Rare set of 3 official envelopes from the United States Patent Office, 1840s

Three original envelopes from ...

Three original envelopes from the pre-stamped mail period, all sent from Washington, D.C. as part of the official mail of the United States Patent Office.

The envelopes bear clear date stamps, handwriting typical of the period, and addresses to known recipients, including, apparently, A. J. Downing – one of the most important landscape architects in the United States in the 19th century.

Signed by Commissioner of Patents Edmund Burke (1846–1849), one of the central figures in the formation of the American patent system.

An exceptional philatelic and historical item, of high cultural and collector value, depicting the early activities of the federal government and its means of correspondence.