Mailing a Letter

Letters used to require sealing wax, because there were no envelopes or other methods to keep them sealed. The first items that could be called envelopes were more like pouches and not used for letters. In fact, when envelopes came into use for mail, they had to be hand made and were also sealed with wax at first. It was not until 1845 that a machine was developed in Great Britain to produce an envelope.

In 1811, the United States Congress ordered a survey of the post road between Passamaqoddy, Maine and Sunbury, Georgia, because they needed to know the distances between towns to determine postal rates. They established these rates in 1815. When the costs of things in 1815 are considered, mailing a letter wasn't that cheap.

Postal rider woodcut

Under 10 miles ---------- 6 cents
11 to 60 miles ------------8 cents
61 to 100 miles ----------10 cents
101 to 150 miles ---------12 cents
151 to 200 miles ---------15 cents
201 to 250 miles ---------17 cents
251 to 350 miles ---------20 cents
351 to 450 miles ---------22 cents
Over 450 miles -----------25 cents

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) had been the first Postmaster in the newly formed country. Of course, nationwide mail coverage would not take place for many more years. Remote and rural areas depended on travelers to carry important mail, at least until they got to a place it could be posted.

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