainly we do not say too much of that bright, but distant star of the west, the city of St. Louis, when we aver it as our deliberate opinion, that there is not as flourishing and prosperous a city in this Union, with anything like the same population. No place where there is more business and a greater variety of it, nor where there is more capital and sounder capitalists. If the "express mail" is of advantage to other commercial cities, is it unreasonable that we should solicit the same advantages, and at all unreasonable that they should be extended to us? But besides the bare circumstance of commercial advantages to be derived from that quarter, there is, perhaps, a more peculiar propriety that this mail should be extended as far as St. Louis, than to any other point in the Union. Missouri of all the other States is in the most exposed situation. The thousands of Indians on her frontier, a race of beings, who, you know are at all times uncertain, treacherous and bloodthirsty, require that the Government, for the safety of her citizens, should adopt the speediest and most practicable place of giving information at the seat of the General Government of their movements, operations, and general disposition. A few days of timely relief have often prevented the effusion of blood and the loss of lives. Happy results of the kind may flow from what we now ask as a boon. With these considerations, being but few indeed of the many that might be urged on the subject, we respectfully submit the matter with the earnest hope that these views will meet with your approbation, and that the request which we have made will be speedily carried into effect.

Before concluding, we beg leave to call your attention to another subject. It is the great irregularily, the almost total failure, of the eastern mails to the State of Missouri. This is an evil of a magnitude which, we are satisfied, you have no just conception. The President's message was nearly thirty days reaching the city of St. Louis. It is not at all uncommon that they get there no eastern mail for two and three weeks at a time, although they have a daily mail. What can be the cause of this we are unable to say. We know that the roads in Indiana, and part of Illinois, during the winter and spring, are bad, probably as bad, if not worse, than in any other part of the Union. But we hesitate in believing that this is the sole cause. However, not wishing to throw unmerited censure upon any one by any thing we may say, we earnestly request that you will look into the subject, and have the evil promptly remedied, if it can be done. For such is the universal complaint of all parties, and of all parts of that section of the country, that we cannot refrain from inviting your earliest and most serious attention to it. The evil, to the delegation from Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, is beyond a proper estimate. Letters from their constituents on important business necessary to be transacted in Congress, and the various departments at this place, seldom reach us until towards the close of a short session, and then in such numbers as to defy attention to all.

We will do you the justice to say, sir, that we know the strenuous and untiring efforts you have used to extend to the country every facility within the compass of your department. These we appreciate. And we feel confident that you will not hesitate to lend a willing ear to every reasonable request, such as we have made, and be ready to remove every cause of complaint, such as we have


mentioned, which may be calculated to redound either to the honor of your department, or advance the common good of the country.

We are, very respectfully, your ob't serv'ts

Hon. Amos Kendall, Postmaster General

Kendall replied: 8

L. F . Linn A. G. Harrison

Post Office Department February 16, 1837

Gentlemen: Your letter of the 18th ult. asking the establishment of an Express Mail from the eastern cities to the city of St. Louis, was duly received.

An answer to your letter has been purposely delayed, until the results of the experiment already in progress should be so far developed as to enable me to speak with confidence of the practicability of an extension of the system without too heavy a charge on the ordinary income of the Department. The amount of postages on letters sent and received by the present Express Mail at the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington during the last month, were called for, and the returns received leave no doubt that the southern Express, during that month, yielded a revenue exceeding its cost. That it will largely add to the general revenues of the Department, instead of diminishing them, there is now not a shadow of a doubt.

I am, therefore, encouraged to promise you that I will put in operation an Express from this city along the route of the National road to St. Louis, passing through the capitals of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, and connecting by a branch with Cincinnati and the southwestern States.

An agent of the Department is now on the great mail line between Louisville, Kentucky, and St. Louis, with instructions to make a very particular report of the condition of the road and the state of the service. My impressions are, however, that until better roads are made through that region, it is impracticable to carry in winter, with any sort of regularity, the immense mass of printed matter which is now sent by mail. An Express, however, will carry the news to your printers much sooner than the eastern papers could, with a regular mail, reach them or others to whom they are sent, and the consequence will be that they will repay the newspaper patronage of their cities and the country around, without foreign interference. The people will get the news earlier than they do now and we shall get rid of the transportation of such a mass of printed matter. Our ordinary mail will then become lighter, and consequently more manageable and regular.

By these means, I hope by another winter to secure a tolerable regular transmission of intelligence to your State, and remove those causes of complaint which are so annoying to you, and so mortifying to me.

Very respectfully Your obedient servant

Amos Kendall Hon. L. F. Linn, Senate and Hon. A. G. Harrison, Ho. Reps

8 Washington Globe, February 21, 1837.

63


The April 25, 1837 issue of the Washington Globe contained the original contract proposals for the western routes of the express mail. These are listed by route number. The contracts were to run from July 1, 1837 to June 30, 1840 from Washington to Cincinnati and from January 1, 1838 to June 30, 1842 from Dayton, Ohio to St. Louis, Missouri and from Cincinnati , Ohio to Montgomery, Alabama. All of these three routes, Montgomery to Cincinnati, Washington to Cincinnati, and Dayton to St. Louis were known collectively as the western route of the express. Norona 9 has divided the express routes into 1) Northern lines between New York and Washington, 2) Southern lines between Washington and New Orleans, 3) Western lines between Washington and St. Louis, and 4) Southwestern lines between Cincinnati and Montgomery. The present writer has adhered to the contemporary nomenclature for the different lines.

July 1, 1837- June 30, 1840

No. 20 From Washington, D.C. to Frederick, Md. 43 miles and back. Leave Washington every day at 7 p m, arrive at Frederick by 12 p m. Leave Frederick every day at 1/2 p m, arrive at Washington by 5 p m. To stop at one intermediate point if required.

No. 21. From Baltimore, Md. to Frederick, 43 miles and back. Leave Baltimore every day at 7 p m, arrive at Frederick by 12 p m. Leave Frederick every day at 1/2 p m, arrive at Baltimore by 5 p m. The Postmaster General will determine at the lettings which of the foregoing routes to select.

No. 22. From Frederick, by Hagerstown, to Cumberland, 91 miles and back. Leave Frederick every day at 1/2 a m, arrive at Cumberland by 91/2 am. Leave Cumberland every day at 3 a m, arrive at Frederick by 12 m. To stop at two other intermediate points if required.

No. 23 From Cumberland to Uniontown, Pa. 60 miles and back. Leave Cumberland every day at 10 a m, arrive at Uniontown by 5 p m. Leave Uniontown every day at 71/2 p m, arrive at Cumberland by 2 1/2 am next day.

No. 24 From Uniontown, by Brownsville and Washington, to Wheeling, Va. 71 miles and back. Leave Uniontown every day at 61/2 p m, arrive at Wheeling by 1 a m next day . Leave Wheeling every day at 12 m, arrive at Uniontown by 7 p m.

No. 25. From Wheeling to Zanesville, 0. 75 miles and back. Leave Wheeling every day at 2 a m, arrive at Zanesville by 10 a m. Leave Zanesville every day at 31/2 a m, arrive at Wheeling by 11112 a m. To stop at two intermediate points if required .

No. 26. From Zanesville to Columbus, 57 miles and back.

9 Delf Norona: "The Express Mail of 1836 to 1839," American Philatelist, September, 1943, pp 780.


Leave Zanesville every day at 101/2 am, arrive at Columbus by 31/2 p m. Leave Columbus every day at 10 p m, arrive at Zanesville by 3 am next day. To stop at one intermediate point if required .

No. 27. From Columbus, by Springfield, to Dayton, 66 miles and back. Leave Columbus every day at 4 p m, arrive at Dayton by 1P/2 p m . Leave Dayton every day at 21/2 p m, arrive at Columbus by 91/2 p m.

No. 28. From Dayton by Lebanon to Cincinnati, 53 miles and back. Leave Dayton every day at 12 p m, arrive at Cincinnati by 7 am next day. Leave Cincinnati every day at 8 am, arrive at Dayton by 2 p m .

January 1, 1838 to 30th June, 1842.

No. 30. From Dayton 0 . by Richmond, Indiana to Indianapolis, 112 miles and back. Leave Dayton every day at 12 p m, arrive at Indianapolis by 1/2 p m next day. Leave Indianapolis every day at 11 1/2 p m, arrive at Dayton by 2 p m next day. To stop at two other intermediate points if required.

No. 31. From Indianapolis to Terre Haute, 72 miles and back.

65

Leave Indianapolis every day at 1 p m, arrive at Terre Haute by 3 p m. Leave Terre Haute every day at P /2 p m, arrive at Indianapolis by 11 p m . To stop at two intermediate points if required.

No. 32. From Terre Haute to Vandalia, Illinois, 99 miles and back. Leave Terre Haute every day at 91/2 p m, arrive at Vandalia by 8 1/2 am. Leave Vandalia every day at 1/2 am, arrive at Terre Haute by 1 p m. To stop at two intermediate points if required.

No. 33. From Vandalia to St. Louis, Mo. 65 miles and back. Leave Vandalia every day at 9 am, arrive at St. Louis by 41/2 p m. Leave St. Louis every day at 31/2 p m, arrive at Vandalia by 12 p m. To stop at two intermediate points if required.

No. 35. From Cincinnati, 0. to Georgetown, Ky. 70 miles and back. Leave Cincinnati every day at 8 am, arrive at Georgetown by 5 p m. Leave Georgetown every day at 81/2 p m, arrive at Cincinnati by 7 am next day.

No. 36. From Georgetown by Frankfort and Shelbyville to Louisville, 70 miles and back. Leave Georgetown every day at 51/2 p m, arrive at Louisville by 1 am next day. Leave Louisville every day at 12m, arrive at Georgetown by 8 p m.

No. 37 From Louisville, by Elizabethtown to Glasgow, 93 miles and back. Leave Louisville every day at 2 am, arrive at Glasgow by 1/2 p m. Leave Glasgow every day at 8 p m, arrive at Louisville by 71/2 am next day.


No. 38. From Glasgow by Gallatin to Nashville, Te. 91 miles and back. Leave Glasgow every day at 1 p m, arrive at Nashville by 11 p m. Leave Nashville every day at 81/2 am, arrive at Glasgow by 71/2 p m. To stop at one other intermediate point if required.

No. 39. From Nashville, By Murfreesboro, Shelbyville, and Fayetteville to Huntsville, Ala. 117 miles and back. Leave Nashville every day at 11 1/2 p m, arrive at Huntsville by 11/2 p m next day . Leave Huntsville every day at 41/2 p m, arrive at Nashville by 8 a m next day . Proposals for running this route by Franklin, Columbia, and Pulaski, 123 miles and back, will be considered.

No. 40. From Huntsville to Elytown, 99 miles and back. Leave Huntsville every day at 2 p m, arrive at Elytown by 1 am next day. Leave Elytown every day at 31/2 a m, arrive at Huntsville by 4 p m. To stop at two intermediate points if required.

No. 41 From Elytown to Montgomery, 102 miles and back. Leave Elytown every day at 11/2 a m, arrive at Montgomery by 1/2 p m. Leave Montgomery every day at 21/2 p m, arrive at Elytown by 3 am next day. To stop at two intermediate points if required.

P.O. D. March 23, 1837 Amos Kendall

Some charts which were prepared by the early express mail student, Ward E . Hinman, list the times of departure and arrival of the express over the different routes .

New York-New Orleans Route

Southbound Northbound (read down) (read up)

Miles Arrive Leave Arrive Leave

New York 0 5:00pm 2:00pm Philadelphia 90 2:00am* 2:30am 5:30am* 6:00am Baltimore 100 12:30 pm 1:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm Washington 38 5:00pm 5:30pm 2:30pm 3:00pm Frederick 61 11:30 pm 12:00 m 8:00am 8:30am White

Chimneys 37 3:37am* 3:45am 4:15am 4:23am Richmond 30 6:30am 7:00am 1:00am* 1:30am Peterburg 21 9:00am 9:30am 10:00 pm 10:30 pm Gaston 60 2:30pm 2:45pm 4:00pm 4:30pm Louisburg 63 8:45pm 9:00pm 9:00am 9:15am Raleigh 30 12:00 m 12:30 am* 5:30am* 6:00am


New York-New Orleans Route (Continued)

Columbia Milledgeville Columbia Montgomery Mobile

Miles

215 163 133

81 198

1320 New Orleans 164

Southbound (read down)

Arrive Leave

10:00 pm 2:30pm* 3:30am*

12:00 n 10:00 am*

10:30 pm 3:00pm 4:00am 1:00pm

Columbia-Charleston Branch Columbia 0 Charleston 125

Washington Frederick Cumberland Union town Wheeling Lanesville Columbia Dayton Cincinnati

Dayton Indianapolis Terra Haute Vandalia St. Louis

Miles

0 43 91 60 71 75 57 66 53

516

Miles

0 112

72 99 65

348

10:30 pm 10:00 am*

Washington-Cincinnati Route

Westbound (read down)

Arrive Leave

12:00 m 9:30am 5:00pm 1:00am*

10:00 am 3:30pm

11:30 pm 7:00am*

7:00pm 12:30 am* 10:00 am 5:30pm 2:00am

10:30 am 4:00pm

12:00 n

Dayton-St. Louis Route

Westbound (read down)

Arrive Leave

12:30 pm 9:00pm 8:30am* 4:30pm

12:00 m 1:00pm 9:30pm 9:00am

Northbound (read up)

Arrive Leave

7:30am* 2:00pm*

11:30 pm 2:00pm*

7:30am*

8:00am 2:30pm

12:00 m 2:30pm 3:00pm

6:30pm

Eastbound (read up)

Arrive Leave

5:00pm 12:00 n 2:30am* 7:00pm

11:30 am 3:00am* 9:30pm 2:00pm

12:30 pm 3:00am 7:30pm

12:00 n 3:30am

10:00 pm 2:30pm 8:00am

Eastbound (read up)

Arrive Leave

2:00pm* 11:00 pm

1:00pm 12:00 m

11:30 pm 1:30pm

12:30 am* 3:30pm

68

Cincinnati Georgetown Louisville Three Forks Nashville Huntsville Elyton Montgomery

Miles

0 70 70 93 91

117 99

102

642

*Following day.


Cincinnati-Montgomery Route

Southbound (read down)

Arrive Leave

5:00pm 1:00am*

12:30 pm 11:00 pm

1:30pm* 1:00am*

12:30 pm

8:00am 5:30pm 2:00am 1:00pm

11:30 pm 2:00pm 1:30am

Northbound (read up)

Arrive Leave

7:00am* 8:00pm 7:00am* 7:00pm 8:00am* 4:00pm 3:00am*

8:30pm 12:00 n 8:00pm 8:30am 4:30pm 3:30am 2:30pm

The following summary shows the total lengths of the express mail routes and the elapsed time of transmission as provided in the contracts.

Total Schedule Elapsed Time Route Distance South / Westbound North / Eastbound

New York-Mobile 1320 5 days 17 hours 5 days 23 hrs. Mobile-New Orleans 164 1 day 1 day Columbia-Charleston 125 11112 hrs. 13 hrs . Washington-Cincinnati 516 2 days 12 hrs. 2 days 9 hrs . Dayton-St. Louis 348 1 day 161/2 hrs. 1 day 22 1/2 hrs. Cincinnati-Montgomery 642 3 days 4 112 hrs. 3 days 161/2 hrs.

3115

The Washington to Frederick Route Number 20 was selected over Route Number 21 by the Postmaster General. Covers carried solely over the Cincinnati to Washington line are quite scarce, by far the greater number originating in Cincinnati, eastbound, like the example shown in Figure 47. Probably about a dozen such covers are in existence today. One example is dated January 4, 1838 at Cincinnati and addressed to New Haven, Connecticut. There would have been a short non-express trip from New York to New Haven. A reverse East-West usage over the Washington to Cincinnati express branch is shown in Figure 48. This cover travelled about 378 miles requiring the 561/4 cents express mail rate.

The cover in Figure 49 is one of the most interesting express mail usages known to the writer. Originating in Cumberland, Maryland it travelled between two intermediate express points on the Cincinnati to Washington route. Because the distance between Cumberland and Hagerstown, Maryland is only fifty miles, the 30-80 miles, 10 x 3 = 30 cents short rate applied. Although sent before required prepayment, the postage was paid at the post office of origin.


• 0

~h;;r· 7<::1ZL..u ~y Jf&~ &/·/L- _

Figure 47. "CINCINNATI 0 . FEB 2" (1838) in red, "Express Mail" and "Paid 75" in manuscript to New York, carried eastward on western route.

Figure 48. "BALTIMORE MD. MAR 30" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express mail" and "561/4" to Zanesville, Ohio, rare eastbound usage on western route,

also short rate.

,

C r: ~ C /, -c-O f. .__ /.z) , .,. / t .-.- ,t:::_ " 'J r

~ ~,.(~ ~~._~?:.:~

:J/7,_ 7_;~ . /r 0-4 L j /!.

J1i.l.ll .

Figure 49. "CUMBERLAND Md. JUL 6" (1837) and "PAID" in red, "Express Mail" and "30" to Hagerstown, earliest known cover over western route and rare 30 cents

short rate.

- ,. ___,.,

Figure 50. "St. LOUIS Mo. APR 10" (1838) and "PAID" in black, manuscript "75" and "due 75" with "Express Mail" on underpaid letter with one enclosure to Hartford,

Connecticut, a rare western usage.

70


Figure 51 . "VANDALIA ILLs. MAR 31" (1838) and "PAID" in black, manuscript "Express Mail" and "Paid 75" to Cincinnati, only recorded use from this town. Travelled

only on western branch.

Delf Norona analyzed this cover. 10 He stated that the first westbound trip arrived in Wheeling on July 3, 1837 and that the first eastbound trip left Wheeling on July 4 going through Cumberland on July 5. This is confirmed by a letter from S. R. Hobbie to the postmaster of Wheeling, Virginia. Norona surmised that if the mail were a day late, then the illustrated cover was actually a first day usage.

Covers carried over Routes 30 to 33 between Dayton, Ohio and St. Louis, Missouri are also quite rare . An example is illustrated in Figure 50. Since the St. Louis branch was established six months after the Washington to Cincinnati branch of the express, one would expect usage from St. Louis and intermediate towns to be quite scarce. The commencement date of the Dayton to Terre Haute routes was October 1, 1837 and the Terre Haute to St. Louis routes December 10, 1837.11 The cover shown in Figure 51 from Vandalia, Illinois to Cincinnati is believed to be the only known usage from this town. This cover travelled only over the most western branch of the express; the St. Louis to Hartford cover in Figure 50 was carried by two of the western branches, St. Louis to Dayton and Dayton (an intermediate town from

10Delf Norona: "Further Notes on the Express Mail of 1836-39," American Philatelist, October, 1943, pp 34.

11 De if Norona: "The Express Mail," American Philatelist, August, 1929, pp 721-724.


Figure 52. "NEW ORLEANS La. MAR 26" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "expresse mail" and "75" to St. Louis, very unusual usage.

Cincinnati) to Washington. It was also carried by express from Washington to Philadelphia.

Covers are known travelling westbound on the St. Louis spur of the express. One, from New Orleans is shown in Figure 52. A very unusual usage from Washington, D.C. is shown in Figure 153.

A page from the "Weekly Register" of the express mail handled at the St. Louis post office is shown in Figure 53. This interesting document demonstrates that records were kept of the arrival and departure times of the daily mails, including Sunday. The 11/2 and 1 hour delays for December 24 and December 25, 1837 were caused by "Ice in the A.M. prevented crossing in time."

Ashbrook 12 gave the date October 1, 1837 as the commencement of the southwestern lines of the western route of the express. The contract date as advertised was January 1, 1838. In the October 11, 1837 issue of the Globe the following note appeared:

We are requested to state that the Express Mail line is now in operation from Cincinnati through G€orgetown, Frankfort, and Louisville , Ky. Nashville, Te. Huntsville, Ala. to Montgomery, Ala. where it connects with the southern line to New Orleans.

12Stanley B. Ashbrook, personal letter.


Contract lime of arrival. ·· " of departure,

t '.IU-"<' v! D•'tcntivn. 1 .'\ ,J.ofucw~ I :\o. nf !\ewjj'po~r h!U("

1\'"l>cr l•a:;~ lo('fl(.

f('("o ·h·c•l.

-~ I '- I Oav uf th~ I \fonthly l H •urof 11 ClU Jcoftlcli} 1f known I II >Ju r •'' """· --S-J.~' ~!'"'"" -----·-·---I

.I

Monday,

<'J1 i ".,,, _. f'o .a '

'J• "' '-

/ "' . •• ~4: Tuesday, .: '31 ~ 1 ~ ~t-

• -=\\..::.'e:..:.dnesday, ,: ~ «..t,-Y ' J J .- ~~ ..J 7 J. N I ~. lo?+

: ~:~ :::+ Friday,

Thursday,

Satunlay,

Certified to be correct by

~"·~a~~ a vkMo~.;.,

~e- Jd-:.:,y

P. M.

73

Figure 53. Page from "Weekly Register" of St. Louis post office relating to the express mail.

The line from Dayton, 0 . west is presumed to be in operation through Indianapolis to Terre Haute, Ia. The contractors for the routes through Illinois to St. Louis have refused to commence the service, and it will be relet as soon as practicable.

The cover shown in Figure 54 suggests that the express was operational in Nashville during the month of September. This cover travelled by stage from Clarksville to Nashville . It then went north to Dayton and east to Washington. Of an even earlier date, the cover in Figure 55, which is dated September 8 at Lexington, undoubtedly went to Frankfort or Georgetown where it entered the express. If the express was not running in September, 1837, why would these two covers have been charged the express rate?

Another cover carried exclusively over the Montgomery to Cincinnati route is shown in Figure 56. Because the distance was below 400 miles but over 150 miles a short rate applied 183/4 x 3 = 561/4 cents. A Mobile to Bedford, Ohio usage is shown in Figure 57. An even rarer Western usage from the same correspondence is shown in Figure 58. This is the only recorded usage from Perry Court House, Alabama.


Figure 54. "CLARKSVILLE TENN. SEP 14" (1837) in black, manuscript "To be sent By Express Mail from Nashville" and "Single Express Mail 75" to Philadelphia, arrived September 22, transit time 8 days, very early usage before official date of operation.

Figure 55. "LEXINGTON KY. SEP 8" (1837) in black, manuscript "Express Mail," "on service," and "75" to Acting Quartermaster General, U.S. Army, earliest known

usage on western branch through Tennessee and Kentucky.


' ~;, . -: "~~., ··r:;t:.-':1 ' 6..;• · "' """'~··~ ·""""'"

;-

Figure 56. "NASHVILLE T. DEC 29" (1837) and "PAID" in blue, "Express mail" and "56114" in manuscript to Cincinnati, short rate on Montgomery-Cincinnati route.

Figure 57. "MOBILE A. DEC 24" (1838) and "PAID" in blue, manuscript "Single," "Express Mail," and "75" to Bedford, Ohio, western route usage.


// /

... --,

A/ / / /t l' / l r •

Figure 58. "PERRY C.H. ALa. 26 JUL" (1838) and "PAID" in black, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to Bedford, Ohio, only known example of this town postmark

on express letter.

The writer has seen very few covers travelling south over this same branch. One example went from Greensburgh, Kentucky to New Orleans. The Vicksburg usage that is illustrated in Figure 59 probably went south to New Orleans and then travelled on the southern route, since in 1839 the western routes had been largely discontinued.

Two unusual southbound usages over the limited western route in 1839 are known from Nashville (Figure 60) and Knoxville, Tennessee (Figure 61) . The cover from Knoxville is the latest June, 1839 date recorded by the writer and thus is one of the last covers carried by the express which was discontinued July 1, 1839. It is also the only known example of this town postmark on an express mail cover.

A cover from New Orleans addressed to Evansville, Indiana (Figure 62) probably followed the southern route to Montgomery, then passed over the western branch to a town in Kentucky where it entered the regular mails to southern Indiana. It would not have travelled over the Dayton-St. Louis spur.

The terminal town of Routes 37 and 38, Glasgow, Kentucky, between Louisville and Gallatin was altered first to Bowling Green and then to Three Forks, Kentucky on November 3, 1837.

A most intriguing cover is shown in Figure 63. This cover is a rare example of the handstamped "EXPRESS U.S. MAIL" marking. The cover originated in Columbia, South Carolina and was directed to Winchester, Kentucky to be carried by the express.

The letter probably travelled over the southern route to Montgomery and then north to Frankfort, Kentucky which is fairly close to Winchester. Such mixed routings as illustrated by this cover are very unusual.

To analyze a cover it is necessary to plot the origin and destination on the map


shown at the beginning of this chapter. It is then necessary to consider the dates of operation of the express over the contemplated route (see Table at conclusion of this chapter). No express service may have been available for any particular cover although routes are indicated on the map. Both the town of origin and the town of destination might be removed some distance from the express mail routes. The covers from Maine probably have the distinction of travelling the longest distance to reach the express.

The improvements in rapid communication brought about by the express mail were listed in the 1837 Postmaster General's Annual Report

U.S. EXPRESS MAIL

The following improvements have been made in the time of transmitting intelligence within the last two years, viz:

From New York

1835. 1837.

To Washington D.C. 1 day 8 hours. 1 day 0 hours. Richmond, Va. 2 days 131/2 hours. 1 day 131/2 hours . Raleigh, N.C. 3 days 221/2 hours . 2 days 7 hours. Columbia, S.C. 6 days 3 hours. 3 days 5 hours. Charleston, S.C. 6 days 19 hours. 3 days 161/2 hours. Milledgeville, Ga. 7 days 15 hours . 3 days 21 1/2 hours. Montgomery, Ala. 10 days 3 hours. 4 days 19 hours. Mobile, Ala . 12 days 12 hours . 5 days 17 hours. New Orleans, La. 13 days 19 hours. 6 days 19 hours. Wheeling, Va. 3 days 11 hours. 2 days 8 hours. Columbus, 0. 4 days 16 hours. 2 days 221/2 hours. Indianapolis, Ia. 7 days 14 hours. 3 days 191/2 hours. Vandalia, Ill. 11 days 15 hours. 4 days 151/2 hours. St. Louis, Mo. 13 days 10 hours. 4 days 231/2 hours. Cincinnati, 0 . 5 days 17 hours. 3 days 14 hours. Louisville, Ky. 7 days 18 hours. 4 days 8 hours. Nashville , Tenn. 9 days 20 hours. 5 days 6 hours. Huntsville, Ala. 11 days 22 hours. 5 days 20112 hours.

From New Orleans

To Montgomery, Ala. 3 days 21 hours. 2 days 0 hours. Huntsville, Ala. 8 days 5 hours. 3 days 2 hours. Nashville, Te. 10 days 0 hours. 3 days 18 hours . Louisville Ky. 13 days 0 hours. 4 days 17 hours. Cincinnati, 0. 14 days 11 hours. 5 days 17 hours. Columbus, 0 . 16 days 9 hours. 6 days 7112 hours. Pittsburgh, Pa. 18 days 5 hours. 7 days 8 hours .

These are the results of the express mails. The ordinary mails have also been expedited.


From New York

1835. 1837.

To Wheeling, Va. 3 days 11 hours. 2 days 19 hours. Columbus, 0. 4 days 16 hours. 3 days 5 hours. Cincinnati, 0. 5 days 17 hours. 4 days 6 hours. Louisville, Ky. 7 days 8 hours . 5 days 4 hours. Memphis, Te. 13 days 20 hours. 7 days 20 hours. Natchez, Mi. 16 days 19 hours. 11 days 13 hours. New Orleans, La.

by the western route 17 days 18 hours. 13 days 4 hours.

Utica, N.Y. 1 day 10 hours. 0 days 23 hours. Buffalo, N.Y. 2 days 20 hours. 2 days 11 hours. Burlington, Vt. 2 days 2 hours. 1 day 19 hours. Haverhill, N.H. 2 days 16 hours. 1 day 22 hours. Concord, N.H. 1 day 22 hours. 1 day 14 hours. Augusta, Me. 3 days 9 hours. 3 days 5 hours.

Of course, the whole intermediate, adjacent, and more remote regions of the Union, are benefitted by this increase of expedition.

The advancement of the department in other respects is equally satisfactory.

J

/ ' ,

;. ~.J _____ . ...___

( , i '

Figure 59. "VICKSBURG Mi. JAN 10" (1839) and "PAID" in black, manuscript "Express" and "75" to Chalk, Levill, Pittsylvania County, Virginia, rare usage.

