Franking privilege

Franking privilege is the right given to individuals to send mail without charge. This marking is known as a free frank. The usual requirement is for the holder to sign a cover to indicate such service, often with the word "free" added.

In Great Britain, this was given to sitting members of Parliament and related office-holders in 1652 but was revoked in 1840 due to extensive abuse where members would provide friends and colleagues with lettersheets or envelopes with their signature.

In the US, this is was and still is extended to members of Congress in 1775 and reiterated in 1789, with the privilege being changed, revoked and reinstated more than once in later years. At various points in time, Franking privilege was extended to cabinet members, presidential widows and retired presidents. It still exists for members of Congress today with limits, and where a facsimile signature is considered acceptable. Other countries have also given franking privilege to its legislators over the years.

So, free frank covers with actual signatures have been popular with autograph collectors for a long time. However, many have been reduced to cover fronts or cutouts to fit into albums.  File:Buchanan free frank.jpg|Free frank cover of (later) US President James Buchanan dated by cancel type to be sent between 1847-49 when he was Secretary of State. File:Edith Roosevelt free frank.jpg|Free frank cover used by Edith Roosevelt, widow of US President Theodore Roosevelt.  [[Category:F]]