“Intemperance Is The Curse Of The World”
Anti-Alcohol Forces Use The Mail To Spread Their Message
Following the Revolutionary War, patterns of alcohol consumption in the new United
States changed as the country became more urbanized. Almost immediately,
organizations promoting temperance developed, first on religious and moral grounds,
developing into social and fraternal organizations during the 19th century.
The temperance movement in the United States became more organized mid-century with
the formation of a number fraternal organizations, most notably the Sons of Temperance in
1842. Awareness increased, and in 1851 Maine became the first state to pass a prohibition
against alcohol consumption. Twelve states soon followed with similar ordinances,
however, these were difficult to enforce. With the outbreak of the Civil War, interest in
intemperance waned. By 1869, all but one of these laws had been repealed.
Backers of the temperance movements during these times used the mails to organize,
disseminate their messages, and generally promote the cause of temperance. This exhibit
uses temperance-related covers, circulars, and printed matter from Great Britain, the
United States, and Canada from 1830 and 1870 to highlight the use of the mails in support
of these early prohibitionists.
This exhibit is organized to show:
• Temperance organizations
• Temperance-related propaganda envelopes
• Temperance-related newspapers, publications, and journals
• Temperance-related hotels for travelers
Published by William C. Hale, Hartford, CT, 1850s
Temperance Organizations
Pennsylvania State Temperance Society
ANNOUNCEMENT OF ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS
March 8, 1843 Philadelphia, PA,. Printed announcement of the election of
officers for the Pennsylvania State Temperance Society. Although letter sheet
was printed and sent unsealed, qualifying it for circular mail rate, sent at the
18¾¢ letter rate (postage collect) for single sheets mailed between 150 and
400 miles. Addressee was one of those elected as an officer of the Society.
1843
Temperance Organizations
Maine Temperance Union
September 30, 1846. Portland, ME to Rochester, NY. Printed circular dated
Sep. 18, 1846 with two page text of the Maine Temperance Act and one
page solicitation letter from Neal Dow, Corresponding Secretary of the Maine
Temperance Union. Portland, ME to Rochester NY. Postage collect at 2¢
circular rate for circulars sent over 500 miles.
1846
Temperance Organizations
Independent Order of Rechabites
January 11, 1851. New York, NY to Dover, NH. Printed announcement
from the Independent Order of Rechabites soliciting dues from local
chapters. 5¢ letter rate.
The Rechabites were a fraternal organization founded in England in 1835 promoting
temperance among members. The U.S. branch opened in 1842. Named for the
nomadic, abstaining Rechabites of the Old Testament
1851
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Application for Charter
1846
October 11, (1846). Blue Philadelphia, PA, datestamp on August 28, 1846 printed
circular laying out principles and guidelines for the Sons of Temperance
organization. Attached leaf with blank application for a local charter. “Circular”
endorsement on face was crossed out and rated at the 5¢ letter rate, as the letter
was sealed, which was against regulations for circular mail.
Contents 50%
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Bangor, ME
June 11, 1847. Bangor, ME to Gardiner, ME. Folded circular with coded
password and “explanation” sent to chapters on quarterly basis. Postage collect at
5¢ letter rate for mail sent under 500 miles.
Contents 50%
1847
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Western NY
September 21, 1847. Canandaigua, NY to Rochester, Folded circular announcing
meeting of the Sons of Temperance, Western New York. Sent sealed and with handwriting
requiring 5¢ letter rate.
Contents 67%
1847
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Elmira, NY
1847
November 4, 1847.
Elmira, NY to Geneva,
NY. Stampless folded
letter with applied Sons
of Temperance seal
announcing results of
chapter
election.
Postage collect at 5¢
letter rate for mail sent
under 500 miles.
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Wilmington, DE
1849
November 2, 1849. Wilmington, DE to Dover, DE. Lettersheet with printed seal of Delaware Sons of
Temperance. Folded and mailed with 5¢ 1847 adhesive. Only 40 1847 covers from Delaware recorded in
Alexander census.