"' . . , , _\ .. · c$~#::0~ ~s:-.Lu __ ) -~ J -

Figure 60. "NASHVILLE T. APR 29" (1839) and "PAID" in blue, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to New Orleans, very late usage over western branch.

@ /

Figure 61. "KNOXVILLE TEN. JUN 19" (1839) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express mail Charge 35 B & W' and "75" to New Orleans, the latest known express mail usage, southbound over the western branch when the express terminated at

Nashville.

79


t;t:7( ,.. ..

\ . ~:-1:'-.::.r" .. ~·

-.Y~/

, .. --;r;_·'-~"-C~- /ri_.v:,

)-'0 ~ (9 .~.~.-e..e_~~J

Figure 62. "NEW ORLEANS La. DEC 24" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail," "Single" and "75" to Evansville, Indiana, a rare use over the western

branch from Montgomery to near Bowling Green, Kentucky.

At the commencement of express service in November, 1836 railroad transportation was only available between New York and Philadelphia and between Petersburg, Virginia and Blakely Depot, North Carolina. By January, 1838 the mail was going by rail from Philadelphia to Washington. A few months later the railroads were carrying it to Richmond, Virginia. By January, 1839 the railroads carried the mail all the way from New York to Augusta, Georgia (see Table Chapter 11).

The 1839 route diverges from the 1836 route as it crossed the Virginia-North Carolina line. The mail was sent to Charleston, so that it could go from Charleston, South Carolina by the South Carolina Railroad to Hamburg, South Carolina, which is just across the river from Augusta, Georgia. The distance was longer by this route but shorter in time.

The express routes across Georgia and Alabama ran through some fairly rough country and over very bad roads. The original route proceeded west from Augusta to Camack and then south through Sandersville to Milledgeville. By 1839 a more direct route via Lombard, Ogeechee and Longs Bridge connected Augusta and Milledgeville. Other than this minor change the route was unchanged between 1836 and 1839. No express mail was carried by railroad across Georgia in 1838.

In the following table the dates of commencement and termination of each individual express route are listed. A termination of an express route indicates an improvement in the regular mails, making the pony express rider service unnecessary. The exception to this is the discontinuance of certain of the western routes "for the reason that


Figure 63. "COLUMBIA S.C. JAN 12" overstruck JAN 13 (1838), "EXPRESS U.S. MAIL" in oval and "PAID," all markings in red, manuscript "By Express" and ''75"

to Winchester, Kentucky, rare handstamp usage and very unusual routing.

they did not 'produce a revenue adequate to its support' and the revenues of the Department not recovering as fast as was hoped from the 'late commercial revulsion' and the Postmaster General had to make 'extensive and effective curtailments' in his expenditures." 13

13Delf Norona, "The Express Mail of 1836 to 1839," American Philatelist, September, 1943, pp 782.

Dat

es o

f C

omm

ence

men

t a

nd

Ter

min

ati

on

of E

xpre

ss M

ail

Ser

vice

Nu

mb

er o

f R

oute

T

erm

ini

Com

men

cem

ent

Ter

min

atio

n

Com

men

t

Th

e S

ou

ther

n R

ou

te

1 N

ew Y

ork

-Ph

ilad

elp

hia

N

ever

sol

ely

an e

xpre

ss

rout

e 2

Ph

ilad

elp

hia

-Bo

sto

n

Nov

embe

r 15

, 18

36

Jan

uar

y 3

1, 1

838

3 B

alti

mo

re-W

ashi

ngto

n N

ovem

ber

15,

1836

Ja

nu

ary

31,

183

8 4

Was

hin

gto

n-F

red

eric

ksb

urg

N

ovem

ber

15,

1836

M

arch

31,

183

8 5

Fre

der

ick

sbu

rg-W

hite

N

ovem

ber

15,

1836

M

arch

31,

183

8 C

him

ney

s (T

:J

5a

Wh

ite

Ch

imn

eys-

Ric

hm

on

d

Nov

embe

r 15

, 18

36

Mar

ch 3

1, 1

838

1:>:

)

6 R

ich

mo

nd

-Pet

ersb

urg

N

ovem

ber

15,

1836

M

arch

31,

183

8 7

Pet

ersb

urg

-Bla

kel

y D

epot

N

ovem

ber

15,

1836

A

pril

11,

183

8 T

erm

inu

s ch

ange

d fr

om

Bla

kely

Dep

ot t

o G

asto

n Ju

ne

10,

1837

7a

B

lake

ly D

epot

-Lou

isbu

rg

Nov

embe

r 15

, 18

36

Jan

uar

y 1

, 18

39

See

abo

ve

8 L

ou

isb

urg

-Ral

eig

h

Nov

embe

r 15

, 18

36

Jan

uar

y 1

, 18

39

9 R

alei

gh

-Co

lum

bia

N

ovem

ber

15,

1836

Ja

nu

ary

1,

1839

10

C

olum

bia-

Mil

ledg

evil

le

Nov

embe

r 15

, 18

36

July

1,

1839

E

xpre

ss s

ervi

ce t

erm

inat

ed

at A

ug

ust

a Ja

nu

ary

1,

1839

11

M

ille

dgev

ille

-Col

umbu

s N

ovem

ber

15,

1836

Ju

ly 1

, 18

39

12

Col

umbu

s-M

ontg

omer

y N

ovem

ber

15,

1836

Ju

ly 1

, 18

39

13

Mon

tgom

ery-

Mob

ile

Nov

embe

r 15

, 18

36

July

1,

1839

14

M

obil

e-N

ew O

rlea

ns

Nov

embe

r 24

, 18

36

July

1,

1839

N

ever

sol

ely

an e

xpre

ss

rout

e

Bra

nch

to

Ch

arle

ston

, S

outh

Car

olin

a 15

C

olu

mb

ia-C

har

lest

on

Ju

ly 1

, 18

37

Jan

uar

y 1

, 18

39?

Ash

broo

k li

sts

open

ing

dat

e as

May

11,

183

7 T

he

Wes

tern

Rou

te

20

Was

hin

gto

n-F

red

eric

k

July

1,

1837

M

ay 1

, 18

38

22

Fre

der

ick

-Cu

mb

erla

nd

Ju

ly 1

, 18

37

May

1,

1838

23

C

um

ber

lan

d-U

nio

nto

wn

Ju

ly 1

, 18

37

May

1,

1838

24

U

nio

nto

wn

-Whe

elin

g Ju

ly 1

, 18

37

May

1,

1838

25

W

heel

ing-

Zan

evil

le

July

1,

1837

M

ay 1

, 18

38

26

Zan

evil

le-C

olum

bus

July

1,

1837

M

ay 1

, 18

38

27

Col

umbu

s--D

ayto

n Ju

ly 1

, 18

37

May

1,

1838

28

D

ayto

n-C

inci

nn

ati

July

1,

1837

M

ay 1

, 18

38

00

30

D

ayto

n-I

nd

ian

apo

lis

Oct

ober

1,

1837

M

ay 1

, 18

38

00

31

In

dia

nap

oli

s-T

erre

Hau

te

Oct

ober

1,

1837

M

ay 1

, 18

38

32

Ter

re H

aute

-Van

dal

ia

Dec

embe

r 10

, 18

37

May

1,

1838

33

V

and

alia

-St.

Lou

is

Dec

embe

r 10

, 18

37

May

1,

1838

35

C

inci

nnat

i-G

eorg

etow

n O

ctob

er 1

, 18

37

May

1,

1838

R

oute

s 3

5-4

1 m

ay h

ave

com

men

ced

oper

atio

n in

S

epte

mb

er

36

Geo

rget

own-

Lou

isvi

lle

Oct

ober

1,

1837

M

ay 1

, 18

38

37

Lou

isvi

lle-

Gla

sgow

O

ctob

er 1

, 18

37

Jan

uar

y 1

5, 1

839

38

Gla

sgow

-Nas

hvil

le

Oct

ober

1,

1837

Ja

nu

ary

15,

183

9 39

N

ash

vil

le-H

un

tsv

ille

O

ctob

er 1

, 18

37

July

1,

1839

40

H

un

tsv

ille

-Ely

tow

n

Oct

ober

1,

1837

Ju

ly 1

, 18

39

41

Ely

tow

n-M

ontg

omer

y O

ctob

er 1

, 18

37

July

1,

1839

CHAPTER 5 DATES OF EXPRESS MAIL USAGE

The commencement date of the southern route between New York and Mobile was November 15, 1836. Any cover postmarked on this day would be a first day cover. However, none are now known. In Chapter Two announcements for the express service to begin on November 15 were reproduced. On this day the Postmaster General wrote to the postmasters on the southern line: "This will be brought to you by the express mail which starts today." He requested by return express "a report of the manner in which the contractors on the route terminating at your office have commenced the express mail service." 1 The Washington Globe reported the first express mail from Mobile with letters dated November 15. Figure 64 is a reproduction of the first announcement of the arrival of the express mail in New Orleans. This column reads:

BY THE EXPRESS MAIL

The Express Mail reached this city yesterday, in eight days from Washington City, and seven from Baltimore . We have availed ourselves of its quick pace, and have made such arrangements at the north and south as will enable us to obtain the latest political and commercial intelligence. We expect thus to impart a greater degree of interest to the Bee, and render it indispensable to the community. Our Washington letters and slips are to the 15th, Baltimore to the 16th and Boston to the 11th inst.2

Four days later another editorial in the New Orleans Bee again discusses the new express mail:

BY THE EXPRESS MAIL

By the express mail which arrived here on Saturday, we received a slip from a New York paper, dated "November 19 three o'clock P .M." It arrived here about the same hour on the 26th, so that it was just seven days on the way, allowing that it left New York as early as the hour mentioned, which is not probable. This is just half the time occupied by the common mail travelling between the two cities, and it is indeed a surprizing instance of expeditious movement for so great a distance. It would not be difficult to move at the same rate over a comparatively small extent of country-but when we take

1 Delf Norona: "The Express Mail of 1836 to 1839," American Philatelist, September, 1943, pp 780.

2 New Orleans Bee, November 24, 1836.

84

14, lila ' -.-. · a

!. I·

Figure 64.

85


Figure 65. "MOBILE A. NOV 17" (1836) in blue, manuscript "Express Mail Paid, Charge Box 130," "75," and "Due 75" to New York, arrived November 25, 8 days

in transit, earliest express mail letter known. Appears to have been sent underpaid.

into consideration the great distance (about 1400 miles), the bad roads in some places, the desert country to be passed, the rivers and estuaries to be crossed in boats, and the greatest part of the journey to be made in the dark, during the long nights at this season of the year-the accomplishment of the enterprise in so short a space of time, exhibits a very creditable degree of activity and perseverance on the part of the contractors. We hope they will continue to merit the approbation and praise of the public by preserving throughout the coming winter, the spirit and industry with which they have commenced.3

The earliest known express mail letter was postmarked on November 17, 1836 and is shown in Figure 65. This cover was probably in the third express bag to leave Mobile. The cover, which was first reported by Ward Hinman,4 was charged to the locked box of a commercial firm and bears the notation "Charge Box 130 J.S.K. & Co." It contained one enclosed note and therefore was rated an additional "Due 75" as a double letter. Its arrival in seven days verified the success of the new express service.

The second earliest known cover is shown in Figure 66. Written two days later on November 19, it arrived in six days. At the top of the letter is the inscription "Express Mail." The third earliest surviving cover is dated November 22, also from the Leverich correspondence. It is a double paid usage (one enclosure).

A note in the New Orleans Bee dated Saturday, November 19 stated "The express

3 New Orleans Bee, November 28, 1836. •ward Hinman: "Express Mail1836-1839-The First Pony Express," STAMPS, May 27, 1939.

DATES OF EXPRESS MAIL USAGE 87

)

~/!c/~~~ ~

Figure 66. "MOBILE A. NOV 19" (1836) and "PAID" in blue, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to New York, arrived November 25, six days in transit, second earliest

known express mail letter.

mail was to have gone into operation of Thursday last." That would have been November 17. But in his report to the Postmaster General (Appendix), postmaster William Kerr of New Orleans stated:

The above extracts from my accounts of mails sent exhibit the amount of Postage on letters sent from this office to New York and Philadelphia by Express Mail, on the 24th November 1836 (when the first express mail was dispatched) . ..

Therefore, it is documented that the first express mail left New Orleans on November 24, 1836. In Figure 67 is a first day cover that was postmarked on this very day. The letter is in reference to commercial matters. Two second day covers are known from New Orleans, one of which is shown in Figure 68. This cover was sent unpaid as were many of the express letters until prepayment was required.

The earliest known South-North cover from a city other than Mobile is the November 23 usage from Montgomery, Alabama which is shown in Figure 69. The first mail from Mobile probably passed through Montgomery on November 16, seven days before the postmark on this cover.

A very choice cover, illustrated in Figure 70, is the only known town usage from Petersburg, Virginia. It is a very early express usage and is also short rated 561/4

cents. This cover reached New York in only two days. The earliest express mail cover known to the writer that travelled south on the

' · -·- i.' ..... -...--

/ ..., c.?; c /

c.,....- c;:~l/"7'

Figure 67. "NEW ORLEANS La. NOV 24" (1836) and "PAID" in blue, "Express mail," "Paid," "Charge Box 653," and "75" all in manuscript to New York, arrived December

2, transit time 8 days, first day of express mail usage from New Orleans.

-- /

(C.,. ;;. ~';,,.v ,. '·

-~.../

·--....._ /

.) . / //' ;_~-,.

/

\ ./

Figure 68. "NEW ORLEANS La. NOV 25" (1836) in blue, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to New York, second day of express mail usage.

88

~~ ' - f/ '. ~~'

(~J

c .. S! . ~ '

0

4-/ '

Figure 69. "MONTGY. AL. NOV 23" (1836) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "pr Express Mail" and "75" to New York, very early usage.

Figure 70. "PETERSBURG Va. NOV 28" (1836) in red, "Express Mail" and "561/4" to New York, arrived November 30 in two days, only known example of Petersburg

postmark on express letter, also short rate and early usage.

89

Figure 71 . "BOSTON MS. DEC 6" (1836) in red, black manuscript "Express Mail" underlined in magenta ink, ms. magenta "75" to Charleston, earliest recorded North

South express letter.

' -.,

~~ /

~~~~i---/ / .·. /~Y

~((.:,. .. ' / )

Figure 72. "NEW ORLEANS La. OCT 31" (1837) in blue, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to Boston. Letter headed "S. West Pass October 27, 1837" from stranded

ship's captain. Last day of usage for unpaid express covers.

90


southern route is depicted in Figure 71 . This cover is from the Captain Daniel Winsor correspondence which contained many express mail covers to this individual, all sent in care of local merchants at different ports. It is dated December 6 in Boston and thus was sent within the first three weeks of express mail service. It travelled by regular mail to New York, entered the express by which it was carried to Columbia, South Carolina, and then was again carried in the ordinary mail to Charleston.

Early usages from the western routes of the express mail have been discussed in Chapter Four. The Cumberland, Maryland 30 cents cover shown in Figure 49 is the earliest usage from the Montgomery-Cincinnati route of the express.

In the January 12, 1837 issue of the Washington Globe there appeared the following notice:

We are requested to state, for the information of those who have occasion to write to members of Congress, that the letters of members by the Express Mail are not free, but, like other letters by that mail, are charged with triple postage. This seems not to be generally understood. Members are every day taxed with triple postage on letters by the Express Mail, by persons writing on their own business. Such letters should be paid at the office where they are mailed.

Since this was written only two months after the inception of the express, it can be seen that shortly thereafter pressure accumulated to require prepayment of express mail postage. In February, Postmaster General Kendall wrote to the House of Representatives Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads concerning these abuses:

The annoyance of triple postage on letters to members of Congress and public officers in which they have no personal interest, may if thought proper, be obviated by requiring or authorizing the Postmaster General to require that postage on all letters sent by express mail shall be paid in advance.5

In the July 3, 1837 issue of the Globe was an article discussing prepayment of express mail letters:

LETTERS BY EXPRESS MAIL

The abuses practised by loading the Express Mails with useless matter addressed to the President and Heads of Departments, and the serious tax upon the Contingent Funds of the several executive offices, have made it necessary to resort to measures of prevention. Hence the annexed circular. It would be an improvement on the system if the postage on all letters, sent by express, were required to be paid in advance.

CIRCULAR

To Postmasters by whom the Express Mails are opened. Post Office Department June 24, 1837

By direction of the President of the United States, and at the request of the several heads of Departments, you are instructed not to send by the Express

5Letter Postmaster General, February 6, 1837 to Committee on Post Office and Post Roads, House of Representatives.


Mail any letter to the President or any head of Department, whether marked "Express Mail," or not, and whether directed to them officially or not, unless the postage thereon be previously paid. All such letters, not paid, you will send by the ordinary mail. Nor will you send by Express Mail, unless the postage be previously paid, any letter officially directed to any other executive officer at Washington. If such letters be put into your office not paid, you will send by the ordinary mail, though marked "Express Mail."

Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,

Amos Kendall

July 1, 1837

Ordered, That postmasters and the special agents of the Post Office Department be authorized, in cases of emergency, to send letters by Express Mail upon the business of the Department, to the Postmaster General and his three Assistants, paying the postage thereon, which will be allowed in the settlement of their accounts.

This order does not embrace contractors; and will, in every respect, be construed strictly.

A joint congressional resolution, approved October 12, 1837 stated:

That the Postmaster General be, and he is hereby, directed to cause the postage on all letters sent by the Express Mail of the United States to be paid in advance at the time of depositing them for transportation by said mail.

.~

~[~~) {!·~

'I

!

... ' .

Figure 73. "CHARLESTON S.C. OCT 31" (1837) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail," "Single," and "75" to New York. Letter written November 1, first

day of required prepayment.


On November 1, 1837 compulsory prepayment was required on all express mail letters. This is the earliest instance of compulsory prepayment of domestic postage in the United States. Uniform prepayment of postage was not enforced until the widespread use of postage stamps two decades later.

An unpaid cover dated October 31, 1837 which is the last date that an express cover could be sent unpaid is shown in Figure 72. This letter is from Captain Daniel Winsor at "South West Pass October 27, 1837" and describes how his ship was unable to get over a sand bar. Two steamboats transported portions of this cargo to New Orleans. The letter was carried to this city and mailed by a passenger who disembarked from the sailing vessel into a steamboat. Another cover dated October 31 from Charleston is shown in Figure 73, but this cover was sent paid. Since the letter was headed "November 1, 1837," one can only assume the postmaster did not charge his handstamp to the proper date. This cover therefore is actually a first day usage of the prepaid express rate.

However, a properly postmarked first day cover with the November 1 date is shown in Figure 74. The writer knows of one other cover also postmarked on this date. Two other prepaid covers that have been recorded are postmarked November 4 and November 5 at the $1.50 and $3.00 rates respectively .

The requirement of prepayment was not enforced immediately. One cover has been seen with a November 2 New York Ship postmark that was sent unpaid at the

/ i

I y/ ' ~ .f. {. ~ ·

I •

Figure 74. "MOBILE A. NOV 1" (1837) and "PAID" in blue, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to New York, arrived November 8, seven days transit. This is a first

day usage of required prepayment of express mail postage.

/~~~- ~jJ

~/~~#Z , .

"'

~~~ J: .;-//1-~ ~&.., a,... -

-

Figure 75. "NEW ORLEANS La. NOV 20" (1837) and "SHIP" in blue, manuscript "pr Express Mail," "via N. Orls." and "52" to New York. The word "Express" is

obliterated and the letter was forwarded by ordinary mail.

Figure 76. "NEW ORLEANS La. JUN 14" (1839) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to Boston, late use of express mail.

94


75 cents (plus 2 cents ship fee) express rate. However, this letter was sent before the requirement of prepayment of express letters.

A notice in the November 17, 1837 issue of the Globe indicated:

It seems that many postmasters do not consider it their duty to obey an explicit law of Congress unless instructed to do so by the Postmaster General. This is an error. The law is above the Postmaster General's instructions; and the latter should only be waited for or asked in cases of doubt. The resolution directing Express Mail postage to be required in advance is too explicit to need explanation, and it is the duty of every postmaster to obey it on sight. Such, we learn, are the views of the Department.

An example of enforcement of the new regulation is shown in Figure 75. This cover originated in Matzanas, Cuba and was sent by private ship to New Orleans. The sender of the letter endorsed it "pr Express Mail." But since it was unpaid, the postmaster crossed out the express mail notation in magenta ink and rated the cover 52 cents due, double the ordinary 25 cents rate plus the 2 cents ship fee. Other denials of express mail usage because of a lack of the prepayment of postage are shown in Figures 128 and 151.

Late usages of the express are known during the months of May and June, 1839. In Figure 76 is quite a late legitimate express mail usage from New Orleans to

Boston during the last two weeks of express mail service over the southern route.

~/~ --· ·----- .... - .. .. ./

\ ' __.--"'7 ~ '- ·

Figure 77. "NEW ORLEANS La. JUL 3" (1839) and "PAID" in blue, "Express mail paid" and "75" in manuscript to New York, arrived July 13, transit time 10 days,

latest known letter paying express mail triple rate.

Figure 78. "FREDERICKSBG. Va. OCT 20" (1839) in green, "Express mail" and "25" to East Granby, Connecticut, sent after discontinuance of the express mail.

----------- ---·

7~ ;;t/-

Figure 79. "NEW ORLEANS La. FEB 4" (1840) in blue, manuscript "single sheet pr Express Mail to New York" and "25" on letter originating in Vera Cruz. Carried privately to New Orleans and there mailed. The "Express mail to New York" notation is erased. Addressed in care of New York forwarding agent who paid 25 cents and placed letter aboard a ship for London. Received as "LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER,"

rated 8d due to London (inclusive incoming ship letter fee) .

96


Officially express mail service was terminated July 1, 1839. However, one cover is known after that date with proper express mail notations and prepayment of the triple rate. This cover (Figure 77) was written and postmarked at New Orleans on July 3 and must bear the distinction of the latest known express mail cover since the express fee was paid. From notations on the letter, it was sent July 3 and received July 13, a passage of ten days. Since this is within the scheduled time for the ordinary mail as of July 1, 1839, it seems reasonable to assume that the writer prepaid the triple express mail rate for no purpose.

The cover shown in Figure 78 originated in Fredericksburg, Virginia October 20, 1839. The writer, a female physician who was describing the illness of the addressee's relative, designated the cover to travel "express mail." However, it was sent by regular mail at a single rate of 25 cents unpaid.

Actually the latest cover bearing express mail notations is shown in Figure 79. This cover originated in Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1840. The writer endorsed the cover "single sheet pr Express Mail to New York." Since the express had been discontinued over seven months previously, the New Orleans postal clerk effaced the "pr Express Mail to New York" part of the endorsement and rated the cover 25 cents for the single rate. It was then forwarded to London from New York.

CHAPTER 6 TOWN MARKINGS

Any attempt to list all of the examples of a type of postal usage always brings forth new unlisted varieties. Nevertheless the compilation of those postmarks from the towns of origins found on express mail covers provides a useful reference as to the widespread nature of this unique postal service. It also provides some indication of the relative rarity of any particular postmark. Allentown, Pennsylvania ("ALLENTOWN Pa.," "Pa" in script letters, black Circle Date Stamped (Figure 80)). One example of this marking on an 1837 cover at the 75¢ rate has been viewed. Apalachicola, Florida Territory ("APALACHICOLA F. Ty." red C.D.S.) (Figure 81). This marking is one of a few known express mail usages originating from Florida Territory.

Athens, Alabama ("ATHENS ALa.," "a" high, black C.D.S.) (Figure 82). This is a scarce town located in Limestone County, only twenty miles south of the Tennessee line. This cover probably travelled south on the western branch of the express from Huntsville, which is only twenty miles from Athens. At Montgomery the letter entered the southern branch of the express to Philadelphia.

Augusta, Georgia ("AUGUSTA Ga.," red C.D.S.) . This city was on the southern express route but was not a contract point. Only one example is known with a handstamp "EXPRESS MAIL," but several examples are known without the special handstamp.

Baltimore, Maryland ("BALTIMORE Md." "d" high, red C.D.S.). Covers from this important city are among the more common letters that were carried North-South over the southern route. Short rates are known from Baltimore. Baton, Rouge, Louisiana ("BATON R. La." "a" high, red C.D.S.). This is one of the towns listed by Philip Ward Jr. 1 It is a very scarce usage.

Boston, Massachusetts ("BOSTON Mas.," red C.D.S.). Two different styles of Boston markings are known on express mail covers, the earlier smaller circle being quite rare. Boston was an important point of origin and receipt for express mail letters. Actual express service by horse riders commenced in Philadelphia for letters going south.

Brunswick, Georgia ("Brunswick, Ga." in red or black manuscript) (Figure 83) . This port town is just north of the Florida border on the Atlantic Ocean. Manuscript

1 Philip H. Ward, Jr.: "Some Notes on the 'Express Mail' 1836-1839," Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News, August 2, 1957.

98

TOWN MARKINGS

~ I 1 "1

~ ......:.- ....... - ... _,., ........... -- ·---~-~...,.---··----

..._ ... , ... - ... - ,·--- --j ...--·;;.,. .. I -

I I 1/

99

Figure 80. "ALLENTOWN Pa. JAN 18" (1837) in black, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to Waynesville, Georgia, rare express usage .

.I

Figure 81. "APALACHICOLA F.Ty. DEC 16" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to Providence, Rhode Island, territorial usage.

Figure 82. "ATHENS ALa. OCT 19" (1838) and "PAID" in black, ms. "Express" and "Pd 75" to Philadelphia. The "N" is reversed in "ATHENS." This is a rare express

usage.

~) J ~)/1 _, ---- ;.r

Figure 83. "Brunswick Ga. Jany 14th" (1838), "Express Mail," "PAID," "Single," and "75" all in manuscript to Boston, scarce manuscript town usage.

100

TOWN MARKINGS

. ' .. ~·

/ . ''\ / \~

• /

c~ /2) £twd' ~ ~~ -b4ro-~_y $~/~/}'~~

t~~ /, A~ ,/Ju~9 dl~ J /---

101

Figure 84. "COLUMBUS Ga. MAR 7" (1837) in red, "Express Mail" and "75" in manuscript to New York.

Figure 85. "ELIZ. TN. KY. JAN 4" (1838) and "PAID" in black, manuscript "Express" and "75" to New Orleans, rare express usage.


markings are known on only a few express mail letters. Four examples of this postmark are known. Camden, South Carolina ("CAMDEN S.C.," blue C.D.S.). Two covers are known with the 37 1/z cents rate. This town was on Route No.9 between Raleigh, N.C. and Columbia, S.C. Thus the Camden to Charleston covers travelled first over the main southern route to Columbia and then via the branch express to Charleston.

Charleston, South Carolina ("CHARLESTON S.C.," red C.D.S.). Many unusual usages are known from this southern port city. It is one of the common points of origin for surviving express letters. A special branch express was established between Columbia and Charleston in 1837. One Charleston to New Orleans cover has been noted.

Cheraw, South Carolina ("CHERAW S.C.," blue C.D.S.). One cover with this marking is discussed in Chapter Four. A second cover paid the 75 cents rate from Cheraw to New York. Cincinnati, Ohio ("CINCINNATI 0.," red C.D.S.). Covers from this terminus of the north branch of the western express mail route are found directed to eastern commercial cities. Perhaps a dozen covers exist from this city. Clarksville, Tennessee ("CLARKSVILLE TENN.," black C.D.S.) . Three or four covers are known from this small town.

Columbia, South Carolina ("COLUMBIA, S.C.," red C.D.S.). This town used an oval handstamp with the town postmark occasionally, but other covers are known without the handstamp. It was the terminus between express route Numbers 9, 10, and 15. Columbus, Georgia ("COLUMBUS, Ga." "a" high, red C.D.S.) (Figure 84). Quite a few express mail covers are known from this town which was on the southern route north of Montgomery. Cumberland, Maryland ("CUMBERLAND Md.," red C.D.S.). Only one cover is known from this town on the northern branch of the western route, a short rate usage to Hagerstown, Maryland.

Darien, Georgia ("DARIEN GEORGIA," red C.D.S.). One example on a very faded cover addressed to Mobile has been noted. The rate appears to have been 561/4 but even the paid marking is not visible. Elizabethtown, Kentucky ("ELIZ. TN. KY.," "N" and "Y" high, black C.D.S.) (Figure 85). This very rare cover travelled south over the western branch through Montgomery to New Orleans. A listing for an express cover from Elizabethtown, New Jersey in the 1942 edition of the Stampless Cover Catalog may have been an erroneous description of this cover.

