Free Franks and Related Covers continued...

VERY FINE. A DESIRABLE EXAMPLE OF JEFFERSON'S PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK ON A COVER ADDRESSED BY HIM TO SECRETARY OF WAR HENRY DEARBORN.

Henry Dearborn was appointed Secretary of War in Jefferson's cabinet, serving from 1801 to 1809. He became collector of the port of Boston for three years during Madison's first presidential term, but he left that post to rejoin the U.S. Army as a senior major general during the War of 1812.

At this time Jefferson was corresponding with his Secretary of War about the British blockade of Norfolk and imminent danger of war. A letter from Jefferson, written two days earlier, reflects the sense of danger: "Blows may be hourly possible. In this state of things I am sure your own feelings will anticipate the public judgment, that your presence here cannot be dispensed with. There is nobody here who can supply your knowledge of the resources for land co-operation, & the means for bringing them into activity. Still, I would wish you would stay long enough at N York to settle with the V. P. & Colo. Williams, the plan of defence for that place, & I am in hopes you will also see Fulton's experiments tried, & see how far his means may enter into your plan. But as soon as that is done, should matters remain in their present critical state, I think the public interest and safety would suffer by your absence from us." (source: www.oll.libertyfund.org) (Image Magnifier)

VERY FINE. AN ATTRACTIVE SHARPLY-DEFINED JEFFERSON PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK.

John Dickinson (1732-1808) was a militia officer during the Revolution War, a delegate to the Continental Congressman and Constitutional Convention of 1787, President of Delaware, and President of Pennsylvania. Among the wealthiest men in the colonies, he was known as the "Penman of the Revolution," for his Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, where he argued the cause of American liberty. Although refusing to vote in favor of the Declaration of Independence, he supported the establishment of the new government during the American Revolution and afterward in many official capacities. (Image Magnifier)

VERY FINE. A BOLD JEFFERSON PRESIDENTIAL FRANKING SIGNATURE ON A COVER WHICH ENTERED THE MAILS AT MILTON, VIRGINIA.

Milton is located on the Rivanna River near Charlottesville and Monticello. Its post office was an entry point for mail from Jefferson's estate. (Image Magnifier)

VERY FINE. A BOLD EXAMPLE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON'S PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK.

Benjamin Smith Barton (1766-1815) was trained as a physician, but is better known as the first professional naturalist in the U.S. He authored the first textbook on botany written in the U.S. (Image Magnifier)

FINE. A SHARP AND BOLD JEFFERSON PRESIDENTIAL FREE FRANK.

Thomas McKean, three-term Governor of Pennsylvania, was an ally and supporter of Thomas Jefferson. In 1802 he was a strong supporter of the Democratic-Republicans. A few years later he changed his support to the Federalists. (Image Magnifier)

A FINE EXAMPLE OF JEFFERSON'S FRANKING SIGNATURE FROM THE SAGE OF MONTICELLO'S TWILIGHT YEARS.

One year after Jefferson franked this cover to his friend and political ally, Thomas McKean, the former president realized one of his great achievements with the opening of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville in 1825. He died on July 4, 1826. (Image Magnifier)