Folded letter by US Navy Surgeon David Shelton Edwards

David Shelton Edwards, American, died 1874 · March 29-30, 1835

In 1835 the letter probably would have traveled overland or by steamboat to Mobile, Alabama, where it joined the Great Mail route north using combinations of horse, coach, steamboat and train. The notation "steamboat" may indicate that the letter went by steamboat to Mobile. The word "single" refers to the letter being only one sheet of paper requiring a single rate of 25 cents for traveling more than 400 miles. The absence of the word "Paid" indicates that the letter was sent unpaid and 25 cents was collected from the addressee. The notation "25th" (top center) probably indicates this is the sender's 25th letter. Frequent correspondents often numbered their letters to indicate to the recipient if any letters went missing or delayed.