Erie, Alabama ("ERIE, Ala." in manuscript) (Figure 86). Two examples of this marking have been recorded. Farmington, Connecticut ("FARMINGTON Con.," red C.D.S.) (Figure 87). This is an example of a very scarce northern town of origin, one of three known Connecticut towns. Fayetteville, North Carolina ("FAYETTEVILLE N.C.," red C.D.S.) (Figure 88) . This very rare cover originated midway on the southern route. It arrived at New York in three days.

/ 7 ~-r . • ( J/{ ( __, [

Figure 86. "Erie, Ala March 10" (1837), "Express Mail" and "75" all in manuscript, to New York, arrived March 20, ten days in transit, scarce manuscript town usage.

Figure 87. "FARMINGTON Con DEC 30" (1836) in red, "Express Mail" and "75" in postmaster's handwriting, "Pr. Express Mail" written by sender of letter, to Columbus,

Georgia, rare express usage, very early.

103


,

t

Figure 88. "FAYETTEVILLE N.C. MAR 21" (1837) in red, "Expres Mail" and "75" to New York, arrived March 24, three days in transit, rare town usage .

•

•

Figure 89. "FLUSHING N.Y. APR 13" (1837) in red, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to New Orleans, scarce North-South usage.

TOWN MARKINGS 105

Figure 90. "FREDERICKSBURG Va. FEB 14" (1837) in green, manuscript "Express Mail" and "56 114" to Philadelphia, only known green postmark on express mail cover,

scarce short rate.

Figure 91. "HARTFORD Ct. JAN 7" (1838) and "PAID" with pointing hand, manuscript "Charge box 63 Express Mail" and "75" to New Orleans. Forwarded "SAM RICKER JR. AGENT OF THE TEXIAN POST OFFICE DT. NEW ORLEANS," manuscript "Galveston Jany 24/38," "Ship," and "31114" to Houston, Texas (61/4 cents incoming

ship fee plus letter postage rate 25 cents for over 100 miles).


Fifes, Virginia ("Fifes, Va." in manuscript). The only example of this marking is on a cover sent into the Republic of Texas. The cover bears a Sam Ricker Jr. oval forwarding marking. Flushing, New York ("FLUSHING, N.Y." blue and red C.D.S.) (Figure 89). This Long Island town is now a part of the borough of Queens, New York, but it was a separate village in 1837. The cover with the blue postmark is dated in 1838, so it is the later of the two known examples.

Fort Jesup, Louisiana ("FORT JESUP LA." blue C.D.S.). This usage was listed by Philip Ward Jr. Frankfort, Kentucky ("FRANKFORT, KY.," red C.D.S.). This town is on the western branch near Cincinnati. The red color of the postmark fades to brown.

Franklin, Louisiana ("FRANKLIN, La." "a" high, black C.D.S.). This is another very scarce town marking when found on express covers.

Fredericksburg, Virginia ("FREDERICKSBURG Va.," "a" high, bright green C.D.S.). This town is on the southern route just south of Washington. The cover shown in Figure 90 is short rated 561/4 cents to Philadelphia. This is the only bright green postmark known on express mail covers. Greensboro, Alabama ("GREENSBORO Ala.," red double C.D.S.). This town is about 100 miles west of Montgomery where the western and southern routes of the express joined. The particular example seen by the writer was addressed to Wilmington, Delaware and thus travelled on the southern route.

Greensburgh, Kentucky ("GREENSBURG KY.," red C.D.S.). This is a usage from a town near the western route which travelled south to New Orleans. A number of covers addressed to this town from New Orleans are also known. Hartford, Connecticut ("HARTFORD CT.," red C.D.S., "PAID" in pointing hand) (Figure 91 ). Two covers are known from the same correspondence that were directed to Texas. They bear Sam Ricker Jr. oval markings. Haynesville, Alabama ("HAYNE VILLE AI.," black C.D.S.) (Figure 92). This town is near Montgomery. One example is known with a special "EXPRESS MAIL 75" handstamp. The illustrated cover written a year earlier, 1837, only bears manuscript express notations.

Huntsville, Alabama ("HUNTSVILLE Al.," black C.D.S.). This usage is listed by Philip Ward, Jr.

Kennebunk, Maine ("KENNEBUNK Me.," red C.D.S.) (Figure 93). This is a very rare usage from a town situated north of the express mail routes. Kensington, Pennsylvania ("KENSINGTON Pa.," red C.D.S.). One example of this postmark on a cover datelined Philadelphia, August 29, 1837 to New Orleans has been seen. Lexington, Kentucky ("LEXINGTON KY.," black C.D.S.). The cover illustrated in Chapter Four was sent over the western route via Cincinnati to Washington. Whether it travelled by express through Kentucky is uncertain since in September, 1837, the Southern portion of the western branch may not have been operational. The route between Cincinnati and Washington had opened on July 1, 1837. Another cover is also listed from this town by Philip Ward, Jr.

.J,

Figure 92. "HAYNE VILLE Al. SEP 14" (1837) in black, manuscript "Express," "Express Mail," and "75" to New York, rare town usage.

v~~J}t~

·'

:"' /

Figure 93. "KENNEBUNK Me. JUN9" (1837) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to New Orleans, one of two known Maine town postmarks on an

express cover.

107


Louisville, Kentucky ("LOUISVILLE Ky.," red C.D.S.) (Figure 94). Another usage to New York at the 75 cents rate has been noted. Lynchburg, Virginia ("LYNCHG. VA.," blue C.D.S.). This cover went by the southern route to Vicksburg, Mississippi, probably through New Orleans.

Macon, Georgia ("MACON GEORGIA," red C.D.S.). A short rated cover with this marking was shown in Figure 32. It is a fairly common town marking with express usage.

Another cover has been noted paying a 561/4 cents rate between Macon, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama.

Milledgeville, Georgia ("MILLEDGEVILLE Ga.," "a" high, red C.D.S.). This town was on the southern route. More covers handstamped express are known from this town than from any other location, seven being seen by the writer. Mobile, Alabama ("MOBILE A.," blue C.D.S.). Two types of town markings are known, the earlier having larger lettering. This city was the southern terminus of the actual express as carried by horse rider. Although the service connected with New Orleans, the mail was carried between Mobile and New Orleans by steamship. Both types of postmarks are plentiful since Mobile merchants were among the most important customers of the express. The three earliest known usages are all from Mobile as are many combination usages.

Montgomery, Alabama ("MONTGY. AL., "Y" and "L" high, red C.D.S.). This important town was at the southern junction of the southern and western express mail routes. Quite a few covers have survived that were posted here.

Monticello, Mississippi ("MONTICELLO MI.," rimless blue circle) (Figure 95). This cover probably travelled over the western routes via Cincinnati to Washington and then to New York. For express mail usages, it can be considered as a fancy postmark. Murfreesboro, Tennessee ("MURFREESBORO Te.," red C.D.S.) (Figure 96). This very rare usage from Tennessee to Burnt Corn, Alabama paid a short rate of 56 (should have been 561/4) cents over the western route of the express. Nashville, Tennessee ("NASHVILLE T.," blue and green C.D.S.) (Figure 97). This cover probably travelled via the western route to Washington and then south to Richmond, Virginia. If October 1, 1837 was the actual opening date of the southwestern branch between Dayton and Montgomery, then this cover is close to first day usage. Nashville was on the western route as an intermediate point. One December 13, 1837 usage south to New Orleans has been noted.

Natchez, Mississippi ("NATCHEZ MI.," red C.D.S.). This city was above New Orleans on the Mississippi River. Express mail letters to and from Natchez may have been routed via New Orleans. A straight line handstamp is known on at least one cover, but covers from Natchez, which are not at all rare, usually bear only manuscript markings. Natchitoches, Louisiana ("NATCHITOCHES La.," blue C.D.S.). One example with this postmark was sent "on public service" prepaid at the 75 cents rate to the Secretary of War in Washington.

Newbern, North Carolina ("NEWBERN N.C.," black C.D.S.). This usage is very rare. Newbern was a port city so covers probably entered the express at Raleigh.

New Haven, Connecticut ("NEW HAVEN Ct.," blue C.D.S.) (Figure 98). This rare

TOWN MARKINGS

...

c_27~- rP R. .. /t? ~· tZ~

109

Ov:u<~~

Figure 94. "LOUISVILLE KY. MAR 31" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express," "Ch 1526'," and "75" to Washington, rare Kentucky usage.

l c' j V·

- • G . .

~., ~ 7'frrf;f7~'e$ .r W~d-

Figure 95. "MONTICELLO MI. DEC 10" (1837) in blue rimless circle, ms. "Express Mail" and "Paid 75¢" to New York, rare fancy type postmark.

Figure 96. "MURFREESBORO Te. JUN 4" (1838) in red, manuscript "Express" and "Paid 56" to Burnt Com, Alabama, scarce town and short rate, western route.

, "

/ //¥., d/:#~> .1;/d.--- / t4-:tl!~~

X/n- ~-~

Figure 97. "NASHVILLE T. OCT 5" (1837) in green, "By Express Mail" and "75" to Richmond, arrived October 10, five days in transit. This is a very early usage

of the western branch of the express.

110

·, .

Figure 98. "NEW HAVEN Ct. SEP 7" (1837) in blue, "Express Mail" and "75" to Charleston, rare town usage.

Figure 99. "PENSA F. FEB 1" (1837) in black, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to Bedford, Pennsylvania, usage from Florida Territory.

111

•. .. · ·' i

/(?" ;~~~d ~ (( _u-ft/

t / ~£:~ ._/

Figure 100. "PHILADA PA. APR 18" (1837) and "PAID" in blue octagon, two strikes, manuscript "by Express mail" and "75" to New Orleans.

. , ' . . ,..,

. . '··. -~· ·.' --~~~-~· . /

Figure 101. "PHILADELPHIA PA. MAR 1" (1839) and octagon "PAID" in blue, manuscript "Express Mail double $1.50 dropped in box under cover" and "1.50" to New Orleans, probably mailed after post office closed. Cash was included to prepay

postage as required on express mail letters at this date.

112

Figure 102. "PROVIDENCE R.I. MAR 26" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" to New Orleans, nine days in transit.

· ~-

·1/--r. /'//':- /1' / ,. ,

, ,~/

Figure 103. "PROVIDENCE R.I. MAY 31" (1839) and "PAID" in red, ms. "pr Express Mail" and "75" to New Orleans. This rare second type of Providence postmark is

a very late use of the express.

113


cover was carried to New York by the ordinary mails and then passed over the southern route to Columbia and then Charleston. New Orleans, Louisiana ("NEW ORLEANS La.," blue and red C.D.S.). This southern commercial city made very extensive use of the express. A document reporting on the express mails sent from New Orleans during the first year of its use is reproduced in the Appendix. Many of the surviving covers are from the Charles Leverich and Abraham Bell correspondences, and these covers are generally in excellent condition. By December 10, 1837, the New Orleans post office began to use red ink for its postmarks. Covers from Mexico, Cuba, and Texas may bear New Orleans postmarks.

New York, New York ("NEW-YORK," red C.D.S.). There are two types of New York City postmarks on express mail covers. Usages from 1838 and 1839 bear a slightly larger circle. North to South usages are probably most common with New York postmarks of origin. Although ordinarily considered the northern terminus of the express, actually in 1836 the express rider chain began in Philadelphia. The mails were transported twice daily between New York and Philadelphia by railroad. Pensacola, Florida Territory ("PENSA. F.," "A" high, black C.D.S.) . Two examples of this scarce usage of the express from a town in Florida Territory are known (Figure 99). Ward also reported a Pensacola town marking in red. Perry Court House, Alabama ("PERRY C.H. Ala.," "a" high, black C.D.S.) This cover travelled over the western route to Bedford, Ohio.

Petersburg, Virginia ("PETERSBURG Va.," red C.D.S.). The only example of this postmark on an express mail cover is shown in Figure 70. Petersburg was the town at which the North-South express mail was placed on the railroad. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ("PHILADELPHIA PA.," and "PHILA PA.," "A" high in both types, blue C.D.S., red "PHILA.," "A" high, red octagon). The red postmark has been listed by Ward. Examples of the other two types are shown in Figures 100 and 101. For express mail covers, the "PAID" in the octagon is a distinctive marking. Of course it is common on ordinary correspondence. The 1839 cover bears an interesting notation "Express Mail double $1.50 dropped in box under cover." The express rate required prepayment in 1839. Approximately twelve express mail usages have been seen from Philadelphia. The most spectacular example is a cover bearing the Sam Ricker Jr. Texas forwarding agent's handstamp. One 1837 Philadelphia cover endorsed "Express Mail" is rated 121/2 to New York. The letter had been written in Mobile, but the letter was carried to Philadelphia before it was mailed and then it did not travel by express.

Plaquemine, Louisiana ("PLAQUEMINE La.," black C.D.S.). One example has been seen addressed to Nashville, Tennessee over the western route. Portland, Maine ("PORTLAND Me," red C.D.S.) . The only example of this usage is shown in Figure 44. The cover is a late usage of the express mail. Providence, Rhode Island ("PROVIDENCE R.I.," red C.D.S.) (Figures 102 and 103). Two separate types of town postmarks are known from Providence. Of the later type only the illustrated example is known. It is quite a late use of the express. However, all Providence usages are quite scarce. Richmond, Virginia ("RICHMOND Va.," "a" high, red C.D.S.) (Figure 104 ). Covers from this town are also very rare. The illustrated example is a short rate South-North to New York, a distance of less than 400 miles.

TOWN MARKINGS 115

.. ~-

Figure 104. "RICHMOND Va. NOV 23" (1837) and "PAID" in red, ms. "Express Mail" and "56114" to New York, scarce town and short rate.

i

{:2i'~-• e~~~- --

Figure 105. "ST. FRANCISVILLE La. OCT 13" (1837) in red, "Express Mail" and "75" in manuscript to Durham, Connecticut.


Saint Augustine, Florida Territory ("ST. AUGUSTINE Fl. T.," red C.D.S.) This usage is on a 75 cents rated cover to East Harwich, Massachusetts. One cover to St. Augustine has been noted. Saint Francisville, Louisiana ("ST. FRANCISVILLE La.," red C.D.S.) (Figure 105). This letter discusses the express and the sale of Negroes. It travelled at the single rate for an express letter between New Orleans and New York. Both the towns of origin and destination were not on the express routes. Saint Louis, Missouri ("St. LOUIS Mo.," black C.D.S.). This town was the terminus of the Dayton-St. Louis branch of the express which was the last branch established and the first discontinued. All the known covers are prepaid since this branch of the express became operational after prepayment of the express rate was required. At least seven or eight examples exist. Savannah, Georgia ("SAVANNAH GEO.," red C.D.S. with stars). This was quite an important port in the 1830's. It was east of the express route like Charleston, but the volume of mail did not merit branch express service. However, covers from Savannah are fairly common. Talbottom, Georgia ("TALBOTIOM Ga.," red C.D.S.) . This town is near Columbus on the express route. It is an uncommon usage. Tallahassee, Florida Territory ("TALLAHASSEE FLOA.," "A" high, black oval year dated) (Figure 106). This is the only really fancy town postmark known with express usage. As is indicated on the map of express in Chapter Four, the town was quite far from the express route. The illustrated cover probably passed through Montgomery. In Figure 107 is another cover to the same addressee sent unpaid at the single 25 cents rate. The contents of the express mail letter describe a business opportunity which had suddenly arisen. A second express mail usage is known from this town. Tuscaloosa, Alabama ("TUSCALOOSA Ala.," red C.D.S.). This town is located fifty miles west of Elyton on the western branch of the express above Montgomery. Several examples are known.

Tuscumbia, Alabama ("TUSCUMBIA Ala.," red C.D.S.). This town was situated 75 miles west of Huntsville, the nearest town on the express route. Covers travelled south to Montgomery on the western branch and then north on the southern route of the express. It is not a common town of origin. Vandalia, Illinois ("VANDALIA ILL.," black C.D.S.). This was an intermediate town on the western branch. The only known example is shown in Figure 51. Vicksburg, Mississippi ("VICKSBURG Mi.," black C.D.S.). This town was far removed from the express routes. The mail probably passed south through Natchez to New Orleans. It appears that most usages to and from Natchez passed through New Orleans. In 1839 there was no express mail service north of Nashville. Only the cover shown in Figure 59 is known with a postmark from Vicksburg. Washington, District of Columbia ("WASHINGTON CITY D.C.," red C.D.S.). This was the junction point for the western and southern routes of the express mail. Three covers, all from the same correspondence, are known directed to St. Louis. A Washington postmarked cover sent to Texas is shown in the chapter on forwarded usages. Several short rates, 371/2 and 561/4 cents have been recorded from Washington.

Wilcox Court House, Alabama ("Wilcox C.H., Al. 8 June" and "Free" in manuscript).

TOWN MARKINGS 117

PAID

Figure 106. "TALLAHASSEE FLOA. SEPT. 25 1838" in black oval, "PAID" in black, ms. "Express Mail" and "75" to New York . This is the only year dated postmark

known used on express covers. Rare territorial usage.

Figure 107. "TALLAHASSEE FLOA. SEPT. 21 1838" in black oval, "25" to New York, same correspondence as Figure 106, but by ordinary mail.


Figure 108. "WILMINGTON N.C. FEB" (1837) in red, manuscript "Express mail," "Single," and "75" to Providence, rare town usage.

This cover is discussed as an example of a free franked cover in the express. The town is situated midway between Mobile and Montgomery. Wilmington, North Carolina ("WILMINGTON N.C.," red C.D.S. ) (Figure 108). One example of an express mail cover is known from Wilmington, a port city. The cities along the southeastern seaboard of the United States from which express mail usages have been recorded are Wilmington, N.C., Newbern, N.C., Charleston, S.C., Savannah, Ga. and Brunswick, Ga. Commercial merchants in each of these towns had need of the latest commercial news.

Other additions to this list can certainly be anticipated since a person at any town in the United States could send a letter by express simply by designating it as such on the front of the letter.

CHAPTER 7 HANDSTAMPED EXPRESS MAIL

MARKINGS

Only a few towns employed specific handstamps for express mail usages. Since the writer of a letter decided whether he wished to send a letter by express or ordinary mail, most covers probably bore manuscript notations as to express usage before they ever reached the post offices at which they were mailed. However, a few postmasters did compose handstamps to designate express mail service.

These markings are all very rare . Those from Columbia, South Carolina and Milledgeville, Georgia are the most plentiful. The Columbia marking is an oval which reads "EXPRESS U.S. MAIL." It is usually found in red ink like the town marking (Figures 63 and 109), but it is also known in black (Figure 110). In Figure 111

Figure 109. "COLUMBIA S.C. OCT 29" (1837), oval "EXPRESS U.S. MAIL" and "PAID" all in red, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to New York.

119

.. '

Figure 110. "COLUMBIA S.C. JUL 25" (1838) and "PAID" in red, black oval "EXPRESS U.S. MAIL," manuscript "75" to Washington.

Figure 111 . "COLUMBIA S.C. MAY 12" (1837) in red, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to Philadelphia. The oval handstamp was not in use at this date.

120

HANDST AMPED EXPRESS MAIL MARKINGS 121

Figure 112. "MILLEDGEVILLE Ga. OCT 18" (1837), "EXPRESS MAIL" in oval, and "PAID" in red, "Express mail" and "75" in manuscript to Washington .

• I

EXPRESS.

Figure 113. "MILLEDGEVILLE Ga. JUN 12" (1838), straight line "EXPRESS" and "PAID" in red, Manuscript "E.D. of Geo." (Executive Department of Georgia), "Express

Mail" and "75" to Washington, transit time 8 days.


~,

... ' l '. ;;:---\

·~l \ I \ i . I

Figure 114. "HAYNE VILLE AL. SEP 12" (1838), straight line "EXPRESS MAIL 75," and "PAID" all in black, manuscript "75" and "Due 75" to New York .

r··- · . •

... · - -+ ~·......-.·- '

Figure 115. "AUGUSTA Ga. JAN 19" (1838), straight line "EXPRESS MAIL" and "PAID" in red, manuscript "37112" short rated to Milledgeville.

HANDSTAMPED EXPRESS MAIL MARKINGS 123

' --# /'

r ...

; ·A

'> ), ~ 'fl ,k , ,.

Figure 116. "NATCHEZ Mi. NOV 4" (1838), straight line "EXPRESS MAIL" and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to Philadelphia.

is a Columbia, S.C. usage dated May 12, 1837. The Columbia to Charleston branch had just opened the previous day. This cover demonstrates that the Columbia postmaster did not employ the handstamp until many months after the commencement of the express.

Milledgeville, Georgia is the only town with two different handstamps. The earlier type was a red oval reading "EXPRESS MAIL." At least three examples are known (Figure 112). One is dated November 3, 1837, only three days after prepayment was required. More common but still rare is a straight line "EXPRESS" that was used in 1838 (Figures 113 and 154).

Figure 114 illustrates the letter which in the author's opinion is the greatest of all express mail covers. This cover bears the unique straight line handstamp "EXPRESS MAIL 75" of Haynesville, Alabama. It was rated paid as the date of the cover was probably 1838. However, since the handstamp indicates an unpaid single 75 cents rate, it may be presumed that the handstamp was composed before prepayment of the express postage was compulsory. The letter was rerated in a different handwriting to a double letter with an additional 75 cents postage due.

Augusta, Georgia used a straight line handstamp "EXPRESS MAIL" of which only one example is known (Figure 115). Unfortunately the cover is quite badly stained.


It was rated at a single express rate of 37 1/2 cents for the short distance between Augusta and Milledgeville.

The last handstamped marking shown is a red "EXPRESS MAIL" from Natchez, Mississippi (Figure 116). Only one example is known. However, most Natchez covers bear only manuscript "express mail" notations.

CHAPTER 8 SHIP AND TRANSATLANTIC EXPRESS

MAIL USAGES

Merchants were undoubtedly the most significant customers of the express mail service since it enabled them to learn the current commodity prices in other parts of the world . Therefore, firms in Cuba, Mexico and Great Britain began to designate certain of their letters to travel by the express. This practice came to a halt when prepayment was required for express letters, but for nearly a year, it was possible to send incoming ship letters by the express mail.

Charleston, South Carolina was an important port in the 1830's and considerable numbers of ship letters from commission merchants in Cuba passed through Charleston. A ship's captain was entitled to a 2 cent fee when he presented a letter to the post office regardless of the letter rate involved. Therefore, such ship's letters with express mail usage bear the marking "SHIP," and the postal rate was the express mail rate plus two cents. In Figure 117 is an excellent example of this usage from the Moses Taylor correspondence. The cover, which originated in Cuba, is endorsed "Express Mail" and "pr Catherine via Charleston." It is postmarked with the town marking and "SHIP" in red. The rate was 75 cents single for a distance over 400 miles plus 2 cents ship fee for a total of 77 cents. This cover was carried by the ordinary mail to Columbia, S.C. where it entered the express since the Charleston branch was not operational at this date. No double rate ship covers are known from Charleston, but a triple rate cover is shown in Figure 118. Since this June 29 letter reached Charleston on July 11, 1837, it was carried by the new express branch direct from Charleston to New York.

A very rare quadruple rate ship cover, also from Cuba, is shown in Figure 119. In the Moses Taylor correspondence there were two examples of this usage. The rate $3.02 is the sum of the quadruple 75 cents express rate for a distance over 400 miles and the two cents ship fee. This letter bears the heading "Express Mail via Charleston pr Cordelia Dup pr Nun via Phila." There were three enclosures worth $16,000. The express mail letter was postmarked March 17 although the letter was written March 9, 1837. This letter, if sent by regular mail, would probably have reached New York at least five days later on March 22. The duplicate letter is still in existence (Figure 120). It reached Philadelphia on March 29 and probably New York on the 30th. Thus the original by express mail arrived a full week sooner than the duplicate. Both letters were identical but only the original enclosed the three drafts. The 27 cents rate is a double 121/2 cents plus 2 cents ship fee .

In Figure 121 is another letter carried by the "Cordelia" from Matanzas, Cuba

125

Figure 117. "CHARLESTON S.C. MAR 18" (1837) and "SHIP" in red, manuscript "Express Mail ," "pr. 'Catherine' via Charleston" and "77" to New York, single ship

letter from Cuba.

Figure 118. "CHARLESTON S.C. JUN 11" (1837) and "SHIP" in red, manuscript "pr Express Mail" and "2.27" to New York, triple rate ship letter from Cuba.

126

Figure 119. "CHARLESTON S.C. MAR 17" (1837) and "SHIP" in red, manuscript "pr 'Cordelia' to Charleston," "Express Mail" and "3.02" to New York, very rare

quadruple rate ship letter from Cuba.

...

Figure 120. "PHILADA PA. MAR 29" (1837) and "SHIP" in blue, "Pr 'Nun' via Philadelphia" and "27112" to New York, duplicate of letter in Figure 119.

127

; ... /

Figure 121 . "CHARLESTON S.C. APR.25" (1837) in red, manuscript "Express Mail," "pr. Cordelia via Charleston," and "75" to New York, carried by private ship from

Cuba but no ship rate charged.

Figure 122. "Express Mail" and "via Havana 3rd Apr 19" in manuscript to New York, never entered the mails.

