Lot
463 
"GeoTown May 6", manuscript postmark and matching "12½" rating on folded letter datelined "City of Washington May 6th 1793" from Andrew Elliott to A.J. Dallas in Philadelphia Pa., endorsed "On Public Service"; some light toning, F.-V.F. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
A RARE EARLY USE FROM THE GEORGETOWN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA POST OFFICE.
This letter entered the mails at Georgetown because the post office at Washington was not opened until 1795. At that time it was known as "Washington in the State of Maryland", even though it came under the jurisdiction of the Philadelphia office. Georgetown was the only the settlement in the District of Columbia that has a post office at this time.
This letter is from Andrew Elliott, Surveyor General of the United States, who had laid out the boundaries of the District in 1790. After President Washington (referred to in this letter as "President U.S.") dismissed L'Enfant as architect for the city, Elliott completed the L'Enfant plan. This is the work referred to in this letter: "I should agreeably to my original intention, have been in Philadelphia the beginning of this month, but was prevailed upon by the President U.S. to execute some more work in the City of Washington".
Realized: $1,450