Linn's Weekly Stamp News

MODERN U.S. MAIL A series of columns published in Linn’s Stamp News

Part 5: Jan 2, 2017 – Dec 14, 2020 Columns written by Tony Wawrukiewicz

Extracted or scanned and compiled into these consolidated files by Mike Ludeman 2020

Note: Copyright to these articles is owned by the author. Table of Contents Modern US Mail Title Page 1 Part 5: 2017 - 2020

Introduction

***** 2017 ***** 7 7 [Jan 2] U.S. postage used in Canada received inconsistent treatment 7 [Feb 13] Use of postage due stamps on undeliverable mail Form 3578 open to study 8 [Mar 13] Two recent finds, both scarce, document invalide use of US airmail stamps 9 [Apr 10] When the use of postage due stamps doesn't mean postage due was collected 11 [May 1] New Wawrukiewicz book provides 'insights' into U.S. postal History, by Chad Snee 12 [May 8] Mailed envelopes illustrate two types of nonprofit discounted rates 13 [June 12] Major change in U.S. postage due came following Oct. 2, 1986 notice 14 [July 10] New finds of Form 2918 show postage due on international parcel mail 15 [Aug 14] Dockworkers' strike led to surface mail embargo; airmail service required 16 [Sept 11] Example proves rule of fees for Special delivery return of business reply mail 17 [Oct 9] An example of Form 3582a from 1962 documents return fees for mail 18 [Nov 13] Armed forces concessionary mail rates continued after war's end 19 [Dec 11] Familiar names on V-mail sheet (Letters to Linn's) 20 [Dec 11] 'Held for postage' drop mail correctly paid with postage due stamps 21 23 ***** 2018 ***** 23 23 [Jan 8] Unusual Dead Letter Branch Mail returned to writer has been found 23 [Feb 12] Understanding how officials intercepted and returned fraudulent mail 24 [Mar 12] A new look at Imperial Airways letter airmail rates to Australia after July 9, 1935 25 [Apr 9] Postmasters recanceled the precanceled stamps on undeliverable mail 27 [May 14] Mail suspected of containing prohibited lottery matter opened, examined 28 [June 11] Checking incoming Armed Forces mail for possible customs duty assessment 29 [July 9] Postage validation imprint does the job on a 2018 postage due notice 30 [Aug 13] Four stamps paid for 1926 two-route airmail journey 31 [Sept 10] Unpaid domestic mail from military in Shanghai excused 32 [Sept 24] Unpaid Letters (followup by Ken Lawrence) 33 [Oct 8] Returned by 'CARE' in New York City as unclaimed 34 [Nov 12] Meter stamp on U.S. customs form didn't pay customs duty 35 [Dec 10] Calculations from decades ago made it possible to better understand the use of business reply mail. 36 38 ***** 2019 ***** 38 38 [Jan 14] Though not charged, markings on 1946 registered letter package represent customs clearance fees of the time 38 [Feb 11] Airmail letters denied air service when shortpaid 40 [Mar 11] Concessionary airmail from WWI to the Vietnam War 42 [Apr 8] How mail was handled when requests for domestic airmail in the United States were insufficiently prepaid 44 [May 13] Regulations prohibiting use of regular postage stamps to assess postage due were later recinded. 46 [June 10] Postage due payments were made with regular stamps on forms 47 [July 8] The varied but brief existence of Form 1518 48 [Aug 12] Examples of certain Dead Letter Branch returns are elusive 49 [Sept 9] Wartime caution reflected in handstamp on airmail 50 [Oct 14] Unusual 1930s business reply mail returns deciphered 51 [Nov 11] Weight limits for U.S domestic first-class surface mail 52 [Dec 9] Intended as airmail, shortpaid letter traveled by surface 54 56 ***** 2020 ***** 56 56 [Jan 13] 'Outside Mail': requesting special handling for fragile items 56 [Feb 10] Mail to foreign countries held for postage 57 [Mar 9] No directory service given to these letters mailed locally 58 [Apr 13] Clearing up errors in the U.S. International postal rates book 59 [May 11] Clearing up a question about airmail rates to New Zealand 60 [June 8] When wastepaper turns into postal history 61 [July 13] Ordinary U.S. stamps used as postage dues before 1955 62 [Aug 10] Rules regarding shortpaid local letters changed in 1879 64 [Sept 14] Clarifying the Rules on unpaid nonlocal letters 65 [Oct 12] Up-to-date information on U.S. domestic rates available 66 [Nov 9] International rates and fees for 1996 to 2014 updated online 67 [Dec 14] An unusual postage due usage turned up unexpectedly 68 INTRODUCTION

I began to accumulate “tear sheets” of the columns in this series beginning with the first one published in Linn’s Stamp News on Nov 8, 2004. I continued saving these “tear sheets” until January 2008, when Amos Press, Inc. (changed to Amos Media Company on July 1, 2014) began to create and distribute their digital edition of Linn’s Weekly Stamp News, at which time the paper copies were filed away, and I began to extract and save the digital version of each column.

Several years ago, I became interested in compiling some sort of cumulative digital version of these columns. I began to review my paper and digital files to see how complete they might be. Tony kindly supplied me with a copy of his master list of columns, organized by date of publication and his original title, which typically was different from the final published title. With this list at hand, I discovered that over the years, I had failed to “capture” a few columns from several years of publication. I was able to recover all of the missing columns published between 2008 through the present time from the digital archives provided on the Linn’s Weekly Stamp News website at the time.

Tony then offered to provide copies of the earlier columns I was missing. He also informed me that his agreement with Amos Media Company returned the copyright ownership of these articles to him three months after the date of publication, which made this digital collection possible.

The present version of these consolidated columns consists of all columns published by Linn’s through the end of 2016. These were organized into one single, but very large PDF file, which was awkward to distribute. We then broke the file down into a sequence of files, where each PDF file included all columns for a four-year period. The distribution of these files was limited. For a while, a version was available on the website of the American Philatelic Research Library, with a link to them from the catalog entry for Tony’s columns. Unfortunately, that link disappeared during the redesign of their website site. In late November 2020, Tony contacted me in order to determine the status of my compilation of the most recent 2020 columns, and mentioned that in a recent conversation with Jay Bigalke at Amos Media, Jay had expressed an interest in hosting a compilation of these columns on the Amos Media / Linn’s Stamp News website.

To meet this request, and make these columns more widely available to the philatelic community, we have prepared the following set of five PDF files of a smaller, more manageable, size, organized by years, as follows:

Part 1 – Nov. 8, 2004 through Dec. 10, 2007 (46 MB) Part 2 – Jan. 14, 2008 through Dec. 13, 2010 (45 MB) Part 3 – Jan. 10, 2011 through Dec. 9, 2013 (49 MB) Part 4 – Jan. 13, 2014 through Dec. 12, 2016 (28 MB) Part 5 – Jan. 2, 2017 through Dec. 14, 2020 (15 MB)

Several of the columns scanned from my “tear sheets” may have a few words missing from where the sheets were carelessly torn from the issue of Linn’s. I apologize for this. Anyone who did a better job of preserving the column is encouraged to scan their version and send it to me and I will replace it in the combined file.

Each column was scanned at 150 dpi, and when the column was originally published on two or more pages, these were stitched into a single file, and then each column was converted into a PDF file. Some of the illustration images in these files are not as legible as one might like, but experiments with scanning at higher resolutions were not successful at improving the viewability of the illustrations. The columns extracted from the digital edition of Linn’s were cropped to eliminate much of the advertising in order to improve readability.

I have also included one “Forerunner” article published by Tony in the Linn’s Stamp News edition of July 14, 2003.

Those columns created by scanning have been processed by an OCR engine to make them searchable. Columns extracted from the digital edition of Linn’s Stamp News were created with the searchable feature. A series of PDF “bookmarks”, consisting of the date of each column and its title, has been provided, and in addition, there is a detailed Table of Contents which appears at the beginning of each PDF File. You can go directly to any article by clicking on the appropriate Table of Contents entry. Please report any errors to me.

Mike Ludeman [email protected]

December 2020

MODERN U.S. MAIL BY TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ U.S. postage used in Canada received inconsistent treatment Postcards mailed from Canada to The first illustration shows such the United States are quite common. a use, where the 1¢ (Scott 804) and In my experience, it is also common 3¢ (807) Presidential stamps were to find these cards franked with U.S. placed on a postcard mailed in July postage — postage that is invalid. 1954 in Victoria, British Columbia, Presumably, U.S. citizens carry this Canada, to a Pennsylvania address. domestic postage across the border The postcard was correctly noted by with them, then incorrectly use it the Canadian exchange office to be on postcards they mail back to the unpaid, due to the invalid postage, United States. and the red handstamp “8 CENTS/ Since July 1, 1924, per the July DUE” was placed there. United States Official Postal Guide of Therefore, the U.S. office of deliv- 1924, page 145, insufficiently pre- ery affixed 8¢ in postage due stamps paid articles from Canada were sub- — 3¢ (Scott J72) and 5¢ (J73) — on ject to payment of double the defi- the card. Presumably, this due post- cient postage. age was paid by the addressee. Through extensive research in suc- The question now arises: Accord- cessive volumes of U.S. Postal Laws ing to Universal Postal Union regu- The Canadian exchange office placed the seldom-seen red-penciled line — an invalid postage in- and Regulations, I have been able to lations, was this the correct manner dicator — around the 6¢ Roosevelt stamp on this 1969 postcard mailed from Alberta, Canada, to show that postage due stamps or in which invalid postage was to be Topeka, Kans. The Canadian handstamp at lower right correctly indicates 12¢ postage was due. their equivalent on insufficiently paid handled in the international mails? prepayment, no account is taken of For instance, note the first illustra- items, whether addressed to a carrier For historical context, in the UPU them. This circumstance is indicated tion, where the lack of any UPU-type or noncarrier city, indicate that the Treaty of Paris of 1878, the following by a cipher (0) placed at the side of marker is typical. postage due has been collected, un- is found: “In case use has been made the postage stamps.” Therefore, I was surprised to find less the letter was undeliverable. of postage-stamps not valid for At some point, this process was the example pictured in the second altered. For instance, first mentioned illustration, where the Canadian ex- in the July 1938 United States Official change office drew the red-penciled Postal Guide, Part II, International line around the invalid U.S. franking. Postal Service, Postal Union (Regu- This is a postcard mailed July 29, lar) Mails, Section 34, Rating and 1969, from Whitecourt, Alberta, Can- marking of short-paid articles, Part ada, to Topeka, Kans. It was franked (f): is this instruction: with the 6¢ Roosevelt stamp from When postage stamps or postage- the Prominent Americans series paid impressions are used which are (Scott 1284), which received the red- not valid for the prepayment of post- age in the country of mailing, that fact penciled invalid-postage indicator. is indicated by a zero (0) marked along- The Canadian handstamp “T/12/ side them and a line in pencil drawn CENTS” indicates that, correctly, around them. double the 6¢ treaty-rate postage It is my experience that, regarding was due. Since no U.S. postage due the use of invalid postage in the inter- stamps were affixed, it is not clear that national mails, one finds cases where the 12¢ postage due was collected. the “(0)” marking and/or a penciled line, and/or an inked line are used, or, Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- instead, none of them is used. mestic and international postage rates since A July 1954 postcard mailed from British Columbia to Pennsylvania was franked with a 1¢ and On the other hand, in the spe- 1872. The third edition of the domestic book cific instance of the use of invalid is now available from the American Philatelic a 3¢ United States stamp, invalid for use from Canada. The Canadian exchange office added the Society, while the international book may be handstamp “8 CENTS / DUE,” and the U.S. delivery office affixed 8¢ in postage due stamps. The U.S. postage in the Canadian mails, ordered from the web site www.spiritone. fee presumably was paid by the addressee. I rarely see any of these markers. com/~tonywaw. ■