128

SHIP AND TRANSATLANTIC EXPRESS MAIL USAGES

~/ I

/

~~~,.~

...

J

'

129

~·

fl '

Figure 123. "NEW ORLEANS La. FEB 3" (1837) and "SHIP" in blue, manuscript "via New Orleans pr. Fraser," "Express Mail" and "77" to New York, single rate

ship usage from Cuba.

. I

\ t , ;

~ I

!I

; { . ~

, ...

Figure 124. "NEW ORLEANS La. JUL 23" (1837) and "SHIP" in blue, manuscript "Express Mail" and "1.52" to New York from Havana, July 15, 1837, double rate.


··~ .. \

Figure 125. "NEW ORLEANS La. MAY 17" (1837) in blue, manuscript "pr Express Mail," "pr 'Caspar Hauser"' (obliterated), "Insurance via Havana" and "75" to New

York, carried by ship from Cuba without ship rate charge.

Figure 126. "NEW- YORK SHIP FEB 27" (1837) in red, manuscript "Roscoe," "Express Mail" and "77" to Mobile, single ship rate from London.

SHIP AND TRANSATLANTIC EXPRESS MAIL USAGES 131

/

-f G?~; ~.l:bltdf~~

f' : 7>;t: "./~ -t c -_t;t-~ lvL

Figure 127. "NEW-YORK SHIP JUN 12" (1837) in red, manuscript "per Express Mail," "pr. Orpheus" and "58 114" to Richmond, only known example of short express rate

plus ship letter fee of 2 cents.

Figure 128. NEW-YORK SHIP AUG 15" (1838) in red, Boxed "PAID JY 7 1838" from Dublin. Manuscript "Pd 1/ -" British outward ship letter fee. Manuscript "By

Express" and "203/4" to Tuscarora Valley, Pennsylvania.


Figure 129. "NEW- YORK SHIP NOV 15" (1838) in red, manuscript "pr Express Mail from New York" and "pr Gr. Western from Bristol to New York," a manuscript "27"

has been obliterated and "Paid to Lawrenceville" was added.

' 'l " '-· f(n!J.r. ei.~v~t{' y ·

.• '

~

Figure 130. "NEW- YORK SHIP JUL 14" (1837) in red, manuscript "Express" and "203/4" to Boston at 183/4 cents postage plus 2 cents ship letter fee.


( \ .

Figure 131. "NEW ORLEANS La. JUN 22" (1838) and "PAID" in blue, manuscript "pr Express mail," "single," "pr Liverpool Packet" and "75" to London, rectangular "PORTSMOUTH SHIP LETTER." Rated "1 / 4" due (Bd incoming ship letter fee plus

Bd inland postage). This was a ship and not a packet letter.

to Charleston. However, the ship's captain did not ask for the ship fee so the letter was simply rated for the single express mail rate of 75 cents.

The cover in Figure 122 was intended to travel by express mail from some port, probably Charleston or New Orleans, to New York. However, it was evidently carried by hand directly to New York and thus never entered the mails. It is a triplicate of a letter the original and duplicate of which were transported by other means from Matanzas, Cuba, April19, 1837.

Ship usages from New Orleans are known for the 77 cents, $1.52, and $3.02 rates, all used in 1837 before prepayment of the express mail postage was required.

Examples of the 77 cents and $1.52 ship rates are shown in Figures 123 and 124. The cover in Figure 125 was carried by private ship from Cuba to New Orleans, but no ship fee was demanded by the captain. No ship covers have been seen from Mobile although such usages could be anticipated.

Ship letters which do not pay the ship letter fee have been termed "bootleg" letters, but this term implies a usage to avoid paying legitimate postage. Since the two cents that was collected from the addressee was given to the ship's captain by the post office at the port of entry, the Post Office Department earned no money on the ship letter fee. Because the addressee may have been the owner of the vessel, it appears logical that certain ship captains did not want to charge that fee to their


employers. Alternatively, such a letter may have been given to the representative of another merchant firm on the ship's arrival in the port, and this person forwarded the letter from the wharf to the post office, again not asking for the ship letter fee for a similar reason, courtesy to an important client.

British merchants designated a few letters to travel by the express from New York to New Orleans and Mobile . At least half a dozen examples of this usage are known. One such cover is illustrated in Figure 126. New York had a circular dated marking for ship mail and thus there was no separate "SHIP'' handstamp. The cover was over a month in transit to the United States via the "Roscoe." The rate is 75 cents for the express and two cents for the captain of the "Roscoe."

Probably the rarest ship and express mail usage is the cover shown in Figure 127. This cover was written in London May 13, 1837. It arrived "per Orpheus" in New York on June 12 where it received the "NEW-YORK SHIP JUN 12" postmark. It is properly endorsed "per Express Mail." The 581/4 cents rate represents a short rate of 561/4 cents for 150-400 miles plus 2 cents ship fee. It is the only combination ship and express cover known bearing a short express rate. A notation on the letter indicates that it was answered on June 16, so it probably arrived in Richmond on June 15.

Figure 132. "CHARLESTON S.C. JAN 27" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "75" and "pr. Havre packet of 1st Feby from New York / pr Express Mail" to New York, there postmarked "NEW- YORK JAN 31" and sent to France. Rectangular "PAYS D'OUTREMER PARLE HAVRE" and 15 decimes due to Guebewiller, Switzerland.


The cover in Figure 128 appears to be a similar usage to (Tuscarora) Valley, Pennsylvania. It was written in Armagh, Ireland, July 6, 1838, and bears a straight line "GLASSLOUGH" backstamp. It is endorsed "By Express" and is postmarked "NEW-YORK SHIP AUG 15." However, in August, 1838 express fees required prepayment so the letter was rated 203/4 cents which represents the ordinary 183/4

cents postage plus the ship fee of two cents, all due from the addressee. Another very similar cover (Figure 129) is postmarked "NEW-YORK SHIP NOV 15" (1838) and is endorsed "pr Gt. Western from Bristol to New York" and "pr Express Mail from New York." It is addressed to Laurenceville, Virginia. The rate 27 cents for the ordinary mail plus ship fee is obliterated and a notation "Paid to Lawrenceville" is written at the top of the cover. But the cover bears no other rate markings. It may well represent a legitimate express mail usage. If so, the correct rate would have been 581/4 cents.

The cover in Figure 130 was sent during that period of 1837 when ship letters could be sent collect by the express. However, although designated to travel over the express by the writer in Havana, June 28, 1837, its destination was Boston, a town not served by the express mail from New York. Probably the writer expected the letter to be put ashore at New Orleans or Charleston. Thus it is actually a regular ship rate cover.

Figure 133. "NEW ORLEANS La. AUG 23" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express" and "75," also "express mail" written by sender, red "NEW-YORK SEP

1" and French transit markings to Cette, France.


Figure 134. "BOSTON Mas. DEC 2" (1837) and "PAID" in red, "75" and "Express Mail" to "Capt. Thomas Pearce of Bayne Canton Packet Care of Messr. M. De Lizondit

Co. New Orleans."

Figure 135. "NEW- YORK DEC 6" (1837) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express mail," "56 114" and ship notations on letter directed to "Valparaiso or Lima." Rare

North-South short express rate.


Another type of ship mail used in combination with the express service involved letters carried by British vessels from New York to London or other European cities. Typically these covers (Figure 131), mostly postmarked at New Orleans, bear paid express mail postage, even though dated before required prepayment of the express rate because prepayment of postage was required on outgoing mail to foreign countries. The express rate was usually 75 cents. Two such covers are known from Charleston. One of these is shown in Figure 132.

Usually these covers bear no New York transit markings, but the cover in Figure 133 bears an August 23 (1838) New Orleans postmark and a September 1 New York handstamp. Therefore, the transit time by express was nine days, which is at least two over contract. But the New York marking may have been applied later than the arrival of the letter in New York by express. It could have been placed upon the cover when the vessel departed from New York. A few express letters were sent in a similar fashion to Scotland and England; The majority of the surviving covers are from the Frederick Huth correspondence in London.

An outgoing ship cover was addressed to Captain Thomas Pearce of "Bayne Canton Packet" (Figure 134) This was held for the captain until he made New Orleans, when he received his mail via an obliging merchant.

The cover in Figure 135 originated in New York. The firm of Howland and Aspinwall stated in the letter that "the Canada is to sail tomorrow or next day from Baltimore & we send duplicate of this, for the chance of meeting her .. . " The address reads "Saml. W. Comstock, Esq. absent Messr. Alsop & Co. Valparaiso or Lima, pr. Canada, Care of W. W. Williams Esq. Baltimore." This very rare cover was sent by the express mail at the short rate of 561/4 cents to Baltimore and probably was forwarded by W. W. Williams to the ship "Canada," which carried the letter to Valparaiso. Apparently the letter reached Williams in time for him to place it aboard the "Canada" before she sailed, since the letter bears no markings of another vessel.

CHAPTER 9 FORWARDED USAGES

During the three year span of the express mail, it was the practice to charge additional postage for letters which were forwarded to new destinations. While covers showing combination usages of the express and forwarding at another post office are not rare, they are far from common. And they demonstrate certain very interesting postal practices of the day.

In Figure 136 is a cover originating in New York on May 19, 1837. It was sent unpaid at a single express rate. On the reverse is the notation "If Mr. Peck has left for up country-please forward to Montgomery and oblige R.C.W. and Co." Therefore on May 24 the cover was returned to Montgomery (one of the intermediate towns on the express route from New York to Mobile) and an additional 183/4 cents

.£

...

Figure 136. "NEW-YORK MAY 19" (1837) in red, manuscript "75" and "Express single," forwarded blue "MOBILE A MAY 24" and ms. "183/4" to Montgomery.

138

Figure 137. "NEW-YORK MAY 22" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express via N.O. paid" and "1.50," all markings obliterated. Carried by hand to Cincinnati from Natchez where postmarked "CINCINNATI 0. JUN 15" in red and "50" in

manuscript to New York, a round-trip cover.

') I t'<-tr- /t r j I

//;0 ,<

Figure 138. "PHILADELPHIA PA JAN 31" (1838) and "PAID" in blue octagon and "Per Express Mail" and "75," forwarded "NEW ORLEANS La. MAR 22" in red and

"18314" to Natchez.

139

Figure 139. "FRANKLIN La. NOV 8" (1837) and "PAID" in black, manuscript "Express Mail" (upside down) and "75," forwarded "GARDINER Me. NOV 24" in red, ms

"6" to Waterville, Maine, scarce postmarks for an express cover.

Figure 140. "NEW-YORK OCT 18" (1838) and curved "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to St. Marks, Florida Territory, black "St. MARKS FLORIDA

OCT 30" and manuscript "6" forwarding postage.

140

FORWARDED USAGES 141

was charged to the addressee. The Mobile firm in care of which the letter was first addressed probably paid the express rate of 75 cents. The word "Express" was obliterated when the letter was forwarded.

Mr. Peck kept travelling and another letter addressed to him is shown in Figure 137. This is one of two known round-trip covers that travelled over both the southern and western routes of the express mail, although the letter did not have express service over the latter route. It originated in New York and since it contained one enclosure, the double rate $1.50 was paid on May 22, 1838. The cover went to New Orleans and then up the Mississippi River to Natchez. The cover was carried by hand to Cincinnati. Here, one H. Clark forwarded the letter (manuscript markings on reverse of cover) and obliterated many of the original notations on the face of the cover, including "Express via N.O. Paid," the $1.50 rate, and the original address. He placed the cover into the ordinary mail on June 15 where it went unpaid at a double rate (two times 25 cents for over 400 miles) to Mr. Peck in care of the original writers of the letter, R. C. Wetmore & Co. The express between Cincinnati and Washington had been discontinued on May 1, 1838.

A more typical express cover with forwarding usage is depicted in Figure 138. This cover bears the second type of Philadelphia postmark used on express covers and paid a single 75 cents rate to New Orleans. Here the cover was forwarded to Natchez, Mississippi at 183/4 cents unpaid. Since the original postmark was January 31 and the New Orleans postmark March 22, it can be assumed the letter was held in the New Orleans post office or by Ogden and Company for a month and a half before it was forwarded.

Figure 141 . "MONTGY. AL. DEC 17" (1836) in red, manuscript "Express Mail" and "561/4," forwarded "NEW ORLEANS La. DEC 20" in blue, "183/4" due to Manchester,

Mississippi, early usage and short rate.


A much more scarce combination of town markings is shown in Figure 139. The cover originated in Franklin, Louisiana, November 8, 1837, paying the 75 cents express rate, newly requiring prepayment as of November 1. It passed by express to New York and then entered the regular mail for the state of Maine, a long joumey out of the express . On November 24, it was forwarded in Gardiner, Maine and was sent 6 cents due to the local town of Waterville. This South-North usage to Maine is unusual.

The cover in Figure 140 was sent by the express from New York to St. Marks, Florida Territory at the 75 cents rate. Just to the right of the "75" is a faint "6" also in pen, which is the reason why the St. Marks postmark was placed on the cover when it was forwarded to a now unknown destination (not legible) .

A very rare combination cover is shown in Figure 141 . This cover was sent from Montgomery just one month after the commencement of the express mail at a short rate (183/4 times three), 561/4 cents, to New Orleans. The "Express Mail" notation is in the center top of the illustration. Three days later it was forwarded, again unpaid, 183/4 cents to Manchester, Mississippi. The total charges to be collected from the addressee were 75 cents.

Forwarding of letters by one merchant firm as a courtesy for friends and associates was a well-established custom by the 1830's. The forwarding of letters by agents

Figure 142. "NEW ORLEANS La. JUN 17" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express mail," "75," and "pr Great Western" forwarded from New York to London.


Figure 143. "NEW ORLEANS La. APR 22" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "per Express mail single sheet," "per Packet of the 1st for Liverpool pr. N. America," and "75," forwarded red oval "FORWARDED BY HECKSCHER, COSTER & MAT-

FIELD, NEW YORK" to London, framed "LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER."


at a port is to be differentiated from the forwarding from one post office to another. Several examples addressed to Mr. Charles Peck have already been illustrated in this chapter.

As an example the letter in Figure 142 travelled as a single express letter from New Orleans. The address "Messrs. Fredr. Huth & Co., London Care of Messrs F. W. Schmidt & Co. New York" is all in one handwriting. An agent of F. W. Schmidt took the letter from the New York post office, obliterated the Schmidt portion of the address, and designated the cover "pr Great Western" to travel as a ship letter to Great Britain.

A rather similar usage is shown in Figure 143. This again is a paid express mail letter at the 75 cents rate. When it was forwarded in New York, the commercial firm which sent it to England by ship mailed applied their own oval handstamp "FORWARDED BY HECKSCHER, COSTER & MATFIELD, NEW YORK" and in manuscript "1st May 1838." It was sent as a Liverpool Ship Letter (rectangular marking on reverse of cover) . Handstamped "forwarded by" markings on express mail covers are quite rare . Another similar New Orleans example bears a red oval "RECEIVED & FORWARDED BY FABER & MERLE NEW-YORK."

\

\ )

' /

'4i4la 1!!11 J

Figure 144. "CHARLESTON S.C. FEB 22" (1837) in red, manuscript "Express Mail," "via Charleston pr. Catherine," and "75," red framed "FORWARDED BY C. EDMONDSTON & Co. CHARLESTON, So. Ca." to New York, rare forwarding agent's

handstamp on express cover.


A spectacular handstamped marking "FORWARDED BY C. EDMUNDSTON & CO. CHARLESTON, So. Ca." is shown on the reverse of a single rate express mail cover from Charleston to New York (Figure 144). Although originally intended to travel via the "Norma," this was altered to "via Charleston pr. Catherine" before the letter left Cuba. No ship fee was charged because the ship's captain delivered the letter to the firm of C. Edmundston which transported the letter to the post office where it entered the mails . The express mail service in February, 1837 did not extend from Columbia to Charleston.

Certain incoming letters by private ships bear less interesting markings, but the forwarding usage is the same as has been discussed. The quadruple rate letter in Figure 145 bears a manuscript "New Orleans 19 Feby 1837 R. G. & Co." endorsement on its reverse . The letter originated in Matanzas, Cuba.

A few covers originated outside of the United States, passed through the express from New Orleans to New York, and then travelled by private ship to Great Britain. Such a cover is illustrated in Figure 146. It was written in Tampico, Mexico April 13, 1838 and carried outside the mails to New Orleans. Some person or firm, now unknown, placed it into the mails in New Orleans on May 7 and prepaid the double express mail postage $1.50. The cover was forwarded a second time in New York by F . W. Schmidt & Co. The "3/2" signifies the double rate ship and inland postage

l

( .. ,. /

Figure 145. "NEW ORLEANS La. FEB 19" (1837) in blue, manuscript "Express Mail, " "via New Orleans," and "3.00" to New York, manuscript forwarding notation on

reverse of cover.


Figure 146. "NEW ORLEANS La. MAY 7" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "per Express Mail" and "1.50" forwarded New York to London.

Figure 147. "NEW- YORK JUN 3" (1839) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Three sheets only Express Mail" and "2.25" to New Washington, Texas, a late usage.


""'?-...,.--.. -...- _, tJI" e-::?

0 - " -7~"" ,.._,~ -c', ~vp ~w ~ /~ ~u Y :·~ o- , ~ __ ,., ~/

-- "·-· "'/ ?/ ~? ~ -;;..~7/# '19~

Figure 148. "BALTIMOREMd. JUN6"(1838) and "PAID"in red, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to Galveston, Texas, forwarded in New Orleans.

Figure 149. "BALTIMOREMd. JUN 4"(1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75," black oval "SAM RICKER JR. AGENT OF THE TEXIAN POST OFFICE DT. NEW ORLEANS" and straight line "STEAM PACKET COLUMBIA"

to Galveston, Texas, one of the most attractive known express mail covers.


·.·,

~ - ! ~ I • ' .

~/~' -1 • ~ .

Figure 150. "WASHINGTON D.C. MAR 21" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail" and "75" via New Orleans, forwarded black oval "SAM RICKER JR. AGENT OF THE TEXIAN POST OFFICE D. T. NEW ORLEANS" and "STEAM PACKET COLUMBIA," manuscript "Galviston April 5 / 38 Free" to Houston, Texas .

Addressee was Secretary of State for Texas .

of 3 shillings 2 pence due from the recipient (8d incoming ship's fee plus lld inland postage for a distance of 170-230 miles times two).

One usage to Mexico has been noted. This is a May 10, 1839 cover from Philadelphia, at the prepaid $1.50 rate, addressed "M. Burrough Esq. United States Consul Vera Cruz Via New Orleans." It is presumed this cover was privately forwarded from the New Orleans post office.

By 1838 there was a considerable correspondence between individuals in the United States and the Republic of Texas, then an independent country. Most of the surviving mail is addressed to Texas although Texas town headings are known on a few express letters passing through New Orleans to northern cities. 1 Because the express required prepayment in 1838, an agent for the sender of the letter had to prepay the postage in New Orleans. Alex ter Braake lists two other New Orleans express mail covers that originated in Quintana, Texas and were addressed to Baltimore. One was dated March 14, 1837 and the other July 20, 1838.

Quite a few express mail covers to Texas reside in the various archives in Texas A typical example is shown in Figure 147 of a triple rate cover from New York.

1 Alex ter Braake, "Texas and the Express Mail," STAMPS, December 26, 1970.


Figure 151. "NEW- YORK JAN 30" (1839) in red, manuscript "pr Express Mail via New Orleans," "Express" obliterated, rated "1.00" to New Orleans, forwarded "STEAM PACKET COLUMBIA" and "61/4" Texas postage due to Houston, a cover mailed when prepayment of the express rate was required and thus it travelled by ordinary

mail.

The cover was forwarded by private steamer to New Washington, Texas, via Galveston. Another cover also sent in care of a New Orleans company, "Whitridge & Co.," is shown in Figure 148. This letter from Baltimore paid a 75 cents single rate to New Orleans, where it was forwarded to Galveston. A notation on the reverse of the cover reads "Messrs. W. & Co. will please forward this letter by the most direct conveyance as soon as possible F . W."

Certainly among the most spectacular express mail usages are those covers carried by the express and then forwarded by Sam Ricker, Jr. Approximately a dozen such covers are known to the writer. One of the most handsome is shown in Figure 149. This letter, like the cover in Figure. 148, was sent from Baltimore at the single express rate of 75 cents, paid. It was also forwarded by Messrs. Whitridge & Co., who gave the cover to Sam Ricker Jr. It was carried by the "STEAM PACKET COLUMBIA" to Galveston. The forwarding oval "SAM RICKER JR. AGENT OF THE TEXIAN POST OFFICE DT. NEW ORLEANS" is very clearly struck.

Another cover with the Sam Ricker oval is illustrated in Figure 150. This cover has the distinction of bearing a manuscript postmark at Galveston where the letter was posted by the Texian post office system to Houston. It went free since the addressee was the Secretary of War of the Republic of Texas.

One cover that was intended for the express mail but sent by ordinary mail is


shown in Figure 151 . It is directed "pr Express Mail via New Orleans." The New York postmark bears the date January 28, 1839. At this time prepayment was required for express mail. A quadruple rate of $3.00 would have applied. The sender decided to send the letter postage due by ordinary mail. It was forwarded by a firm in New Orleans per "STEAM PACKET COLUMBIA" and charged 6 1/4 cents postage from Galveston to Houston.

CHAPTER 10 FREE MAIL IN THE EXPRESS 1

With the establishment of postal facilities by Continental Congress on Nov. 8, 1775, carne the privilege for certain individuals to send their letters without charge by "franking" them. At first this practice was reserved for the members of Congress and soldiers during the Revolutionary War, but gradually, from 1782 to 1799, franking was extended to include all mail of official nature to and from the Presidents, the Congress, and most of the chiefs of the various executive departments. Within each department, certain individuals were designated to possess the right to frank the official mail. Individual acts extended the right to different branches of the government, and in 1799 this freedom from all postal charges was given to postmasters.

Such letters were signed by the person so privileged in the upper right-hand corner of the folded letter and were postmarked appropriately, either in manuscript or with a handstarnped town marking. With rare exceptions all such letters bear the additional postmark "FREE."

By the 1830s this usage was well entrenched as a special privilege for a rather large number of individuals. But it existed not without extensive abuse, and several postmaster generals had attempted to amend or abolish the practice which of course resulted in a great loss of postal revenue.

It is to be noted that the Act of July 2, 1836 defines the triple rate only for letters sent not free and it does provide for the transportation of public despatches by the express service. However, the establishment of the service was left in the hands of the wily old crony of Andrew Jackson, Amos Kendall, who was fully cognizant of the abuses and losses of revenue due to the franking privilege. Therefore, when the express mail service was commenced in November 1836, one provision was the exclusion of all free letters. It was possible, however, to send letters unpaid (at the triple rates).

An example of the type of usage this produced is reproduced in Figure 152. This cover is to Postmaster General Amos Kendall, in Washington. Originally it bore a red FREE (above the written 30) but this was inked out and the letter was rated 30 cents due (three times the 10-cent rate for a distance of under 80 miles). The contents are of an official nature, and the letter would have ordinarily been sent free .

Receiving unwanted and unpaid express letters caused some of the members of Congress to complain. As was discussed in Chapter Five, these complaints eventually

1James W. Milgram: "Free Mail in Eastern Pony Express," American Philatelist, November, 1970, pp. 984-990.

151

Figure 152. "BALTIMORE Md. MAY 16" (1837) in red, red "FREE" obliterated, manuscript "Express Mail" and "30" to Postmaster General Kendall, Washington. The only known express cover bearing a "FREE" handstamp, one of three known

30 cents rate covers.

Figure 153. "WASHINGTON CITY D.C. MAR 15" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express Mail," "Charge Indian Affrs. C. A. Harris" and "75" to St. Louis,

rare usage over western routes.

152

FREE MAIL IN THE EXPRESS 153

Figure 154. "MILLEDGEVILLE Ga. JUN 8" (1838), "PAID," and straight line "EXPRESS" in red, manuscript "75" and "Express" to the Secretary of War, Washington,

rare handstamped express mail marking .

... ·.

