Description:

Washington George 1732 - 1799 Scarce George Washington signed note with his original hand drawing!

Heavily penned note, 2" x 3", on laid paper, signed by George Washington with a small original drawing by Washington of a pointing hand: "As the Law exempting me from payment of Postage, is not worded as I expected it wd. [would] have been, and as I believe it was intended to be -- Pray let me know whether you are charged Postage for my letters to you? Not meaning you should do so. Signed GW___n , with the additional note, At Phil'a, no[charges?] made of my letters Franked."

Presented in a stunning charcoal black mat, with a deep brown burled wood frame. Framed and glazed using 100% archival materials and UV glass to a finished size of 12.5" x 18.5".

An incredible example of a note extensively penned entirely in the hand of George Washington, and includes a unique scarce small drawing by him of a hand pointing a finger at his message.

The Continental Congress gave itself franking privileges as early as 1775; the first US Congress passed a franking law in 1789. The privilege was abolished in 1873, but re-established in 1891, after many exceptions to the ban had accumulated. Today government officials may send official business, constituent bulk mails and a few other uses.

Although the note is not dated, one would guess about 1789 when the law was written for the new nation, but the specifics were as yet unclear.

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