```
true
```
```
false
```
```
false
```
```
false
```
```
false
```
```
false
```
```
false
```
```
false
```
```
false
```
```
false
```
```
false
```

1 11

The History List

Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Appointment — Signed March 7, 1904

Name: Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Appointment — Signed March 7, 1904
Brand: The History List
SKU: RAREFINDS-ROOSEVELT-PRESIDENTIAL-APPOINTMENT
Price: 2100.0 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

Product variants

Updated February 15 at 9:10 pm Eastern: This has been sold.

At this time, the large signed photograph, which includes a certificate of authenticity, is still available.

. . .

I selected this for someone who is an admirer of Teddy Roosevelt because it displays so nicely, with Roosevelt's name printed in large letters across the top, with “President of the United States,” also in large letters, below the eagle.

This document is in very good condition, with a clear, strong signature, and the seal and ribbon intact. Overall, it’s one of the nicest I’ve seen.

During Roosevelt’s term as president (September 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909), he surely signed many presidential appointments, including for postmasters. (More information on the history of postmasters as patronage appointments is below.)

This document is in the official appointment of Alfred E. Goddard to be the postmaster for Essex, Connecticut. (No idea if he was any relation to Robert H. Goddard, born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1882, who built the world's first liquid-fueled rocket.)

Reading the year, look at what appears after the date [emphasis added]:

"Given under my hand, at the city of Washington, this seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the one hundred and twenty eighth."

I wonder when they stopped doing that?

I chose to leave it in the original frame since it seems perfect for what the document is. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the original frame as it hung on the postmaster’s wall.

Because it's standard glass, without any UV filtering, you will want to be hang it out of direct sunlight or have it reframed with conservation glass or a UV protecting acrylic.

— Lee Wright | Founder

Shipping: $25. Will be shipped via UPS with a signature required.

. . .

Historical background on postmaster appointments

From the National Archives's History Hub:

"According to the United States Postal Service, from 1836 to 1971, postmasters at the larger Post Offices were appointed by the President, by and with the consent of the Senate. Postmasters earning less than $1,000 per year were appointed by the Postmaster General, generally upon the advice of the local congressman or townspeople. Regulations required that postmasters execute a valid bond and take an oath of office. Minors were ineligible, and U.S. citizenship was required for appointment to all but the smallest Post Offices. Prior to 1971, it was also required that postmasters live in the delivery area of their Post Office. Since 1971, postmasters have been selected through the merit system.”

An article in the Pantagraph gives one a sense of the size of the patronage opportunity:

"Until Progressive Era reforms in the early 20th century, the U.S. president and his political party controlled the appointment of postmasters, which as early as 1858 numbered some 27,000."

From an article in the Postal Reporter dated February 5, 2018 on the retirement of the last postmaster appointed by a president:

"[T]he last Postmaster appointed by a president — retired Jan. 31 after 52 years managing the Philo, OH, Post Office. . . .Mitchell became acting Postmaster in 1965 and was appointed Postmaster by President Lyndon Johnson in 1967, when the organization was the cabinet-level Post Office Department. Four years later, the department became USPS, an independent agency. Political appointments legally ended when the Postal Reorganization Act was signed in 1970."

Shipping

For shipments to addresses within the U.S. (scroll down for International shipping)

Flat-rate shipping: Regardless of the number of items you order, the shipping price for shirts, caps, unframed prints and posters, bracelets, lapel pins, pendants, and button packs is $5.95.

For hooded and crewneck sweatshirts, mugs, and blankets, the shipping cost is $8.95.

Our flat rate shipping means you can add two or more t-shirts, sweatshirts, or caps for no additional shipping charge.

Note that some large or heavy items, including larger framed prints, may have a different shipping charge or a shipping surcharge. When they do, it will be noted on the product page.

Timing

We try to ship orders within three business days of receiving them. This applies to in-stock items. Framed items or items requiring personalization may take up to two weeks longer. If there is an extended delay, it will be noted on the product page.

We close for a week over Independence Day and Christmas. A notice will appear at the top of every page of the site in advance of this closure.

We ship most orders via USPS, so if the post office is closed, we won't be shipping orders that day.

If you need to receive your order by a certain date, such as to give as a gift or have for a trip, we recommend ordering at least two weeks in advance, especially if you are using USPS shipping.

If you're looking for reliable, on-time deliveries, we strongly suggest upgrading to "UPS 3 Business Day Select Shipping."

Additional notes:

When fulfillment takes longer, such as around the Christmas holidays, we'll put up an announcement in the site and will list recommended shipping deadlines below.
If an item is out of stock, we will contact you.
If one of your items is an advance order, that will be noted on the product page along with an estimate of when it will ship. If that estimated date changes, the product page will be updated.

Charges for shipping to destinations in the United States and to APO, DPO, and FPO addresses

Free shipping

On stickers, magnets, decals, patches, static clings, and individual button pins.

US Postal Service shipping - The least expensive, though also less reliable than UPS. (See more on UPS in the next section.)

$5.95 for shirts, caps, unframed prints and posters, bracelets, lapel pins, pendants, button packs.

Regardless of the number of items you order, the shipping price is still fixed at $5.95. Our flat rate shipping means you can add another t-shirt, cap, or book for no additional shipping charge.

$8.95 for hooded and crewneck sweatshirts, mugs, and blankets.

We strongly recommend using UPS, especially in November and December.

UPS 3 Business Day Select

Note: UPS 3 Business Day select is not available for addresses in Hawaii and Alaska. If UPS is selected for Hawaii or Alaska, the order will be shipped UPS Ground.

Cut off time: Orders received by 3 pm Eastern will ship the same business day. Applies to in-stock items that do not require personalization or signing.

UPS's normal (non-holiday) delivery guarantee is by the end of the third business day, and this includes delivery on Saturday. This applies to the 48 contiguous states.

$14.95 for shirts, caps, unframed prints and posters, bracelets, lapel pins, pendants, button packs.
$18.95 for hooded and crewneck sweatshirts, mugs, and blankets.
If the actual shipping cost is significantly higher than what we’re charging, we will contact you to discuss alternatives.

UPS Overnight (Next Business Day Delivery)

Before placing your order, call 469-233-7712.

For shipments to addresses outside the United States

Destinations

We only ship to locations that are served by US Postal Service International Service.

Charges

Canada and Mexico

$18.00 for shirts, caps, unframed prints and posters, bracelets, lapel pins, pendants, button packs.

$24.00 for hooded and crewneck sweatshirts, mugs, and blankets.

Rest of the World

Rates starts at $65.00.

Additional charges for all destinations

Some large, heavy items may have an additional shipping charge. If that's the case, it will be noted on the product page.

If the actual shipping cost is significantly higher than what we’re charging, we will contact you to discuss alternatives.

All original designs are copyrighted by The History List

All designs are copyrighted by The History List and the History Nerd text and design on t-shirts is a registered trademark. If you see a knock off, please let me know.