McCulloch, Hugh:

PRINTED LETTER WITH PRINTED SIGNATURE, AS SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, TO UNITED STATES COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS, 6 MAY 1865, PROHIBITING THE MASTER OR COMMANDER OF AMERICAN VESSELS FROM DELIVERING TO FOREIGN PORTS ANY MAILS "WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN DELIVERED TO HIM FROM THE POST OFFICE AT THE PORT OF DEPARTURE."

Washington: Treasury Department, 1865. Broadside, 8" x 10." Binding pinholes at blank inner margin, Very Good. Ink inscription at top margin: "Received May 12, 1865. C. Almy."

Secretary McCulloch informs his Customs Collectors of the Postal Law enacted 3 March 1865. It states in part: "No steamship or other vessel departing from the United States for a foreign port or ports, shall be permitted to receive on board, or convey any letters or letter packets originating in the United States, which have not been regularly posted at, and received from, the post office at the port of departure." Each master or commander is required to extract "an oath or affirmation" that the master or commander has not received any forbidden mail.
The recipient of this notice, Charles Almy, was Collector of Customs at Fall River, Massachusetts. Originally a Free Soil Democrat, he joined the Republican Party and was a Party functionary thereafter. Item #38816

Price: $275.00