President Ulysses S. Grant Addresses a Presidential Imprint Envelope and Uses the Lincoln Memorial Stamp. 15c Black, F. Grill (98), tied by quartered cork cancel and "Washington D.C. Apr. 16" (1869) circular datestamp on "From the President of the United States" imprint cover addressed in the distinctive hand of President Grant to the U.S. Consul in Leipzig, Germany, printed "Private" crossed out and signed by Orville E. Babcock (partly covered by the stamp), red "New York Paid All Br. Transit Apr. 17" transit datestamp, red "Verviers Coeln Franco" handstamp, receiving backstamp, top backflap added and some small skillful edge improvements

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A REMARKABLE USE OF THE 15-CENT LINCOLN MEMORIAL ISSUE ON A PRESIDENTIAL IMPRINT COVER TO GERMANY, WITH THE ADDRESS PENNED BY PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT AND SIGNED BY HIS PERSONAL SECRETARY, ORVILLE E. BABCOCK.

This cover was mailed in April 1869, just six weeks after Ulysses S. Grant took the oath of office and Orville E. Babcock was appointed to be his personal secretary. It is a remarkable combination of the Lincoln mourning stamp with the handwriting of his most important general and successor in office (after Andrew Johnson).

Free franking privileges were not abolished until 1873 (also during Grant's administration). Official correspondence to foreign consuls was frequently sent without postage in diplomatic pouches handled through the State Department. Some letters were mailed through normal postal channels, as in this case. The treaty rate to France was 15c until the end of 1869. As far as we are aware, this is the only example of the 15c Lincoln sent from the White House, with or without Grant's handwriting. It seems to be more than coincidence that President Grant's secretary, upon receiving the letter from his boss, used a stamp picturing the martyred President Lincoln's image.

Orville E. Babcock, a Union officer who served as aide-de-camp to General Grant during the war, became President Grant's personal secretary in 1869. In 1875 Babcock was cleared of charges in the Whiskey Ring scandal, thanks in large part to Grant's personal testimony, but Babcock's connection to various nefarious activities caused Grant to distance himself from his former secretary after the Whiskey Ring trial.

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