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Nashua, NH
April 8, 1851. Nashua, NH to Peterboro, NH. Corner card from the Grand
Division S. of T.. Blue “5” ratestamp for postage due from recipient.
1851
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Illinois
June 11, 1851. Carrollton, IL to Lacon, Marshall County, IL. Manuscript
endorsement “S. of T.” at lower left. Sent postage collect at 5¢ letter rate. Letter
refers to chapter accounts.
1851
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Western NY
October 11, 1851. Lockport, NY to Bristol, NY. Corner card from the Grand
Worthy Patriarch (G.W.P.) of the Sons of Temperance, Western New York
Division.
1851
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Connecticut
December 8, 1853. Westville, CT to Hartford, CT. 3¢ first issue Nesbitt stamped
envelope with Nesbitt seal on backflap.
1853
Temperance Organizations
Sons of Temperance – Trenton, NJ
Trenton, NJ. 3¢ with “F” grill on circa 1868 cover to Bridgeport, NJ. Temperance
propaganda text in the shape of a liquor bottle. The “G.S.” suffix to the name at
top indicates that sender was an officer (Grand Scribe) of the local Sons of
Temperance chapter.
c. 1868
Temperance Organizations
Independent Order of Good Templars, Connecticut
1860s
Grand Council of
Connecticut. Letter rate.
Note change in leadership
of organization and
increase in membership
from 300,000 to 400,000
members
First District of Connecticut (Hartford area). Unsealed circular rate.
Temperance Organizations
Great Britain
UK Alliance for the Total Suppression of the Liquor Traffic
Manchester to Bedale. September 25, 1867. Violet imprint for UK Alliance for the
Suppression of the Liquor Traffic. Manchester duplex postmark. Bedale receiving
datestamp on reverse.
The "United Kingdom Alliance" was formed in 1853 for the purpose of
enacting a “Maine Law” in the United Kingdom. The organization
differed from most other UK organizations in that they sought political
and legal remedies to the perceived liquor problem, rather than
campaigning for individual abstinence.
1867
Temperance Organizations
Great Britain
Band of Hope
Published by Walter Ludbrook, London, especially for the Band of Hope. Used from
London to Plymouth in 1869.
The Band of Hope, a temperance organization for working-class children,
was founded in Leeds in 1847. In 1855, a national organization was
formed amidst an explosion of Band of Hope work. All members took a
pledge of total abstinence and were taught the "evils of drink". Members
were enrolled from the age of six and met once a week to listen to
lectures and participate in activities.
1869
Temperance Lettersheet
The Temperance Enterprise
Great Britain
1841
December 1, 1841. Folded letter sheet to Melbourne, Australia with green "The Temperance Enterprise"
illustrated design at top and "No. 19 Printed and sold by J. Rewcastle, Newcastle.” Datelined "Allanton
December 1st 1841.“ Chirnside Penny Post handstamp, London Ship Letter datestamp, London, and
Melbourne transit datestamps on reverse. 8d private ship letter rate, as no postal contract to Australia
existed at the time. 3d due for incoming ship letter.
A very early Temperance design which predates any recorded British illustrated envelope by six years.
Temperance Labels
Great Britain
1847
February 12, 1847. Labels expressing temperance sentiment were available
from a number of publishers and would be used to seal letters and envelopes.
This British example with two such labels used from Northumberland to
Hexham in 1847 .
Temperance Envelopes
Great Britain
James Valentine, Dundee, Scotland
DESIGN STATE 1
James Valentine Temperance Envelope, State 1. Printed in Scotland; carried to
the U.S. and mailed in Farrington, OH. “Paid 3” handstamp in upper right in
place of stamp.
DESIGN STATE 3
James Valentine Temperance Envelope, State 3. Mailed in London, August 7,
1855 to Yorkshire. States can be differentiated by the vendors listed at lower
left and lower right. There are five known states.