Figure 155. "Per Express Male," "Free," "Immurgensee in Hast," and "On Buisness of grate importance" to the postmaster general. The express mail notation was obliterated.


led to a Congressional resolution requiring prepayment of all express letters:

... That the Postmaster General be, and he is hereby, directed to cause the postage on all letters sent by the Express Mail of the United States to be paid in advance at the time of depositing them for transportation by said mail.

The actual date of enforcement for all prepayment was November 1, 1837. Figure 153 shows an official despatch from an office of an executive branch of

the government, Indian Affairs (Interior). Charging the express fee to the Indian Affairs account is authorized by the signature of C. A. Harris; this is not a franking signature on this cover. It also identifies the letter as a public despatch. Single letters sent for a distance of over 400 miles were rated 75 cents. This letter traveled over two branches of the express, Washington to Dayton and Dayton to St. Louis.

Very uncommonly covers bear handstamped express mail markings. The cover in Figure 154 addressed to the Secretary of War bears a red straight line EXPRESS in addition to the circle handstamp of the town of origin, Milledgeville, Ga. Before required prepayment this might have been an example of the group of express letters which caused members of the government to object to receiving unpaid expre::;s letters. The contents, from a young army officer, request that his commission be sent to him before his impendi~g transfer into Cherokee country.

The Postmaster of Liberty, Ohio suffered a great personal tragedy and sent a letter requesting assistance to Amos Kendall:

to his Excellency, Amos Kendle, P.M. General Dear Sir

Liberty Post Office Montgomery County February the 4th, 1838

per Express male

I have to invite your immediate attention to the immergense of the Present lose. Your immediate aid is seked for the apprehension of a gang of Swindlers & yea worse than common highway men. I request your Excellency immediate orders to the Postmasters at the following Post offices for to have a sharp look out and detail all letters, adressed with the following names, to wit: Joseph Clingenpeel, William Clingenpeel, Harvey Clingenpeel, Milkenney Clingenpeel, Joseph Kilkenney, Solomon Bookwalter, Hyram Young & Lucius Miller. The Distributing post offices at Lewisville Kn Cincinnati Ohio Indianapolus Indiana and the postmasters at Shaneetown Illonoy, Centervill Indiana, Richmond Indiana, Eaton Ohio, Dayton Ohio, Little York, Ohio. Joseph Clingenpeel is the Grand Perpetrator and the outlines of the sircumstance are these he is my son in law married my daughter without a single doller not withstanding I had unlimited confidence in his being gifted in business which I wasted to abandon, gave him almost the intire contract of my estate, kept in this town for the past 21/2 years a Large store went to Philadelphia & New yourk and made extensive purchases continued on to the 12nd day of November last when he left under the charracter of visiting Cincinnati to make a payment in Bank of $1700 which was the last correct account of him only that he took a passage down the River never paid the $1700 his Brother Kilkenny Clingenpeel conveyed after him as far as Cnt. a hutzzey of a girl after him & his Brother Harvey taking another rout & all met at Cnt. his brother Wm followed on he owes about $25,000 in all and has deprived me of every thing in a word if I cannot secseede in his apprehension & effect a recover I am utterly reduced in my

FREE MAIL IN THE EXPRESS 155

old age to utter Poverty. his wife he left behind with 3 children, the Sheriff has taken by Attachment all hir rich furniture & household stuff. I have gave him his wife my Daughter we are here destitude of all meanes enveloped in grate troubles his store has instantly been attached he from evry account must have in cash with him $16 or 17 thousand dollars. he has also defrauded many honest & hardworking farmers in this visenity. I implore your Excellency for Heavens Sake not to loose a moment and apprise & order the postmasters at the given offices to detail all letters having the above adress for my inspection which will sirtenly leede to a discovery & detection as soon as I procure orders from your Excellency thay will take every possible steps in my aid. . . . On Refference to your books you will find that I have now been P.M. of this place for 18 or 19 years & can refer you to Mr. Good our Member of Congress Judge C. . . . I deem it unnessary to say anything further thinking I have given you suffeciant evidence to order such an arrest of letters the other names given besides Joseph Clingenpeel are all Poor Devels who are his Aides and abettors for a part of the spoil. 0 treacherous man who is to trust

I am your excellencys most obediant Humble servant H ENRY HEPPEL

The cover in Figure 155 was sent free but the "per Express Male" is obliterated. Since it was sent unpaid, the cover went by the regular mails although it was from a postmaster to the Postmaster General. Notations therein indicate it was answered on February 14, 1838, ten days after it was mailed (the date of receipt is not recorded) :

The Department cannot stop letters . As a means of detecting crime Postmasters are at liberty to give information of the passage of letters for particular individuals A.K.

Figure 156 shows a cover with a practically identical usage. However, there is a strong probability that this letter did go by the express as a free letter, a rare exception to the regulations. It is also addressed to the Postmaster General and is from a postmaster in Alabama:

Wilcox C. H. June 7th 1839 Sirs:

I have to inform you of an obstruction made this morning upon the route from Selma to Claiborne. I will relate to you the circumstances, then you can act as you please, or I will comply with any directions you make in prosecuting the matter. Ward Taylor the contractor on the above route formerly made this his stopping place, it being about half way from Selma to Claiborne, his riders & horses were here twice a week, and made an a / c of some $125 & some 6 weeks since he changed his stand from here to Canton 7 miles North. The mail left Canton this morning as usual & arrived here about 7 o'clock A.M. while the mail was opening, the Sheriff of this county attached the horse at the instance of Johnathan Kennedy, the rider after contending some time gave him up, & the mail now lies in the office. I should have forwarded it, but could not procure a horse for so doing. Write me upon this subject immediately. Yours Very Respectfully

J . A. WHITE

Amos Kendall Esq. PM General I have also to report the wretched condition of the mail bags on the route within named. They are neither safe nor decent. I could not procure any in


Figure 156. "Wilcox C.H. AI 8 June" (1839), "Express" and "Free" to Amos Kendall, Postmaster General, Washington.

Figure 157. "West Ely Mo. Sep. 19" (1838) , "H. H. Hayes P.M." and "by the express mail" all in manuscript to North Granby, Connecticut, but travelled by regular mail.

FREE MAIL IN THE EXPRESS

this section, or I should have procured new ones. Yours &c J. A. WHITE Note in red ink: Wrote U.S. Dis. Atty G. W. Gayle 19 June 1839.

157

One important reason why this letter is probably a legitimate express usage is suggested by the date, June 8, 1839. At this time few people were paying the expensive express rates and in less than a month the service was to be discontinued. It is the writer's belief that the express notation would have been removed had the cover not been carried by the express; except for the regulations there is no reason to doubt this.

Another letter addressed to Amos Kendall paid a 75 cents rate from Mobile in January, 1839.

Another intriguing free letter is shown in Figure 157. The cover is postmarked "West Ely, Mo. Sep. 19 (1838)., H. H. Hayes P.M., Free" and "by the express mail" all in manuscript. The contents include "in grate haste by the express male." Therefore, undoubtedly this cover was intended for the express mail. However, as of May 1, 1838, the western branch of the express mail had been discontinued. Therefore, although the cover appears to be a legitimate express mail letter, it was not possible for it to travel over an express route.

Other postmasters evidently knew the regulations more thoroughly. The letter within the cover illustrated in Figure 158 was written by the postmaster at Newbern, N.C.:

Newbern No Ca Octo 22nd 1837 Dr Sir

Permit me (by advice of Mr. Geo Cleterali) to trouble you with a little business in your profession ... I did not know of the assignment until yesterday which affords me scarely time to act by an agent in the matter, however if there is not detention this will arrive on the day before the closing of the business (Nov. 2) please let me hear from you as soon as any thing is done write by the regular mail as by that mail I shall receive all communications free of postage being Postmaster at this place. . . Respectfully Yr. Obt. Servt.

WM. G. BRYAN On reverse is the notation: The Post Master will have the goodness to forward this to Mr. Waller immediately as it is important that he should get it on the 1st day of November

WM. G. BRYAN, Postmaster Newbern, N. C.

Although the cover was mailed before the period of required prepayment, it paid a 75-cents rate to Greensboro, Alabama, a distance greater than 400 miles (approximately 650 miles).

The postmaster at Tuscumbia, Alabama sent a letter to "Hon. R. Chapman in Congress Washington City, D.C." He prepaid the 75 cents express rate since he sent the letter by the express in 1838.

Another letter (Figure 159) is addressed to the postmaster at New Milford, Pennsylvania. This is a front without contents, but any November unpaid letter had to be mailed in 1836 since prepayment was mandatory by the following November. Probably by error the letter was sent to Milford, Delaware, rather than to New Milford, Pennsylvania. Even though the addressee was a postmaster, the express postage was required of him. Because the letter was missent due to a Post Office Department error, no extra postage was charged for forwarding.


Figure 158. "NEWBERN N.C. OCT 23" (1837) and "PAID" in black, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to Greensboro, Alabama, rare town usage.

Figure 159. "NEW ORLEANS La. NOV 28" (1836) in blue, manuscript "by Express" and "75" forwarded "MILFORD Del DEC 9" in black (free) to New Milford's postmaster,

only known Delaware postmark on express letter, very early usage.

CHAPTER 11 DECLINE OF THE EXPRESS MAIL

The express mail service was not always on schedule. The Washington National Intelligencer in mid-1837 reported "Yesterday morning no newspaper mail from New York. The preceding evening no express mail, but the mail due by express coming as usual by yesterday's slow mail. The same thing occurring two or three times every week."1 Kendall emphasized to one contractor "the absolute necessity of regularity in the express mail . . . if unable to get through in time with the railroad train, the Department will expect him immediately to put it on horseback."2 Norona reported an episode "when an express rider was fined for riding through the town of Zanesville, Ohio, faster than was allowed by a town ordinance, the Postmaster-General wrathfully exploded, 'Neither towns nor cities nor states themselves have a right to regulate the speed of the U.S. mails' "3

Although there were many complaints with the express mail, mostly instigated by failures to complete the transit in the scheduled time, the major reason for the discontinuance of the service was an improvement in the transit time of the ordinary mails. In his 1837 annual report to Congress Postmaster General Kendall stated:

Efforts have been made to organize a great mail line from New York through Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wheeling, Columbus, and Cincinnati, by land, and down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers by Louisville, Memphis, Helena, Vicksburg, Natchez, &c, to New Orleans. Between Cincinnati and Louisville a steamboat mail now runs daily; from Louisville to New Orleans it now runs thrice a week under a recent contract, and will run daily after the first of the year; from Baltimore to Cincinnati the mail has been greatly expedited; and nothing is wanting to complete the plan but a contract with the railroad companies between Philadelphia and Baltimore, of which there is a fair prospect. It is anticipated that when this line shall be in full operation, it will be expedient to discontinue the express mails between Philadelphia and Cincinnati, at least, as little can be gained by them; and the great mail will go from New York to New Orleans by this route in about eleven days.

Even in his initial report in 1836 Kendall indicated "It is and doubtless will continue to be the policy of the Department not to send the news with less expedition, but

1 Washington National Intelligencer, March 7, 1837. 2 Letter, Postmaster General, January 12, 1837. 3 Delf: Norona, "The Express Mail of 1836 to 1839," American Philatelist, September, 1943,

pp 777.

159


to bring the whole mail to the speed of the express as fast as it can secure continuous railroad or steamboat transportation."' This was not, however, the opinion of the Louisville Journal:

We notice the other day an increase in the speed of the great eastern mail. We regret, however, to find that its increase in speed is at the expense of its regularity. There have been three failures, in rapid succession, since the commencement of the new arrangement. Things have thus been made worse instead of being improved.

. . . the regular mail will be neglected, and its interests postponed in order to bring into profitable use the Express mail just established westward. In the nature of things, it must be so. Two suns in one firmament, two streams in one channel, would be scarcely less reconcilable than two mail-lines, one fast, and the other slow, on the same road. 4

It must not be thought that the express mail was considered to be a failure in its overall conception and performance. Six months after its commencement the Nashville, Tennessee Commercial Transcript reported.

We understand that the nett revenue produced by the Express mail, has undoubtedly exceeded $100,000, since its establishment.

The express mail from New York to New Orleans is the most successful improvement in the mail facilities of this country since the first establishment of the Post Office Department. The enterprise has gone beyond the most sanguine calculations of the department, and notwithstanding the occasional complaints of express failures which we find in the eastern papers, Mr. Kendall is justly entitled to the highest commendation for his energy and foresight .

Independent of the decided accommodation to the business men and publishers on the route, the nett revenue from the express mail since its establishment last fall now exceeds $40,000.

This mail only carries the letters which are marked Express, and on which triple postage is charged. Newspaper slips for the different editors of the great commercial cities, as they are enabled by the express arrangement to furnish news several days in advance of the regular mail. On the other hand the newspapers in New York and New Orleans reap a corresponding advantage in the additional interest which is given to their columns by this mail.

The mail bag is carried on horseback at the rate of from nine to ten miles an hour, and the contractors who enter the service, must, to use the language of Mr. Kendall's proposals, "make up their minds not to let bad roads , nor storms, nor floods, nor casualties, nor dangers, prevent their performance according to contract." Time from New York to New Orleans seven days .5

When the express mail was established, the alternative for the fastest transportation of letters was between pony express riders and stagecoaches. Railroads, steamboats, and the telegraph were still in their infancy insofar as general transportation of the mails concerned.

4 Louisville Journal July 13, 1837. 5 Nashville Commercial Transcript, June 1, 1837.

DECLINE OF THE EXPRESS MAIL 161

It was during the first year of express mail operation that the New York Commercial Advertiser announced the invention of the railroad post office:

Railroad Post Office-Perhaps as great a public convenience is now to be found on the railroad between Albany and Utica, as can be met with in any country. It is the establishment of a travelling post office on the railroad-a regular distribution office; and for this great convenience, I am told, the public are indebted to Mr. Davidson, of Saratoga Springs, the general agent of the railroad company. Two postmasters, or post office agents, Mr. Kendall, jun. and the jun. Mr. Elliott of Albany, are employed constantly between those cities, and they make up a mail for each office on the route. The cars stop but for a moment, while a messenger who is in attendence, receives the mail in a small bag, and gives one in return. This mail car is about the size of the large baggage cars, painted green, with windows and doors, and the interior fitted up with boxes for distribution. On either side of the car is painted, in large letters, "United States mail car," and on both sides there are letter boxes, into which letters &c can be deposited until the last moment previous to the departure of the train; this gives those who have correspondence, one hour more than can be allowed by the post office in this city, and the respective towns on the route.6

In the northeastern section of the United States regular railroad mail service was available between many cities by 1838. An extremely early railroad cover between Albany and Rome, New York is shown in Figure 160. One by one the individual express mail contracts between intermediate points on the express routes were relet to railroads as railroad service became available over a particular span of the route. Fourteen months after the commencement of the express mail service it was announced that the Postmaster General "having made a contract with the railroad companies on the line from Washington to Philadelphia which will bring the whole mail but two hours later than the express arrives, the express mail now running from Philadelphia to Washington will be discontinued in' a few days." 7 "An express bag still passed along the whole line from New York for convenience ... but no express postage was charged on any part of the line." 8 Two months later "Contracts having been made for the conveyance of mail on the railroads from Philadelphia to Washington and Fredericksburg to Richmond it was found that the express mail might be dispensed with ... the express line was therefore drawn off from Philadelphia to Petersburg." 9

Two weeks later the railroads connected to Gaston. The express mail "commenced in form and fact at Gaston, although the mail destined for it came in a separate bag from Petersburg and even from New York." 10 By January 1, 1839 the railroad service had been extended to Augusta, Georgia. The probable consitution of the southern route at that date is as shown in the following table.

6 New York Commercial Advertiser, July 7, 1837. 7 Letter, Postmaster General January 29, 1838 to Committee on Post Office. 8 Postmaster General's Report, January 17, 1839. 9 lbid. 10 lbid.

The

Exp

ress

Mai

l R

oute

s o

f 18

36-3

9 A

s o

f Ja

nu

ary

1,

1839

In

form

atio

n P

art

ly F

rom

P.M

.G.

Rep

orts

of

1837

an

d 1

838

Ter

min

als

New

Yor

k, N

.Y.

Ph

ilad

elp

hia

, P

a.

Ph

ilad

elp

hia

, P

a.

Mil

es

89

Bal

tim

ore,

Md

. 97

B

alti

mor

e, M

d.

Was

hing

ton,

D.C

. 40

W

ashi

ngto

n, D

.C.

Fre

der

ick

sbu

rg, V

a.

Fre

der

ick

sbu

rg,

Va.

R

ichm

ond,

Va

. 13

0 R

ichm

ond,

Va.

P

eter

sbu

rg,

Va.

24

P

eter

sbu

rg,

Va.

W

eldo

n,

N.C

. 64

Tra

nsp

ort

ing

Co

mp

any

New

Jer

sey

RR

& T

ran

s C

o.

Cam

den

& A

mbo

y B

ran

ch R

R

Ph

ilad

elp

hia

& T

ren

ton

RR

P

hila

delp

hia,

Wil

min

gto

n

& B

alti

mor

e R

R

Was

hing

ton

Bra

nch

of

Bal

tim

ore

& O

hio

RR

R

.F. &

P. R

R,

Co

ntr

acto

r B

y s

tage

coac

h.

R.F

. &

P. R

R

Ric

hmon

d &

Pet

ersb

urg

RR

Pet

ersb

urg

& R

oan

ok

e R

R

In O

pera

tion

B

y

10-3

1-18

37

1-1-

1839

11

-1-

1834

11-

-183

8

8-25

-183

5

1-23

-183

7

9-17

-183

8

6--1

833

Tim

es a

W

eek

14

14

14 7 7

ttj

:X

"0

::0

7 tt

j 00

00

7 s;::

>

......

t""

7 0 '-r

j

......

CXl "' Ol I ......

CXl "' tD

Wel

don,

N.C

. W

ilm

ingt

on,

N.C

. W

ilm

ingt

on,

N.C

. C

harl

esto

n, S

.C.

Cha

rles

ton,

S.C

. A

ugus

ta,

Ga.

A

ugus

ta,

Ga.

V

ia R

epub

lica

n an

d O

geec

hee.

**

Mil

ledg

evil

le,

Ga.

M

ille

dgev

ille

, G

a.

Col

umbu

s, G

a.

Col

umbu

s, G

a.

Mon

tgom

ery,

Ala

. M

ontg

omer

y, A

la.

Mob

ile,

Ala

.

Tot

al

Mob

ile,

Ala

. N

ew O

rlea

ns,

La.

*App

roxi

mat

e.

**P

roba

ble

rout

e.

160

170

139 93*

133 81

198

1418

*

164

Mid

dle

sect

ion

by c

oach

. W

ilm

ingt

on &

Ral

eigh

RR

Ste

ambo

at

Sou

th C

arol

ina

RR

N

o ra

ilro

ad s

ervi

ce i

n

Geo

rgia

by

Dec

. 3,

183

8

Hor

se,

sam

e as

183

6

Hor

se,

sam

e as

183

6

Hor

se,

sam

e as

183

6

Hor

se,

sam

e as

183

6

Ste

ambo

at, t

akes

an

oth

er d

ay.

11-

-183

8 A

t le

ast

by

abo

ve

10-

1-18

33

7 7 7 7 7 7 7

tj

trj

(")

r-'

...... z trj

0 '"rj

t-3

:I:

trj

trj

:X

'"t! ~

trj

m

m

~

~

r-'


Figure 160. "UTICA N.Y. JAN 30" (1838) in red oval, manuscript "R.R. 12112" to Rome, New York, earliest known manuscript railroad postmark in the United States.

In 1836 steamboats and railroads transported mail over a combined distance of 1,878,296 miles . This figure grew to 2,413,092 miles in 1838 and 3,396,055 miles in 1839. Although this near doubling seems impressive, it must be remembered that the majority of the mail was still conveyed by horses: 11

Horse and Sulky Stage and Coach Steamboat and Railroad

Total Mileage

11,447,147 19,653,676 3,396,055

Cost

$864,569 $1,900,451

$520,602

The proportionately high cost of railroads and steamboats should be noted. Complaints with the cost of the express mail prompted Congress in 1838 to ask

Kendall for a detailed account of the receipts and expenses of the express mail.

REPORT FROM THE POSTMASTER GENERAL

In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 11th December last, with statements of the receipts and expenses of the express mail.

11 Report of the Postmaster General , November 30, 1839.

DECLINE OF THE EXPRESS MAIL

January 18, 1838

165

Post Office Department January 17, 1838.

Sir: I have the honor to communicate the following information, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, adopted on the 11th ultimo.

Express mails are now carried from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Mobile, Alabama; from Columbia, South Carolina, connecting there with the southern line, to Charleston, South Carolina; from Washington, District of Columbia, connecting at that place with the southern line, to St. Louis, Missouri; and from Dayton, Ohio, connecting at that place with the western line, to Montgomery, Alabama, connecting there with the southern line.

No extension of this service is, for the present, proposed. The aggregate compensation of contractors for this service, as shown by the

contracts, is four hundred and fifty-eight thousand eight hundred and forty-one dollars per annum. The actual cost will be about four per cent less, inasmuch as the pay is withheld in every case of failure, whatever may be the cause.

The amount of postage which has accrued from the express mail since its first establishment cannot be ascertained with perfect accuracy, because it is not entered in separate accounts. Upon the passage of the resolution; the postmasters at the several offices where those mails are opened, were called on to make out a separate statement of express postage, with as much accuracy as possible, and most of them have done so. These statements come down to the 30th September last (see Appendix). They show the whole postage on letters sent from those offices by express mail up to that time, to have been $199,379.82, and the whole amount on letters received, $151,171.41. But neither of these statements exhibits the true amount. Letters sent from offices on the express lines to offices not on them, are not included in the account of mails received; and letters sent from offices not on those lines to offices upon them, are not included in the mails sent; while letters by the express lines in part between offices neither of which is upon them, are included in neither. Resort must, therefore, be had some measure, to estimates, for the purpose of approximating the true amount of postage on letters transmitted by express mails. Take for the basis the amount of postage on letters sent from offices on the express lines, as returned by postmasters $199,379.82

Add for Fredericksburg, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Charleston, South Carolina; for 3d quarter Augusta, Georgia, Milledgeville, Talbottom, and Montgomery, from which the returns have not been received- 27,450.00 Add also for letters mailed for the express mails at offices not on the express maillines- 11,341.00

$238,170.82 Deduct one-half the estimated amount of postage on letters in transitu on the 30th September- $373.50 Also for dead letters- 1,814.45

2,187.95

Total postages on letters transmitted by the express mails to the 1st October last- $235,982.87 Cost of express mails up to that time 232,366.07

Of the postages by express, it appears that $1,904.70 have been paid by officers of Government on public account.


