Free Frank But Stamped

This cover from Charles B Smith should be free franked. Someone put a stamp over his signature, then it was postmarked. I have a few covers from Mr. Smith to this same women (appears by the contents to be his housekeeper) and they are all free franked. Found this to be interesting.

It could be that this piece of mail or its content was not eligble for free franking (i.e. personal mail rather than business mail?). For example, did Mr. Smith have extra envelopes on hand or did someone borrow an envelope from him and in order to avoid any question about illegal use of his "free franking" privilege, they added a 2c stamp?

Would the signature of Mr. Smith be a hand stamp so that many envelopes would have been prepared ahead of time?
I wonder, even if it is an actual hand written signature, if he wouldn't have a batch signed and ready ahead of time?

I took another look at the contents of all three of the Charles B Smith covers. They are all from his wife to the women Elsie Meisner. The other two are free franked.
The letters are typed on very thick paper with House Of Representative letter heads. She signs the letters Frances Stanton Smith (I think). It is difficult to read her hand writing.

As mentioned free franking was only for Official use and personal letters were to be franked. But in reality it all came down to honesty.

Some information on Frances Stanton Smith:

It's interesting that Mrs. Smith twice took advantage of the free franking with two correspondences but not with the other. All three letters sent to the same person.

wt1, It seems to me that the Mrs. was a more active public servant then her husband. Her husband won his senate seat by one vote as a Democrat in a previously Republican dominated district. He only served the one term. While she was active before, during and after his tenure. We have to keep in mind this is 1913. Women couldn't even vote yet!!
Below is one of the pages of one letter. And also part of a newspaper clipping that was also in the same envelope. No date on the clipping, but judging by the comments written, must be 1920 or later.

Indeed! Here's a more extensive biography of Mrs. Charles Bennett Smith. In fact, one reference suggests she was a "clerk" in her husband's office, too (which could account for your letters/covers):



And sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words:

Oh man, this is great stuff! I now have to find a Pan American Expo cover with her either sending or receiving.

One of the letters I have, she mentions playing the Viola at functions in Washington.

I have one of those!

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I haven't bothered to figure out whom it might have been sent by as of yet, but this is a neat cover. Basically, the US-UK postal convention didn't recognize free franking so while this was quite probably sent by someone with franking privileges, a stamp was affixed to pay the single rate to Britain.

24s to England are common, but this one is pretty cool IMO.

billw2, umm well err ..... that cover is on a whole other level!!