Lincoln’s postal career is one of the most charming and humanizing chapters of his early life — and it played a real role in shaping his reputation for honesty and public service. Lincoln, like Washington and Franklin, has appeared on over 1,000 stamps worldwide.

🏤 Appointment & Service

• Lincoln was appointed Postmaster of New Salem, Illinois on May 7, 1833, at age 24.
• He served until the post office closed on May 30, 1836.
• This was his first federal job, long before his political rise.

📮 What the Job Looked Like

Mail service in frontier Illinois was sparse and informal:

• Mail arrived only once a week in New Salem
• If residents didn’t pick up their letters, Lincoln would deliver the mail himself, often carrying letters in his stovepipe hat for chance encounters with recipients
• As Postmaster, he could send and receive personal letters for free and received one free newspaper — a valuable perk for a young man hungry for knowledge

💵 Pay & Practical Benefits

Postal records show Lincoln earned:

• $55.70 in fiscal year 1835
• $19.48 for one quarter in fiscal year 1837

The job didn’t make him wealthy, but it gave him:

• A steady income
• Access to news and information
• A respected role in the community

🧭 Why It Mattered

Lincoln’s time as Postmaster helped shape his public image and character:

• It reinforced his reputation as “Honest Abe”, since he was known for safeguarding people’s mail and delivering it personally.
• It gave him early experience in federal service, handling money, records, and community trust.
• He is the only U.S. president who actually served as a town postmaster (Harry Truman held the title but delegated the work).

🧒 Earlier Postal Connection

Before New Salem, Lincoln also worked as a clerk in a store that housed the Gentry Store Post Office in Indiana, giving him early exposure to postal operations.