"Official Postage Stamps and Stamped Envelopes." Post Office Department Circular. First version of the two-page circular dated May 15, 1873, and sent to postmasters announcing the abolition of the franking privilege, "on the first day of July, 1873, the Postmaster General is required by law to provide postage stamps or stamped envelopes of special design for each of the several Executive Departments of Government, for the pre-payment of postages on official matter passing through the mails", minor toning along one file fold, otherwise Very Fine, this scarce first version circular states at the beginning of paragraph three under "Official Stamps for Postmasters" that stamped envelopes will be furnished to "first-class offices only", this was corrected in subsequent versions to state "Presidential" offices, which were first, second and third-class offices with postmaster salary of $1,000 or higher

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