22 LINN’S STAMP NEWS January 2, 2017 Linns.com

31011p022.indd 22 12/16/16 8:47 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Use of postage due stamps on undeliverable mail Form 3578 open to study My latest book, Insights into U.S. address thereon, as required by the pre- ceding section, shall be on Form 3578, Postal History, 1855-2016, is now which shall be filled out in duplicate, the available through the American original to be retained by the postmaster Philatelic Society. In it are 12 chap- and the duplicate sent to the publisher. ters that discuss in detail subjects on The retained copy shall be filed by the postmaster and shall constitute a record which I have done extensive research of notices sent to publishers. over the past five or so years. In ad- dition, there is one chapter on bar At first, from 1911 to 1932, there was Only one example of this rubberstamped marking — “No Such Post Office in State Named” — on codes by Doug Quine. no charge for this notification. Howev- Form 3578 has been seen by the author. I have already started research on er, Postal Bulletin 15971 (Aug. 5, 1932) the manner prescribed by section indicates that postage due stamps yet another topic: how United States announced that by Order No. 2572, 574, of the 1924 Postal Laws and Reg- were to be used to indicate payment postage due stamps have been used Section 617 of the United States Postal ulations.” That is, postage due stamps of the notification fee, the second il- since they were introduced in 1879. Laws and Regulations was amended were placed indicating collection of lustration shows an example of this My reason for this is that it has be- by the addition of the following as the 2¢ due from the publisher for re- form that demonstrates another way come clear to me that there are a sur- paragraph 1½: “There shall be a post- turning Form 3578 to him. in which the collection of the fee for In the first illustration is an early the return of Form 3578 was indicat- (Dec. 1, 1932) fee-required example ed, using non-postage due stamps. of this form, which was used to in- With the placement of three dicate that the publication Danish stamps from the Presidential series Brotherhood was undeliverable to on the form, totaling 8¢ (one 2¢, Scott one George Peterson. 806; and two 3¢, Scott 807), this circa There was no “Key (subscription) 1946-47 use of the form denotes to number” given, and because the ad- the publisher that four copies of Tigris dressee was “Removed — Left no ad- Tales were undeliverable, and indi- dress,” there was no forwarding infor- cates that the publisher paid for this mation to give to the publisher. information regarding four undeliver- In this case, the postage due that able copies of his publication. was collected was indicated by the Thus, we see that multiple copies precanceled 2¢ postage due stamp of the form could be paid for, with (Scott J71) placed on the Form 3578. the payment made on only one copy By the way, the “Key number” was of the several returned to the pub- the vital information the publisher lisher, and where the other copies An early fee-required example of Form 3578, this 1932 use of the form had its fee paid with a pre- needed in order to locate the sub- had no stamps on them. canceled 2¢ postage due stamp. The publisher of Danish Brotherhood paid to receive the form but Unfortunately, the information got no information about the subscriber’s whereabouts. scriber in his records. I have searched the Postal Bulletin on this example of Form 3578 gives prising number of ways in which these age charge of 2 cents for such notice archives for references to Form 3578 the required information for only stamps have been used since they regarding undeliverable copies, which and found many admonitions to one undeliverable item, and gives were introduced, and until they were shall be collected from the publisher postmasters who did not adequately only a partial forwarding address finally discontinued in October 1986. upon delivery of the notice.” fill out the form; for instance, giving (this might be all the information the In fact, my list now hovers near 30 dif- That is, it was only as of about Aug. 5, an inadequate key, subscriber name, postmaster had). ferent uses, and in almost every case 1932, that there was now a 2¢ postage forwarding address, reason for non- On the other hand, perhaps three there are previously unknown nuanc- charge for the return of Form 3578. delivery, and/or no postmark. A fail- other copies of the form returned to es to their use that I am discovering. “Such charge was to be collected ure to include any of these pieces of the same publisher were enclosed in Also, what is interesting to me upon delivery of the notice to the information meant that the returned a penalty envelope, which was one is that the Post Office Department publishers, for which purpose post- form was filled out inadequately. acceptable way to send multiple cop- hasn’t recognized many of these uses age due stamps were to be used in Even though Postal Bulletin 15971 ies of the form to a single publisher. in its official documents. The third illustration shows an un- Basically, I believe that there are usual type of rubberstamped marking two ways in which U.S. postage due I found on one example of Form 3578: stamps were used: first, in some way “No Such Post Office in State Named.” to indicate payment of shortpaid or This statement indicated that the ad- unpaid postage; and second, as a dress on the publication was to a city type of receipt for services rendered. or town that did not exist in the state Over the years in this column, I addressed. I have seen only one such have discussed some of these uses, example of this marking on Form 3578. and over the next months I plan to My overall point is that, as ubiqui- consider other uses. In this month’s tous as this form is, there are still im- column, I will discuss the use of Form portant variations in its use that are 3578, a form that was a type of re- to be noted. ceipt for services rendered. In U.S. Postal Bulletin 9410 of Jan. Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- 9, 1911, we find an announcement mestic and international postage rates since concerning the Act of May 12, 1910: 1872. The third edition of the domestic book This circa 1946-47 use of Form 3578 shows that four copies of Tigris Tales were undeliverable is now available from the American Philatelic Amend Section 679 as follows: The Society, while the international book may be notice to the publisher that copies of and 8¢ in fees was paid. Though four publications were indicated, only one subscriber address ordered from the web site www.spiritone. his publication are undeliverable at the was given; this column provides a possible explanation. com/~tonywaw. n 28 LINN’S STAMP NEWS February 13, 2017 Linns.com

31022p028.indd 28 1/27/17 7:57 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Two recent finds, both scarce, document invalid use of U.S. airmail stamps There is often a question with Because it was subsequently airmail postage regarding the cir- marked due 2¢, it was presumably cumstances under which its use was mailed after Jan. 7, 1968, when the invalid. airmail rate increased to 10¢ for let- From July 9, 1924, until May 11, ter mail weighing up to 1 ounce. 1928, the fact that airmail postage Because the airmail stamp was was allowed to be used only on air- affixed but did not pay the airmail mail was not clearly stated in postal rate at that time, it was an invalid regulations. use of an airmail stamp. However, starting with the an- Thus, a postal worker correctly nouncement in Postal Bulletin 14687 noted “NOT AIR MAIL,” then the (May 11, 1928), until Dec. 15, 1975, it marking “THIS STAMP CAN BE was clear that airmail postage could USED/FOR AIR MAIL ONLY,” and fi- be used only on airmail letters, in- nally, “POSTAGE DUE 2 CENTS.” cluding for the payment of special That is, the airmail stamp could service fees. only be used for airmail service, and From the latter date until the because it was placed on an inad- present day, airmail postage stamps equately franked letter (for airmail could be used to pay both regular service), all these manuscript and postage and fees for special ser- handstamped markings were nec- vices. essary and were applied. In my experience, examples are Incidentally, in the same vein, but rarely seen of the invalid use of air- more commonly found, are uses of mail postage where the misuse was airmail envelopes not paid at the caught and penalized. airmail rate (usually paying at the In fact, until I found the two ex- This 1968 letter franked with an 8¢ airmail stamp underpaid the airmail rate of 10¢ for 1 ounce or surface rate), where they are re- amples shown in this column at less, effective Jan. 7, 1968. This underpayment made the use of the 8¢ airmail stamp invalid, result- turned for the proper (airmail) post- last September’s Seapex stamp ing in the various postal markings, including 2¢ postage due. age. show in Tukwila, a suburb of Se- Note that the handstamp on the attle, I had seen only two such ex- The first 1968 letter pictured here Airliner over Capitol airmail stamp first cover where the word “ENVE- amples. was franked with an 8¢ carmine Jet (Scott C64). Continued on page 28

