JOHN WANAMAKER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 06/25/1890 - HFSID 258209

JOHN WANAMAKER
The Postmaster General thanks a former Confederate General for information.
Typed Letter Signed: "John Wanamaker" as Benjamin Harrison's Postmaster General, 1p, 7¾x10¼. Washington, D.C., 1890 June 25. To General Marcus J. Wright, War Records Office. In full: "I thank you for your letter of the 21st, and should any further information come into your hands I will be pleased to receive it." On April 8, 1861, JOHN WANAMAKER opened a small clothing store in Philadelphia. In 1995, the John Wanamaker department stores were sold to Hecht's. As Postmaster General (1889-1893), Wanamaker issued the first commemorative stamps. He was rebuked by a congressional joint resolution that protested the "unnecessary" stamps. Wanamaker, an astute businessman, defended his actions by saying that the commemorative stamps could become money-makers. Sixteen stamps were issued to commemorate the World Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, Illinois, from May 1 to October 30, 1893. The stamps celebrated the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' voyage to the New World. Two billion commemorative Columbian stamps were sold for $40 million and were credited as a factor in the Exposition's success. MARCUS J. WRIGHT (1831-1922), Confederate Major General during the Civil War, was appointed agent of the War Department to collect Confederate records for publication in the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. Lightly creased. Folds, horizontal fold through signature, vertical fold touches the "ak". Shaded at blank margins.