1844 US Post Office Mail Transportation Draft C A Wickliffe Pittston Maine #1512

1844 U.S. Post Office Department Draft – C. A. Wickliffe – Pittston, Maine An attractive piece of early American postal history, this United States Post Office Department payment draft is dated August 2, 1844, and made out for twelve dollars. Numbered 31, it is directed to the postmaster at Pittston, Maine, and features the inscription “Transportation of the Mails.” The document combines an ornate engraved side panel with a horseback mail-rider vignette, decorative lettering, and handwritten entries. Its blue-gray printing contrasts beautifully with the handwritten ink, while the B. Tanner, Philadelphia imprint appears within the elaborate border. A handwritten endorsement is also present on the reverse. The lower-right signature reads “C. A. Wickliffe.” Charles Anderson Wickliffe served as U.S. Postmaster General from 1841 to 1845 under President John Tyler, placing this draft within his period of service. A distinctive addition to a collection of American postal history, Maine memorabilia, antique financial documents, or nineteenth-century Americana, with decorative appeal for display. Condition: Please review all photographs carefully, as they are an important part of the description and show the document’s condition, including a small lower-edge tear. You will receive the exact document pictured. The signature is attributed to Charles Anderson Wickliffe and has not been independently authenticated.