A MORAL IN THE MAIL

Around the year 1850, some ingenious American printer originated the idea of the “Patriotic Envelope.” Symbols and emblems in one or two colors were printed on the left side of the envelopes—usually the American flag, figures symbolizing Unity and Happiness, the Eagle, or a group of soldiers.

Slowly a change took place; the quaint and idyllic gave way to aggressive political caricature. Inevitably, presidential elections provided the occasion for many spirited demonstrations of political partisanship, and with the coming of the Civil War the patriotic envelope came into its heyday. North and South swamped each other with this early effort at psychological warfare. On thousands of envelopes there poured out a flood of persiflage and patriotic sentiment, contrasting the highest national ideals with the low and treacherous aims of the adversary.

Some of these envelopes have great artistic value; others can charitably be defined as valuable documents of a folk art that has seldom been practiced since. The envelopes themselves have long been rare items. These examples are from the collection, probably the finest in the country, of Dr. N. T. Gidal.