This estimate includes one quarter of the western express, which commenced running the first of July last, and had no express mail connection south or west beyond Cincinnati. It is obvious that the amount of postages yielded by such a mail at the outset, is not criterion to indicate its subsequent productiveness. During the first three quarters of 1837, the southern line was in full operation, and exhibits the following results, on the basis of the foregoing estimate, viz: Postage on letters sent, as by postmasters' returns $179,406.01 Add for offices from which there are no returns 24,672.00 Also for letters carried by express, but not mailed on the express line-

Deduct for dead letters Total postages for the three quarters, on the southern lineActual cost of carrying the mail for the same time

10,203.00

$214,281.01 1,802.39

$212,478.62 $186,650.88

No deduction is here made for letters in transitu; for it is presumed as many were in that condition on the 1st January, 1837, as on the 1st October.

The express mails produce a large accession of revenue indirectly. Between New York and New Orleans, twice as many interchanges of letters can be effected in any given time, through the express mail, as could be through the ordinary mail, and a similar result, though not in the same degree is produced at all intermediate and adjacent points. The increase of interchanges produces a corresponding increase of letters to be conveyed on all the ordinary mail routes, diverging from the express line, or radiating from the cities and towns where the express mails are opened. To this increased activity given to correspondence, the department is undoubtedly in a great degree indebted for the 223 /4 per cent increase of the general revenue during the first and second quarters of 1837, over the corresponding quarters of 1836, and for sustaining the revenue of the third quarter at about nine per cent. over that of the preceding year, notwithstanding the general interruption of business, and the collection of postages in specie in the midst of a paper circulation.

Against this is to be set off a reduction of the revenue, arising from the ordinary mails on the express mail lines, below what it would be if no express was in operation. The accounts of the several offices on the lines indicate that this reduction, though very perceptible at some points, is, on the whole, inconsiderable, and it is believed to bear a very small proportion to the indirect increase, on the ordinary mail lines, produced by the express mails.

I annex a condensed statement of the returns of postmasters, on which the foregoing estimates are based, and also a statement of the postages, on the northern and southern line, for the first three quarters of 1837.

Very respectfully Your obedient servant,

Amos Kendall Hon. R. M. Johnson President of the Senate

It should not be considered that the express did not have its failures, but as this report to Congress indicated, all failures for whatever reason caused a forfeiture of payment to the contractors and the total rate of failures was estimated at four


percent. This figure does indeed seem low. Leonard Huber in The Great MaiP2 excerpts complaints regarding express failure from several New Orleans newspapers. The Picayune even promoted its own express to gain the news several hours sooner than the scheduled express mail. The express mail, although carried in bags meant to be watertight, sometimes arrived in a soaking wet condition.

The illustration in Figure 161 is an 1838 criticism of the mails in general with two tired nags pulling a mail coach loaded with kids and lovers, but the reference to the old woman dottering along with the "EXPRESS MAIL" over her shoulder is too clear as to permit any misunderstanding of the sentiments of the illustrator who engraved this picture. Also to be noted is the thatched roof post office in the background with the date 1748 over its door, a reference, no doubt, to the modernity of post office department buildings.

Steamboat mail over inland routes became more dependable in the 1830's, and therefore mail contracts were let wherever steamboats could travel. The cover in Figure 162 originated in Perrysburg, Ohio. It probably entered the mails in Buffalo. In 1837 this letter could have been carried by the express. The cover in Figure 163 was mailed during the lifespan of the express mail. Many express mail covers are known addressed to Mr. Charles C. Peck at New Orleans, Natchez and Vicksburg. However this 1839 cover was designated to travel via Louisville, Kentucky rather than New Orleans. It passed by water between Louisville and Vicksburg.

Actually, the improvement of the regular mail to Louisville had already prompted the discontinuance of the western branch as far as Louisville, Kentucky on May 1, 1838.

WESTERN EXPRESS MAIL

We learn that this mail is to be discontinued after this day as far as Louisville, Ky. including the branch to St. Louis, Mo.

The motive for this step we understand to be, first, that only about one day in expedition is gained by this mail, since the recent improvements in the ordinary mail, between New York and Louisville, which, under any circumstances, would scarcely justify the annual expenditure of $71,937, which is its present cost, to sustain it; and secondly, that the whole line including both branches, does not yield a revenue sufficient to pay one-fifth of its cost. In his last report the Postmaster General stated that the expenditures of the Department were greater than the current revenue, and since then, we are informed, he has drawn largely upon his accumulated surplus. To prevent possible embarrassment in the future, it was incumbent on him to curtail those portions of the service which yield but a small part of their cost, and there was none which could more properly, and with less injury to the public, be retrenched than this.

The Express lines from Louisville, Ky. to Montgomery, Ala. and from Gaston, N.C. through Montgomery to Mobile, it is not in contemplation to discontinue; and the rapidity with which the ordinary mail now travels from New York

12 Leonard Huber, The Great Mail, American Philatelic Society, 1949, pp 37-45.


,\

NL .. V YORK

.I X• Jl .H . .L..\,:f\_1,}:•· .

Figure 161. Illustrated title page from 1838 The Motley Book entitled "The Superannuated Donkey Mail."

Figure 162. "STEAM-BOAT" in fancy blue scroll, "25" in manuscript, letter June 12, 1836, Perrysburg, Ohio to New York.

Figure 163. "NEW-YORK MAR 22" (1839) in red, manuscript "River Mail via Louisville, Ky." and "25" to Vicksburg, Mississippi.

169

/

- ~/ .L:U£~ ,, \tpfflv/- ~ ' ~\- ~ \

.. . ~ ~. .

•.' ' ..

Figure 164. "NEW ORLEANS La. MAY 15" (1838) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to Greensburgh, Kentucky. Carried by express to Three Forks,

Kentucky.

Figure 165. "NEW ORLEANS La. MAR 22" (1839) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "Express mail" and "75" to Greensburgh, Kentucky. Carried by express only to Nashville,

Tennessee.

170


. ·~ ~ .·· .-, .

•

,... .... "' ~ · .' ...... ""

1 . /

,/P /'(L(

Figure 166. "MOBILE A. JAN 14" (1839) and "PAID" in blue, "Express" and "75" to St. Clairsville, Ohio, carried by express only to Nashville, rare Western route usage.

to Gaston, N.C. and to Louisville, Ky. makes it practically an express without the charge of triple postage.

If circumstances should so change as to hold out the prospect of such an express line to St. Louis, or to other points in the interior as would nearly meet the cost, the Postmaster General will not hesitate to establish it; but he does not think it right to keep up these mails at the expense of a heavy charge on the ordinary revenue. 13

The service from Nashville to Montgomery was ordered discontinued as of January 15, 1839 when the service from Louisville to Nashville ceased, but "yielding to a memorial presented by citizens of Nashville and Huntsville, the Postmaster General permitted it to run, although the product of the southwestern express mail was not equal to one-fifth of its cost through the winter and spring." 14

In Figures 164 and 165 are two covers sent via the western route from New Orleans. The earlier cover postmarked May 15, 1838, travelled by express from Mobile to Three Forks, Kentucky fifty miles from Greensburgh. The second cover, written March 22, 1839, was sent by express over the same route only to Nashville, Tennessee, where the express then terminated (see Table Chapter 4) . The cover from Mobile to St. Clairsville, Ohio shown in Figure 166 is another example of a cover which

13 Washington Globe, April 30, 1838. 14 History of the Railway Mail Service, cited by Norona, September, 1943.


might be interpreted as being carried by the express over the western routes through Ohio, but which in fact was carried by the express only to Nashville, Tennessee.

In May, 1839, the New Orleans Courier stated that the express mail was to be discontinued at the expiration of the contract ending June 30, 1839.

The June 27, 1839 issue of the Washington Globe reported:

SOUTHERN MAIL-EXPRESS MAILS

We are requested to state, for the information of those concerned, that an arrangement, by which the great mail is to be transported between New York and New Orleans in NINE DAYS, will take effect on the first of next month. In consequence of this improvement, the Express mails between Augusta, Ga. and Mobile, Ala . as well as the branch, now in operation between Montgomery, Ala . and Nashville, Te. will cease to run on that day.

This indicated that at the time of its discontinuance, the express mail had shrunk to a fraction of its original length. Express riders were employed only between Augusta, Georgia and Mobile, Alabama and between Montgomery, Alabama and Nashville, Tennessee.

In his November 30, 1839 report, Kendall indicated:

The speed of the ordinary mail having been so increased as to reduce the time of transit between New York and New Orleans to nine days, the express mail, which ran in seven, has been discontinued, and the southwestern branch, which yielded but a small portion of its cost, fell with the main trunk.

The author considers the express to have been a brilliant success during its first year of operation, especially on the southern route. However, as rail communication improved, there was less justification for the expensive triple postage rate. Also in the west, the volume of express mail letters did not really justify the cost of the express.

Amos Kendall, however, was not left behind by the new improvements in communication. As early as 1837 he became interested in the telegraph 15:

Sir:

Post Office Department February 8, 1837

I have received your letter of the 7th inst. enclosing the propositions of Capt. Samuel C. Reid, in relation to the establishment of one or more lines of telegraphs in the United States, and asking my opinion thereon.

Having devoted but little attention to the subject of telegraphs, I am not a competent judge of the relative merits of particular plans. That presented by Captain Reid appears to be ample, and adequate to the great object it is proposed to accomplish.

That great public benefits will arise from the establishment of a line of telegraphs along our coasts, if not into the interior, there can be no doubt. The rapid diffusion of intelligence is of great importance in our busy country, and a portion of our abundant public lands cannot, in my opinion, be more usefully employed than in the attainment of that object.

15 Washington Globe, February 15, 1837.


It cannot be doubted, that with the improvements which have and may be made in the art, telegraphs may be profitably used for private as well as public purposes.

Between New Orleans and New York, it is believed a revenue might be raised from such a line equal to its support, and in process of time, the same results would ensue upon other lines. But if it did not immediately produce enough to support it, the benefits, the public would derive from the rapid transmission of intelligence as to the state of the markets, and exchanges, and or the news, foreign and domestic, and of the orders of the government, would furnish more than an equivalent for any expenditure it would produce.

On the whole, so important do I consider the results which may be accomplished by a line of telegraphs, that were the power vested in me to apply the public funds to that object, I should not hesitate in proceeding at once to ascertain the most approved system, and put it in operation as soon as the necessary buildings and apparatus could be prepared.

Very respectfully Your obedient servant

Amos Kendall Hon. John M. Robinson, Chairman Com. P.O. and P.R. Senate

In 1845 the Congress appropriated $8,000 to investigate a "Magnetic Telegraph" line between Washington and Baltimore to be under the charge and direction of Postmaster General Cave Johnson. As the two accompanying 1846 documents illustrate, Kendall proposed once and for all to defeat the private expresses by the new telegraphic device. The telegraph lines however remained under the direction of private enterprise.16

PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, June 4, 1846. Sm: An express line for the transportation of news in advance of the mail

has been for some time in operation between Montgomery and Mobile by a private company; and the facilities which it has afforded for speculation have been the cause of much complaint, and produced earnest appeals to the department for its suppression. It is understood that the agents of the express accompany the mail from New York to Montgomery, in Alabama, and proceed on horseback to Mobile, (a distance of 197 miles,) at an average speed of more than fifteen miles an hour, and thus overtake the mail of the preceding day at Mobile, and continue with it to New Orleans; whilst the mail coaches from Montgomery to Mobile, with the immense mass of matter which daily goes over that route, can scarcely make five miles an hour. This is an evil of such magnitude as to require, in my judgment, its suppression, which may be effected by an increase of the penalties for the establishment of expresses, or by the transmission of intelligence, upon all proper 'occasions, so much in advance of the mail and expresses, as to render the latter useless. The mail now runs the distance (197 miles) in about 40 hours, whilst the express performs it in about one-third of the time, overtaking the mail of the preceding day, and thus actually gaining one day to New Orleans. By a continuation of the express from Montgomery to Atlanta, at the same speed, (which will probably be soon accomplished,) it will go into Mobile 48 hours in advance of the mail. It is certain the mail cannot be made to go over that or any other route with the speed given the express, which is understood to carry nothing but a newspaper or slip; and it is equally certain that the department cannot establish an express, as the

16 Letter of the Postmaster General, June 4, 1846.


law now stands, to equal their speed. A government express on such a road, with the highest rates of postage that could be charged under the late law, would be broken down by the weight of the mail matter that would at once be thrown upon it. In my judgment, the best and cheapest mode of suppressing these expresses, will be to establish a telegraphic line between Mobile and Montgomery, to be continued, if necessary, to the terminus of the Georgia railroad; by which, near three days may be gained in the transmission of intelligence to New Orleans. The expense of putting up the line will not probably exceed one hundred and twenty dollars per mile, as will be seen in the accompanying letter from Mr. Kendall, who, as president of the company, offers the use of the patent right upon the most liberal terms. It is certain that an express could not be run for a single year without costing more than the erection of the proposed telegraphic line.

I trust it will be the pleasure of Congress to suppress the private expresses, either by an increase of the penalties of the law, or by the establishment of other means of communication that will render them useless.

Your obedient servant, C. JOHNSON.

Hon. D. H. LEwis.

WASHINGTON, June 2, 1846. Sm: In behalf of Professor Morse and his associates, owning the patent right

of Morse's electro-magnetic telegraph, the undersigned, in compliance with your request, submits the basis of an arrangement for the use of said telegraph by the government on the most convenient line from Atlanta, in the State of Georgia, to Mobile, in the State of Alabama. To that end, he makes the following propositions, viz:

1. That the United States build, and, during the war with Mexico, control, a line of telegraph between the points above named-allowing us, when it is not in use by the government in its own legitimate business, to use it for private communications, and news for the newspapers. Or, if the government choose, we will construct the line ourselves, with one wire, superior to any heretofore put up in this country, for the sum of fifty thousand dollars, to be advanced from time to time, as the work progresses; provided, that if any extra expense becomes necessary in carrying the wire across any river or rivers, the sum shall be increased so as to cover such expense.

2. That, at the close of the war, the line shall be delivered into the possession of the patentee, his heirs or assigns, who shall thereafter, at the option of the government, transmit all official communications of the United States free of charge, or refund the cost of the line.

If it be the wish of the government, the undersigned will resign his office as president of the Magnetic Telegraph Company, and, for a reasonable compensation, put up the line in question with all practicable economy and despatch.

With high consideration, your obedient servant, AMOS KENDALL,

For Professor S. F. B. Morse and his associates. Hon. CAvE JOHNSON,

Postmaster General.

CHAPTER 12 1845 REVIVAL OF AN EXPRESS MAIL After the discontinuance of the express mails, stage coaches again carried all of

the mail between most of the towns in Georgia and Alabama. The roads here were often very poor and frequent delays in mail service to New Orleans resulted. Railroad service was yet incomplete through these states. A demand for an express was voiced by several southern newspapers in 1844. In December, 1844, the New Orleans Crescent City established its own express service to take its mail through ahead of the regular mail. This of course caused the other newspapers to howl "unfair practice" to officials in the Post Office Department. New York City speculators were also enraged with the private express.

The weak link in the mails was between Covington, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama. The mails left the railroad at Covington for stage coaches that travelled the 190 mile distance at half the speed of an express rider on a single horse . Therefore, an express rider could gain one or even two days transit time for selected letters.

In January, 1845, the U .S. Senate directed the Postmaster General to report to it the facts concerning the private express mail that had been established between Covington, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama on the route of the Great Mail between New York and New Orleans.

The Postmaster General thereupon decided to run a government express between the two points and on January 27, 1845, the following notice appeared in the Washington Globe:

Post Office, Washington City D.C. January 27, 1845

EXPRESS MAIL-The Postmaster General having established an express mail between Covington, Georgia, and New Orleans, Louisiana, to go into immediate operation, notice is hereby given that, from and after this day, letters prepaid and marked express for Montgomery, Mobile, or New Orleans, will be sent by this mail. Also printed slips from editors of newspapers, as exchanges, will be sent. The slips to be put up in light wrappers, with the ends open.

WM. JONES, P.M.

This advertisement was repeated in the January 29, January 31, and February 7 issues of the Globe. A similar item appeared in the January 29 issue of the New York Journal of Commerce

175

176

WISC-

CI-IICAGO,, ,

ILLINOIS

\ MO

ARK

\ MiSSISSIPPI

~ICkS8\JR6


THE EXPRESS MAIL ROUTE OF 1845 From the P.M.G.'s Report of 1844

NEW YORK

ONTARIO

MICHIGAN

PE.NNSYLVANIA

r-.;_J

BAlTIMORE" OH I 0

! NOlANA

CHATTANOOGA.•

ALABAMA

M~~T ... OMER~ sr~ MA • I <U';flau~• Cr

NE f

'iNOX\IH .. Lt.

WEST VIRGINIA

NORTH

CAROLINA

MD.

AO\. . A C~J

FRE.Of.RIC ~WIUIII

VIRGINIA

SOUTrl CAROLINA ~OuJr.I81A

DEL

ATHENS

--Railroad

_---- Steamboats

~Horse

' ) JAC.I<SOtfVIllE~ !--" STOCKTON

A """LU Th(? only reterenc.e in the PM G's Report for 1844to o ra,lrooa operor,ng or~ the route oe-tween Mob• le ono Covtngton is the stretch on on l nfl M,)n fqomer y 8 w.,.,, Po1n' ~ R. bf>lween Mont r;~omer J and Uphil·,ree C• f'· •.

M081Lf)

~ ' ... -- -

\ FLORIDA

·, eATON ROUGE \~

'~...._l--- ........... H.EW OFtLEAt.!> (

LA. '"~.,

1845 REVIVAL OF AN EXPRESS MAIL 177

Post Office New York, January 29, 1845

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL has ordered an EXPRESS MAIL to run from Covington, Georgia, to Montgomery, Alabama, and back, with the view of expediting the communication between the Eastern Cities and the Cities of Mobile and New Orleans one day, and to enable those desiring to use it, to avail themselves of the dispatch it will afford-notice is hereby given of the arrangement.

Letters PREP AID and marked 'Express' and newspaper slips from Publishers of newspapers addressed to Publishers of papers only, and sent in lieu of their exchange, done up in light wrappers, open at one end, is the only matter that can be allowed to be sent by the EXPRESS. JOHN LORIMER GRAHAM, P.M.

This same paper carried the news that only three private expresses had been run prior to that time.

The announcement reached New Orleans February 7, 1845. The rates were not increased but all letters had to be sent prepaid. The letters had to be designated "Express" in manuscript as for the 1836-1839 express. The newspaper slips as previously were free. No weight limit was prescribed. Presumably free franked letters were excluded, but no official despatches carried over this 1845 express have been seen by the writer.

In 1845 the mail travelled by railroad to Covington, Georgia and then south to Prattsburg, Georgia by stage and then to Uphaugee Creek where it was again carried by railroad (at the expense of the stage contractor) west to Montgomery (Figure 167). The mail from Augusta on the 1836 express went direct to Prattsburg rather than via Covington, but the existence of the railroad between Augusta and Covington in 1845 made the Augusta to Covington and Covington to Prattsburg route shorter in terms of time.

A note in the February 19th issue of the Journal of Commerce commented that the proprietors of the Crescent City Express proposed continuing their line from Montgomery to Mobile. The official announcement to the public of the discontinuance of the express appeared in the March 12th issue of the Globe:

The government express mail between Covington, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama, has been discontinued. The summer arrangement of the regular mail was entered into on the 1st instant, which only takes five days between Charleston and New Orleans, being the same space of time in which the express was formerly carried.

On March 13, 1845 the New York postmaster published news of the discontinuance of the government's express:

POST OFFICE, NEW YORK, MARCH 11, 1845-EXPRESS MAIL-The Southern Mail having been expedited on the great Northern and Southern Mail line between Covington, Georgia, and Mobile, Alabama, by the summer schedule taking effect on the 1st instant, supercedes the necessity of the above express, which is therefore discontinued.

JOHN LORIMER GRAHAM, P.M.

The

Exp

ress

Ma

il R

ou

te o

f 18

45

Tim

es a

T

erm

inal

s T

ran

spo

rtin

g C

once

rn

Mil

es

Wee

k In

ope

rati

on b

y

Bos

ton,

Mas

s.

Pro

vide

nce,

R.I.

B

osto

n &

Pro

vide

nce

RR

43

18

Ja

n.

11,

1835

P

rovi

denc

e, R

.I.

Sto

ning

ton

, C

t.

Pro

vide

nce

& S

ton

ing

ton

RR

4

8

6 N

ov.

17,

1837

S

toni

ngto

n, C

t.

New

Yor

k, N

.Y.

Ste

amb

oat

12

5 6

At

leas

t by

abo

ve.

,......

-.1

N

ew Y

ork,

N.Y

. N

ew J

erse

y R

R &

Tra

ns.

Cam

den

&

00

P

hil

adel

ph

ia,

Pa.

A

mbo

y B

ran

ch R

R P

hil

adel

ph

ia &

T

ren

ton

RR

8

0

14

Jan

. 1,

183

9 P

hila

delp

hia,

Pa.

P

hila

delp

hia,

Wil

min

gto

n &

B

alti

mor

e, M

d.

Bal

tim

ore

RR

97

13

N

ov.

1838

B

alti

mor

e, M

d.

Was

hing

ton

Bra

nch

, B

alti

mor

e &

W

ashi

ngto

n, D

.C.

Ohi

o R

R

40

171 /

2 Ju

ly 2

0, 1

835

Was

hing

ton,

D.C

. A

quia

Cre

ek,

Va.

S

team

bo

at

54

7

At

leas

t by

bel

ow

Aqu

ia C

reek

, V

a.

Ric

hmon

d, F

red

eric

ksb

urg

&

Ric

hmon

d, V

a.

Pot

omac

RR

76

7

Sep

. 30

, 18

42

Ric

hmon

d, V

a.

Pet

ersb

urg

, V

a.

Ric

hmon

d &

Pet

ersb

urg

RR

24

1 /2

7 S

ep.

17,

1838

Pet

ersb

urg

, V

a.

Wel

don

, N

.C.

Pet

ersb

urg

& R

oano

ke R

R

64

7 Ju

ne

1833

W

eldo

n,

N.C

. W

ilm

ingt

on,

N.C

. W

ilm

ingt

on &

Ral

eigh

RR

16

0 7

Mar

. 9,

1840

W

ilm

ingt

on,

N.C

. C

har

lest

on

, S.C

. S

team

bo

at

170

7 A

t le

ast

by 1

843

. C

har

lest

on

, S.

C.

Au

gu

sta,

Ga.

S

ou

th C

aro

lin

a R

R

139

7 O

ct.

1, 1

833

Au

gu

sta,

Ga.

G

eorg

ia R

R

137

7 B

y Ja

n.

1, 1

845

Cov

ingt

on,

Ga.

O

pen

to C

ovin

gton

.....

. C

ovin

gton

, G

a.

'I

(0

Up

hau

pee

Cre

ek,

Ala

. H

orse

16

0*

7 N

ear

Che

haw

, A

la.

Up

hau

pee

Cre

ek,

Ala

. M

ontg

omer

y &

Wes

t P

oint

RR

40

7

Ope

n U

phau

pee

Cr.

to

Mon

tgom

ery

Mon

tgom

ery

, Ala

. b

y J

an.

11,

1844

. M

ontg

omer

y, A

la.

Sto

ckto

n, A

la.

Hor

se

150*

7

At

leas

t by

abo

ve.

Sto

ckto

n, A

la.

Mob

ile,

Ala

. S

team

bo

at

37

7 P

MG

Rep

ort

Mob

ile,

Ala

. N

ew O

rlea

ns,

La.

S

team

bo

at

164

7 H

ad b

een

in o

per

atio

n s

ome

year

s.

*A

ppro

xim

ate.

......

00

0

TH

E E

XP

RE

SS

MA

IL R

OU

TE

S A

CR

OS

S G

EO

RG

IA A

ND

AL

AB

AM

A

---

1836

-183

8

-----

1845

T

ha

i pa

rt t

ha

t d

iffe

rs f

rom

th

e

rout

