Amos Kendall, Postmaster General to Jackson and Van Buren, Archive of 3 Items

KENDALL, AMOS. Small archive of three autograph documents. Accompanied by an engraving of Kendall, adhered to a larger 8” x 10” leaf.

Comprises:

1) Autograph Letter Signed, “Amos Kendall”, as business manager to Samuel Morse, 1 p. with integral address leaf, December 15, 1852, Washington, 8” x 10”. Kendall writes to J.H. Wade in Columbus, Ohio regarding his objection to Wade’s request to move the “Wade Line” between Cleveland and Cincinnati. Expected mailing folds with separation and minor paper loss, light toning and wear, remnants of red wax seal.

2) Autograph Document Signed, “Amos Kendall”, as Postmaster General, 1 p., June 4, 1836, n.p., 10” x 16”, being a certification of accounts from the Postmaster of Monticello, Florida Territory, 1831-1834, during the Seminole War. Intact Seal of the General Post Office Department (last used in 1837). Docketing to verso. Folds, very minor paper loss at middle fold and bottom edge, small tear at right edge. Of special interest to Florida Philatelists.

3) Autograph Letter, March 14, 1840, 3 pp. on one leaf, “Post Office Department”, 8” x 10”, being a retained lengthy holographic draft letter to Robert M.T. Hunter regarding a new post office building. The 1836 General Post Office and Patent Office fire was the first of several disastrous fires the U.S. Patent Office has had in its history. It occurred in Blodgett's Hotel building in Washington on December 15, 1836. An initial investigation considered the possibility of arson due to suspected corruption in the Post Office, which shared the same building, but that was later ruled out. The cause was ultimately determined to be accidental. The fire is thought to be a unique point in the historical events of the Patent Office that caused policy changes. Separation at folds causing almost total detachment of pages, minor toning, and wear. Of special interest to postal historians.

Amos Kendall (1789-1869) was an American lawyer, journalist, and politician. He rose to prominence as editor-in-chief of the Argus of Western America, an influential newspaper in Frankfort, the capital of the state of Kentucky. He used his newspaper, writing skills, and extensive political contacts to build the Democratic Party into a national political power. An ardent supporter of Andrew Jackson, he served as United States Postmaster General during the Jackson and Martin Van Buren administrations. He was one of the most influential members of Jackson's "Kitchen Cabinet", an unofficial group of Jackson's top appointees and advisors who set administration policy. Returning to private life, Kendall wrote one of the first biographies of Jackson, which was published in 1843. He invested heavily in Samuel Morse's invention, the telegraph. He became one of the most important figures in the transformation of the American news media in the 19th century.

Jeptha Homer “J.H” Wade (811-1890) was an American industrialist, philanthropist, and one of the founding members of Western Union Telegraph. Wade was born in Romulus, New York, the youngest of nine children. He made the first Daguerreotypes west of New York, was a portrait painter, and moved to Adrian, Michigan in 1840 before developing an interest in the telegraph, which led to the establishment of Western Union.

Robert M.T. Hunter (1809-1887) was a Virginia lawyer, politician, and plantation owner. He was a United States Representative, a Speaker of the House, and a United States Senator. During the American Civil War, Hunter became the Confederate States Secretary of State, and then a Confederate Senator and critic of President Jefferson Davis. After the war, Hunter failed to win re-election to the Senate, but did serve as the Treasurer of Virginia before retiring to his farm. After fellow Democrat Grover Cleveland was elected President of the United States in 1884, Hunter became the customs collector for the port of Tappahannock until his death.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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