Since I am here, I might as well post something. Here is an uncommon surviving use of the 24 cent 1861 stamp for a heavier domestic mail item. The rate was 3 cents per 1/2 ounce, so this is an 8-times rate for an internal letter. The docket tells us it was sent in 1866, which seems reasonable given the New York marking and the stamp.
R
If you are feeling like exercising your English more, here is a Postal History Sunday that includes information about depreciated currency.
R
Ralph,
Very interesting cover!
This would be an 1865 letter. It left from either Liverpool on March 18 or Queenstown on March 19 on the Cunard steamer Asia, arriving in Boston on March 31, 1865.
The US Notes marking is always interesting. In the mid-1860s a person could either pay the postage due in specie or by using paper money, known as greenbacks. The value of paper money was not the same, so it would cost 45 cents in greenbacks or 30 cents in specie to pay for the letter.
A quick look at Tuscarawas County shows a township called Sandy. So, that might be where this was going. But, I think a person would have to look at period maps for that county to be sure there isn't a post office for "Landy," which is what it looks like to me on the letter.
I hope this helps.
Rob
Hello Ralph,
If a letter had Poste Restante it would be advertised on the same schedule as other letters. The initial assumption is that a General Delivery or Poste Restante letter would be sought by the recipient and they would come to the Post Office. In fact, since many towns and even small cities in the 1850s to mid 1860s had no carrier service, it was common for people to expect to go to the Post Office to get mail. So, the attitude in the US was different than Europe. Europeans, during this period, were already used to carrier services, while most of the US was not.
This would change as carrier services became more common in the mid-1860s and beyond.
I hope that answers your question?
Best,
Rob
Here is another 53 cent per 1/2 ounce cover to China. Currently updating the exhibit page, but I'll show it later once I am done.
Have a nice day everyone!
Rob
Merci Laurent!
I always want to finish out some of that information and always run out of time.
R
Hello everyone!
I am trying to add new threads for items from the US as I have time.
Here is a US to Ceylon letter. I've included part of the exhibit page to provide explanation.
Rob
Hello everyone!
Here is the 51 cent for a quarter ounce rate to China. Again this is the August Heard correspondence. I included an old version of this page for the exhibit. I am in progress remaking the exhibit and will share the new pages once done.
Have a good day all!
Rob
Here is the other cover that is featured on the exhibit page shown in the first post.
This one shows the 45 cent rate to China via Southampton.
The interesting thing about these two covers is that they both got to Malta for the same scheduled departure. So, they traveled together to get to China.
Rob
Hello friends!
I do not think there is a US to China sub-topic, so I thought I would start it here.
Here is a letter from the August Heard and Co correspondence. The 53 cents per 1/2 ounce rate was in effect at the time this letter was mailed.
I have included an older version of the exhibit page for those who might like more details.
Have a good day all!
Rob
Laurent has it right, of course!
R
Hello all!
Here is a letter mailed in Boston on December 6, 1865 to Kanagawa, Japan using the 53 cent per 1/2 ounce via Japan. It was carried on the Cunard Line ship China to Queenstown.
A docket on the back indicates the letter was received by Frank Hall in Japan on February 19. The letter went via Malta, the Suez, Singapore and Hong Kong (Feb 7).
Have a good day everyone!
Rob
Here are a few more examples of the same 30 centime rate.
They show different exchange markings in France. Mulhouse, Bellegarde and Annecy.
Rob
philabiber,
30 centimes / 10 grams Oct 1, 1865 - Dec 31, 1875
Rob
One can always hope. 
But, it is nice to just look at these too.
R
Ralph,
Thank you for sharing.
I keep hoping to discover a "trouver a la boite" item like this for myself. But, they are usually known, which means they cost more money if you want them!
Rob
Hello all!
Here is a letter that was first sent to Paris as a double weight letter (two times the 15 cents per 1/4 ounce rate). It was then forwarded by the US Legation in Paris to London.
I would like to get some opinions regarding where the amounts were paid for the forwarding of this letter. The markings that concern me are the "2" in pen, the word "Paid" in pen at bottom left, and the scribble at top right.
The P.D. in box is a bit larger than those typically seen on items where France is the ultimate destination from the US. This larger size is more commonly seen on items in the 1860s that go from the US and through France on its way to places such as Italy or Switzerland. But, still the marking is not entirely out of place. But it may be a clue.
The postage rate from France to England was 40 centimes per 7.5 grams - or 4 pence per 1/4 ounce going the other way.
I believe the "paid" in pen was written by the sender of this letter and has nothing to do with the forwarding - but someone with a different idea could change my mind.
Option 1: The US Legation in Paris sent the letter to London unpaid. The British marked the letter with "More to Pay." But, if it was completely unpaid it should have been due 8d. Instead, I find a "2" and a squiggle that doesn't remind me of any particular accountancy marking at top right. In this case, the "2" could refer to a double rate, I suppose. But, I am not entirely comfortable with that.
Option 2: The US Legation in Paris sent the letter part paid. Hence the "More to Pay." But, I am at a loss as to how they communicated the amount paid unless that's the purpose of the "2." If that was applied by the French post office to indicate to the British more was due. Even so, why would the US Legation opt to short pay in this fashion? I could see them sending at a single rate because 7.5 grams is more than 1/4 ounce. But to miss by 2d (20 centimes) is odd.
I would appreciate any thoughts people might have. Or - if someone has examples with some similar situation, I might appreciate that as well.
Best,
Rob
I realized I never did fill in dates for those who are curious.
New Orleans, Louisiana June 25, 1866
New York June 30
North German Lloyd ship New York
Southampton July 11
Aachen July 1? (probably July 13)
Ausgabe July 14 (Barwitz)
Hello everyone!
Here is an 1863 envelope mailed from Fort Madision, Iowa to St Louis, Missouri. The postage rate was 3 cents per 1/2 ounce.
It is unusual to find this rate paid by a combination of a 2 cent Andrew Jackson and a 1 cent Franklin, but not too hard to find.
This letter was sent for General Delivery, which is much like Poste Restante. The recipient was required to go to the post office in St Louis to pick up the letter. To inform people that they had letters, the post office would regularly place advertisements in the local newspaper. The handstamp that reads "Aug 29" was placed on the envelope to show that this letter was advertised on that date. When the recipient arrived to pick up the letter, they had to pay an additional 1 cent to pay for that advertising.
Have a good day everyone!
Rob
Hello everyone!
I realized I haven't shared anything for a while. So, here is a cover that shows the normal 24 cent rate for a simple letter from the US to the UK. There is not too much special about the postal history, but the cameo design is quite nice!
Have a good day everyone!
Rob
