Folded letter by US Navy Surgeon David Shelton Edwards

David Shelton Edwards, American, died 1874 · October 29-30, 1837

In 1837 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 circular date stamp indicates the letter was forwarded on 31 October 1837 from the Pensacola post office. The rate for a single letter (one sheet of paper) traveling more than 400 miles was 25 cents. This is a double rate letter (2 x 25 cents) indicating that there was one enclosure. The absence of the word "Paid" indicates that the letter was sent unpaid and 50 cents was collected from the addressee.