(POST OFFICE) | Third Congress of the United States: At the First Sessions...An Act to Establish the Post-Office and Post-Roads within the United States. Philadelphia: Francis Childs and John Swaine(?), 1794

Property from the Eric C. Caren Collection
(POST OFFICE)
Third Congress of the United States: At the First Sessions...An Act to Establish the Post-Office and Post-Roads within the United States. Philadelphia: Francis Childs and John Swaine(?), 1794

Folio (13 1/4 x 8 1/8 in.; 335 x 205 mm). 11pp., signed in type by President Washington, as well as the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate, signed by Edmund Randolph ("Edm: Randolph") as Secretary of State; first and last pages browned, some scattered foxing. Stab-sewn into original blue wrapper, rear wrapper docketed “Acts of 3rd Congress”; foxed and soiled, some marginal fraying and loss. The consignor has independently obtained a letter of authenticity from PSA that will accompany the lot.

An act to establish the Post Office, ink-signed by Edmund Jennings Randolph

"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following be established as post-roads, namely: From Passamaquoddy, in the district of Maine, to Saint Mary’s in Georgia, by the following route..."

In addition to establishing a postal route along the Atlantic Seaboard, the present act of the Third Congress also "established at the seat of the government of the United States, a general post-office," with a Postmaster General, whose responsibilities included appointing assistant and deputy postmasters, and facilitating the carrying of the mail of the United States, by stage carriages or horses.

Edmund Randolph was the second Secretary of State, and the first United States Attorney General during George Washington's presidency. The practice of signing official printings of Congressional acts was discontinued following the Third Congress.

REFERENCE:
Evans 27849

Condition Report:
Condition as described in catalogue entry.