UNITED STATES Thomas H. Burrowes politician HARRISBURG PA LATE 1830'S F953

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Condition

Unused

Stamp Format

Single

Item Description

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Grade: Ungraded
This is a "stampless folded letter" sent from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was mailed on April 7th during the period when postage rates were determined by distance, a system that was in place from 1816 to 1845. The letter is addressed to Thomas H. Burrowes, a very prominent Pennsylvania politician and educational reformer of that era.Analysis of the Postal CoverOrigin: The blue circular datestamp clearly reads "PHILA / PA / APR / 7", indicating it was mailed from Philadelphia on April 7. The year is not included in the postmark, which was common for the time.Postage Rate: The red manuscript marking "12 1/2" in the upper right corner indicates the postage cost. This was the standard rate for a single-sheet letter traveling between 80 and 150 miles under the U.S. Postal Act of 1816. The distance between Philadelphia and Harrisburg is approximately 105 miles, which fits perfectly within this rate tier. This rate was in effect until July 1, 1845, when rates were standardized and lowered, definitively dating this letter to the 1816-1845 period.Payment: In this era, before the advent of postage stamps, postage was typically paid by the recipient upon delivery, not the sender. The postmaster hand-wrote the amount due on the front of the letter.About the Recipient: Thomas H. Burrowes, Esq.Thomas Henry Burrowes (1805-1871) was a highly influential figure in Pennsylvania's history. Receiving this letter in Harrisburg, the state capital, aligns perfectly with his career.He was a lawyer, politician, and is widely known as the "Father of the Pennsylvania Public School System."He moved to Harrisburg to become the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, serving from 1835 to 1839. This is the most likely period during which this letter was sent to him.As Secretary, he was also the Superintendent of Common Schools. He was instrumental in establishing and defending Pennsylvania's public education system.He later founded the State Normal School at Lancaster (now Millersville University of Pennsylvania) and served as president of Pennsylvania Agricultural College (now Penn State University).The use of "Esq." (Esquire) after his name was a common honorific for a man of his professional and social standing, particularly a lawyer or high-ranking public official.About the Sender: S. Chinn / Jas. Ens.The sender's notation is written on the back panel, which was folded over to the front. It reads "S. Chinn / for Jas. Ens."This notation indicates that an individual named S. Chinn sent this letter on behalf of another person, Jas. Ens.(likely an abbreviation for James). S. Chinn could have been a clerk, an assistant, or an agent acting for James Ens.Without the content of the original letter, identifying these specific individuals is very difficult. They were likely Philadelphia residents with business, political, or personal matters to communicate to a high-ranking state official like Burrowes. Their names do not correspond to any readily identifiable historical figures of major prominence, suggesting they were private citizens or businessmen.SEE MY 20,000+ EXCEPTIONAL LISTINGS IN MY STORE! WATCH MY ITEMS USING YOUR WATCH-LIST FOR SPECIAL DISCOUNTS AND ADD ME AS A FAVORITE SELLER FOR A GREAT NEWSLETTER!Attention Sellers - Get TemplatesImage Hosting, Scheduling at Auctiva.com. Track Page Views WithAuctiva's FREE Counter

Seller Information

Seller

bluemule22 (20472)

Registered Since

04/19/2013

Feedback

99.9%

Store

SuperiorStamps

Item Location

Minnesota, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

No