American statesman (1762-1816) who served as Washington's personal secretary and later assumed posts in the Jefferson and Madison administrations. Hand-addressed mailing envelope, 5 x 3.25, filled out by Lear and postmarked at Washington on March 5 [no year], addressed to “The Hon’ble Woodbury Storer, Portland, Me,” and franked in the upper right corner, "free, Tobias Lear.” In very good to fine condition, with light soiling and a central vertical fold. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder, grading the autograph as "NM-MT 8.”