National Postal Museum
Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia from Washington, Kentucky folded letter
December 31, 1803
WAS*K* (Washington, Ky.) straight line postmark (scarce); manuscript "Paid 50"; to Culpeper Courthouse, Virginia. The rate is either for a double letter over 500 miles, or a quadruple letter from 90 to 150 miles, per the postal rate act of 1799; the actual distance is about 250 miles. This cover suggests that the complexity of the early tiered rate systems may have overwhelmed some postal clerks.
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