Description:

Garfield James 1831 - 1881

Ohio Congressman James Garfield free franked envelope.

Free franked envelope signed by then Ohio Congressman and future 20th U.S. President James Garfield as "J.A. Garfield, M.C." in upper right corner of mustard colored envelope. Envelope is addressed to one "B. Reed, Girard, Ohio" by another hand. In very good overall condition. The envelope shows minor wear and weathering. Its left side is partly trimmed and its bottom is partially cut through the addressee's name. None of these condition issues affect Garfield's relaxed and fluid signature, however. The envelope measures 5.625" x 3.5".

James Garfield (1831-1881), a college-educated lawyer, was serving in the Ohio state legislature at the onset of the Civil War. He balanced his legislative duties with military recruitment and fundraising at first, but after 1861, he accepted a commission in the Union Army. This free franked envelope dates from Garfield's tenure as an Ohio delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives. Between 1863 and 1880, Garfield wrestled with issues like emancipation, Reconstruction, the gold standard, Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial, federal corruption, and congressional salaries. He did not wish to run as a Republican candidate for President in 1880, but he won anyway. He was assassinated only 200 days into his first and only term.

The historical records do not indicate who B. Reed was, or illuminate what his exact connection to Garfield was. Yet Girard, Ohio is located within fifty miles of Garfield's birthplace just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. It is possible that Reed was one of Garfield's constituents from Ohio's nineteenth congressional district.

Free franking, or the ability to send mail free from postage, was instituted in the late eighteenth century. The privilege has been alternately granted, rescinded, expanded, and restricted over the last two hundred years. Traditionally, Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Congressmen like James Garfield, as well as former office holders and occasionally their spouses and relatives, held free franking privileges.

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