Light, but full, Washington City January 18 postmark. Stampless folded letter is in very nice condition.  No content. Recipient noted date of 1843.  Ira Allen Eastman (January 1, 1809 – March 21, 1881) was an American manufacturer and Democratic politician in New Hampshire. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in the 1800s. He was born in Gilmanton, NH. He attended local schools and Gilmanton Academy before graduating from Dartmouth College in Hanover in 1829. He was admitted to the bar in 1832; practicing law in Troy, NH. Eastman returned to Gilmanton in 1834 and continued the practice of law. He served as clerk of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1835. He was as member of the State House of Representatives from 1836-1838, and served as speaker of the State House in 1837 and 1838. He was Register of Probate for Strafford County from 1836 to 1839.  Eastman was elected to the 26th and 27th Congresses, serving from March 4, 1839 - March 3, 1843. He served as chairman of the US House Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business during the 27th Congress.  After leaving Congress, he served as judge of the NH Court of Common Pleas (1844-1849). He was associate justice of the NH Supreme Court from 1849-1855, and as justice of the NH Supreme Court from 1855-1859. In 1858, he was honored with a L.L.D. degree from Dartmouth College, and in 1859 he was chosen trustee of Dartmouth.  After resigning from judicial service, Eastman resumed the practice of law in Concord and Manchester. Eastman was an unsuccessful candidate for Governor of New Hampshire in 1863 and for US Senator in 1866. Eastman was married to Jane Quackenbush and they had two children, Clarence and Anna Q. He was the nephew of Nehemiah Eastman, a United States Representative from New Hampshire.