Lot
1920 
(Wrappers) 1783 (Aug. 12) Philadelphia Pa. to Norwich Conn., folded letter with Philadelphia "13/AV" Franklin mark and matching partial "FREE" rating handstamp to Postmaster Dudley Woodbridge, original letter datelined "Phila. Augst. 12th. 1783" and reads "My Late Absence from this City has prevented your hearing from me upon the subject of News Papers; -if they are enclosed in Letters they pay the same Postage as if they were Letters; - the proper way of sending them is open, in the Case of the Post Rider (who receives a Perquisite for carrying them) & not to put them in the mail at all; - if they are sent in the mail they must paid for as Letters" and signed "Eben Hazard" as Postmaster General; mended tear, Very Fine. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
AN INTERESTING LETTER FROM POSTMASTER GENERAL EBENEZER HAZARD CONCERNING THE HANDLING OF NEWSPAPERS.
Letter from Ebenezer Hazard, Postmaster to the Continental Congress, sent in reply to a local postmaster providing the definition of wrapper use: "…the proper way of sending them is open…" This distinction of "open" (visible) versus "closed" is applied here and was used until the cessation of wrappers.
Realized: $800