e ol

1836

·183

9. O

nly

a sm

all

cha

ng

e i

n A

lab

am

a w

est

ol

Ch

eh

aw

, b

y ra

ilro

ad

fr

om

Up

ha

up

ee

Cre

ek

to M

on

tgo

me

ry.

---

Ra

ilro

ad

....

..•.

••••

. S

tea

mb

oa

t

----

--

1839

P

rob

ab

le h

ors

e r

ou

te i

n J

an

ua

ry .

MO

BIL

E':

·· ..

)

\ \

ALA

BA

MA

AT

LA

NT

A

GE

OR

GIA

Fig

ure

167.

Exp

ress

Rou

tes

Acr

oss

Geo

rgia

an

d A

lab

am

a.


Apparently the Crescent's Express was still running for the Journal of Commerce commented on March 11:

"The news of the steamer Hibernia arrived at New Orleans the 27th, ult., by the Crescent City Express being one day ahead of the government express."

On March 12th the Journal said:

"U.S. Express Mail-the U.S. Express Mail recently organized by the Postmaster General, between this city and New Orleans was discontinued on Monday. The regular mail will be expedited at least 12 hours by a new arrangement which has been entered into."

On March 17th, the same paper had this to say:

"Crescent City Express-Maj . O'Callaghan, one of the proprietors of the New Orleans Crescent City Express, who was arrested for a violation of the post office laws, has given bonds in the sum of $2,000 for his appearance at the May term of the U.S. District Court, to be held in Savannah.

The 1845 postal reform act effective July 1, 1845 outlawed all private expresses. It also reduced the postage rates to 5 cents for a distance of up to 300 miles. As was indicated in the last chapter, other private expresses created inequities in the cotton market, but the telegraph, under the direction of former Postmaster General Amos Kendall, finally provided near instant communication between New York and New Orleans.

1845 express mail covers are known from Mobile, New Orleans, and Boston. The contractors over the route of the Boston to New Orleans 1845 express mail are shown in a table compiled by Lester Downing:

A map of the express route has been reproduced at the beginning of this chapter. The earliest date recorded is February 8 from Mobile (Figure 168 ). The news of the express service apparently reached Mobile on February 6 and New Orleans on February 7. Since the commission merchants were the most significant customers of the 1836 express, it is not a surprise that the same firms used the 1845 express service. Therefore, all known covers paid the 25 cents rate for a distance of more than 400 miles, or a multiple of the single rate when there were enclosures or an overweight letter. Since the express was discontinued March 1, true express usages would have occurred on those letters dated in February, 1845. However, many of the known covers are postmarked during the month of March.

New Orleans usages are definitely more common than the other two towns. Surely at least 100 covers have survived. The 25 cents rate is illustrated in Figure 169. The notation "Govt. Express" on this cover is very unusual; most covers are endorsed "Express" or "Express Mail". A double rate is shown in Figure 170. Triple and quadruple rates also are not particularly scarce. An example of the latter is illustrated in Figure 171.

In the 1836 express there was a weight limit of 1/2 ounce. No such limit applied to the 1845 express, so letters are known with 50 cents, 75 cents, $1.00, $1.50, and $1.75 rates. Examples of these two highest rates are shown in Figures 168 and 172. Covers with the $1.50 and $1.75 rates are known only from Mobile.

Two very rare foreign usages of this short-lived express service exist. The first is a quadruple rated cover to Great Britain (Figure 173). The other foreign usage

182

r: xf. t·lA 11..

f F- 1:.. s- I I <t 'IS . fh .... \.I4L


J

Figure 168. "MOBILE A. FEB 8" (1845) and "PAID" in blue, manuscript "Express Mail P.Paid" and "1 112 oz. 1.50" to New York, early usage.

Figure 169. "NEW ORLEANS La. FEB 26" (1845) and "PAID" in blue, ms. "Govt. Express," "Paid," "Single" and "25" to Boston.


v

Figure 170. "NEW ORLEANS La. MAR 8" (1845) and "PAID" in blue, ms. "Express mail, " "double" and "50" to New York, received March 17.

Figure 171. "NEW ORLEANS La. FEB 27" (1845) and "PAID" in blue, ms. "Pr Express Mail" and "1.00" to New York.


...,...,...__ 'tot; ..

J

Figure 172. "MOBILE A. FEB 11" (1845) and "PAID" in blue, manuscript "pr Express P.Paid" and "P/4 oz. 1.75," the latter notation in magenta, to New York.

Figure 173. "NEW ORLEANS La. FEB 15" (1845) and "PAID" in blue, "1.00," "pr Express mail" and "pr Boston Steamer" in manuscript, two shillings due to London

(double packet rate of 1/ - per 1/2 ounce).


Figure 174. "NEW ORLEANS La. MAR 6" (1845) and "PAID" in blue, manuscript "pr Express mail," "via New York by first Havre packet" and "25," red Havre foreign

marking "OUTRE MER HAVRE" (overseas Havre) and "6" (decimes) to Paris.

Figure 175. "BOSTON Mas. FEB 21" (1845) and "PAID" in red, "Express," "PAID" and "25" in manuscript to New Orleans.

186

I I.

I ! '


;tr .. t ]. ,, ' ·l l') ...

j~} ,j·tf~ J e-.~AJO ~ ·, ' ·' ~ i .,

,'~ ... /

Figure 176. "U.S. EXPRESS MAIL JUL 1" (1845) and "PAID" in red, manuscript "5" to Albany, New York. First day of new lower postage rates.

is a single rated New Orleans cover addressed to Paris (Figure 174) by the Havre packet.

Letters sent North to South over the Covington-Montgomery express mail are very rare. The only known examples are all from the Captain Daniel Winsor correspondence (Figure 175); three have been seen by the writer. No examples of this usage from New York have been recorded.

It is possible to confuse covers that represent the 1845 express mail with the 1842-1857 usages bearing markings "U.S. EXPRESS MAIL." There is no connection whatsoever between the two services. The handstamped markings were used as route agent markings on railroad or waterway routes in New England. The example in Figure 176 was postmarked July 1, 1845 and is rated 5 cents. This was the first day of the new 5 cents-10 cents rate of 1845.

The "U.S. EXPRESS MAIL" markings were employed 1) between Albany and Buffalo on the railroad, 2) between New York and Albany on Hudson River steamboats, 3) between New York and Boston by both steamships and railroads, and 4) between Boston and St. Johns, New Brunswick, via Eastport, Maine by steamship. Any of these markings can be found as cancelling devices on the current stamps of this era including the 5 cents New York provisional.

Although the express mail revival of 1845 has a certain historical interest, it was just a temporary expedience on the part of the Post Office Department to counter private expresses over only a 190 mile route. This express has little significance when compared to the 1836 exciting experiment of Amos Kendall which speeded most important letters throughout the nation by a true pony express, the first pony express.

APPENDIX

187

Acc

ou

nt

of E

xpre

ss M

ail

s S

ent

from

the

Dis

trib

uti

ng

Pos

t-O

ffic

e a

t N

ew O

rlea

ns

Pai

d

Pai

d P

aid

P

aid

T

o W

hat

L

ette

rs

Ori

gina

lly

To

Wha

t L

ette

rs

Ori

gina

lly

Dat

e O

ffic

e U

npai

d D

istr

ibu

ted

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e O

ffic

e U

np

aid

D

istr

ibu

ted

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e

1836

N

ov.

24

New

Yor

k 42

.00

16.5

0 P

hila

da.

6.75

1.

50

Nov

. 25

N

ew Y

ork

42.7

5 10

.50

Phi

lada

. 10

.50

5.25

N

ov.

26

New

Yor

k 68

.25

12.0

0 P

hila

da.

8.25

1.

50

Nov

. 27

N

ew Y

ork

72.0

0 17

.25

Phi

lada

. 11

.25

2.25

N

ov.

28

New

Yor

k 31

.50

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

.75

1.50

N

ov.

29

New

Yor

k 80

.25

6.00

P

hila

da.

17.2

5 .7

5 N

ov.

30

New

Yor

k 39

.00

5.25

P

hila

da.

12

.75

4.5

0

Dec

. 1

New

Yor

k 45

.75

8.25

P

hila

da.

20.2

5 4.

50

......

Dec

. 2

New

Yo

rk

42.7

5 11

.25

Phi

lada

. 21

.75

2.25

00

D

ec.

3 N

ew Y

ork

68.2

5 23

.25

Phi

lada

. 9.

00

3.7

5 00

D

ec.

4 N

ew Y

ork

67.5

0 6.

00

Phi

lada

. 16

.50

1.50

D

ec.

5 N

ew Y

ork

27.7

5 6.

00

Phi

lada

. 6.

50

7.50

D

ec.

6 N

ew Y

ork

86.2

5 42

.00

Phi

lada

. 1

8.7

5 3

.00

Dec

. 7

New

Yor

k 10

9.50

27

.00

Phi

lada

. 25

.50

3.75

D

ec.

8 N

ew Y

ork

64.5

0 13

.50

Phi

lada

. 11

.25

6.7

5 D

ec. 9

N

ew Y

ork

63.7

5 .7

5 18

.75

Phi

lada

. 18

.75

3.0

0

Dec

. 10

N

ew Y

ork

63.0

0 12

.00

Phi

lada

. 1

2.0

0

3.7

5 D

ec.

11

New

Yor

k 45

.75

13.5

0 P

hila

da.

14

.25

3.75

D

ec.

12

New

Yor

k 35

.25

6.75

P

hila

da.

15

.00

D

ec.

13

New

Yor

k 67

.75

16.5

0 P

hila

da.

15.0

0

1.50

D

ec.

14

New

Yor

k 87

.00

36.7

5 P

hila

da.

29

.50

.75

.75

Dec

. 15

N

ew Y

ork

78.0

0 26

.25

Phi

lada

. 24

.75

6.0

0

Dec

. 16

N

ew Y

ork

78.2

5 20

.00

Phi

lada

. 21

.00

6.75

D

ec.

17

New

Yor

k 69

.00

31.5

0 P

hila

da.

12

.75

5.25

D

ec.

18

New

Yor

k 64

.50

3.0

0

15.7

5 P

hila

da.

22

.25

4.50

D

ec.

19

New

Yo

rk

30.0

0 3.

75

Phi

lada

. 6.

75

.75

Dec

. 20

N

ew Y

ork

99.0

0 .7

5 19

.00

Phi

lada

. 2

4.0

0

4.50

Dec

. 21

N

ew Y

ork

75.0

0 12

.00

Phi

lada

. 1

6.5

0

Dec

. 22

N

ew Y

ork

52.0

0 25

.50

Ph

ilad

a.

14

.25

2.

25

Dec

. 23

N

ew Y

ork

54.0

0 14

.25

Phi

lada

. 2

5.5

0

3.00

D

ec. 2

4 N

ew Y

ork

90.0

0 9.

00

Phi

lada

. 1

8.0

0

3.00

D

ec. 2

5 N

ew Y

ork

63.7

5 9.

00

Phi

lada

. 1

8.0

0

2.25

D

ec. 2

6 N

ew Y

ork

24.0

0 13

.50

Ph

ilad

a.

12

.00

1.

50

Dec

. 27

New

Yor

k 75

.75

15.0

0 P

hila

da.

Dec

. 28

N

ew Y

ork

66.0

0 20

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

26

.25

10

.50

Dec

. 29

New

Yor

k 61

.50

17.2

5 P

hil

ada.

3

5.2

5

.75

Dec

. 30

N

ew Y

ork

58.5

0 20

.25

Phi

lada

. 18

.75

4.50

D

ec.

31

New

Yor

k 61

.00

15.0

0 P

hil

ada.

2

4.0

0

1.50

18

37

Jan

. 1

New

Yor

k 52

.25

10.5

0 P

hil

ada.

2

3.2

5

5.25

Ja

n. 2

N

ew Y

ork

27.0

0 10

.50

Phi

lada

. 1

8.0

0

3.75

Ja

n. 3

N

ew Y

ork

62.2

5 10

.50

Phi

lada

. Ja

n. 4

N

ew Y

ork

57.7

5 11

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

24

.75

1.

50

Jan

. 5

New

Yor

k 42

.75

30.7

5 P

hil

ada.

2

0.7

5

2.25

,__

. Ja

n.6

N

ew Y

ork

82.5

0 32

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

24

.75

9.

00

00

Ja

n. 7

N

ew Y

ork

89.2

5 30

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

21

.00

5.

25

(.0

Jan

.8

New

Yor

k 82

.50

7.50

P

hila

da.

11

.37

3.

75

Jan

.9

New

Yor

k 30

.00

14.2

5 P

hil

ada.

1

6.5

0

Jan

. 10

New

Yor

k 10

0.50

26

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

32

.25

Ja

n. 1

1 N

ew Y

ork

84.7

5 11

.25

Phi

lada

. 2

4.0

0

6.75

Ja

n.

12

New

Yor

k 72

.75

13.5

0 P

hil

ada.

2

0.2

5

9.00

Ja

n. 1

3 N

ew Y

ork

141.

75

27.7

5 P

hila

da.

27

.75

.7

5 11

.25

Jan

. 14

New

Yor

k 90

.75

16.5

0 P

hil

ada.

2

7.7

5 8.

25

Jan

. 15

New

Yor

k 72

.50

31.5

0 P

hil

ada.

2

0.2

5

3.75

Ja

n. 1

6 N

ew Y

ork

60.7

5 11

.25

Phi

lada

. 1

4.2

5

2.25

Ja

n. 1

7 N

ew Y

ork

83.2

5 21

.00

Phi

lada

. 3

1.0

0

3.75

Ja

n. 1

8 N

ew Y

ork

92. 2

5 14

.25

Phi

lada

. 2

8.0

0

3.00

Ja

n. 1

9 N

ew Y

ork

103.

00

27.7

5 P

hil

ada.

3

4.5

0

3.75

Ja

n.2

0 N

ew Y

ork

97.5

0 22

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

28

.50

2.

25

Jan

.21

New

Yor

k 99

.00

19.5

0 P

hila

da.

30

.75

6.00

Ja

n.2

2 N

ew Y

ork

78.7

5 12

.75

Phi

lada

. 2

6.2

5

2.25

Ja

n.2

3

New

Yor

k 36

.00

6.75

P

hila

da.

7.5

0

3.75

Ja

n.2

4 N

ew Y

ork

108.

75

23.2

5 P

hil

ada.

3

2.2

5

3.75

Acc

ou

nt

of

Exp

ress

Ma

ils

Sent

fro

m t

he D

istr

ibut

ing

Pos

t-O

ffic

e a

t N

ew O

rlea

ns (

Co

nti

nu

ed)

Pai

d

Pai

d P

aid

P

aid

T

o W

hat

L

ette

rs

Ori

gina

lly

To

Wha

t L

ette

rs

Ori

gina

lly

Dat

e O

ffic

e U

npai

d D

istr

ibu

ted

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e O

ffic

e U

np

aid

D

istr

ibut

ed

at T

his

Off

ice

1837

Ja

n. 2

5 N

ew Y

ork

90.5

0 35

.25

Phi

lada

. 33

.25

1.50

Ja

n. 2

6 N

ew Y

ork

97.5

0 2

.25

25

.50

Phi

lada

. 30

.00

5.25

Ja

n.

27

New

Yor

k 67

.50

36.0

0

Phi

lada

. 31

.50

12.0

0

Jan

. 28

New

Yor

k 11

2.52

16

.25

Phi

lada

. 24

.75

3.75

Ja

n.

29

New

Yor

k 84

.00

18.7

5 P

hila

da.

18.7

5 3

.00

Ja

n. 3

0 N

ew Y

ork

41.5

0 26

.25

Phi

lada

. 18

. 25

3.00

Ja

n.

31

New

Yor

k 94

.50

30.0

0 P

hila

da.

34.5

0 2

.25

.....

. F

eb.

1 N

ew Y

ork

78.7

5 24

.75

Phi

lada

. 24

.79

2.25

(0

F

eb.

2 N

ew Y

ork

53.2

5 11

.25

Phi

lada

. 20

.25

6.0

0

0 F

eb. 3

N

ew Y

ork

79.5

4 15

.00

Phi

lada

. 30

.00

3.00

F

eb.4

N

ew Y

ork

94.5

4 27

.00

Phi

lada

. 31

.50

3.0

0

Feb

. 5

New

Yor

k 11

3.2

7 4.

50

Phi

lada

. 30

.00

.75

Feb

. 5

Exc

hang

e 15

.75

Feb

. 6

Cit

y

51.7

5 7.

50

Phi

lada

. 14

.25

2.25

F

eb. 6

E

xcha

nge

2.25

F

eb. 7

C

ity

87

.00

18.0

0 P

hila

da.

33.7

7 6.

00

Feb

. 7

Exc

hang

e 5.

25

Phi

lada

. F

eb. 8

C

ity

51

.75

12.0

0 P

hila

da.

24.7

5 .7

5

5.25

F

eb. 8

E

xcha

nge

3.0

0 1.

50

Phi

lada

. F

eb. 9

C

ity

92

.25

32.2

5 P

hila

da.

17.2

5 6.

00

Feb

. 9

Exc

hang

e .7

5 F

eb.

10

Cit

y

63.0

0 15

.75

Phi

lada

. 25

.50

2.2

5

3.75

F

eb.

10

Exc

hang

e 3

.75

Feb

. 11

C

ity

83

.25

19.5

0 P

hila

da.

27.7

5 3.

75

Feb

. 11

E

xcha

nge

5.2

5 3.

00

5672

.37

6.7

5

1433

.25

1638

.83

5.2

5

292

.50

Feb

. 12

C

ity

126.

00

10.5

0 P

hil

ada.

3

6.7

7 1.

50

Feb

. 12

Exc

hang

e 4.

50

4.50

Fe

b.

13

Cit

y 34

.50

7.50

P

hila

da.

12.0

0 1.

50

Feb

. 13

E

xcha

nge

Feb

. 14

Cit

y 11

0.25

27

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

42

.00

3.7

5 Fe

b. 1

4 E

xcha

nge

1.50

F

eb.

15

Cit

y 11

1.75

14

.25

Phi

lada

. 3

6.0

0 6.

00

Feb

. 15

E

xcha

nge

6.0

0 .7

5 Fe

b. 1

6 C

ity

72.7

5 18

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

27.0

0 9

.75

Feb.

16

Exc

hang

e 3.

00

Feb

. 17

C

ity

66.7

5 17

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

21.0

0 3.

75

Feb.

17

Exc

hang

e .7

5 .7

5 F

eb.

18

Cit

y 94

.50

13.5

0 P

hila

da.

32

.50

3. 5

0

Feb

. 18

E

xcha

nge

3.0

0 F

eb.

19

Cit

y 11

7.27

10

.50

Phi

lada

. 30

.00

Feb

. 19

E

xcha

nge

5.25

F

eb. 2

0 C

ity

54.7

5 15

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

16.5

0 ....

Feb.

21

Cit

y 80

.25

15.0

0 P

hil

ada.

23

.25

9.00

<.

0 .... Fe

b. 2

1 E

xcha

nge

5.2

5 F

eb. 2

2 C

ity

93.7

5 .7

5 15

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

25

.50

9. 0

0

Feb

. 22

Exc

hang

e 6

.75

Feb

. 23

Cit

y 69

. 77

.75

19.5

0 P

hila

da.

25

.50

6.7

5 F

eb. 2

3 E

xcha

nge

1.50

1.

50

Feb.

24

C

ity

76.5

0 14

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

38

.25

3.7

5 F

eb. 2

4 E

xcha

nge

3.0

0 1.

50

Feb

. 25

C

ity

78:7

5 30

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

25.7

5 4.

50

Feb.

25

Exc

hang

e 6

.75

Feb.

26

C

ity

105.

75

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

17.5

0 1.

25

6.75

Fe

b. 2

6

Exc

hang

e 7

.50

Feb

. 27

Cit

y 43

.50

18.7

5 P

hil

ada.

17

.00

3.00

F

eb. 2

7 E

xcha

nge

1.50

.7

5 F

eb. 2

8

Cit

y 11

7.0

0 30

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

20.0

0 9

.00

F

eb. 2

8 E

xcha

nge

2.25

3.

00

Mar

. 1

Cit

y 95

.25

12.7

5 P

hila

da.

23.2

5 12

.00

Mar

. 2

Cit

y 78

.81

17.2

5 P

hil

ada.

2

8.5

0 2.

25

Mar

. 2

Exc

hang

e 3

.75

Acc

ount

of

Exp

ress

Mai

ls S

ent

from

the

Dis

trib

uti

ng

Pos

t-O

ffic

e a

t N

ew O

rlea

ns (

Con

tinu

ed)

Pai

d

Pai

d

Pai

d

Pai

d T

o W

hat

L

ette

rs

Ori

gin

ally

T

o W

hat

L

ette

rs

Ori

gina

lly

Dat

e O

ffic

e U

np

aid

D

istr

ibu

ted

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e O

ffic

e U

npai

d D

istr

ibu

ted

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e

1837

M

ar.

3 C

ity

78

.75

1.50

27

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

26.2

5 2.

25

Mar

. 3

Exc

hang

e 3

.75

Mar

. 4

Cit

y

99.0

0 17

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

46.0

0 .7

5 4.

25

Mar

. 4

Exc

hang

e 5.

25

Mar

. 5

Cit

y

101.

27

19.5

0

Ph

ilad

a.

31.5

0 .7

5 1.

50

Mar

. 5

Exc

hang

e 4.

50

Mar

. 6

Cit

y

56.2

5 11

.50

Ph

ilad

a.

23.0

0 3.

25

Mar

. 6

Exc

hang

e 6.

75

~

7717

.99

9.7

5

1840

.75

2263

.85

8.00

39

9.50

c:

J:)

1:\:)

Mar

. 7

Cit

y

117

.75

20.2

5 P

hil

ada.

45

.00

11.2

5 M

ar.

7 E

xcha

nge

4.50

M

ar. 8

C

ity

13

5.77

22

.50

P

hil

ada.

33

.75

3.75

M

ar.

8 E

xcha

nge

9.75

M

ar. 9

C

ity

96

.00

.75

27.0

0

Ph

ilad

a.

38.2

5 4.

50

Mar

. 9

Exc

hang

e 4

.50

Mar

. 10

C

ity

84

.75

18.7

5 P

hil

ada.

26

.25

3.75

M

ar.

10

Exc

hang

e 9

.75

Mar

. 11

C

ity

10

5.00

.7

5 12

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

36.0

0 3.

75

Mar

. 11

E

xcha

nge

2.25

M

ar.

12

Cit

y

90.7

5 3.

00

Ph

ilad

a.

45.7

5 3.

00

Mar

. 12

E

xcha

nge

3.75

.7

5 M

ar.

13

Cit

y

52.5

0 14

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

18.0

0 2.

25

Mar

. 13

E

xcha

nge

3.0

0 3

.00

M

ar.

14

Cit

y

87.0

0 .7

5 20

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

33.2

5 1.

50

Mar

. 14

E

xcha

nge

2.25

Mar

. 15

C

ity

11

1.00

15

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

33.7

5 3.

00

Mar

. 15

E

xcha

nge

10.5

0 M

ar.

16

Cit

y

81.5

0 11

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

24.0

0 7.

50

Mar

. 16

E

xcha

nge

7.5

0 M

ar.

17

Cit

y

84.8

5 24

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

27.7

5 10

.50

Mar

. 18

C

ity

93.1

4 15

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

31.5

0 2.

25

Mar

. 18

E

xch

ang

e 5.

25

1.50

M

ar.

19

Cit

y

96.0

0 20

.50

Ph

ilad

a.

20.5

0 .7

5 4.

50

Mar

. 19

E

xcha

nge

9.0

0

Mar

. 20

C

ity

39.7

5 15

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

12.7

5 .7

5 M

ar.

20

Exc

hang

e 3.

75

1.50

M

ar.

21

Cit

y

114.

00

.7

5 19

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

23.2

5 2.

25

Mar

. 21

E

xcha

nge

8.25

M

ar.

22

Cit

y

87.0

0

15.0

0 P

hil

ada.

36

.39

.75

4.50

M

ar.

22

Ex

chan

ge

17.2

5 M

ar. 2

3 C

ity

85.5

0

13.5

0 P

hil

ada.

54

.75

4.50

M

ar.

23

Ex

chan

ge

12.0

0

......

Mar

. 24

C

ity

91.5

0 14

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

28.2

5 13

.00

~

w

Mar

. 24

Ex

chan

ge

1.50

M

ar.

25

Cit

y

91.2

5 15

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

21.0

0 1.

25

6.75

M

ar.

25

Ex

chan

ge

7.50

M

ar.

26

Cit

y

78.7

7 13

.50

Ph

ilad

a.

19.5

0 6.

00

Mar

. 26

E

xch

ang

e 9

.00

M

ar.

27

Cit

y

50.2

5 12

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

24.7

5 3.

75

Mar

. 27

E

xcha

nge

3.7

5 M

ar.

28

Cit

y 13

5.0

2

21.0

0 P

hil

ada.

24

. 75

2.25

M

ar. 2

8 E

xcha

nge

9.0

0

1.50

9871

.04

12.7

5 22

13.7

5 29

22.9

9 11

.00

504.

75

Mar

. 29

C

ity

11

1.75

27

.00

P

hil

ada.

31

.50

8.25

M

ar. 2

9 E

xcha

nge

6.00

.7

5 M

ar.

30

Cit

y 13

3.5

0 27

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

33.7

5 8.

25

Mar

. 30

E

xcha

nge

3.0

0 M

ar.

31

Cit

y

102.

77

12. 0

0

Ph

ilad

a.

35.2

5 6.

00

Mar

. 31

E

xcha

nge

3.75

.7

5

Acc

ount

of

Exp

ress

Ma

ils

Sen

t fr

om t

he D

istr

ibu

tin

g P

ost-

Off

ice

at N

ew O

rlea

ns (

Co

nti

nu

ed)

Pai

d

Pai

d

Pai

d P

aid

To

Wh

at

Let

ters

O

rigi

nall

y T

o W

hat

Let

ters

O

rigi

nall

y D

ate

Off

ice

Un

pai

d

Dis

trib

uted

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e O

ffic

e U

np

aid

D

istr

ibu

ted

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e

1837

A

pr.

1

Cit

y 86

.25

20.2

5 P

hila

da.

36

.75

10

.25

Ap

r. 1

E

xcha

nge

7.50

A

pr.

2

Cit

y 90

.75

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

33

.75

2.25

A

pr.

2

Exc

hang

e 3

.00

Ap

r. 3

C

ity

63.7

5 .7

5 7.

50

Phi

lada

. 2

4.0

0

9.00

A

pr.

3

Exc

hang

e 2.

25

Ap

r. 4

C

ity

118.

50

21.0

0 P

hila

da.

24

.00

3.

75

Ap

r. 4

E

xcha

nge

2.25

.....

. A

pr.

5

Cit

y 12

0.00

34

.50

Phi

lada

. 3

4.5

0

9.75

(0

A

pr.

5

Exc

hang

e 6

.00

.75

~

Apr

. 6

Cit

y 11

5.52

19

.50

Phi

lada

. 3

8.2

5

1.50

6.

00

Ap

r. 6

E

xcha

nge

8.5

2

Apr

. 7

Cit

y P

hila

da.

10.5

0

4.50

A

pr.

7 E

xcha

nge

9.0

0 A

pr.

8

Cit

y 92

.02

19.5

0 P

hila

da.

28

.50

10

.50

Ap

r. 8

E

xcha

nge

9.0

0

Apr

. 9

Cit

y 58

.50

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

20.2

5

.75

Apr

. 9

Exc

hang

e 6

.00

Ap

r. 1

0 C

ity

93.8

9 15

.75

Phi

lada

. 22

.52

.7

5 2.

75

Ap

r. 1

0 E

xcha

nge

3.0

0 A

pr.

11

Cit

y 13

2.9

1 24

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

39

.79

6.

00

Apr

. 11

E

xcha

nge

12.0

0 A

pr.

12

Cit

y 86

.25

10.5

0 P

hila

da.

30

.00

.7

5 A

pr.

12

Exc

hang

e 6

.00

.7

5 A

pr.

13

Cit

y 15

2.25

1.

50

18.7

5 P

hil

ada.

43

.50

.7

5 13

.50

Ap

r. 1

3 E

xcha

nge

4.50

A

pr.

14

Cit

y 12

1.50

17

.25

Phi

lada

. 3

6.7

7

3.75

Apr

. 14

E

xcha

nge

4.50

A

pr.

15

Cit

y 88

.00

6.75

P

hil

ada.

30

.75

7.50

A

pr.

15

Exc

hang

e 4.

50

Apr

. 16

C

ity

87.0

0 .7

5 11

.25

Phi

lada

. 36

.00

2.25

A

pr.

16

Exc

hang

e 3.

00

Apr

. 17

C

ity

68.7

5 10

.50

Phi

lada

. 31

.50

6.75

A

pr.

17

Exc

hang

e .7

5 A

pr.

18

Cit

y 12

2.31

15

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

29.2

7 9.

00

Apr

. 18

E

xcha

nge

7.50

A

pr.

19

Cit

y 87

.75

12.0

0 P

hila

da.

39.7

5 7.

50

1211

6.71

15

.75

2569

.25

3613

.84

14.0

0 63

3.75

Apr

. 19

E

xcha

nge

3.00

2.

25

Apr

. 20

Cit

y 10

5.81

24

.00

Phi

lada

. 29

.75

.75

6.75

A

pr.

20

Exc

hang

e 6

.75

Apr

. 21

C

ity

87.7

5 1.

50

24.0

0 P

hila

da.

18.7

5 4.

50

.....

c.o

Apr

. 21

Exc

hang

e 6.

75

<:.n

Apr

. 22

C

ity

102.

00

.75

21.7

5 P

hila

da.

23.2

5 A

pr.

22

Exc

hang

e 6.

75

Apr

. 23

Cit

y 90

.02

12.0

0 P

hila

da.

14.2

5 4.

50

Apr

. 23

E

xcha

nge

8.25

A

pr.

24

Cit

y 58

.50

6.75

P

hila

da.

14.2

5 8.

25

Apr

. 25

C

ity

106.

50

22.5

0 P

hil

ada.

48

.75

6.00

A

pr.

25

Exc

hang

e 6.

75

Apr

. 26

C

ity

105.

81

29.2

5 P

hil

ada.

27

.00

7.

50

Apr

. 26

E

xcha

nge

.75

Apr

. 27

C

ity

66.7

5 11

.25

Phi

lada

. 21

.00

8.25

A

pr.

27

Exc

hang

e .7

5 A

pr.

28

Cit

y 95

.41

1.50

18

.00

Phi

lada

. 3

6.0

0

4.50

A

pr.

28

Exc

hang

e 1.

50

Apr

. 29

C

ity

101.

25

13.5

0 P

hila

da.

45.2

5 3.

00

Apr

. 29

E

xcha

nge

1.50

A

pr.

30

Cit

y 66

.00

20.2

5 P

hila

da.

25.0

0

3.75

M

ay 1

C

ity

63.0

0 7.

50

Phi

lada

. 20

.25

2.25

1.

50

Acc

ou

nt

of

Exp

ress

Mai

ls S

ent

from

the

Dis

trib

uti

ng

Pos

t-O

ffic

e a

t N

ew O

rlea

ns (

Con

tinu

ed)

Pai

d

Pai

d

Pai

d

Pai

d

To

Wh

at

Let

ters

O

rig

inal

ly

To W

hat

Let

ters

O

rig

inal

ly

Dat

e O

ffic

e U

np

aid

D

istr

ibu

ted

at

Th

is O

ffic

e O

ffic

e U

np

aid

D

istr

ibu

ted

at

Th

is O

ffic

e

1837

M

ay 1

E

xcha

nge

3.00

M

ay 2

C

ity

80

.25

14.2

5 P

hila

da.

19.5

0 7.

50

May

2

Ex

chan

ge

1.50

M

ay 3

C

ity

87

.75

24

.00

P

hila

da.

23.0

0 6

.00

M

ay 3

E

xch

ang

e .7

5 M

ay 4

C

ity

12

7.5

0 8

.00

19

.50

P

hila

da.

14.2

5 5

.25

May

4

Ex

chan

ge

.75

May

5

Cit

y

76.7

5 2

5.0

0

Phi

lada

. 35

.25

13.0

0 .....

. M

ay 5

E

xcha

nge

.75

(C)

May

6

Cit

y

96.7

9 18

.75

P

hila

da.

19.5

0 4.

50

O"l

May

6

Ex

chan

ge

2.25

M

ay 7

C

ity

11

5.50

.7

5 14

.25

P

hila

da.

32.2

5 .7

5 M

ay 7

E

xch

ang

e .7

5 M

ay 8

C

ity

36

.75

.75

6.0

0

Phi

lada

. 11

.25

.75

.75

May

8

Ex

chan

ge

.75

May

9

Cit

y

95.2

5 12

.75

P

hila

da.

26.7

5 4

.50

M

ay 9

E

xcha

nge

1.50

M

ay 1

0 C

ity

12

2.25

15

.75

Phi

lada

. 36

.00

7.50

M

ay 1

1 C

ity

80

.00

.75

22.5

0 P

hila

da.

28.5

0 5.

25

May

11

Exc

hang

e 1.

50

May

12

Cit

y

83.2

5 7.

50

15

.75

Phi

lada

. 35

.25

.75

1.50

May

12

1422

3.8

0 37

.25

2970

.75

4218

.36

18.5

0 74

9.2

5 M

ay 1

2 E

xch

ang

e 1.

50

May

13

Cit

y

132

.00

.75

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

42.7

5 6

.00

M

ay 1

3 E

xch

ang

e 1.

50

May

14

Cit

y

120.

00

13.5

0 P

hila

da.

31.2

5 3.

75

May

14

Ex

chan

ge

3.0

0

May

15

Cit

y 69

.00

18.0

0 P

hila

da.

21.7

5 .7

5 3.

75

May

16

Cit

y 93

.00

12.7

5 P

hila

da.

28.5

0 7.

50

May

16

Exc

hang

e .7

5 M

ay 1

7 C

ity

85.5

0 11

.25

Phi

lada

. 18

.00

.75

4.50

M

ay 1

8 C

ity

71.0

2 .7

5 14

.25

Phi

lada

. 18

.00

7.50

M

ay 1

8 E

xch

ang

e .7

5 M

ay 1

9 C

ity

51.0

0 8.

25

Phi

lada

. 18

.00

2.2

5 M

ay 2

0 C

ity

84

.75

20.5

0 P

hila

da.

23.5

0 3.

75

May

20

Exc

hang

e .7

5 M

ay 2

1 C

ity

65.2

5 3.

00

Phi

lada

. 25

.50

.75

May

22

Cit

y 52

.50

1.

50

8.2

5 P

hila

da.

8.2

7 2.

25

May

23

Cit

y 72

.00

15

.75

Phi

lada

. 25

.50

2.25

M

ay 2

3 E

xcha

nge

.75

May

24

