The collection consists of forty-six documents, all but one
being letters received by the Post Office Department. They are
arranged chronologically and date from 1845 to 1851. All the
letters are addressed to the postmaster general and two
assistant postmasters general, principally the third assistant.
Beginning with this issue of stamps, the production and issuance
of postage stamps was permanently assigned to the third
assistant. Unfortunately, the records of letters sent by the
third assistant postmaster general have been lost. These letters
included correspondence received from the engraving firm as well
as postmasters and individuals. The Rawdon, Wright, Hatch &
Edson letters touch on the firm's contract with the Post Office
Department to produce the stamps, including design and printing
and eventual destruction of the dies and plates. Also of
considerable interest, letters from the New York City
postmasters that discuss the Department's security system. While
they were not being used to print new orders