New Jersey Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Texas Virginia Mar 11-12 Findlay Mar 19 Salem Mar 26 Mars Mar 17-19 Grapevine Mar 25 Roanoke Apr 8 Bordentown Mars Stamp Show. VFW Post 7505, Bordentown Stamp Bourse. Bordentown FINPEX 2017. Arcadia Lions Community 2017 Spring Stampex. Red Lion Hotel, Texas Coin Shows. Grapevine Convention ROAPEX Spring 2017 Stamp Show. Uni- Center, 301 W Brown Rd. Hrs: Sat. 3301 Market St., NE. Hrs: 10AM-4PM. 331 Mars-Valencia Rd. Hrs: 10AM-4PM. Center, 1209 S. Main St. Hrs: Fri. 2PM- tarian Church, 2015 Grandin Rd. SW. Senior Center, 3 Municipal Dr. Hrs: K2 Stamps. Kevin Kellman, 7315 8:30AM-3:00PM. Co-op. Ryan Terlecky, 10AM-5PM, Sun. 10AM-4PM. Fort Salem Stamp Society. Gary 6PM, Sat. 9AM-6PM, Sun 9AM-3PM. Hrs: 10AM-5PM. Big Lick Stamp Club. Findlay Stamp & Post Card Club. Scott Tiffin, PO Box 455, Turner, OR 97392. Beechtree Dr., Middletown, MD 21769. Ginger Pike, PO Box 356, Howe, TX Ali Nazemi, 65 Sawyer Dr., Salem, VA 80 Steele Way, Huntingdon Valley, PA Ph: 301-305-2143. Fax: 301-371- 19006. PH: 215-287-9326 or send an Little, 10339 Columbus Grove Rd., PH: 503-743-2306. or send an Email: 75459-0356. PH: 214-535-3465. or 24153. PH: 540-375-2217 send Email: Bluffton, OH 45817. PH: 419-296- [email protected] Visit our Website: 7445. or Email: [email protected] send Email: [email protected] [email protected] visit our Website: Email: [email protected] DLR: 22. Website: k2stamps.com DLR: 8-10. TA: TA: 44. FR. 5565. Or send an Email to: sked45817 www.salemstampsociety.org DLR: 9. TA: Website: www.coinshows.com DLR: 70. www.BigLickStampClub.org DLR: 8. TA: @yahoo.com. DLR: 10. TA: 10. FR 20. FR 16-20. FR. TA: 72. ADM 20. FR New York Apr 8 Chambersburg Mar 12 Worthington Pennsylvania Spring Stamp Expo. Eugene Clarke Mar 18-19 Harlingen Mar 31- Apr 2 Shenandoah Valley Spring ’Filatelic’ Fair. Holiday Inn Center, 235 S. Third St. Hrs: 10AM-5PM. Greater Rio Grande Valley Stamp & Coin Shenandoah Valley 2017 Winter Coin Mar 12 Melville Columbus/Worthington, 7007 N. High Mar 12 Harrisburg and Stamp Show. Weyers Cave Com- The Melville Stamp & Coin. Catapano Cumberland Valley Philatelic Society. Show. Harlingen Cultural Arts Center, St. Hrs: 10AM-4PM. Central Ohio Stamp Spring CAPPEX 2017. Sara Lindemuth Quinn Witherspoon, 251 Martin Ave., 576 76th Dr., Hrs: Sat. 9AM-4PM, Sun munity Center, 1 81 Exit 235 2 miles Engineering. 585 Rte. 110. Hrs: 8AM- & Postcard Dealers. John Hickel, 7132 Elementary School, 1201 N. Progress east on Hwy #256. Hrs: Fri. 12PM-5PM, 2PM. George Schultheis. PH: 516-557- Chambersburg, PA 17201. PH: 717- 10AM-4PM. The stamp clubs of thje Rio Durness Place, Columbus, OH 43235- Ave., (coming from either north or south, 264-1252. DLR: 10. TA: 20. FR. Grande Valley. Steven Kirpes, POB Sat. 9AM-5PM, Sun. 9AM-4PM. Melissa 7096. Email: [email protected] 5130. PH: 614-296-9441 or email: take 1-81 to Progress Ave. exit 69, turn Smith 540-363-7777. send an Email: DLR: 35. FR Food bar, post office 4523, Edinburg, TX 78540. PH: 956- [email protected]. DLR: 8. TA: 16. FR. right onto Progress Ave. at top of hill, 380-2930. Email: [email protected]. [email protected] visit our website: move into left lane turn immediately left Apr 28-29 Lancaster visit our Website: http://stamps. http://svccshow.info TA: 78. DLR: 35+. Mar 19 Bayside Mar 23-25 Cleveland before intersection of Progress and LANCOPEX 2017. Farm & Home Center, org/McAllen-Stamp-Club-Calendar. DLR: FR. Bayside Stamp Show. Adria Hotel At Garfield-Perry March Party. La Villa Con- Bayside, 220-33 Northern Blvd. Hrs: Elmerton Ave. Hrs: 10AM-4PM. Capital 1383 Arcadia Rd. Hrs: Fri. 10AM-5PM, 8-10. TA: 14-16. ADM. ference and Banquet Center, 11500 City Philatelic Society. Larry Hopp. PH: Sat. 10AM-4PM. Lancaster County Phila- Wisconsin 10AM-4:30PM. Marilyn J. Nowak, POB Brookpark Road. Hrs: Thur. 11:00AM- 230066, Brooklyn, NY 11223-0003. 301-739-3801. Email: lphstamps@aol. telic Society, Lou DiFelice, LCPS, PO Box Vermont 6:00PM, Fri. 10AM-5:30PM, Sat. com DLR: 12. FR 6053, Lancaster, PA 17607. PH: 717- Mar 18 Green Bay 718-645-7659. FR 10:00AM-4:00PM. Garfield-Perry Stamp 572-3419. or visit our Website at: Apr 1 Quechee BAYPEX ’17. St. Matthew Catholic Club. Matthew Liebson, 34554 Bramble Mar 19 Massapequa Mar 18 Warminster http://lcps-stamps.net DLR: 20. TA: 65. Crossroads Postcard/Stamp Show. Mid- Church Multi-Purpose Room, 2575 S. Lane, Solon, OH 44139. PH: 216-308- LISPA, Long Island Stamp & Postcard Bux Mont Stamp Show. Benj. H. Wilson FR Vermont Christian School, 399 W Gilson Webster Ave. Hrs: 9AM-4PM. Green Bay 0519. Email: [email protected] or Association. Massapequa Elks Hall Sr. Ctr., 580 Delmont Ave. Hrs: 10AM- Ave. Hrs: 9AM-3PM. Upper Valley Stamp Philatelic Society. Ray Perry, 2214 Website: www.garfieldperry.org DLR: 60. #2162, 2162 Veterans Blvd. Hrs: 10AM- 4:30PM. BuxMont Stamp Club Club. Cy Club. John Lutz, 12 Franklin St., Ran- Allouez Ave., Green Bay, WI 54311. PH: TA: 60. FR. Tennessee 3:30PM. I.J. Farber, c/o LISPA, POB 95, or Marlene Cook, 723 Dick Ave., dolph, VT 05060. PH: 802-728-6212. 920-469-8925 or send an Email: Islip Terrace, NY 11752. PH: 631-581- Warminster, PA 18974 PH: 215-355- Mar 18-19 Madison or send an Email: [email protected]. [email protected] DLR: 10. TA: 22. 7653 after 6PM or FAX: 631-277-8279. Oregon 3908. DLR: 11. TA: 19. FR Nashville Stamp and Postcard Show DLR: 21. TA: 64. FR FR FR 2017. Fifty Forward Madison Station, May 12-14 Portland Mar 26 Langhorne 301 Madison St. Hrs: Sat. 10AM-5PM, Virginia Canada North Carolina PIPEX 2017. Red Lion Hotel on the River Tri-State Coin & Stamp Show. Sheraton Sun. 10AM-4PM. Nashville Philatelic So- at Jantzen Beach, 909 N. Hayden Island Bucks County, 400 Oxford Valley Rd. ciety. Tom Tribke, 2911 Windgate Ave., Mar 17-19 Williamsburg Mar 25-26 Mississauga Mar 11-12 Raleigh Dr. Hrs: Fri-Sat. 10AM-6PM, Sun. 10AM- Hrs: 9:30AM-3:30PM. Allen Brock, 305- Nashville, TN 37211. PH: 615-833- Williamsburg Coin, Currency & Stamp National Postage Stamp & Coin Show. Carolina Coin and Stamp Show. 4PM. Northwest Federation of Stamp 393-6290. Website: coinshows.com and 5161. or send an Email: show@ Sale. Ramada Inn Hotel, 500 Merrimac Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale, 6750 Governor Holshouser Bldg., NC State Clubs. Anthony Wawrukiewicz, 4742 stampshows.com DLR: 55. TA: 65. FR nashvillephilatelic.org visit our Website: Trail Hrs: Fri. 12:00-6PM Sat. 10AM- Mississauga Rd. Hrs: Sat.: 10AM-5PM Fairgrounds, Hillsborough St. and Blue Liverty Rd. S #282, Salem, OR 97302. http://www.nashvillephilatelic.org DLR: 5PM, Sun. 10AM-4PM. Barry Ciociola, Sun.: 10AM-4PM. Canadian Stamp Ridge Rd. Hrs: Sat. 10AM-5PM, Sun. Phone: 503-244-8223. Or send email: 20. TA: 100. FR POB 71646, Durham, NC 27722-1646. News & Canadian Coin News. Mike 10AM-3PM. Carolina Coin and Stamp [email protected] or visit Website: PH: 919-656-3265. or send an Email: Walsh, 103 Lakeshore Rd, Suite 202, Show. Dot Hendrick, PH: 919-828- www.pipexstampshow.org DLR: 40. TA: Mar 4-5 Knoxville [email protected] DLR: 35-40. TA: 45. St. Catharines, ON L2N 2T6. PH: 800- 9450. FR. Security is provided. 40. FR KNOXPEX 2017. Holiday Inn Knoxville- 408-0352. send Email: [email protected] West, 9134 Executive Park Dr., Hrs: Sat. Mar 18-19 Springfield Website: www.stampandcoinshow.com Mar 25-26 Asheville Mar 18 Eugene 10AM-5PM, Sun. 10AM-3PM. Knoxville 47th Annual SPRINGPEX. Robert E. Lee DLR: 40. TA: 60. ADM. See website for Blue Ridge Stamp Show. Comfort Suites Spring Stampfest. St. Jude Catholic Philatelic Society. Tom Broadhead, PO High School Cafeteria, 6540 Franconia full details. Outlet Center, 890 Brevard Rd. Hrs: Sat. Church, 4330 Willamette St. Hrs: 10AM- Box 50422, Knoxville, TN 37950-0422. Rd. Hrs: Sat. 10AM-6PM, Sun. 11AM- 10AM-5PM, Sun. 10AM-4PM. Big Lick 4:30PM. Greater Eugene Stamp Society. PH: 865-696-4803. Or send an Email: 4:30PM. Springfield Stamp Club. POC Stamps. Cary Cochran, PO Box 163, Lo- Michael Luttio, PO Box 40068, Eugene, [email protected] or visit our Website: Gerry Frazier, Email: [email protected]. cust, NC 28097. PH: 704-485-4027 OR 97404. PH: 541-731-1288. or send http://www.sefsc.org/knoxpex.html. PH: 703-971-5099. Directions and Info: Email: [email protected] DLR: 7. TA: an Email: [email protected] DLR: 12. TA: DLR: 13. TA: 32. FR. Honoring Pat www.springfieldstampclub.org FR. Free 13. FR 24. FR Summitt, Live Auction Saturday 6pm. parking. ZillionsOfStamps.com March 13, 2017 LINN’S STAMP NEWS 27

31032p027 28.indd 27 2/24/17 12:06 PM MODERN U.S. MAIL

This August 1968 envelope was underfranked for the existing domestic airmail rate (10¢ for a letter up to 1 ounce), but neither could the 8¢ airmail stamp be used to pay the regular first-class letter rate of 6¢. As the handstamp states, “AIRMAIL ENVELOPES OR STAMPS/NOT GOOD FOR REGULAR MAIL.”

an August 1968 envelope also in- for up to 1 ounce. adequately and incorrectly franked This pair of covers is remarkable. with an 8¢ airmail stamp (another Jet Airliner over Capitol). Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- Therefore, the handstamp “AIR- mestic and international postage rates since MAIL ENVELOPES OR STAMPS/NOT 1872. The third edition of the domestic book GOOD FOR REGULAR MAIL” was ap- is now available from the American Philatelic Society, while the international book may be Continued from page 27 more common occurrence. plied, and 2¢ was due to make up ordered from the web site www.spiritone. LOPE” is crossed out recognized this In the second illustration, we see the correct domestic 10¢ airmail rate com/~tonywaw. n

28 LINN’S STAMP NEWS March 13, 2017 Linns.com

31032p027 28.indd 28 2/24/17 12:07 PM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ When the use of postage due stamps doesn’t mean postage due was collected

As I mentioned in my Feb. 13 Letter Office, then the placement Linn’s column, I am studying how of the postage due stamps would United States postage due stamps not indicate payment of the post- have been used since they were in- age due. troduced in 1879. How does one determine wheth- As noted then, basically there are er a city’s post office was a letter- two ways in which U.S postage due carrier or non-letter-carrier office? stamps were used. First, they indi- The first such list pertinent to post- cated shortpaid or unpaid postage age due stamp use, called the “List due that was collected (unless the of Carrier-Delivery, or Free Delivery item was forwarded, undeliverable, Post Offices,” was published in the sent to the Dead Letter Office, and July 1879 U.S. Official Postal Guide. so on), or second, they indicated ac- As of January 1890, until January tual collection of some type of fee. 1907, they were called only free de- In this column, I will discuss nu- livery offices, and were listed yearly ances of the first type of use. Al- in the Postal Guide. As of January This March 4, 1958, letter was mailed at the 3¢ up-to-1-ounce rate, but unpaid at the office of most all of the citations represent 1908, until 1943, they were listed delivery. Double the postage, or 6¢, was due, but the two 3¢ postage due stamps at right were my own original research. annually in the Postal Guide as “Of- not used to collect the 6¢ and were correctly “VOIDED.” The second pair of 3¢ postage dues was In this first case, the rules that fices Having City Delivery.” not voided, meaning the 6¢ due was collected from the addressee, and therefore the first set of defined the use of postage due Non-letter-carrier rate post offic- stamps did not indicate collection of the due postage. stamps existed from when they es continued until Jan. 6, 1967, and were first introduced July 1, 1879, such post offices remained until between the amount already pre- The 1939 up-to-1-ounce domes- until at least the publication of the and after postage due stamps were paid and the total postage comput- tic surface letter in the first illustra- last Transmittal Letter of the U.S. discontinued Oct. 2, 1986. ed, if the inter-city rate was greater tion was mailed in Albany, N.Y., at Postal Service Postal Manual, dated Listings of these later post office than the drop rate. the carrier-office drop rate of 2¢ Aug. 21, 1978. examples exist but are too compli- From Oct. 1, 1883, until July 1, for up to 1 ounce. It was then for- During this time period, at non- cated to reference here. (See addi- 1933, except for the war-tax years, warded to Miami, Fla., correctly letter-carrier post offices, the post- tional information in the last para- the inter-city first-class rate equaled rated “Postage Due 1 Cent,” because age due stamps were to be affixed graph in this article.) the carrier drop rate. the inter-city rate was 3¢ for up to only upon actual delivery of the I’m now going to describe two At the same time, noncarrier 1 ounce. drop rate forwarding, where rates When it reached Miami, another remained unequal, is rarely seen. carrier city, the postage due stamp So, except for the short early period was correctly affixed when the let- from 1879 until 1883, examples of ter reached the delivery office (see any type of drop forwarding with the Miami cancel on the postage postage due stamps are generally due stamp). There it was undeliver- seen only after July 1, 1933, and able (for the multiple reasons hand- then only for carrier-office drop for- stamped on the letter), and it was warding. “RETURNED/TO WRITER.” An important additional note: Because the letter was undeliver- Because carrier-city drop rates end- able, and the postage due stamp ed March 26, 1944, and noncarrier- was added before collection of the city drop rate forwarding is rarely due amount was possible, remark- seen at any time, examples such as ably, this postage due stamp never that shown in the first illustration represented the collection of the are rarely seen after March 26, 1944. due amount. The July 1, 1933, date is when the Now let’s turn our attention to This 1939 letter was mailed in Albany, N.Y., at the 2¢ carrier-office drop rate. It was forwarded to carrier-office drop rate became 1¢ the cover in the second illustration. Miami, Fla., with 1¢ postage due because the inter-city rate was 3¢. The 1¢ postage due stamp less than the inter-city rate of 3¢. As of July 1, 1956 (Postal Bulletin was affixed to the envelope at the Miami post office, but the undeliverable letter was returned As announced in the August 1933 19952), if a shortpaid letter with to the writer. There was no addressee from whom to collect the postage due, and the due stamp supplement to the Postal Guide, as postage due stamps on it was un- had been affixed before payment could be collected. Thus, remarkably, this postage due stamp of July 1, 1933, drop letters prepaid deliverable, forwarded, sent to the never represented the actual collection of the due amount. 2¢ and addressed for local delivery Dead Letter Office, or for some shortpaid item. In that case, the examples of due covers, both of could be forwarded to another post other reason did not indicate col- placement of the postage due which illustrate postage due stamp office rated with postage due to be lection of postage due, the stamps stamps indicated that the due use where the stamps did not rep- collected from the addressee on were henceforth to be “VOIDED” amount had been collected. resent collection of the shortpaid delivery. and credit for them was to be ob- On the other hand, at letter- postage. Based on most examples known tained. carrier post offices (also called free A drop letter, traditionally, is a to me, the postage due stamps were In the second illustration, the delivery or city delivery offices), the mailpiece left at the post office for usually affixed by the new, forward- March 4, 1958, domestic surface postage due stamps were to be af- the addressee to collect. ed office. This makes sense, because letter mailed at the up-to-1-ounce fixed on the shortpaid item as soon From the introduction of postage that is where the postage due was rate of 3¢ was unpaid at the office as it arrived at the office of delivery. due stamps July 1, 1879, until Jan. to be collected, and thus the addi- of delivery. Therefore, double the Therefore, in this case, if the 7, 1968, drop letters, when forward- tion of postage due stamps to the postage, or 6¢, was due, as indi- shortpaid items were forwarded, ed, were rated for collection of ad- envelope indicated collection of the cated by the first set of postage due undeliverable or sent to the Dead ditional postage for the difference postage due at that office. stamps affixed at the right. 20 LINN’S STAMP NEWS April 10, 2017 Linns.com