Cit

y 67

.50

18.0

0 P

hila

da.

30.0

0 3

.75

May

24

Exc

hang

e .7

5 M

ay 2

5 C

ity

70.5

0 9

.75

Phi

lada

. 24

.75

5.25

M

ay 2

5 E

xcha

nge

1.50

.....

. M

ay 2

6 C

ity

72.7

7 9

.00

Phi

lada

. 27

.00

6.75

tD

-:]

M

ay 2

7 C

ity

60.7

5 11

.25

Phi

lada

. 19

.50

7.50

M

ay 2

7 E

xcha

nge

1.50

M

ay 2

8 C

ity

57.0

0

3.0

0 P

hila

da.

18.7

5 1.

50

May

29

Cit

y 57

.75

8.2

5 P

hila

da.

18.7

5 1.

50

May

30

Cit

y 93

.06

. 75

9.0

0 P

hila

da .

12.7

5 4.

50

May

31

Cit

y 62

.25

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

25.5

0 1.

50

Jun

e 1

C

ity

44.2

5 28

.50

P

hila

da.

20.2

5 1.

50

Jun

e 2

C

ity

72.0

0

7.5

0

Phi

lada

. 16

.50

6.75

Ju

ne

3 C

ity

66.0

4

6.0

0 P

hila

da.

22.5

0 .7

5 Ju

ne 3

E

xch

ang

e .7

5 Ju

ne

4 C

ity

45.5

0

. 75

6.75

P

hila

da .

19.5

0 3.

75

Jun

e 5

C

ity

33.0

0 9

.00

Phi

lada

. 13

.50

1.50

Ju

ne 6

C

ity

66.7

5 12

.75

Phi

lada

. 16

.50

4.50

Ju

ne 7

C

ity

54.0

0 10

.50

P

hila

da.

9.7

5 1.

50

Jun

e 7

E

xch

ang

e .7

5 Ju

ne 8

C

ity

61.5

0 9.

75

Phi

lada

. 11

.25

2.25

Ju

ne 8

E

xch

ang

e .7

5 Ju

ne 9

C

ity

34

.50

5

.25

Phi

lada

. 13

.50

3.75

Acc

ount

of

Exp

ress

Mai

ls S

ent

from

the

Dis

trib

uti

ng

Pos

t-O

ffic

e a

t N

ew O

rlea

ns

(Con

tinu

ed)

Pai

d

Pai

d

Pai

d P

aid

To

Wh

at

Let

ters

O

rig

inal

ly

To

Wh

at

Let

ters

O

rigi

nall

y D

ate

Off

ice

Unp

aid

Dis

trib

ute

d

at

Th

is O

ffic

e O

ffic

e U

np

aid

D

istr

ibut

ed

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e

1837

Ju

ne

10

Cit

y 55

.50

9.7

5 P

hil

ada.

25

.50

.7

5 Ju

ne

10

Exc

hang

e .7

5

1620

0.19

41

.75

3298

.75

4827

.13

20.0

0 85

2.7

5

Jun

e 11

C

ity

60.0

0 5.

25

Phi

lada

. 2

7.0

0

Jun

e 12

C

ity

42.7

5 1.

50

4.50

P

hila

da.

7.50

1.

50

Jun

e 13

C

ity

51.0

0 6

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

19.5

0

3.75

.....

. Ju

ne

13

Exc

hang

e 1.

50

(0

0

0

Jun

e 14

C

ity

90.0

0 11

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

22.5

0 2.

25

Jun

e 13

E

xcha

nge

1.50

Ju

ne

15

Cit

y 66

.75

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

16.5

0

.75

Jun

e 16

C

ity

81.7

5 8.

25

Phi

lada

. 18

.00

.75

.75

Jun

e 16

E

xcha

nge

1.50

Ju

ne

17

Cit

y 62

.25

12.0

0 P

hil

ada.

26

.25

1.50

Ju

ne

17

Exc

hang

e 2.

25

Jun

e 18

C

ity

42

.75

5.25

P

hil

ada.

13

.50

Ju

ne

19

Cit

y 46

.50

10.5

0 P

hila

da.

11.7

5 3.

00

Jun

e 20

C

ity

41.2

9 13

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

23.7

5 2.

25

Jun

e 21

C

ity

51

.00

14.2

5 P

hila

da.

21.7

5 4.

50

Jun

e 21

E

xcha

nge

.75

Jun

e 22

C

ity

78.0

6 13

.50

Phi

lada

. 24

.75

2.25

Ju

ne

23

Cit

y 49

.52

9.7

5 P

hil

ada.

17

.25

3.

00

Jun

e 24

C

ity

58.5

2 9.

00

Phi

lada

. 17

.25

5.25

Ju

ne

24

Exc

hang

e 1.

50

Jun

e 25

C

ity

49.5

0 21

.75

Phi

lada

. 16

.50

2.25

Ju

ne

26

Cit

y 51

.75

10.5

0 P

hil

ada.

17

.25

.00

Jun

e 27

C

ity

56

.25

7.5

0

Ph

ilad

a.

18.0

0 6.

00

Jun

e 28

C

ity

42

.00

14.2

5 P

hil

ada.

17

.25

2.25

Ju

ne

28

Exc

hang

e .7

5 Ju

ne

29

Cit

y

66.0

6 15

.00

P

hil

ada.

22

.50

1.50

.7

5 Ju

ne

30

Cit

y

52

.50

10.5

0 P

hil

ada.

9.

75

.75

July

1

Cit

y

69.0

0 7.

50

P

hil

ada

. 24

.75

1.50

Ju

ly 1

E

xcha

nge

2.25

Ju

ly 2

C

ity

38

.25

5.25

P

hil

ada.

17

.25

2.25

Ju

ly 3

C

ity

3

8.7

5 6.

00

Ph

ilad

a.

12.7

5 .7

5 7.

50

July

4

Cit

y

45.7

5 4.

50

Ph

ilad

a.

15.7

5 3.

00

July

4

Exc

hang

e .7

5 Ju

ly 5

C

ity

3

9.7

5 . 7

5 9

.00

P

hil

ada

. 12

.00

2.25

Ju

ly 6

C

ity

75

.00

3.00

P

hil

ada

. 17

.25

3.75

Ju

ly 7

C

ity

49

.50

11.2

5 P

hil

ada.

15

.00

3.75

Ju

ly 8

C

ity

50

.25

.75

8.25

P

hil

ada

. 11

.25

.75

2.25

Ju

ly 8

E

xcha

nge

1.50

Ju

ly 9

C

ity

4

8.3

3 3

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

9.75

2.

25

......

July

10

Cit

y

27.7

5 6.

75

Ph

ilad

a.

6.00

3.

00

~

~

July

11

Cit

y

50.2

5 1.

50

7.50

P

hil

ada

. 15

.00

July

12

Cit

y

60.7

5 . 7

5 9

.75

Ph

ilad

a .

15.0

0 .7

5 Ju

ly 1

2 E

xcha

nge

.75

1794

8.22

47

.00

35

95.2

5 53

66.8

8 23

.75

930.

00

July

13

Cit

y

37.5

0 .7

5 13

.50

P

hil

ada.

11

.25

July

13

Exc

hang

e .7

5 Ju

ly 1

4 C

ity

41

.50

2.25

P

hil

ada

. 15

.75

3.00

Ju

ly 1

5 C

ity

5

4.75

14

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

19.5

0 3.

00

July

15

Exc

hang

e 1.

50

July

16

Cit

y

45.0

0 2.

25

Ph

ilad

a.

5.25

4.

50

July

17

Cit

y

30.0

0 4.

50

Ph

ilad

a.

10.5

0 3.

00

July

18

Cit

y

50.2

5 12

.00

P

hil

ada.

21

.00

3.00

Ju

ly 1

8 E

xcha

nge

.75

July

19

Cit

y

54.0

0 14

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

14.2

5 6.

75

July

20

Cit

y

58.5

6 .7

5 15

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

24.7

5 .7

5 3.

00

July

20

Exc

hang

e .7

5

Acc

ount

of

Exp

ress

Ma

ils

Sent

fro

m t

he

Dis

trib

uti

ng

Pos

t-O

ffic

e at

New

Orl

eans

(C

on

tin

ued

)

Pai

d P

aid

Pai

d

Pai

d

To

Wh

at

Let

ters

O

rigi

nall

y T

o W

hat

Let

ters

O

rigi

nall

y D

ate

Off

ice

Un

pai

d

Dis

trib

uted

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e O

ffic

e U

np

aid

D

istr

ibu

ted

at

Thi

s O

ffic

e

1837

Ju

ly 2

1 C

ity

48.7

5 8.

25

Phi

lada

. 1

4.2

5

3.0

0

July

22

Cit

y 5

9.2

5

8.25

P

hila

da.

16

.50

.7

5 4

.50

July

22

Exc

hang

e 1.

50

July

23

Cit

y 47

.08

3.00

P

hila

da.

15

.00

4.

50

July

24

Cit

y 31

.50

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

8.2

5

3.0

0 Ju

ly 2

5 C

ity

58

.00

15

.00

Phi

lada

. 2

0.2

5

3.7

5 Ju

ly 2

5 E

xcha

nge

1.50

Ju

ly 2

6 C

ity

56.2

5 8

.25

Phi

lada

. 1

1.2

5

5.5

0

t-:l

July

27

Cit

y 42

.50

.7

5 23

.25

Phi

lada

. 1

1.2

5

.75

4.50

0

July

27

Exc

hang

e .7

5 0

July

28

Cit

y 49

.54

9.75

P

hila

da.

12

.77

.75

July

29

Cit

y 57

.75

.75

6.00

P

hila

da.

24

.00

1.

50

3.75

Ju

ly 8

E

xcha

nge

2.25

Ju

ly 3

0 C

ity

39.7

5 8.

75

Phi

lada

. 1

0.5

0

1.50

Ju

ly 3

1 C

ity

30

.00

1.

50

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

3.7

5 A

ug

. 1

Cit

y 36

.75

. 75

14.2

5 P

hila

da .

14.2

5 3

.75

Aug

. 2

Cit

y 36

.08

11

.25

Phi

lada

. 7

.52

1.

50

Au

g.

2 E

xcha

nge

.75

Au

g.

3 C

ity

47.2

5 9

.00

Phi

lada

. 8

.25

1.

50

Aug

. 4

Cit

y 71

.25

.75

8.25

P

hila

da.

17.2

5 .7

5 1.

50

Au

g. 4

E

xcha

nge

.75

Aug

. 5

Cit

y 52

.50

.75

11.2

5 P

hila

da.

17.2

5 1.

50

Aug

. 5

Exc

hang

e .7

5 A

ug.

6 C

ity

36

.75

8.25

P

hila

da.

4.5

0

1.50

A

ug

. 7

Cit

y 30

.14

3.00

13

.50

Phi

lada

. 9

.02

3.

00

Au

g.

8 C

ity

53.2

5 15

.00

Phi

lada

. 1

9.5

0

3.00

A

ug.

9 C

ity

42.0

0 14

.25

Phi

lada

. 1

4.2

5 2.

25

Aug

. 10

C

ity

16

.35

6.7

5 P

hil

ada.

15

.00

.75

1.50

A

ug

. 11

C

ity

51

.00

7.5

0

Ph

ilad

a.

21.7

5 6.

00

Aug

. 12

C

ity

3

3.7

5 1.

50

12.7

5 P

hil

ada.

12

.00

7.50

A

ug

. 12

E

xcha

nge

1.50

1936

0.72

58

. 25

3917

.75

5797

.44

29.0

0 10

24.7

5

Aug

. 13

C

ity

3

0.7

9 1.

50

4.5

0

Ph

ilad

a.

9.7

5 1.

50

Aug

. 14

C

ity

29

.25

4.50

P

hil

ada

. 5

.25

1.50

2.

25

Aug

. 15

C

ity

5

8.5

6 14

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

15.0

2 2.

25

Aug

. 16

C

ity

48

.08

.75

6.0

0

Ph

ilad

a.

12.0

0 5.

25

Au

g.

17

Cit

y

56

.25

1.50

6

. 00

Ph

ilad

a.

18.7

5 1.

50

Au

g.

18

Cit

y

37.5

0 6.

00

Ph

ilad

a.

6.75

6.

00

Aug

. 19

C

ity

42

.00

1.50

12

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

10.5

0 .7

5 5.

25

Aug

. 20

C

ity

48

.00

.75

6.0

0 P

hil

ada.

9

.00

.75

Aug

. 21

C

ity

23

.25

1.50

5.

25

Ph

ilad

a.

9.0

0 A

ug

. 22

Cit

y

54.0

0 12

.00

P

hil

ada

. 9

.75

4.50

t\

J A

ug.

23

Cit

y

45.0

0 1.

50

13.5

0 P

hil

ada

. 12

.75

.75

0 ......

Aug

. 23

E

xcha

nge

1.50

A

ug.

24

Cit

y

44.2

5 1.

50

7.5

0

Ph

ilad

a.

14.0

0 .7

5 4.

50

Aug

. 25

C

ity

42

.00

1.50

9

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

15.0

0 1.

50

Au

g. 2

6 C

ity

57

.79

6.75

P

hil

ada.

20

.25

.75

3.75

A

ug.

26

Exc

hang

e .7

5 A

ug

. 27

Cit

y

46.5

0 8

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

10.5

0 3.

00

Aug

. 27

Exc

hang

e .7

5 A

ug

. 28

Cit

y

21.7

5 13

.50

Ph

ilad

a.

7.50

2.

25

Au

g. 2

9 C

ity

41

.25

6.75

P

hil

ada.

10

.50

3.75

A

ug

. 29

Exc

hang

e 1.

50

Aug

. 30

C

ity

48

.81

14.2

5 P

hil

ada

. 5

.27

.75

2.25

A

ug. 3

1 C

ity

5

0.2

5 .7

5 10

.50

Ph

ilad

a.

17.7

5 2.

25

Sep

t. 1

C

ity

30

.00

10.5

0 P

hil

ada

. 16

.50

3.75

S

ept.

2

Cit

y

40.5

2 11

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

11.2

5 2.

25

Sep

t. 2

E

xcha

nge

1.50

S

ept.

3

Cit

y

37.5

0 3.

75

Ph

ilad

a.

9.00

3.

00

Sep

t. 4

C

ity

27

.75

3.75

5

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

6.7

5 . 7

5 2.

25

Sep

t. 5

C

ity

33

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

12.7

5 3.

00

Acc

ount

of

Exp

ress

Ma

ils

Sent

fro

m t

he D

istr

ibu

tin

g P

ost-

Off

ice

at N

ew O

rlea

ns (

Con

tinu

ed)

Pai

d P

aid

Pai

d

Pai

d T

o W

hat

L

ette

rs

Ori

gina

lly

To

Wha

t L

ette

rs

Ori

gina

lly

Dat

e O

ffic

e U

np

aid

D

istr

ibut

ed

at T

his

Off

ice

Off

ice

Un

pai

d

Dis

trib

ute

d

at T

his

Off

ice

1837

S

ept.

5

Exc

hang

e .7

5 S

ept.

6

Cit

y 44

.27

1.50

13

.50

P

hila

da.

12.7

5 3

.75

Sep

t. 7

C

ity

44.2

5 8.

25

Phi

lada

. 15

.75

.75

7.50

1-

:> S

ept.

8

Cit

y 27

.75

15.0

0 P

hila

da.

7.50

1.

50

0 1-:>

Sep

t. 9

C

ity

39.7

5 13

.50

Phi

lada

. 9

.75

.25

Sep

t. 9

E

xcha

nge

1.50

S

ept.

10

Cit

y 33

.75

12.5

0 P

hila

da.

13.5

0 S

ept.

11

Cit

y 25

.50

3.00

9

.75

Phi

lada

. 10

.50

.75

5.25

S

ept.

12

Cit

y 44

.27

14.2

5 P

hila

da.

12.0

0 6.

00

S

ept.

13

Cit

y 35

.25

.75

7.50

P

hila

da.

17.2

5 1.

50

Sep

t. 1

4 C

ity

43.6

0 2.

25

9.00

P

hila

da.

14.2

5 S

ept.

15

Cit

y 48

.00

4.50

P

hila

da.

10.5

0 3.

00

Sep

t. 1

6 C

ity

48.0

0 1.

50

19.5

0 P

hila

da.

12.0

0 6.

00

Sep

t. 1

7 C

ity

36.0

0 7.

50

Phi

lada

. 9.

00

3.00

2083

3.41

83

.75

4267

.00

62

17

.73

36

.50

1131

.25

Sep

t. 1

8 C

ity

3

0.7

5 1.

50

9.00

P

hil

ada.

7.

50

.75

3.00

S

ept.

19

Cit

y

45.0

2 17

.25

Ph

ilad

a.

9.75

.7

5 S

ept.

20

Cit

y

47.0

2 19

.50

Ph

ilad

a.

19.5

0 6.

75

Sep

t. 2

0 E

xcha

nge

.75

Sep

t. 2

1 C

ity

33

.00

13.5

0 P

hil

ada.

9

.75

.75

4.50

S

ept.

22

Cit

y

42.0

0 9.

75

Ph

ilad

a.

9.75

2.

25

Sep

t. 2

3 C

ity

44

.00

12.7

5 P

hil

ada.

15

.00

3.75

S

ept.

23

Exc

hang

e 3.

00

Sep

t. 2

4 C

ity

3

3.7

5 9

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

14.2

5 3.

00

Sep

t. 2

5 C

ity

28

.50

10.5

0 P

hil

ada.

3.

00

2.25

S

ept.

26

Cit

y

57.0

0 9.

75

Ph

ilad

a.

8.25

1.

50

7.50

S

ept.

27

Cit

y

39

.75

14.2

5 P

hil

ada.

11

.25

Sep

t. 2

8 C

ity

31

.50

1.50

12

.75

Ph

ilad

a.

6.75

2.

25

t>:>

Sep

t. 2

9 C

ity

42

.77

7.50

P

hil

ada.

13

.50

3.00

0

Sep

t. 3

0 C

ity

3

4.5

0 .7

5 15

.00

Ph

ilad

a.

16.5

0 3.

75

"' 21

346.

72

87.5

0 44

27.5

0 63

62.4

8 39

.50

1174

.00

Pai

d d

istr

ibu

ted

87

.50

Pai

d d

istr

ibu

ted

39

.50

Pai

d h

ere

4427

.50

1174

.00

2586

1.72

75

75.9

8

Th

e ab

ove

extr

acts

fro

m m

y a

ccou

nts

of m

ails

sen

t ex

hibi

t th

e am

ou

nt

of P

osta

ge o

n le

tter

s se

nt

from

th

is o

ffic

e to

New

Y

ork

and

Ph

ilad

elp

hia

by

Exp

ress

Mai

l, o

n ea

ch d

ay, f

rom

th

e 2

4th

Nov

embe

r, 1

836

(whe

n th

e fi

rst

expr

ess

mai

l w

as d

ispa

tche

d)

to t

he

30

th o

f S

epte

mbe

r 18

37 i

nclu

sive

. P

ost

Off

ice

New

Orl

eans

21

st M

arch

183

8 W

m. H

. K

err,

P.M

.


Account of Mail Received for Distribution at the Post Office at Washington City (Except New York, Philadelphia, & Baltimore) from the 1st to the 31st

of January 1837 Inclusive

Names of the Offices from Date of

Time of Whence They Were Bills Unpaid Paid Paid Receiving Received Received Letters Originally Distributed

Jan. 3 New Orleans, La. Dec. 27 .75 Jan.3 New Orleans, La. Dec. 25 5.25 2.25 Jan. 3 New Orleans, La. Dec. 26 1.50 .75 Jan. 4 Columbia, S.C. Jan. 1 .75 Jan. 5 Mobile, Ala. Dec. 31 .75 3.00 Jan. 5 New Orleans, La. Dec. 29 6.75 Jan. 5 New Orleans, La. Dec. 28 5.25 Jan. 3 Montgomery, Ala. Jan. 1 2.25 Jan. 9 New Orleans Dec. 30 2.25 Jan. 9 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 3 .75 Jan. 9 Charleston, S.C. Jan. 5 1.50 Jan. 9 New Orleans, La. Dec. 31 8.25 .75 Jan. 9 New Orleans, La. Jan. 1 2.25 2.25 Jan. 9 New Orleans, La. Jan. 2 1.50 .75 Jan. 11 Columbia, S.C. Jan. 9 .75 Jan. 11 New Orleans, La. Jan. 3 3.00 1.50 Jan. 11 New Orleans, La. Jan. 4 2.25 .75 Jan. 13 Charleston, S.C. Jan. 9 2.25 Jan. 13 New Orleans, La. Jan. 5 3.75 .75 Jan. 15 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 9 .75 .75 Jan. 15 New Orleans, La. Jan. 6 4.50 .75 Jan. 15 New Orleans, La. Jan. 7 8.25 .75 Jan. 17 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 10 .75 .75 Jan. 17 New Orleans, La. Jan. 8 3.75 .75 Jan. 17 New Orleans, La. Jan. 9 2.25 1.50 Jan. 17 Charleston, S.C. Jan. 11 1.50 Jan. 17 Charleston, S.C. Jan. 13 1.50 .75 Jan. 19 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 13 1.50 1.50 Jan. 19 Mobile, Ala . Jan. 14 .75 Jan. 22 New Orleans, La. Jan. 10 3.02 3.00 Jan. 22 New Orleans, La. Jan. 11 6.00 1.50 Jan. 22 New Orleans, La. Jan. 12 5.25 Jan. 22 New Orleans, La. Jan. 13 3.75 Jan. 22 New Orleans, La. Jan. 14 6.75 .75 Jan. 22 New Orleans, La. Jan. 15 6.75 3.75 Jan. 22 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 12 .75 Jan. 22 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 15 1.50 Jan. 22 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 16 .75 .75 Jan. 22 Charleston, S.C. Jan. 17 3.00 .75 Jan. 22 Columbus, Geo. Jan. 16 .75 Jan . 22 New Orleans, La. Jan. 16 3.75 1.50

APPENDIX 205


Time of Whence They Were Bills Unpaid Paid Paid Receiving Received Received Letters Originally Distributed

Jan. 22 Mobile Jan. 17 2.25 Jan. 22 Mobile Jan. 18 1.50 Jan. 24 New Orleans, La. Jan. 17 5.25 1.50 Jan. 24 New Orleans, La. Jan. 18 7.50 2.25

-- --

132.77 39.00 .75

Jan. 24 Mobile , Ala. Jan. 19 2.25 Jan. 24 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 20 .75 1.50 Jan. 26 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 21 2.25 Jan. 26 New Orleans Jan. 19 10.50 1.50 Jan. 26 New Orleans Jan. 20 9.75 Jan. 26 Charleston, S.C. Jan. 22 .75 Jan. 29 New Orleans, La. Jan. 22 3.75

Dolls 160.52 44.25 .75

Account of Express Mails Received at the Post Office at Baltimore, County of Baltimore, State of Maryland

Paid Names of the Letters Offices from Date of from

Time of Whence They the Bills Unpaid Other Receiving Were Received Received Letters Offices

Jan. 1 Augusta, Ga. Dec. 29 .75 Jan. 1 Columbia, S.C. .75 Jan. 2 New Orleans Dec. 25 7.50 Jan. 2 Mobile Ala. Dec. 28 .75 .75 Jan. 2 Mobile Dec. 27 .75 Jan.2 New Orleans Dec. 26 3.75 1.50 Jan. 2 New Orleans Dec. 27 3.00 4.50 Jan. 2 Richmond Jan. 1 .561/4

Jan. 2 Fredericksburg .75 .371/z Jan. 3 Fredericksburg Jan. 3 .371/ 2

Jan. 4 Savannah Dec. 30 .75 Jan. 4 Fredericksburg Jan. 4 .75 Jan. 4 Augusta Dec. 31 Jan. 5 New Orleans Dec. 29 5.25 .75 Jan. 5 New Orleans Dec. 28 3.75 4.50 Jan. 5 Mobile Dec. 30 .75 .75 Jan. 5 Columbus, Geo. .75


Account of Express Mails Received at the Post Office at Baltimore, County of Baltimore, State of Maryland (Continued)



Jan. 5 Charleston Dec. 31 1.50 Jan. 5 Charleston Jan. 1 .75 Jan. 5 Mobile, Ala. Dec. 27 2.25 .75 Jan. 5 Mobile, Ala. Dec. 31 2.25 Jan. 7 Savannah, Geo. Jan. 3 1.50 Jan. 7 Charleston 1.50 Jan. 7 Mobile, Ala. .75 Jan. 7 Alexandria .60 Jan. 8 Raleigh, N.C. .561/ 4

Jan. 9 New Orleans Dec. 30 6.75 Jan. 10 Petersburg .561/4

Jan. 10 Savannah Geo. Jan. 6 .75 Jan. 10 Augusta Jan. 6 7.50 Jan. 11 Mobile Jan. 6 1.50 Jan. 11 New Orleans Jan. 3 3.00 .75 Jan. 11 New Orleans Jan. 4 5.25 .75 Jan. 12 Charleston, S.C. Jan. 8 .75 Jan. 12 Columbia, S.C. Jan. 1 1.50 Jan. 12 Raleigh Jan. 11 .561/4

Jan. 12 Charleston Jan. 7 4.25 1.50 Jan. 12 Savannah Jan. 5 3.50 Jan. 13 Augusta, Geo. Jan. 10 3.00 Jan. 13 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 7 3.00 Jan. 13 Charleston Jan.9 1.50 Jan. 13 Richmond Jan. 12 .561/4

Jan. 13 Columbia Jan. 11 .75 Jan. 13 Alexandria Jan. 13 .30 Jan. 13 New Orleans Jan. 5 .75

80.27 1/2 23.933/ 4

Jan. 15 New Orleans Jan. 7 7.50 Jan. 15 Mobile Jan. 9 .75 Jan. 15 New Orleans Jan. 6 4.50 1.50 Jan. 15 Charleston Jan. 10 2.25 2.25 Jan. 15 Mobile Jan. 8 .75 .75 Jan. 17 Columbia Jan. 15 1.50 Jan. 17 Augusta Jan. 12 .75 Jan. 17 Savannah Jan. 13 .75 Jan. 17 Charleston Jan. 12 3.00 .75 Jan. 15 Augusta Jan. 15 2.25 Jan. 17 New Orleans Jan.9 3.75 .75

APPENDIX 207



Jan. 17 New Orleans Jan. 8 4.50 1.50 Jan. 17 Montgomery Jan. 12 1.50 Jan. 17 Charleston Jan. 11 1.50 .75 Jan. 17 Mobile 1.50 Jan. 18 Charleston Jan. 14 4.50 .75 Jan. 18 Fayette Ville Jan. 17 .561/4

Jan. 18 Richmond .75 Jan. 19 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 13 1.50 Jan. 19 New Orleans 6.75 3.75 Jan. 19 Augusta 2.25 Jan. 19 Alexandria .30 Jan. 19 Mobile Jan. 14 3.00 1.50 Jan. 19 Charleston Jan. 15 .75 .75 Jan. 19 Richmond .561/4 Jan. 20 Columbus, Geo. .75 Jan. 20 Augusta, Geo. Jan. 15 1.00 .50 Jan. 21 New Orleans Jan. 10 9.00 Jan. 21 Mobile Jan. 12 6.75 1.50 Jan. 22 New Orleans Jan. 12 5.25 Jan. 22 New Orleans Jan. 15 .75 1.50 Jan. 22 New Orleans Jan. 14 2.00 .75 Jan. 22 Charleston Jan. 16 .75 Jan. 22 Petersburg Jan. 20 .561/4 Jan. 22 Petersburg Jan. 19 .561/4 Jan. 22 Augusta, Geo Jan. 18 .75 Jan. 22 Augusta, Geo. Jan. 17 .75 Jan. 22 Savannah, Geo. Jan. 16 1.50 Jan. 22 Charleston, S.C. 3.75 Jan. 22 Macon, Ga. Jan. 15 1.50 Jan. 23 Savannah Jan. 19 .75 Jan. 23 Charleston Jan. 19 3.00 .75 Jan. 23 Augusta Jan. 21 .75 Jan. 23 Mobile Jan. 18 2.25 Jan. 23 Fredericksburg Jan. 18 .37 1/2

97.371/2 24.05 Jan. 24 New Orleans Jan. 18 5.25 2.25 Jan. 24 Fredericksburg Jan. 24 .371/2 Jan. 24 Savannah, Geo. 1.50 Jan. 24 Richmond Jan. 23 .561/4 Jan. 24 Alexandria Jan.24 .30 Jan. 24 Charleston Jan. 20 .75 .75 Jan. 24 Mobile, Ala. Jan. 19 .75 Jan. 25 Charleston S.C. Jan.21 3.75 .75 Jan. 25 Columbus, Geo. .75


Account of Express Mails Received at the Post Office at Baltimore, County of Baltimore, State of Maryland (Continued)


Time of Whence They the Bills Receiving Were Received Received

Jan. 25 Mobile Jan. 20 Jan. 26 Mobile Jan. 21 Jan. 26 New Orleans Jan. 20 Jan. 26 New Orleans Jan. 19 Jan. 26 Charleston Jan. 26 Columbus Jan. 26 Fredericksburg Jan. 26 Jan.26 Richmond Jan. 25 Jan. 26 Augusta Jan. 24 Jan. 27 Augusta, Geo. Jan. 25 Jan. 27 Mobile Jan. 22 Jan. 27 Charleston Jan. 23 Jan. 27 Montgomery Jan. 27 Richmond Jan. 26 Jan. 27 New Orleans Jan. 21 Jan. 29 New Orleans Jan. 22 Jan. 29 Augusta Jan. 26 Jan. 29 Charleston Jan. 25 Jan . 29 Charleston Jan. 24 Jan. 29 Mobile Jan. 23 Jan. 30 Charleston Jan. 26 Jan. 30 Richmond Jan. 29 Jan. 31 Alexandria, D.C. Jan. 31

Recapitulation

No. 1 No. 2 No. 3

Unpaid Letters

3.00 1.50 7.50 3.00 1.50

.371/2

.561/ 4

.75 2.25 2.25 1.50 1.50

.561/ 4

5.25 9.00

3.00 2.25 2.25 6.77

.561/ 4

66.503/4

80.77 112 90.37112 66.503/ 4

237.153/4

66.10 303.25

Paid Letters

from Other

Offices

1.50

2.25

1.50

1.50

2.25 .75

.30

18.11 1/4

23.933/ 4

24.05 18.111/ 4

66.10

APPENDIX 209

Account of Express Mails sent from the Distributing Post Office at Baltimore, County of Baltimore, State of Maryland

Letters Date Originally of the Paid at bills Unpaid This sent To What Office the Letters Were Sent Letters Office

1837 Jan. 1 New Orleans $3.75 Jan. 1 New Orleans 1.50 Jan. 1 Richmond 1.683/4

Jan. 1 Fredericksburg .37112 Jan. 1 Mobile .75 Jan. 1 Boston .561/4

Jan. 1 Wilmington .371/2

Jan. 1 New Castle .30 Jan. 2 New Orleans 3.00 Jan. 2 Charleston, S.C. .75

Jan. 2 Alexandria, D.C. .60 Jan.2 New Castle .30 Jan. 2 Boston 1.12112 Jan. 3 Charleston, S.C. .75 Jan. 3 Norfolk, Va. 1.50 Jan. 3 New Orleans 6.00 1.50 Jan. 3 Mobile, Ala. .75 1.50 Jan. 3 Fredericksburg .371/2

Jan. 3 Richmond, Va. 1.12112 Jan. 3 Montgomery, Ala. .75 Jan. 3 Mobile, Ala. .75 Jan. 4 Richmond, Va. .561/4

Jan. 4 Charleston, S.C. .75 .37 1/2

Jan. 4 New Orleans 5.25 Jan. 5 Natchez 1.50 Jan. 5 Norfolk, Va. .561/4

Jan. 5 New Orleans 2.25 .75 Jan. 5 Mobile, Ala. .75 Jan. 6 Charleston 1.50 Jan.6 New Orleans, La. 3.00 Jan. 6 Norfolk, Va. .75 Jan. 6 Fredericksburg .37112 Jan. 6 Augusta, Ga. .75 Jan. 6 Richmond, Va. 1.121/2

Jan. 6 Mobile, Ala. 1.50 2.25 Jan.6 Columbia .75 .75 Jan. 6 Petersburg, Va. .561/4

Jan. 6 Boston .561/4

Jan. 7 New Orleans 3.00 .75


Account of Express Mails sent from the Distributing Post Office at Baltimore, County of Baltimore, State of Maryland (Continued)


1837 Jan. 7 Charleston, S.C. 1.50 Jan. 7 Natchez 1.50 Jan. 8 Mobile .75 Jan. 8 Vicksburg .75 Jan. 8 New Orleans 4.50 1.50 Jan. 9 Montgomery .75 Jan. 9 Charleston, S.C. .75 Jan. 9 Boston 1.121/2

Jan. 10 Mobile 1.50 Jan. 10 Richmond, Va. .561/ 4

Jan. 10 New Orleans 5.25 Jan. 10 New Orleans .75 Jan. 10 Natchez .75 Jan. 10 Charleston, S.C. .75 Jan. 10 Savannah, Ga. 1.50 Jan. 11 New Orleans 7.50 .75 Jan. 11 Charleston, S.C. .75 Jan. 11 Raleigh, N.C. .561/4

Jan. 11 Mobile 3.75 .75 Jan. 11 Wilmington, N.C. .75 Jan. 11 Norfolk, Va. .561/4

Jan. 11 Richmond, Va. .561/4

Jan. 11 Wilmington, Del. .30 Jan. 12 Natchez 3.00 Jan. 12 Charleston, S.C. 1.50 Jan. 12 Natchez .75 Jan. 12 New Orleans 8.25 Jan. 12 Mobile 1.50 .75 Jan. 12 Fredericksburg .37 1/2

Jan. 12 New Orleans .75 Jan. 13 Alexandria .75 Jan. 13 Columbus, Ga. Dis. .75 Jan. 13 Charleston, S.C. .75 Jan. 13 Mobile 1.50 .75 Jan. 13 New Orleans 2.25 Jan. 13 Richmond, Va. .561/4

Jan. 13 Savannah, Ga. Dis. 1.50 Jan . 14 Mobile .75 Jan . 14 New Orleans 2.25 .75 Jan. 14 New Orleans, Dis. 6.00

APPENDIX 211


1837 Jan. 14 Norfolk .561/4

Jan. 14 Augusta, Ga. .75 Jan. 14 Providence .561/4

Jan. 15 New Orleans 6.00 .75 Jan. 15 Mobile, Ala. 2.25 Jan. 15 Charleston .75 Jan. 15 Augusta .75 Jan. 15 Norfolk .75 Jan. 16 Charleston .75 Jan. 16 Mobile .75 .75 Jan. 16 New Orleans 4.50 Jan. 17 Savannah .75 Jan. 17 Charleston .75 Jan. 17 New Orleans 6.75 2.25 Jan. 17 New Orleans, Dis. 1.50 Jan. 17 Columbus, Ga. .75 Jan. 17 Petersburg, Va. Dis. .56 1/4

Jan. 17 Augusta, Ga. .75 Jan. 17 Augusta, Ga. Dis. .75 Jan. 17 Richmond, Va. 1.121/2

Jan. 17 Boston 1.121/2

Jan. 18 Savannah, Ga. 1.50 Jan. 18 Charleston, S.C. .75 Jan. 18 New Orleans 5.25 .75 Jan. 18 Richmond .561/4

Jan. 18 Mobile, Ala. 1.50 Jan. 18 Montgomery .75 Jan. 19 Demopolis .75 Jan. 19 Augusta, Ga. Dis. 1.50 Jan. 19 Fredericksburg, Va. .37 1/2

Jan. 19 Charleston, S.C. .75 Jan. 19 Columbia .75 Jan. 19 Mobile, Ala. 1.50 Jan.20 Columbus, Geo. .75 Jan.20 Charleston, S.C. 1.50 .75 Jan. 20 Mobile 2.25 Jan.20 New Orleans 3.75 .75 Jan.20 Fredericksburg .75 Jan.20 Richmond, Va. .561/4

Jan.20 Mobile, Ala . .75 Jan.21 Montgomery .75 Jan.21 New Orleans 2.25 2.25 Jan. 21 New Orleans 1.50 Jan.21 Richmond, Va. .561/4


Account of Express Mails sent from the Distributing Post Office at Baltimore, County of Baltimore, State of Maryland (Continued)


1837 Jan. 21 Charleston, S.C. 2.25 2.25 Jan.21 Augusta .75 Jan. 22 Augusta, Geo. .75 Jan. 22 Charleston, S.C. 2.25 Jan.22 New Orleans 3.75 Jan. 23 Charleston .75 Jan.23 New Orleans 3.00 Jan. 23 Mobile .75 Jan.24 Macon, Geo. .75 Jan.24 Columbus .75 Jan.24 Mobile 3.00 Jan. 24 New Orleans 2.25 Jan. 24 New Orleans 2.25 Jan.24 Boston 1.311/4 Jan . 25 Benton, Al .75 Jan.25 Mobile .75 Jan.25 New Orleans 5.25 .75 Jan.25 Fredericksburg .37 1/2 Jan.25 Charleston, S.C. 1.50 Jan. 25 Wilmington .60 Jan. 25 Boston 1.311/2 Jan. 26 Charleston, S.C . 1.50 .75 Jan . 26 Mobile, Al. 1.50 Jan. 26 New Orleans 6.00 .75 Jan. 26 New Orleans 3.75 Jan. 26 Petersburg, Va. 1.121/2 Jan. 26 Savannah, Geo. .75 Jan. 26 Alexandria .30 Jan. 26 Richmond, Va. 1.121/2 Jan.26 Augusta, Geo. .75 Jan.27 Charleston, S.C. 1.50 Jan. 27 New Orleans 6.75 .75 Jan. 27 New Orleans .75 Jan.27 Norfolk, Va. 1.121/2 Jan. 27 Augusta, Geo. .75 Jan.27 Mobile, Ala . 2.25 Jan.27 Richmond .561/4 Jan.28 Mobile .75 Jan.28 Augusta, Geo. .75

APPENDIX 213


1837 Jan.28 New Orleans 1.50 .75 Jan. 28 New Orleans .75 Jan. 28 Charleston .75 Jan. 28 Petersburg, Va. Dis .75 Jan.28 Boston 1.121/2

Jan. 29 New Orleans 5.25 .75 Jan.29 Augusta, G€o. Dis .75 Jan.29 Richmond .561/4

Jan.29 Mobile .75 Jan.29 Augusta Geo. Dis. .75 Jan.29 Columbus, Geo. Dis. .75 Jan. 29 Boston .561/4

Jan.30 Richmond .561/4

Jan.30 Augusta G€o. .75 Jan.30 New Orleans 2.25 Jan.30 Fredericksburg .75 Jan.30 Charleston, S.C. 3.00 Jan.31 Augusta, Geo. Dis. Jan. 31 Raleigh, N.C. .561/4

Jan. 31 Alexandria .30 Jan. 31 Fredericksburg .37 112 Jan.31 New Orleans 6.75 Jan.31 New Orleans .75 Jan.31 Richmond .75 Jan.31 Mobile 1.50 .75

247.161/4 56.933/4


Account of Mails Received at the Post Office at New York Express Mails Transcript January 1837

No. of Bill Page

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Unpaid

373.57 458.89 481.31 508.91 383.79 560.13 643.76 695.19 401.52

$4507.07 9.25

1238.87

5755.19

Paid Distributed

2.50

3.75

3.00

9.25

Paid Originally

99.62 156.56 122.25 142.69 135.75 147.25 163.69 155.75 115.31

1238.87

Author's note: All of these figures are reproduced as they are shown on the original documents.

the express mail of 1836-1839, james w. milgram, m.d. (1984)

Documents