Rare partly-printed DS as president, one page, 17 x 14, May 16, 1881. President Garfield appoints Edwin F. Tomlinson as "Postmaster at Plainville, in the County of Hartford, State of Connecticut." Crisply signed at the conclusion by President Garfield and countersigned by Postmaster General Thomas L. James. The gold foil seal and red ribbon affixed to the lower left remain intact. In fine condition, with a few small stains. When President Garfield took office, the Post Office Department was the largest department in the federal government and highly prone to corruption. He made purging the Post Office of malfeasance a primary focus of his administration, leading to the dismissal and appointment of new postmasters around the United States. Because of Garfield's brief tenure in the White House, his presidential documents are exceedingly scarce. This example is elevated by its fine appearance and prominently penned signature.
This item is Pre-Certified by PSA/DNA
Buy a third-party letter of authenticity for
$100.00
*This item has been pre-certified by a trusted third-party authentication service, and by placing a bid on this item, you agree to accept the opinion of this authentication service. If you wish to have an opinion rendered by a different authenticator of your choosing, you must do so prior to your placing of any bid. RR Auction is not responsible for differing opinions submitted 30 days after the date of the sale.