31042p020 21.indd 20 3/24/17 11:49 AM New Wawrukiewicz book provides ‘insights’ into U.S. postal history By Charles Snee cated by the parenthetical “Author’s Readers who want to pursue their In December 1999, nine months af- Collection” often seen at the end of own research will find the second ap- ter I was hired as an associate editor the captions. pendix most useful. Here Wawrukie- for Linn’s Stamp News, I began writing One incongruous quirk of the wicz details the key sources (such as a monthly column focused on United book, as Wawrukiewicz points out the Postal Bulletin and U.S. Postal Laws States postage stamps denominated in the introduction, results from his and Regulations) and how to access in dollars. intentionally beginning each chap- them. The column was originally titled ter on a right-hand (odd-numbered) In one instance (the U.S. Official Dollar Signs; several years ago, in a page. Postal Guide), Wawrukiewicz offers nod to the needs of the online/digi- “Therefore, of necessity, there ini- to send the contents to anyone who tal age, the name changed to Dollar- tially were a number of blank even provides him with a 64-gigabyte flash Sign Stamps. pages — so I have filled them with drive. He states that the Postal Guide My budding interest at the time in some of my favorite photographs,” he eventually will be available for down- modern U.S. postal history spurred writes. loading. me to create the column, and I soon I expected to see more interest- In the meantime, those desiring to began seeking out covers that would ing covers, but Wawrukiewicz chose take advantage of Wawrukiewicz’s of- illuminate how dollar-denominated instead to feature some of his nature fer should send an e-mail to tonywaw stamps were/are used in the mail. photos. This occurs only after the in- @spiritone.com. To aid my pursuit, former Linn’s se- Tony Wawrukiewicz, Linn’s Modern U.S. Mail troduction; chapters 3, 5, 6, 12, and A cursory overview such as this nior editor Rob Haeseler (1941-2017) columnist, has published a new book any dedi- 13; and appendix 1. can’t do justice to the wealth of in- pointed me to the revised second cated postal historian should have: Insights into Beautiful though they are, readers formation that Wawrukiewicz has edition of Anthony S. Wawrukiewicz U.S. Postal History, 1855-2016. The book is avail- would have been better served had packed into the book’s 234 pages. and the late Henry Beecher’s U.S. Do- able from the American Philatelic Society. these pages provided philatelic con- If you, like this reviewer, are drawn mestic Postal Rates, 1872-1999. tent. to U.S. postal history and its nuances, The U.S. domestic rates book is own chapter, form the nucleus of the A vital strength of the book, as it you’ll want this book for your phila- now in its third edition; the title re- book. turns out, is appendix 1, titled “Errata telic library. mains the same, except for the range Leading off the table of contents is from Various Editions of: Wawrukie- Insights into U.S. Postal History, of years tacked on at the end: 1872- a discussion titled “Short Paid U.S. Sur- wicz — Beecher Rate Books.” The 1855-2016 was published by and is 2011. face Domestic First-Class Letter Mail, specific books are the first three edi- available from the American Philatelic For deciphering rates, etc. on 1855-2016.” Topic No. 13, authored tions of the domestic rate book (1993, Society. mail sent overseas, Haeseler intro- by contributor Douglas B. Quine, is 1999, and 2011), and the internation- The cost to APS members is $40 duced me to the other indispensible “POSTNET Barcodes: Enablers of Let- al rate book (1996). plus $5 shipping; nonmembers pay Wawrukiewicz/Beecher book: U.S. In- ter/Flat Mail Postal Automation, 1982- Postal historians attempting to $50 plus $5 shipping. To order online, ternational Postal Rates, 1872-1996. 2013.” rate covers will be pleased to have visit http://stamps.org/Publications, Linn’s readers will know his name, The second chapter, “Held For Post- all these corrections grouped in one or write to the APS, 100 Match Facto- because it appears as the byline un- age Mail and Related Markings, 1855- place. ry Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823-1367. n der his monthly Modern U.S. Mail col- 1958,” is co-authored by Wawrukie- umn. wicz, Leonard Piszkiewicz, Thomas U.S. STAMP Notes I met Wawrukiewicz (“Tony W,” to Breske, and the late David Straight. many in the hobby who know him Wawrukiewicz is the sole author of Continued from page 6 pounds of mail was salvaged from well) for the first time in August 1999, the remaining 11 chapters. Angeles to New York, both she and the plane. at the American Philatelic Society Topics include (but are not limited Carroll died in the crash of United Covers from the flight can be Stampshow in Cleveland. to) held for postage mail (an illustra- Airlines Flight 624 in Wilburton, Pa. found today, handstamped either It didn’t take me long to realize that tion-rich subject), attempted use of he was (and still is) a passionate col- invalid postage, U.S. domestic and lector and researcher of U.S. postal international airmail forwarding, and history in all its myriad aspects. use on international mail of the A- During the ensuing years, through G-rate definitive stamps. Wawrukiewicz has continued to write A straightforward methodology is and publish at an impressive rate. followed: brief citations from relevant His latest effort, Insights into U.S. sources, amplified with explanations Postal History, 1855-2016, takes its and numerous color illustrations of inspiration, in part, from queries re- covers documenting key aspects of ceived from collectors about unusual the chapter subjects. covers. Each picture is identified by a figure Being a stickler for accuracy and number referenced in the text, which precision, Wawrukiewicz then me- makes for easy cross-referencing and thodically unraveled the mysteries minimal page turning while reading. behind these postal artifacts and Captions are clear and, for the most then published his findings in Mod- part, succinct. If you don’t want to do ern U.S. Mail and elsewhere. a deep dive with a particular topic, As he observes in the introduction skim the captions; they will give you The message side of the Earl Carroll Theatre-Restaurant advertising postcard says visitors should to his new book, however, “the infor- a basic grounding. not miss the revue. In 1945, dinner and the show at this Hollywood restaurant cost only $3.30. mation does not always reach the in- After decades of collecting, tended audience. For this reason I am Wawrukiewicz, as you might guess, The aircraft struck a transformer “delay due to air mail interruption publishing the results … in this book.” has amassed an impressive assem- while coming in for an emergency near Mount Carmel Penn June 17, Thirteen topics of particular inter- blage of postal history. Many of his landing caused by a fire that had 1948” or “Received in bad condition est to Wawrukiewicz, each in their covers serve as illustrations, as indi- broken out on the plane. About 95 at Pottsville, Penna.” ■ 18 LINN’S STAMP NEWS May 1, 2017 Linns.com

31051p006 18.indd 18 4/13/17 12:29 PM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Mailed envelopes illustrate two types of nonprofit discounted rates The point of this month’s 3¢ Francis Parkman Great weighing column is to examine two Americans series stamp. less than covers: one posted at a non- First, though, what is non- a stated profit discount rate and the profit mail? w e i g h t other at a nonprofit carrier- A new bulk/quantity-dis- had to be route rate. count rate category, labeled charged at I am embarrassed to say “special,” was established this rate, that these rates are dis- July 1, 1952, for authorized while any cussed extensively in the nonprofit organizations. o b j e c t s Beecher-Wawrukiewicz Initially, it was required that of greater book, United States Domes- the printed or handstamped w e i g h t tic Postal Rates, 1872-1993, phrase “Sec. 34.65(e), PL&R” w e r e but that the index does not be placed in the upper-right charged at allow this information to be part of the envelope. the pound easily located. This specification then rate. Recently, Roger Brody, became “39CFR 34.65e,” ef- To quali- This is a remarkable correct franking with the 3¢ Francis Parkman stamp, meeting the minimum-per- who has a superb exhibit of fective July 1, 1954; and fy for these piece carrier-route-presort rate of 3¢ in effect from April 23, 1980, to July 5, 1980. the Great Americans series, finally, “Nonprofit Organiza- s p e c i a l which is the 1965 through tion,” effective Dec. 21, 1954. discount rates, at least 200 discount or reduced rate rier-route rate of 3¢ on the the early 1980s definitive se- Until March 21, 1981, the identical pieces, or 20 pounds services for nonprofit bulk undated second cover cor- ries, asked me to explain the nonprofit category of dis- of identical pieces, must be mailings — the basic pre- responds to the date range second cover shown here. counted mail required pay- in a special bulk/quantity- sort and the carrier route April 23, 1980, to July 5, This circa 1980s nonprofit ment of the same minimum discount rate mailing. presort — each requiring a 1980. Therefore, it was cor- third-class cover was mailed bulk rate per piece (at first There was also a bulk different level of presorting. rectly paid with a 3¢ Francis at the carrier route pre- 1¢, then up to 1.25¢ as of July mailing fee required for These and many other Parkman Great Americans sort rate, franked with the 1, 1960), such that any piece each calendar year. discount categories are de- stamp (Scott 1281). These rates are found in scribed in the sections of This is a remarkable cor- Chapter 29 (see especially Chapter 28 (titled “Classes rect use for this stamp. Such Table 29-1) of the Beecher- of bulk/quantity-discount, a use might be considered Wawrukiewicz domestic rate regular, third-class mail late for a Great Americans book. and Standard Mail”) of the stamp, but historically, most The first cover shown, from Beecher-Wawrukiewicz do- definitive series show simi- the Wade Saadi collection, is mestic rate book. lar late uses because stamps an example from the first 1¢ These various categories remained unsold in post of- bulk discount nonprofit-rate are identical for third-class fice workers’ drawers. period. This undated non- discount regular and special In particular, the use on profit item is franked at the mail and were introduced the second cover is an ex- 1¢ per up-to-1.6 ounces mini- for both regular and special ceptional one that is not of- mum-per-piece rate (with the bulk/quantity-discount mail ten seen. 1954 Liberty series 1¢ Wash- at the same times. ington stamp, Scott 1031b). The rates, of course, are Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Note the mixing of the not the same, and as men- Beecher are the co-authors of two handstamped phrases “Sec. tioned previously, the ap- useful books on U.S. domestic and international postage rates since 34.65(e), PL&R” and “Non- propriate tables for non- 1872. The third edition of the domes- Profit Organization.” profit items are found in tic book is now available from the April 23, 1980, marked Chapter 29 of the book. American Philatelic Society, while the This undated nonprofit mailpiece is an example from the first 1¢ bulk discount international book may be ordered nonprofit-rate period, franked at the 1¢ per up-to-1.6 ounces minimum-per- the establishment of the Table 29.1 indicates that from the web site www.spiritone. piece rate. It is franked with the 1954 Liberty series 1¢ Washington stamp. first two of a series of new the minimum-per-piece car- com/~tonywaw. n $39 ••••••••••••• ••••••••••••• ••••••••••••• 16 LINN’S STAMP NEWS May 8, 2017 ••••••••••••• Linns.com

