Stamped Envelopes of the Washington Postmaster.
The Daily Union, published at Washington, Wednesday, July 23rd, 1845, and the National Intelligencer, of Friday, July 25th, 1845, contain the following advertising editorial[A]:
"Interesting to Citizens and Sojourners in Washington. Upon inquiring at the city post office, we learn that Col. Gardiner has had franked (or rather prepaid) envelopes prepared, which do away with the necessity of personal application at the delivery window when one wishes to pay postage on sending off a letter. They are for sale at the post office, at the following rates; which barely pay the cost, after deducting the sum chargeable on each for postage, viz:
| 18 | envelopes | to enclose letters | charged at | 5 | cents | for | $1.00 |
| 9 | " | " | " | " | 50 | ||
| 1 | " | " | " | " | 6¼ | ||
| 9 | " | " | " | 10 | cents | 1.00 | |
| 4 | " | " | " | 10 | " |  | 50 |
| 1 | " | " | " | 5 | " |
This plan, it will be recollected has been adopted in the northern cities to the great advantage of the public, and its introduction here will save our fellow citizens many a long and hitherto, indispensable trudge, in this metropolis of magnificent distances."
The latter paper, however quotes the price of the 5 cent envelopes at 6 cents, instead of 6¼. These are evidently the envelopes mentioned in the article of the Express, of July 8th, quoted in the chapter on the stamps of the New York postmaster. Up to the present time none of them have been reported to have been found.
[A] The newspaper articles concerning these envelopes were found by Mr. C. F. Rothfuchs who, at the suggestion of the author, kindly searched the files of the Washington papers.