Tremendously rare free-franked White House ‘Official Business’ mailing envelope, 9.5 x 4, addressed in type to "Benjamin F. McLoud, Esq., 2217 Noble Street, West Lawn, Pennsylvania," postmarked in Washington, D.C., July 27, 1933, and franked in the upper right in bold fountain pen by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In fine condition.
Presidents of the United States enjoyed the franking privilege until 1873, when after much official abuse, it was abolished. Although Congress granted itself the frank only two years later, it was never granted again to a sitting president of the United States.
According to late autograph dealer Charles Hamilton, only two envelopes franked by Roosevelt were known to exist, both of which were owned by the same collector, who ‘because he had done an important political favor for F.D.R., was the owner able to persuade the President—to use F.D.R.'s words—'to break the law’…The signature of Roosevelt…is the rarest of all Presidential franks.'
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