31052p016.indd 16 4/20/17 12:45 PM MODERN U.S. MAIL BY ANTHONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Major change in U.S. postage due came following Oct. 2, 1986, notice A major change in the handling of United to sell them? States postage due material was announced Oct. In the first illustration, 2, 1986, in notice 21587 of the Postal Bulletin, the an Oct. 31, 1992, post- fortnightly publication of the U.S. Postal Service. age due meter is used on The Postal Bulletin notice reported the discon- a short-paid 14¢ postal tinuance of adhesive postage due stamps. card (Scott UX108) mailed “Effective immediately, postage due stamps during the 19¢ postcard will no longer be used. Procedures are changed to rate period. eliminate the use of postage due stamps on post- The 14¢ postal card age due mail. Regular postage stamps must now indicium (or imprinted be used for short paid mail. … When customers stamp) was rendered in- call at a window unit for postage due mail, collect valid because it was cov- the amount due; then affix postage stamps or me- ered up, so the 15¢ frank- ter strip. Cancel the postage stamps before giving ing, a strip of three 5¢ the mail to the customer.” Luis Munoz Marin stamps It is my belief, from the few (seven) examples from the Great Americans I have found, that this announcement ended the definitive series (2173), use of adhesive postage due stamps, replacing meant that the card was A 23¢ Mary Cassatt definitive stamp on Form 3849 paid postage due on a flat, an allowed use. them with ordinary stamps or postage due me- short-paid 4¢. The addressee came to the delivery office clerk with the form, paid the 23¢ due for an extra ters, and, later, with postage validation imprints The amount of postage ounce and received the flat. The 23¢ Mary Cassatt stamp thus indicated collection of the postage due, as did almost all postage due stamps before Oct. 2, 1986. (PVIs). due was specified by the Waterloo, Iowa, postage will continue to be handled with postage stamps, due meter stamp, which, postage meters, or PVI labels.” That is, PVI labels because the card was de- also could be used. liverable, indicates that The third illustration is a June 2001 letter short- the 4¢ due was collected paid with a pair of nondenominated (1¢) Weather from the addressee. This Vane H-rate makeup stamps (Scott 3257). So, the collection process is iden- letter was “POSTAGE DUE 32¢” for the 34¢ up-to- tical to that seen before 1-ounce first-class domestic rate. The 32¢ PVI in- Oct. 2, 1986. dicates that this amount was collected from the In the second illustra- addressee. tion, a 23¢ Mary Cassatt Please note that, from 1879 to at least 2001, if stamp of the Great Ameri- postage due meters, ordinary stamps, or post- cans definitive series (Scott age validation imprints (and, before Oct. 2, 1986, 2181) affixed to a U.S. Post- adhesive postage due stamps) served as postage al Service Form 3849 paid due stamps on U.S. mail items, they indicated col- the postage due. lection of a due amount. This fact is the conclu- The full notification in sion of extensive research on my part. Two excep- the 1986 Postal Bulletin tions to this were illustrated in my April 10, 2017, This Oct. 31, 1992, postal card from the 19¢ postcard rate period was franked with 15¢ in previously cited identifies column in Linn’s. stamps. However, the 14¢ imprinted stamp was covered and thus invalid, meaning the card was this as an allowed use at short-paid 4¢, as indicated by the meter strip. The 4¢ due was collected from the addressee. the delivery office; in this Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors case, to collect the 23¢ of two useful books on U.S. domestic and international postage Also, from the post-1986 postage due collec- postage due on a flat. rates since 1872. The third edition of the domestic book is now tion examples I have seen, I believe that all or The addressee came to the clerk with the form, available from the American Philatelic Society, while the inter- most of the processes for the collection of post- paid the 23¢ due for an extra ounce and received national book may be ordered from the website www.spiritone. age due that I am aware of remained in place. the flat. The 23¢ stamp indicated payment of the com/~tonywaw. n Three of the post-1986 confirmatory examples postage due, just as did I have seen or bought are shown here. I believe almost all postage due the reason I have seen so few is simple. Dealers stamps before Oct. 2, and sellers on online auction websites have little 1986. reason to try to sell examples. No one is yet aware These procedures and of or interested in such material, so why attempt use of stamps continued beyond 1993. In fact, the following reference con- firms that the post-Octo- ber 1986 postage due col- lection process continued until at least Postal Bulle- tin 22058 (Sept. 6, 2001), which stated, “Over-the- counter postage due mail or BRM [business reply mail], for which postage is This June 2001 letter was short-paid with only a pair of nondenominated (1¢) H-rate makeup collected directly from the stamps, so the letter was short-paid by 32¢ for the 34¢ up-to-1-ounce first-class domestic rate. customer upon delivery, The 32¢ postage validation imprint indicates that the 32¢ due was collected from the addressee. 16 LINN’S STAMP NEWS June 12, 2017 Linns.com

31062p016.indd 16 5/26/17 8:27 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL by Tony Wawrukiewicz New finds of Form 2918 show postage due on international parcel mail Before discussing the sub- experience, a rare occurrence. exchange office who found ject of this month’s column, So imagine my excitement the shortpaid package was to I have important news about when I recently discovered send it on to its destination, www.uspostalbulletins.com, five used examples of Form and to forward to the post- the website that hosts the 2918, a form used to collect master at the office of mail- Postal Bulletins and the Unit- the postage due on interna- ing a card notice (Form 2918) ed States Postal Laws and tional parcel post mail. And containing instructions to the Regulations. once I figured out that four effect that the amount of the deficiency was to be collect- ed from the sender. Finally, postage due stamps to indicate payment of the due amount were to be affixed to the address side of the card and canceled. The sender of the parcel to Berlin paid the 39¢ owed and the office of mailing affixed and canceled eight postage due stamps totaling that amount to indi- In the case of the Trieste cate the payment made. The package had been sent on to Berlin. shortpaid mailing, this was done, except the $1.68 col- paid postage was 78¢ and rates to other destinations lected by the office of mail- due was 39¢. followed soon after, and I ing in Palisade, N.J., was This made no sense to me, have just discovered that indicated by $1.50 in 1938 given the supposed going these postwar rates were part Presidential stamps (two ex- rate of 14¢ per pound, until of the Marshall Plan.) amples of the 25¢ William I did a search of the Postal The form for the Berlin A 21-pound package mailed to Trieste, Italy, on Feb. 3, 1949, at the rate of 14¢ McKinley stamp, Scott 829, Bulletins published around mailing indicates that $1.17 per pound required $2.94 in postage, but only $1.68 was paid by the sender. and one of the $1 Woodrow (13 pounds, at 9¢ per pound) The package went to Trieste but a Form 2918 went to the office of mailing, this time. Palisade, N.J., to collect the $1.68 postage due from the sender. Wilson stamp, 832), plus six Imagine my pleasant sur- was the postage required, and that 39¢ was unpaid and The American Philatelic of the forms collected post- postage due. Correctly, the Society website that hosts age due on matter sent at a package was sent on to Berlin the digitized publications special international parcel and the Form 2918 was sent has been upgraded and is post rate, it was even more to the office of mailing, where now much faster than the thrilling. the 39¢ in canceled postage old site. This means that Pictured in the first two il- due stamps (three examples complex searches that once lustrations are the front and of the 10¢, Scott J74; four of were so slow that they timed back of a copy of Form 2918 the 2¢, J71; and one of the 1¢, out no longer do so. filled out Feb. 3, 1949, and J70) on the form’s reverse side In particular, in the past, used to collect $1.68 postage indicate that this amount was three-word searches were due on a 21-pound package collected. impossible because the al- mailed to Trieste, Italy. To repeat: Finding any ex- gorithm that performed At the time, the rate to amples of the collection of them was too slow. No lon- Trieste was the usual 14¢ postage due on fourth-class On Feb. 3, 1949, a 13-pound package was mailed to the U.S. zone in Berlin, at ger. matter is a challenge, but per pound (no surcharge the special 9¢-per-pound rate to that location, for a total due of $1.17. This I hope you will enjoy the was due), so $2.94 was the Form 2918 indicates that 78¢ was prepaid and 39¢ was postage due. to also find uses of a special upgrade — I do. Now, on to required postage. The form rate makes these discoveries this month’s topic. indicates that only $1.26 was 3¢ postage due stamps (J72) prise when I found Postal even better. • paid, so $1.68 was postage to pay the remaining 18¢. Bulletin 19192 (Dec. 21, 1948) Remember, this material is Finding examples of post- due. After 1956, I can find Post in which was stated that, ef- rare, but it is out there to be age due stamps used to According to Postal Bul- Office Dept. statements fective Dec. 28, 1948, the found if one is diligent. collect the postage due on letin 16173 dated May 23, to the effect that ordinary postage rate on “U.S.A. Gift fourth-class matter is, in my 1933, the postmaster at the stamps could be used in Parcels” for the American and Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry place of postage dues, if the British zones of West Germa- Beecher are the co-authors of two latter were unavailable, but ny would be 6¢ per pound or useful books on U.S. domestic and international postage rates since can find no such statement fraction thereof, and for the 1872. The third edition of the domes- in earlier POD documents. American and British sectors tic book is now available from the Thus, the use of ordinary of Berlin, 9¢ per pound or American Philatelic Society, while the international book may be ordered stamps here seems unac- fraction. (Incidentally, other from the web site www.spiritone. ceptable by the rules of the special “U.S.A. Gift Parcels” com/~tonywaw. n time, but it happened. Still, a wonderful use. International Philippine Philatelic Society Next, I show an even more Don Peterson has an- The announcement was exciting use of this form. nounced he is retiring as made in the society’s quar- The Form 2918 in the last coordinator of the Interna- terly publication, Philippine two illustrations indicates tional Philippine Philatelic Philatelic Journal. that a 13-pound package Society’s overseas opera- For more information, visit The payment of the $1.68 due on the Feb. 3, 1949, package to Trieste was made was mailed Feb. 3, 1949, to tions, a position he has held the society’s website http:// on Feb. 21, 1949, with $1.50 in postage stamps and 18¢ in postage due stamps. the U.S. Zone in Berlin. Pre- for nine years. www.theipps.info. ■ 28 LINN’S STAMP NEWS July 10, 2017 Linns.com

