Unofficial Registration of Mail in the United States
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UNOFFICIAL REGISTRATION OF MAIL IN THE UNITED STATES 1845-1855 Registration of mail as a service of the Post Office Department began on July 1, 1855 with a five cent cash fee. However, for the ten year period prior to official registration, a wide spread unofficial system of registering valuable letters was increasingly practiced throughout the United States. Early registration did not provide indemnification of lost valuable contents. But it did provide a promise by the Post Office Department to provide extra security for valuable letters when such letters were brought to theattention of a postmaster. It was made clear to those sending money through the mails that money and other valuables were sent in the mails at the sender's risk, but the P.O.D. would make serious effort to investigate any loss. A directive dating from 1845 in Postal Laws and Regulations is felt to be the reason for the development of Unoffical Registration: Sec. 218. Money, or other valuable things sent in the maiJ, is at the risk of the owner. But if it be lost the Department will make every effort in its power to discover the cause, and if there has been a theft, to punish the offender. Sec. 219. In every case of loss by mail. .. the Department should be informed without delay, of all the circumstances connected with it. Particular care should be taken to state the name of the office in which the letter was placed, the day on which, if at all, it was actually mailed, the names of the writer and the person addressed, the amount, and ifpracticable, a particular description of valuable enclosures, the amount of postage marked on the letter, and whether unpaid or paid, the office to which addressed, and whether mailed direct thereto, or to another office for distribution� and the route by which it was sent, with any further particulars that may aid the Department in its investigation respecting the cause of loss. Sec. 220. No reported loss will be investigated by an agent, unless satisfactory evidence is produced, either by the certificate of the postmaster, or some other disinterested individual that the money or other thing was deposited in the post office. Therefore, beginning in 1845 at Philadelphia and spreading from there to other offices near there throughout the East and then to other parts of the country, one could send for no cost letters which would be registered by postmasters and tracked by those postmasters handlin,g the letter, marking the bill that accompanied the letter. ·CONTENT OF EXHIBIT Page1 Title page Pages 2-5 Philadelphia large blue "R" markings Page6 Early origin Registration markings Pages7-16 other Philadelphia "R" markings Pages17-22 Origin postal markings of Registration Pages 23-26 Numbering of registered covers at origin post office Page 27 Registered not Recorded Pages28-29 Philadelphia origin registration usages Page30 Registration and Dead Letter Office usages Pages31-33 Money letter terminology Pages34-41 Handstamped REGISTERED postmarks Page 42 Philadelphia usage REGISTERED handstamps on receipt Pages 43-45 Transit REGISTERED postmarks at Montgomery, Ala. Pages 46-47 Transit REGISTERED postmarks at Columbus, 0. Page 48 Official Registration July 1,1855 Philadelphia large blue "R" markings The earliest postal marking associated with registration is the large blue "R" which was applied to incoming letters at that city beginning November 1, 1845. This page contains the earliest known registered le�er from the U.S. with New York October 31, 1845, the earliest postmark date with registration usage, Pensacola, Florida October 29, 1845 and a third early usage from Natick, Mass. November 1 or 11, 1845 with street address added at lower left. Philadelphia large blue "R" markings ,e/:,... /�/L � J1'/fL "e� <C Three covers showing unusual usages. "R" marking on transatlantic "NEW-YORK SHIP NOV 12 12cts."(1845) from France. Railroad postmark "U.S. EXPRESS MAIL BOSTON NOV 20" (1845), "PAID" and ms. "20", blue "R" applied at Philadelphia. These early registered letters do not make comments about valuable contents so it is uncertain as to why they were so marked. Railroad postmark "WASHINGTON RAIL RD." in red, ms. "5" paying single rate for less that 300 miles. The cover was postmarked with blue "R" at Philadelphia. Philadelphia large blue "R'' markings :fL&7#d(A' � e: _/ T-hree covers from the Trotter Correspondencewhich show fancy stampless postmarks with a large blue "R". The earliest is "NAUGATUCK Ct. OCT 15" (1846) with negative "5". The 1847 cover with"HOLLIDAYSBURG Pa. NOV 6" shows a negative blue "5". This is known in red too with "R". The 1849 cover shows "St. CLAIRSVILLE 0. APR 13" with negative red "1 o· with stars travel distance greater than 300 miles. This marking is also known in green with large blue "R" Philadelphia large blue "R" markings Usage with New York Provisional Stamp . 