1850s
Temperance Envelopes
United States
James Valentine Derivative Designs
1850s
Published by Charles Spear, Boston, MA
Published by
George D. Jewett,
Hartford, CT
Imprint at right
Imprint at bottom
US designs (referencing Maine Law at right under adhesives) based upon Valentine designs
Temperance Envelopes
James Valentine Derivative Designs
Engraved by J. Welch (signed in design at lower right) and sold by J. C. Becket,
Montreal. Mailed January 23, 1853 from Edwardsburg, U.C. (Ontario) to
Morrisburg, U.C. Crudely executed copy of US temperance design. 3 pence
postage due for letter rate during Pence period (April 6, 1851 – June 30, 1859).
J. Welch design on blue paper without vendor imprint. Mailed July 26, 1859 from
Winchester U.C. to West Hawkesbury, C.W. “7cts.” postage due for 5¢
letter rate plus 2¢ unpaid fee during Cents period (July 1, 1859 – March 31,
1868).
Canadian design based upon US derivative designs
Canada
1850s
Temperance Envelopes
Confederate States
c. 1863
March 12, 1862. Confederate 5¢ Deep Green, Stone
1-2. Adhesive applied to back of Wm. C. Hale
temperance propaganda cover used to Greensboro, NC.
“Accokeek, Va. March 12, 1862” circular datestamp.
Manuscript “Missent to Chapel Hill” on face.
Banners of the Confederacy. Goodson, VA to Blountsville TN cover promoting the
three “banners” of the Confederate States – Religion, Peace, and Temperance.
Temperance Envelopes
Maine Law
January 5, 1852. Norway, ME.. Red “PAID 3”
handstamp.
“Salisbury, VT / Sep 16” and “Paid 3” manuscript town, date, and rate markings.
Used between 1851, when postage rates dropped to 3¢, and 1856, when postage
stamps were required to indicate prepayment. Envelope published by Tripp and
Osgood, Concord, NH.
1850s
Temperance Envelopes
Barber & Baker, Sacramento, CA
Temperance Envelope – Love, Purity & Fidelity. Envelope published by Barber
Baker, Sacramento. Weaverville, CA, townstamp with manuscript “May 22.”
“PAID” and “10” handstamps. Sent to Boston, MA at the 10¢ rate for over 3000
miles that was in effect from April 1, 1855
c. 1855
Temperance Envelopes
Thurston & Company, Portland, ME
c. 1852
Temperance Envelopes
Brown Thurston, Portland, ME
1852
POSTMASTER FREE FRANK ON
TURNED TEMPERANCE COVER
September 11, (1852). Unused temperance envelope turned and used from
Townsend, NY to Lancaster, MA. Manuscript town and date with “Free / Nelson
W. Winton P.M.” franking, as postmasters were permitted to send personal mail
up to ½ oz. postage free. Winton was appointed Postmaster of Townsend, NY on
Sept. 17, 1851 and served until Jan. 12, 1853.
Thurston & Co. imprint
on cover at upper left
Brown Thurston imprint
on this cover
Interior – reduced 50%
Temperance Envelopes
National Temperance Envelope
1858
Cover with list of “What Ardent Spirits has done in ten years in the U.S.”
attributed to Edward Everett. York, PA to Pottsville, PA, Nov. 24, 1858.
Two covers from the bulk mailing of a circular announcing a “going out of business
sale” in Edensburg, PA. Mailed at the 1¢ circular rate. Adhesives cancelled with
“PAID 3” cancellation.
Alcohol and Tobacco
United States. Confederate States
The Rum and Tobacco Twins
c. 1865
Rome, GA to
Greensboro, AL.
Image on reverse of both covers – scan at 80%
Temperance Publications
Journal of Humanity
April 14, 1830 Andover, MA to Wyoming, PA. Temperance Newspaper Published in
Andover, MA. Rated “1½” for transient newspapers traveling over 100 miles, out of
state in effect from June 1, 1792 to June 30, 1845. The addressee, Nathan Carey, was a
resident of the small religious community of Wyoming, PA at the time.