31072p028.indd 28 6/23/17 7:14 AM modern u.s. mail by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Dockworkers’ strike led to surface mail embargo; airmail service required This column illustrates two letters timore, and destined for Gibraltar. affected by an embargo on surface I say this was collector-created be- mail that resulted from a two-month cause other very similar examples strike by the International Long- exist of this type of mailing. shoremen’s Association involving The 18¢ Elizabeth Blackwell Great Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports. Americans definitive stamp (Scott In order to document the United 1399) correctly paid the Universal States Postal Service’s handling of Postal Union up-to-1-ounce surface mail from this strike, I did an inter- rate of the time. net search and located two articles Rubberstamped “EMBARGO,” the in the Chicago Tribune dated Oct. 13, cover also was marked “RETURN FOR 1977, and Dec. 1, 1977. ADDITIONAL POSTAGE.” Specifically, An online search was necessary a manuscript “13¢” was due for air- because no notice of this strike’s ef- mail service, so that the letter could fect on the U.S. mail was found in be sent to Gibraltar. the Postal Bulletin, the Postal Service This postage due was not paid, news journal that updates USPS poli- presumably because this was a col- cies and procedures. lector-created letter to a nonexistent The strike precipitated a Postal addressee and was simply returned Service embargo on surface mail to the sender, who did not re-mail it. Near the end of the two-month strike, this Nov. 28, 1977, letter to the Netherlands initially was to and from Europe, Africa, South The second cover illustrated is underpaid by 5¢ for the 18¢ surface rate, plus postage was due for the 15¢ airmail rate, for a total America, the Middle East, and the a real example, not collector-con- of 31¢. The Nov. 30 meter strip indicates the correct postage was paid in full. Caribbean for the two-month period trived, of the effect of the last few from Oct. 1, 1977, to Dec. 1, 1977. days of the strike and embargo. 18¢ for up to 1 ounce. surface mail ban had been lifted also The first cover shown, demon- This Nov. 28, 1977, letter from The cover received a yellow print- warned USPS users that Christmas strating the effect of this embargo, Richmond, Va., to the Netherlands ed sticker, “RETURN TO SENDER/ packages sent via surface mail after is a collector-created example that has a meter imprint of 13¢, under- EMBARGO ON SURFACE MAIL/AIR Dec. 1, 1977, could not reliably be is postmarked Nov. 14, 1977, in Bal- paying by 5¢ the UPU surface rate of MAIL RATES ONLY.” Therefore, an ad- expected to reach their destinations ditional 18¢ postage was due: 5¢ to from these ports before Christmas, complete the surface rate and 13¢ and that mailers should advise re- for airmail. cipients via airmail of the delay. Payment was indicated by the sec- ond meter stamp, dated Nov. 30, and the letter was correctly sent on by Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- air, because the 31¢ UPU airmail let- mestic and international postage rates since ter rate for up to one-half ounce had 1872. The third edition of the domestic book been paid. is now available from the American Philatelic Society, while the international book may be Interestingly, the Dec. 1, 1977, Chi- ordered from the web site www.spiritone. cago Tribune article announcing the com/~tonywaw. n Pane of stamps honors UNPA at the Traunsee The United Nations Postal Admin- The pane is headed “35 Jahre istration has announced that it will UNPA Am Traunsee” (35 years of the issue a pane of 10 stamps and se- UNPA at the Traunsee). The 18¢ stamp correctly paid the surface rate, but a 1977 dockworkers’ strike on the Atlantic and tenant labels Aug. 24 for use from The stamps show local scenes of Gulf coasts led to a U.S. Postal Service embargo on surface mail, requiring senders to pay airmail the post office at the Vienna Interna- buildings and the lake. The labels de- rates. The mailer did not pay the extra 13¢ for airmail so this letter did not go to Gibraltar. tional Center in Vienna, Austria. pict U.N. cancellations from 1982. ■

18 LINN’S STAMP NEWS August 14, 2017 Linns.com

31082p018.indd 18 7/28/17 8:45 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Example proves rule of fees for special delivery return of business reply mail

A significant number of my col- allowed on BRM before and after June umns develop because someone asks 29, 1962, but before that date the me to “explain a cover.” recipient paid the applicable return Richard Matta recently indicated postage, while after that date, the ap- that over the years he has obtained plicable postage was to be paid by the business reply mail envelopes that re- person returning the BRM envelope. ceive special delivery service (that is, An example of an early use of the have special delivery stamps affixed), special delivery service on BRM mail is but the return first-class or airmail illustrated here. postage was paid by the recipient. This Feb. 5, 1943, BRM envelope I also have seen such examples. was returned to the recipient with However, Matta recently bought special delivery service, as indicated part of the special delivery collection by the placement of the 10¢ special of Robert L. Markovits (1937-2015). delivery stamp (Scott E15). The fulfill- In it was a statement from Markov- ment of the service was indicated by its, who wrote that “converting busi- the purple handstamp, “FEE CLAIMED ness reply mail to Special Delivery BY OFFICE/OF FIRST ADDRESS.” The 4¢ Service required prepayment of the This business-reply mail envelope mailed Feb. 5, 1943, was returned to the recipient with special in postage due stamps (a pair of the Special Delivery Fee and the applica- delivery service, as indicated by the affixed 10¢ stamp. Fulfillment of the service is shown by 2¢ stamp, Scott J71) indicates pay- ble first class postage.” the handstamped marking, “FEE CLAIMED BY OFFICE/OF FIRST ADDRESS.” A pair of 2¢ postage due ment by the recipient of the 3¢ plus As we will see, this is only partially stamps indicate the recipient’s payment of the 3¢ fee plus 1¢ required postage. 1¢ required postage. correct. Thanks to Richard Matta and the In my latest book, Insights into U.S. “additional postage.” mention the prepayment of applica- Markovits material, we now have offi- Postal History, 1855-2016 (available Certified returns of BRM ended as ble postage by the person returning cial documentation for the use of the through the American Philatelic So- of July 18, 1977, as per Postal Services the BRM envelope. special delivery service for returned ciety), Chapter 9 is titled “Business (Domestic) Transmittal Letter 42. Reg- However, in Chapter 9 on page 144 business reply mail envelopes. Reply Mail (BRM) Service Additions, istered returns of BRM ended as of the of the Insights book, we find the fol- 1928-2016.” Domestic Mail Manual, Issue 1, of July lowing: “Like with registered returns Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are In that chapter, I describe uses of 30, 1979. of BRM after June 29, 1962, as an- the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- additional services in the return of But what about special delivery re- nounced in the Post Office Services mestic and international postage rates since BRM, such as registration, return re- turn of business reply mail items? Transmittal Letter 112, for certified re- 1872. The third edition of the domestic book is now available from the American Philatelic ceipt and certification. Without going At the end of Chapter 9, I illustrate turns to occur after that date, postage Society, while the international book may be too much into the details, I will say examples of BRM returns via special and fees were to be fully prepaid.” ordered from the web site www.spiritone. here that before June 29, 1962, the re- delivery service, but until recently I That is, special delivery service was com/~tonywaw. n cipient of the BRM paid the first-class could find no official documentation postage, the BRM “additional postage that this was an allowed service. charges” handling, and generally paid After Matta contacted me, he real- Indypex prospectus available the airmail postage. ized that the Markovits citation was The exhibitor’s prospectus is avail- frames of exhibits, a 37-dealer bourse, For each of these additional ser- a reference to Postal Bulletin 20367 able for Indypex 2017, the annual a United States Postal Service sales vices, as announced in the Postal Ser- (June 20, 1963), which stated: “Any- stamp show and exhibition of the In- station, a meeting of the Indiana Post- vices Transmittal Letter 112, June 29, one desiring to convert business reply diana Stamp Club. al History Society, and beginner and 1962, all postage, including additional mail to a special service such as spe- An American Philatelic Society youth tables. The show theme com- postage charges and service fees, cial delivery or registered mail must World Series of Philately show, In- memorates the 100th anniversary of were to be fully prepaid for there to prepay the special service fee and ap- dypex will take place Oct. 6-8 at the America’s entry into World War I. be a registered or other return of BRM. plicable postage.” Hamilton County 4-H Fairgrounds and For a prospectus, visit the club’s The person returning the BRM item This Postal Bulletin citation is the Exhibition Center, 2300 Pleasant St., in website http://indianastampclub.org also paid the BRM handling charges, first one I have seen that mentions Noblesville, Ind., north of Indianapolis. or write to the Indiana Stamp Club, because they were considered to be special delivery and does, indeed, Indypex will feature 120-plus Box 20005, Indianapolis, IN 46220. ■

ZillionsOfStamps.com September 11, 2017 LINN’S STAMP NEWS 17

31092p017.indd 17 8/25/17 8:09 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL ON by T Y WAWRUKIEWICZ An example of Form 3582a from 1962 documents return fees for mail Before introducing the subject for Fortunately, every once in a while this column, I would like to let Linn’s there is exact documentation of what readers know that if they have ques- was returned. An example is the Oct. tions about uses, I am available to an- 31, 1962, example of Form 3582a illus- swer them. trated here, front and back. Philatelists send me images of cov- The listing on this Form 3582a indi- ers for which they cannot figure out cates first that 686 BRM cards were re- some aspect of a use, and I am willing turned to Corning Glass Works in Corn- to help them in part because often I ing, N.Y. For each card, the return fee am only able to answer their question was 5¢ (3¢ domestic surface postcard with some research, and then I have a postage plus 2¢ BRM handling post- subject for another article. age), for a total cost of $34.30. Now for this column’s subject. The return of 66 BRM letters also was Examples of United States Post Of- documented. For each such return the fice Department Form 3582a are rea- cost was 6¢ (4¢ domestic surface let- sonably common, and most frequent- ter postage plus the 2¢ BRM handling ly are used to collect the return fees postage), for a total cost of $3.96. on returned first-class business-reply Next, in two lines, are documented mail (BRM). However, Form 3582a also the return of third-class mail. Effective can be a receipt for the return of other Jan. 10, 1962 (as published in Postal The postage due stamps affixed to the reverse of the form in this example pay a $40.97 charge for types of mail, such as third-class and Bulletin 20286, Dec. 28, 1961), new returned mail. The documentation on the front is unusual, especially in regard to fourth-class mail. fourth-class items. changes in how undeliverable third- single piece rate or 8 cents per piece, is indicated by the canceled postage- When non-first-class mail is paid for, and fourth-class mail were handled whichever was higher.” due stamps on the reverse of the form unless there is adequate documenta- were introduced (these rules ended The third line on the illustrated form (eight examples of the $5 [Scott J101], tion on the form, it is difficult (if not im- Jan. 17, 1968), as follows: “third- and documents the return of four third- one of the 50¢ [J86], nine of the 5¢ possible) to know exactly what types fourth-class matter returned to the class letters at 8¢ each, for a total of 32¢ [J93], and two of the 1¢ [J89]). of mail were returned. sender was charged at the applicable to be collected. The “window account” amount of The next line documents the return $17.32 noted as the last item on the of 17 third-class flats at 8¢ each, for a front of the form presumably was the total of $1.36 to be collected. amount in the Corning Glass Works ac- Lastly, three fourth-class items were count. The $17.32 was added, not sub- returned via domestic mail, at fees of tracted, in the tally of the amount due 35¢, 21¢ and 47¢, respectively. for the returns, but subtraction was The fee of 35¢ corresponds either to done in a handwritten calculation to the return of an up-to-3-pound pack- the left of the postmark, and $40.97 in age from Zone 3 (23¢+6¢+6¢) or the postage-due stamps was affixed. return of an up-to-1-pound package This example of POD Form 3582a from Zone 5 (25¢+10¢). The 47¢ charge beautifully demonstrates the return of corresponds either to the return of an fourth-class matter. In my experience, up-to-4-pound package from Zone 3 such returns are infrequently docu- (23¢+6¢+6¢+6¢+6¢), or the return of mented in any form. an up-to-3-pound package from Zone 4 (23¢+8¢+8¢+8¢). I am unable to use Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the the 21¢ return postage value to docu- co-authors of two useful books on U.S. domestic ment a fourth-class single-piece rate. and international postage rates since 1872. The third edition of the domestic book is now avail- The cost for the return of all these able from the American Philatelic Society, while This 1962 example of Form 3582a documents payment for the return of business-reply, third- items to the Corning Glass Works was the international book may be ordered from the class and fourth-class domestic mail. Postage due stamps are affixed to the reverse of the form. $40.97. That this amount was collected web site www.spiritone.com/~tonywaw. n