'l.>i-. \�4 • New York postmaster provisional 5 cents with blue manuscript cancel, "PA10· and "NEW-YORK 5 cts 22 JAN. (probably 1846), blue Philadelphia large "R", rebacked. The large blue "R" was used fromOctober 29, 1845 to October 10, 1849. I . ./���/��A/ /��- -�d-� New York postmaster provisional 5 cents with magenta manuscript cancel, tied "NEW-YORK 5cts FEB12" (1847) and "PAID" in red. There is a strike of the large blue "R". Contents included check for $2100.00. This is the latest recorded usaqe of the "R" on a cover with this stamp. Philadelphia large blue "R" markings Early Origin Registration Postmarks · •• . · � � .'�-- 0 �- i r ' ��"" .... "' ' , - ,() � 0$,,,__, J�Vo?o _ �'/?��� d7� (/CJ� The cover with "WILMINGTON Del DEC 10·, "PAID", "5" is dated 1846. It bears "Reg" in manuscript and is the earliest known origin postmark for registration now known. The second cover was registered by the postmaster at "ALLENTOWN Pa. MAY 7" (1847) with ms. red "Reg" and "5". It was again registered at Philadelphia with large blue "R". It contained $40.00. According to Norona this was in 1934 the earliest known usage of registration at an originating post officein the U.S. The one with "CARLISLE PEN AUG 31" (1849) has a manuscript "Reg" and large blue Philadelphia "R" .. It enclosed $15 in cash. Philadelphia small blue "R" markings Early origin Registration postmarks - � �7 #� e.:..- ��::z::::;;_�� ����----=��-- �� 9" ,,.,.,,...-���..--....,..._. /:? ,.-...-?_ ) .._/_ _ The second handstamped registration postmark was the small blue "R" which was in use October 13, 1849 to September 1, 1851. The upper cover with "WASHINGTON D.C. 13 ocr (1849) is the earliest known usage. The second cover bears an origin marking "Registered" at Lewiston, Pa. Oct. 19, 1849, and the letter enclosed $22.00. At Philadelphia it received a strike of the small blue "R". Note the absence of any registration numbers on the cover. Philadelphia small blue "R" markings E1;1rly origin Registration postmarks · From the OfficialAdvertiser, to Editor: "I would like to see discussed or have the views of the P.0.0. on the propriety of registering letters of value, and noting them on the post bills. I believe it is generally practiced by postmasters in this section . n postmaster at undisclosed Pa. town September 10, 1850. This cover is an example with "Reg" applied with "WILMINGTON Del. OCT 22" (1849) and third eartiest example of blue "R" at Philadelphia again without registration number. The letter enclosed $300. Philadelphia small blue "R" markings Cover with "BOSTON Mass. NOV 21· (undated but certainly 1849because of clarity of "R"), "PAID", "20" double rate. This cover shows a number "33" below the address, a veryearly usage of the numbering of covers that began at Philadelphia with small R markings. I Cover shown by Norona in 1934 as Figure 7, "BETHLEHEM Pa. NOV 26" (1849) with "10" double weight postage with "Reg" in manuscript. At Philadelphia this cover received the blue "R" and was also numbered "48". The position of the number is typical· for Philadelphia and not for other cities. This is an early origin postmark for registration. Philadelphia small blue "R11 markings Usages with 1847 stamps ,• .. ;::, · "BALTIMORE Md. OCT 4" (1850) in blue with red grids tying 5 cent 1847 stamp to Philadelphia. Note addressee was cashier at a bank. It received small blue "R" and a smudged number "34" , � ��c SJ � ·ti2 ,u;,rJt,.//'cu� � #��. "NASHVILLE Te. NOV- 9" (1850) and twoblue grids tying 10 cent 1847 on registered letter to Philadelphia. The letter enclosed a draft. It received a Philadelphia "R" and was numbered "20". Philadelphia small blue "R" markings Unusual Usages from California and Europe This remarkable letter bears the red "SAN FRANCISCO 1 MAY 40· (1850) and "PA10· to Philadelphia with small blue "R" and "28". The only way the Philadelphia postm::isterwould have knownthis letter had value was ifthe postbill had been so marked. This is the earliest khown western registered cover. u,.;;-,,sp � �� ����L-� Typical transAtlantic steamer coverfrom England with Liverpool postmark October 18, 1850 and "19 cents" debit, "BR. PACKET BOSTON 30 OCT 24• due marking. The cover also bears small blue "R. but no registration number. This is the only foreign usage of small blue "R'. Philadelphia large blue "R'' markings Second Period The second period of usage of the large blue "R" was for a period of less than 3 weeks in 1851. The cover shown here, "JERSEY SHORE Pa. 24 JUN" (1851) bears a cross and ·Regeisterd", markings of origin. This is also the eartest known usage of the blue "R", second period, with ms. "No. 8". The letter showsthere was an enclosure of $40. Philadelphia large blue ''R" markings Second Period Second period large blue "R" with postmark "MCVEYTOWN Pa.