1787 folded letter sheet to Philadelphia with straightline "Baltimore Dec. 2" datestamp, very fine
In September 1785, Congress instructed the Postmaster General to establish contract stage coach routes from Portsmouth, Maine to Savannah, Georgia. After a reluctant start, in 1787 Postmaster General Hazard entered into contracts with stage lines to service both main post routes and many cross-routes. One such route covered the mail from Philadelphia to Baltimore, in both directions, and involved the use of a stage boat to cross the Delaware River. The contract for this stage route was held by Messrs. Inslip & Cumming, who also held the contract to carry the mail between New York City and Philadelphia. Under the Philadelphia to Baltimore contract, Inslip & Cumming were required to make five trips per week in each direction.