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31102p019.indd 19 9/21/17 3:12 PM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Armed forces concessionary mail rates continued after war’s end This column’s subject is intend- right corner the word “FREE,” and ed to answer the question, “What in the upper left corner the name U.S. Armed Forces concessionary of the sender together with his or rates existed after World War II her rank or rating, and the desig- ended?” nation of the service to which he To do this effectively, first it is or she belonged. important to know what these As per Postal Bulletin 18450 rates were earlier than the end of (June 15, 1942), to further facili- WWII. tate the transport of the airmail Order No. 16604, dated Dec. 23, or surface mail just mentioned, 1941, effective Dec. 25, 1941, pro- by reducing its poundage, V-mail vided a postage rate of 6¢ for each (short for Victory Mail) was intro- half ounce for airmail to and from duced. the personnel of our armed forces V-mail lettersheets with instruc- stationed outside the continental tions for use were given to all. A United States, where U.S. mail ser- message was then typed or writ- vice was in operation. ten in dark pencil or pen. Such mail had to show, in the V-mail messages sent by armed A letter postmarked Jan. 25, 1946, sent via APO mail from one soldier to another at a hospital in address or in the return card, the forces members were accepted Italy, was correctly mailed at free surface rate. rank of the individual member for mailing by a microfilm center, lettersheets were continued (their dier to another, as free surface weight was low), and could be mail through the same APO post mailed free or via airmail at the office (a hospital) in Italy. concessionary 6¢ up-to-a-half- So, these items illustrate two ounce rate. different ways in which mail So far, I have been unable to de- was sent by members of the U.S. termine when this airmail conces- armed forces after WWII officially sionary rate ended, but I suspect it ended. was as of Dec. 31, 1947, because, I have searched Jim Forte’s www. as announced in the January sup- postalhistory.com website for APO plement of the 1946 Postal Guide, uses and Dick Keiser’s stock of APO the free postage concession for mail, and have found no 1947 ex- surface first-class mail was al- amples of this type of mail. I be- lowed until Dec. 31, 1947. lieve such examples are rare. Shown here is a V-mail letter- sheet used after Oct. 30, 1945. This Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry May 21, 1946, letter was correctly Beecher are the co-authors of two use- mailed, without microfilming, as ful books on U.S. domestic and inter- free surface mail from APO 635 national postage rates since 1872. The third edition of the domestic book is (Burtonwood, England) to Chicago. now available from the American Phila- The second illustration is of a telic Society, while the international correctly documented Jan. 25, book may be ordered from the website 1946, letter mailed from one sol- www.spiritone.com/~tonywaw. ■ This postwar V-mail lettersheet mailed May 21, 1946, from Burtonwood, England, to Chicago correctly traveled free. Microfilming V-mail ended Oct. 30, 1945, but the lettersheets qualified for free surface rate mailing for U.S. armed forces members. of the armed forces receiving without payment of postage, as Modern U.S. Mail columns now online or sending such matter, and the per the Act of March 27, 1942. Mike Ludeman has produced digital files of Tony Wawrukiewicz’ unit to which that person was as- V-mail lettersheets from the Modern U.S. Mail columns published in Linn’s Stamp News from Nov. 8, signed. United States required 3¢ surface 2004, to Dec. 12, 2016, and the American Philatelic Research Library is As per Postal Bulletin 18418 rate or 6¢ airmail rate postage for hosting the files on its website. (April 1, 1942; Act of March 27, mailing to a microfilm center. To download the articles as one large file or four smaller files, go 1942), during World War II, subject At the respective microfilm cen- to the American Philatelic Society website at stamps.org. Choose Ser- to certain rules, any surface first- ters, the lettersheet was micro- vices on the blue toolbar, then Library. class letter mail matter (including filmed, then sent on to its destina- On the Library home page, under Library Collections in the center of postcards) admissible to the mails, tion, where it was printed out and the page, click on Search our Catalog, and the Philatelic Union Catalog was to be transmitted in the sur- was given to the recipient. If there will come up. face mails free of postage. was no microfilm center available, In the catalog search, enter Wawrukiewicz in the first box and then This mail was to be sent by a lettersheets remained intact and select Online from the drop-down menu and click Submit Query. member of the U.S. armed forces were sent on to the destination. Two records will be found; the first one is Modern U.S. Mail [elec- while on active duty in the armed So, what happened as WWII tronic resource]. Click Full Display, which will reveal the entire catalog- forces, and addressed to any per- ended in August 1945? ing entry including a list of five URL addresses at the foot of the page. son where the U.S. mail service As announced in Postal Bulle- These are the files of the articles. The first URL is a PDF file of all the was in operation. tin 18871 (Oct. 30, 1945), the mi- articles, and the other four URLs are for the articles divided into four The “certain rules” were that crofilming service for V-mail was smaller PDF files. such mail was to bear in the upper discontinued. However, the V-mail 22 LINN’S STAMP NEWS November 13 , 2017 Linns.com

31112p022.indd 22 10/26/17 1:02 PM LEtters to linn’s

Familiar names on V-mail sheet 8th Air Force in England; he retired The V-mail lettersheet illustrat- from the Corps of Engineers in ed in Tony Wawrukiewicz’ Nov. 1968 as a lieutenant colonel, and 13 Modern U.S. Mail column on died in 1987. post-World War II continuation of A goodly amount of “real mail” wartime concessionary free rates survives in collections because for those on active service may be recipients saved it because they noteworthy for its late date of use. were collectors. But that it survived to be an ex- Greg Finnegan ample is not at all unusual. Both Cambridge, Mass. the sender and the recipient were postal history collectors, as mem- Ryohei Ishikawa bers of the Universal Ship Cancel- The report of Ryohei Ishikawa’s lation Society. death (Linn’s Nov. 27 issue) brought back many won- derful memories of Ameripex 86 (Rosemont, Illi- nois), an interna- tional exhibition that had to be seen to be be- lieved. Mr. Ishikawa exhibited his nev- er-surpassed col- lection of 1847- 69 United States classics, but that collection was This postwar V-mail lettersheet mailed May 21, 1946, from Burton- just one of almost wood, England, to Chicago was sent between two collectors. 30 “grand” ex- hibits that, more According to the society’s 1945 than 30 years later, continue to membership directory, Maj. Stan- stagger the imagination. ley G. L’Esperance, on active ser- I recall seeing five blocks of four vice but with a home address 2.3 of the famous Jenny Invert, all of miles from where I write this, was them under one pane of glass. The member 1927. Ray Milling, the re- unique British Guiana 1¢ Magenta cipient, likewise was a longtime was there, but had to share the and well-known member. spotlight with the great world rari- The exigencies of war likely ties that had been assembled for caused him to let his member- what must still be the greatest in- ship lapse, since he’s not listed ternational exhibit ever organized. in 1945, but he’s listed in 1997 as Mr. Ishikawa was very gener- (life) member 2082, a number that ous about sharing his stamps with predates the 1945 roster. By 1997, the philatelic community, and he he’d retired to Agana, Guam; he enjoyed an impeccable reputa- passed away there in January tion among dealers and collectors 2003 and was buried there in the alike. He was a giant in his time, veterans cemetery. He was pub- and his contribution to philately lished in the USCS Log as recently will not be forgotten. as 1997. When he wrote to Milling, Richard H. Knight Jr. L’Esperance was serving with the Nashville, Tenn.

LETTERS ARE WELCOME. Only a selection can be published, subject to condensation, and none acknowledged. E-mail letters should include the writer’s city and state. • ADDRESS LETTERS to Letters to Linn’s, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365; or e-mail [email protected] with the subject Letters to Linn’s. • LINN’S RESERVES the right to edit all material submitted for publication. • NEWS ITEMS, articles and photographs pertaining to stamp collecting are welcome. Address items to the editor. • WRITERS who would like to submit articles for consideration should consult Linn’s “Guidelines for Writers’’ (send addressed, stamped envelope to the attention of the editor). • UNSOLICITED MATERIAL cannot be acknowledged or returned unless accompanied by return postage. We cannot be responsible for stamps sent, but every safeguarding effort will be taken. • OPINIONS EXPRESSED in any signed column or letter appearing in Linn’s Stamp News, including those of staff members, reflect the views of the writer only. The opinions may or may not be in agreement with those of Linn’s. • QUESTIONS regarding a column may be sent to the columnist, in care of Linn’s. • SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT STAMPS should be addressed to “Collectors’ Forum.” If the question is published, it will appear in print with the writer’s complete postal mailing address. ZillionsOfStamps.com December 11, 2017 LINN’S STAMP NEWS 3

31122p003.indd 3 11/21/17 2:08 PM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ ‘Held for postage’ drop mail correctly paid with postage due stamps I am presently developing an ex- unknown, so the letter was rubber- hibit of the uses of United States stamped “Held for Postage” and postage due stamps on the U.S. the 2¢ postage due was correctly mails from 1879 (when adhesive collected from the addressee. This postage dues were introduced) to collection is indicated by the Provi- 1986 (when adhesive postage dues dence, R.I., precanceled 2¢ postage were phased out). due stamp (Scott J46). I have been mystified to find ex- At first I thought that the cover’s amples of “Held for Postage” mail date could only be approximated where postage due stamps were from the “Held for Postage” hand- used to indicate payment of post- stamp. This is based on informa- age due. This confused me because tion on page 30 of my 2016 book, I thought that such mail was re- Insights into U.S. Postal History, turned for postage or held for post- 1855-2016, which indicates that this age, and payment was made by handstamp was used from 1906-37. regular postage stamps, not post- However, since the franking is from age due stamps. the 1910-12 postage due issue, the However, as I looked more careful- This undated (probably 1910-20) and unpaid cover of Providence, R.I., with no return address, cover dates from before 1920 and ly, in the 1893 to the 1948 editions of was held for postage: the local rate of 2¢. This was correctly collected from the addressee, as possibly from around 1910-12. United States Postal Laws and Regula- indicated by the precanceled 2¢ postage due stamp. The local Columbus, Ohio, 1¢ tions, at the end of the “Held for Post- postal card in the second illustra- age” section, I discovered the follow- matter shall be delivered to the ad- Illustrated here are two examples tion, postmarked Jan. 21, 1952, ing, or its equivalent (excerpted from dressee by the carrier, and the defi- of this surprising (to me) process. was underpaid; the 2¢ rate in ef- the 1948 PL&R): cient postage collected by means of First, we see a classic example fect had just been introduced on “Matter for local delivery and postage-due stamps affixed.” of this use of postage due stamps. Jan. 1, 1952. sender unknown. When matter I then looked at all my items that The undated local cover was mailed Again, since there was no return wholly unpaid or insufficiently pre- were held for postage where the within the city of Providence, R.I. address, the sender was unknown, paid is deposited at any city delivery postage due was paid with postage The letter was unpaid for the up-to- and the card was held for “Post- post office for local delivery and the due stamps, and imagine my sur- one-ounce carrier 2¢ local rate. age Due 1 Cent.” This was correctly sender is unknown, notice of de- prise when I discovered that all but Because there was no corner card collected from the addressee, as tention need not be sent, but such one were local (drop) mailings. (return address), the sender was indicated by the 1¢ postage due

18 LINN’S STAMP NEWS December 11, 2017 Linns.com

31122p018 19.indd 18 11/22/17 7:05 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Linn’s 2017 U.n. Stamp Program

