Postage The Same: 1822 And 2017

Was just writing up some covers for ebay and noted to my amusement that the postage on this 1822 cover from Baltimore would be exactly the same (in nominal terms) if mailed today.

Back then, 70 cents paid 7x the 10 cent rate for 30-80 miles for a 1 3/4 ounce packet of banknotes. Today, a 1 3/4 ounce letter would go anywhere in the country (including Hagerstown) for that exact same 70 cents! I guess some things don't change, but I'd rather have the 70 cents that the sender paid in 1822 than the 70 cents that would be jiggling around in my pocket today...

The seventy cents is not quite the same.........
If you want to compare the value of a $0.70 Commodity in 1822 there are three choices. In 2016 the relative:
real price of that commodity is $14.80
labor value of that commodity is $196.00 (using the unskilled wage) or $486.00 (using production worker compensation)
income value of that commodity is $510.00

Now then, think about what coins were used to pay the 70 cents in 1822. Would be nice to have those coins today.

Stampmaster

Relative values of money aside - that is an interesting and attractive cover.

"Now then, think about what coins were used to pay the 70 cents in 1822. Would be nice to have those coins today."

The Baltimore area was awash in Obsolete Currency and Shinplasters at that time... it wouldn't be a surprise if that expense was paper-paid

Hi, can we see scans please.

Stampmaster