Letter
Object Details
- Description
- This is a letter from Third Asst. Postmaster General J. Marron to Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co. concerning modifications to the proposal to manufacture postage stamps; dated 26 May 1855.
- " Post Office Department
- Finance Office, 26 May 1855.
- Messrs. Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear & Co.
- Philadelphia, Penn. Sirs.
- The Postmaster General directs me to inform you that having decided to establish an Agency in Philadelphia for suppling the Post Offices with postage stamps, he accepts, with some little modifications, the first proposition contained in your letter to me of the 24th ultimo, in which you engage to "perform all the labor of counting the Postage Stamps in parcels of from 5 to 50 half sheets (as may be directed by the Department) and wrapping each package so counted, in half sheets of colored paper (of similar kind and quantity to the samples herewith marked A and B) and then enclosing each package thus wrapped in a white Envelope of the Government pattern (made of paper equal in quality to the sample herewith marked C) and have printed on each of said Envelopes the words "Post Office Department - official business", and (if required) also the words "1000 postage stamps of 3 cents (or such other number and denomination as may be directed), and for the faithful performance of these duties, including the furnishing of the paper and Envelopes above mentioned, you are to "charge at the rate of thirty dollars per thousand Envelopes (without reference to the number of stamps that may be enclosed in each envelope).""
- The modifications are unimportant and are as follows:
- 1 As the envelopes of the size intended to be used will contain only 40 half sheets of stamps, it follows that all parcels over that number must be put up in good strong wrapping paper and, where the size of the package requires it, be tied with twine. It is estimated that such parcels constitute about one twelfth of the whole number, and it is proposed to allow the same rate for them as for the enveloped parcels.
- 2 It will not be necessary to have printed on the envelopes the quantities of stamps they contain, but it is desired to have the words "Post Office Department - official business" on the upper right hand corner, the word "Postmaster" near the middle of the left side, and the word "County" far enough from the lower left hand corner to insert the name of any given County.
- 3 The envelopes are to be gummed or sealed ready for mailing.
- The Postmaster General will allow a rent of One hundred and twenty five dollars per annum for the room which is to be papered and put in order for the use of the Agent.
- We expect to have all the books, circulary and printed forms ready to commence operating by the 10th of next month and if you should not have envelopes ready by that time we can supply you with some to begin with.
- I am very respectfully
- Your Obdt. Sert.
- J. Marron
- Third Asst. P.M. Genl."
- Credit line
- The O'Toole Family of Delaware County and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- 1855
- Object number
- 1991.0380.2
- Writer
- John Marron, American
- Recipient
- Toppan, Carpenter, Casilear and Company
- Type
- Covers & Associated Letters
- Medium
- paper (blue, ruled); ink / handwritten
- Dimensions
- Height x Width: 32.4 x 40cm (12 3/4 x 15 3/4in.) Height x Width (folded): 32.4 x 20cm (12 3/4 x 7 7/8in.)
- Place
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Topic
- American Expansion (1800-1860)
- Record ID
- npm_1991.0380.2
- Usage
- Not determined