One of two known copies of this rate marking assumed to be from Andover, MA
1830
Temperance Publications
The Carson League Newspaper
1851
Address panel verso - scan at 75%
The Carson League was published in Syracuse, NY from 1851-1858. Founded by Thomas L. Carson. By
means of this paper, Carson helped have a prohibition law enacted in New York State in 1855. However, the
courts invalidated the law and the legislature passed a liquor-licensing law in its place.
Temperance Publications
American Temperance Magazine
Circa 1852. Red “New York / Paid 1ct” circular datestamp on envelope to Indiana.
Unsealed circular rate.
c. 1852
Temperance Publications
Proceedings of the World’s Temperance Convention
1853
72-page pamphlet
with text of
resolutions and
speeches at World’s
Temperance
Convention held in
New York, NY.
Blood’s adhesive
and handstamp on
the cover. Delivered
by Blood’s Penny
Post to addressee in
Philadelphia. Also
endorsed “By the
Best Regards of
Geo. Duffield” who
was a member of the
Pennsylvania
delegation.
Temperance Publications
The National Temperance Organ
The Temperance Patriot
1850s and 1860s
College Hill, Ohio to Philadelphia, PA advertising The National Temperance
Organ published in Cincinnati.
Utica, NY to Oberlin, OH advertising The Temperance Patriot published in
Utica.
Temperance Publications
Youth’s Temperance Visitor
c. 1865
Rockland, ME to Springfield, MA advertising the Youth’s Temperance Visitor
published in Rockland, ME.
Scan at 75%
Temperance Publications
Great Britain
The Public Good
1850
The Public Good. Published by Charles Gilpin, for a new monthly periodical
devoted to benefit societies, ocean penny postage, peace, temperance, anti-slavery
etc., bearing Great Britain 1d red cancelled by London numeral to Richmond,
Surrey. Red London "AP 16, 1850" and transit backstamps
Advertisement which appeared in The Evangelical Magazine and Missionary Chronicle,
December, 1849.
Charles Gilpin (1815–1874) was a Quaker, orator, politician, publisher and railway
director. Amongst his many causes were the movement to repeal the Corn Laws, to
establish world peace through the Peace Society, abolition of the death penalty, the
anti-slavery movement, liberation of Hungary from the Austro-Hungarian Empire,
Hungarian exiles in England, the Poor Law, and prison reform.
Temperance Hotels
circa 1851
Marlboro Hotel – Temperance House, Boston, MA. Manuscript notation
at upper right indicating postage “Paid , charge box 39.”
Taylor’s Temperance Hotel, New York, NY. Red New York “Free” datestamp
because of frank from Chauncey A. Knox, Postmaster of Parma Center, NY.
from August 21, 1841, until July 20, 1853. Postmasters had the right to use
their frank to send mail up to ½ oz., even when traveling.
An 1853 Journal listed Taylor’s as the only Temperance Hotel in New York City.
Temperance Hotels
1850s
Bennett Temperance House, Buffalo, NY. Advertising corner card in black on
envelope to London. Blue/grey Buffalo February 20, 1854 datestamp with matching
“PAID” and “24” rate markings. Red Boston “19” exchange office credit and red
London March 8, 1854 “Paid” transit datestamp. Postage paid in cash.
Advertising corner card in blue on 3¢ envelope addressed to Windham, CT.
Temperance Insurance
Great Britain
Temperance and General Life Office
1857
London to Dewsbery, Yorkshire. January 10, 1857. Blue advertising imprint for
Temperance and General Life Office on backflap. London chief office postmark.
London and Dewsbury datestamps on reverse.
Imprint on backflap
Scan of interior
The Temperance and General Life Company was formed in 1840 and provided insurance products
targeted to teetotalers. The company is now part of the Friends Provident Insurance group.