Canada. Six stamps (49¢, $1.15, 1fr, 2fr, 68¢, U.N. Stamp Program online �1.70) and a souvenir card. Linn’s, June 12, Linn’s subscribers can always view the page 15. Scott New York 1166-1167; Geneva complete U.N. stamp programs for 636-637; Vienna 605-606. 2017 and previous years online by reg- *June 21, International Day of Yoga. Pane istering at www.linns.com and click- of 10 $1.15 stamps with se-tenant labels that ing on this box in Linn’s digital edition. can be personalized. Linn’s, June 26, page 13. Scott New York 1168. *Aug. 3, World Heritage/Silk Road. Six Jan. 13, International Year of the Rooster. stamps (49¢, $1.15, 1fr, 1.50fr, 80¢, �1.70) and Pane of 10 $1.15 stamps with se-tenant la- three prestige booklets. Linn’s, Aug. 14, page bels. Linn’s, Jan. 30, page 16. Scott 1149. 10. Scott New York 1169-1171; Geneva 638- Feb. 3, Flags. Two se-tenant blocks of four 640; Vienna 607-609. $1.15 stamps each. Linn’s, Jan. 2, page 16; *Aug. 24, UNPA at the Traunsee 35 Years. March 6, page 14. Scott New York 1150-1153a Pane of 10 68¢ stamps with se-tenant labels. (flags of Albania, Benin, Bulgaria, Comoros); Linn’s, Aug. 14, page 18. Scott Vienna 610. 1154-1157a (flags of Congo Republic, Ethio- *Sept. 21, International Day of Peace. Six pia, Georgia, Iraq). stamps (49¢, $1.15, 1fr, 2fr, 68¢, �1.70) and March 20, International Day of Happiness/ three souvenir sheets ($1.15, 2fr, �1.70). The Smurfs. Two panes of 10 stamps with se- Linn’s, Sept. 11, page 12. Scott New York 1172- tenant labels ($1.15, 80¢). Linn’s, April 10, page 1174; Geneva 641-643; Vienna 611-613. 14. Scott New York 1158a-j; Vienna 598a-j. Oct. 16, World Food Day. Six stamps (49¢, This local Columbus, Ohio, 1¢ postal card postmarked Jan. 21, 1952, was underpaid; the 2¢ rate March 23, International Dances. Six stamps $1.15, 1fr, 1.50fr, 68¢, 80¢). Linn’s, Oct. 30, in sheets of six (49¢, $1.15, 1 franc, 1.50fr, 68¢, page 18. had been introduced on Jan. 1, 1952. With the sender unknown, the amount due was correctly 80¢). Linn’s, March 27, page 16. Scott New Oct 27, The Universal Declaration of Hu- collected from the addressee, as shown by the 1¢ postage due stamp. York 1159a-f, 1160a-f; Geneva 630a-f, 631a-f; man Rights Translation. Souvenir sheet with Vienna 599a-f, 600a-f. three stamps in different currencies ($1.15, stamp (Scott J70). to double rates.” March 30, 34th Asian International Stamp 2fr, �1.70). Linn’s, Nov. 6, page 1. Exhibition in Melbourne, Australia. Sou- Nov. 9, Paris Autumn Philatelic Salon. As shown here, I am finding that Therefore, only 2¢ was due for venir sheet with three stamps in different Souvenir sheet with three stamps ($1.15, 2fr, local mail frequently was handled this unpaid local letter. currencies ($1.15, 2fr, �1.70). Linn’s, April 24, �1.70). Linn’s, Nov. 13, page 11. differently than regular intercity Also, this column indicates why I page 17. Scott New York 1161a-c. *Asterisks precede entries with new or April 13, Postal Stationery. 49¢ postal en- changed information. Details of each issue mail. collect modern U.S. postal history velope in two sizes, standard and large. Linn’s, listed are given in the cited issues of Linn’s. May 1, page 42. Scott New York U38-U39. For instance, considering the — because there is so much to be • Rhode Island cover pictured in learned. May 11, Endangered Species. Three se-ten- ant blocks of four stamps each ($1.15, 1.50fr, U.N. stamps in U.S. denominations are valid the first illustration, page 4 of my 80¢), joint issue with Romania. Linn’s, May 8, for postage only if mailed at U.N. Headquarters book Insights into U.S. Postal Histo- Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are page 14. Scott New York 1162-1165; Geneva in New York City. Stamps in Swiss franc denom- ry, 1855- 2016 notes, “A drop letter the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- 632-635; Vienna 601-604. inations are valid for postage if mailed at the mestic and international postage rates since *June 5, World Environment Day/United Palais des Nations in Geneva. Stamps in euro deposited in an office without pre- 1872. These books are both available from the Nations Environment Programme 45th denominations are valid for postage if mailed payment of postage is not subject American Philatelic Society. n Anniversary/Beautiful Landscapes of at the Vienna International Centre, Austria. ■

ZillionsOfStamps.com December 11, 2017 LINN’S STAMP NEWS 19

31122p018 19.indd 19 11/22/17 7:05 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL ON by T Y WAWRUKIEWICZ Unusual Dead Letter Branch mail returned to writer has been found A major change in the Dead Letter Office turn DLB fee on a pen- (DLO) process occurred effective March 1, 1917 alty envelope when (as announced in Postal Bulletin 11273, Feb. 15, one dead letter was 1917). returned from a DLB. On this date, matter from all states previously However, the return of sent only to the Washington, D.C., DLO could be two dead letters in one sent to Washington, or to branches of the DLO at such envelope is quite New York City or Chicago. rarely seen. Also, effective May 1, 1917 (PB 11323, April 17, An example of such 1917), San Francisco became the DLO branch a return is illustrated (or DLB) for dead matter from certain western here, where a 1946 states, including the territory of Alaska. New York City DLB re- Because these changes placed a DLB nearer turn letter envelope to many of the states where Dead Letter Office returned two valu- service was necessary, these changes occurred able dead letters to in order to expedite the DLO process. the same writer. The Effective May 20, 1920 (PB 12263, May 20, double fee of 10¢ col- The return of a valuable dead letter to its sender in Hammond, N.Y., required payment of the 5¢ 1920), a further change was introduced: The lected in Garden City, return fee plus 3¢ for unpaid postage. The postage due stamps indicate the 8¢ due was paid by the postmaster general provided that when letters Long Island, is indicat- addressee. Only two examples of this type of Dead Letter Branch return are known. were returned from a dead letter branch to the ed by the 10¢ postage due stamp (Scott J84) Branch return letter envelope. placed on the enve- In this case, the valuable dead letter returned lope upon delivery to to the writer in Hammond, N.Y., was unpaid. the addressee. Therefore the writer was expected to pay the 5¢ The star geometric return fee plus the 3¢ for up-to-one ounce un- figure imprinted on paid letter postage that was due. the cover indicates The Hammond, N.Y., post office placed 8¢ in that there were valu- postage due stamps (a block of four of the 2¢ able contents in the stamp, Scott J81), indicating that the 8¢ due returned letters. was paid by the addressee. Only two such ex- The returned dead amples of this type of DLB return are known letter in the penalty to me. envelope in the sec- In conclusion, it is interesting to me that such ond illustration under- unusual Dead Letter Branch return envelopes went a different but are to be found, if one searches diligently. equally unusual fate. Note the 8¢ in postage Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors This 1946 penalty envelope from the Dead Letter Branch in New York City returned two valuable due stamps placed of two useful books on U.S. domestic and international post- (signaled by star imprint) dead letters to the same writer. The double fee collected is documented on this 1952 New age rates since 1872. These books are both available from the by the 10¢ postage due stamp; the fee would have been paid by the addressee upon delivery. York City Dead Letter American Philatelic Society. n

writers, a fee of 3¢ was to be collected at the time of delivery. The 3¢ fee was to be collected by means of postage due stamps to be affixed by postmas- ters to such letters before delivery, and the amount to be charged was to be indicated on AMERICA’S STAMP CLUB Official or penalty envelopes before dispatch to post offices from the Division of Dead Letters or its respective branches. This return fee increased to 5¢ on July 1, 1935. A common usage is the payment of the 5¢ re-

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ZillionsOfStamps.com January 8, 2018 LINN’S STAMP NEWS 21

31012p021.indd 21 12/21/17 8:45 AM MODERN U.S.MAIL bY TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Understanding how officials intercepted and returned fraudulent mail In my column in the June 13, 2016, knew of the fraud order, and be- issue of Linn’s, I discussed fraudulent cause there was no return address, mail in some detail. In this column, sent the letter to the New York City I will add some useful additional in- Dead Letter Branch, which found formation I have recently discovered the sender’s name and correctly re- about such mail. turned the fraud mail to the sender. As we will see in what follows, offi- This column is meant to aid peo- cial announcements of such mail are ple who find an item addressed to a best found by searching the digitized fraudulent enterprise, in uncovering Postal Bulletin archive (www.uspostal- the official announcement of the bulletins.com) using the search phras- fraud. My Postal Bulletin website is es “fraud” and “false representation.” the main resource that one can use. But, as we’ll also see, some an- However, occasionally, only the Post- nouncements of frauds are found al Guide will work as a resource. only in the United States Official Post- If a reader sends me a 60-gigabyte al Guide and its supplements. flash drive, I will use it to load all the To briefly recapitulate: Fraudu- The Postal Bulletin of March 21, 1925, contains a fraud announcement for Lewis Laboratories of yearly Postal Guides and Supple- lent matter is mail that involves any Chicago. Accordingly, the Chicago postmaster intercepted this letter of Aug. 27, 1926, and applied ments. Address it to Tony Wawrukie- scheme for obtaining money or prop- the “Fraudulent” marking. With no return address, the cover went to the local Dead Letter Branch, wicz, Box 19568, Portland, OR 97280. erty of any kind through the mails which found the sender’s address and returned the letter to sender. By the way, on April 27, 1926, a by means of false or fraudulent pre- or foreign frauds were listed. The postmaster at Chicago knew of fraud order was issued against the tenses, representations or promises. From the January 1896 annual the fraud order, and as there was no Charpon Land Syndicate; Charles The postmaster general could, upon Postal Guide through the April 1923 return address, sent this letter to the Ponzi, trustee; Charles Ponzi, and their evidence satisfactory to him (such as supplement, only foreign frauds Chicago Dead Letter Branch, which officers and agents as such, at Jack- through advertisements, legal Dead were announced. On the other hand, found the sender’s name and correctly sonville, Fla. Convicted of mail fraud Letter Office/Branch mail opening or mixed domestic and foreign frauds returned the fraud mail to the sender. in Boston in 1920, Ponzi served three other legal sources), discern that mail were announced from the Office of The valuable March 12, 1947, fraud- and a half years in federal prison. Fol- was fraudulent and act upon it. the Solicitor in the Postal Guide from ulent mail business reply envelope lowing his release he was convicted In this manner, the postmaster the May 1923 supplement to the shown here was mailed to the Avalon of multiple counts of larceny by the general could discover that matter June 1944 supplement. was fraudulent and let all postmas- The solicitor was an officer of the ters know this. Then, if a postmaster USPOD providing legal advice to the at a post office was made aware of a postmaster general. fraudulent scheme that was based in What about such announcements his post office area, that official knew in the Postal Bulletin? to return all such fraudulent mail From PB 7579 (Jan. 10, 1905) until matter to the sender. PB 20786 (Oct. 29, 1970), domestic I have two examples of fraudulent mail that had to be returned to the sender through a Dead Letter Branch because the letter sent to the fraudu- lent matter address had no return ad- dress. As I looked at them, I wondered where such fraudulent mail was an- and foreign fraud announcements nounced by the postmaster general. were published therein. From PB This column will describe how I 20695 (April 10, 1969) until the pres- found the announcements of the ent, the phrase “false representation” The Postal Bulletin of Jan. 23, 1947, announced a fraud order issued against Avalon Press on Jan. fraudulent nature of matter. was used instead of “fraud.” Therefore, 16, 1947. This business reply envelope postmarked March 12, 1947, was removed from the mails, First, as I was glancing through the announcement of frauds was at received the “fraudulent” marking, and went to the Dead Letter Branch because it had no return the 1926 supplements to the United times somewhat inconsistently pub- address. The Dead Letter Branch found the sender’s name and address and returned the envelope States Official Postal Guide, I inciden- lished by the Post Office Department to the sender. The inset shows the wording of the customary rubberstamped marking applied to mail intercepted by postmasters following a fraud announcement from the postmaster general. tally noted that there were lists of and its successor, the U.S. Postal Ser- fraud orders. I knew that such an- vice, in their various resources. Press, Inc., a New York City company state of Massachusetts. nouncements also could be found in I will now discuss my two fraudu- involved in fraudulent activity. The Ponzi and his wife fled to Florida, various issues of the Postal Bulletin. lent mail examples that went through handstamped marking — “FRAUDU- where he set up a fraudulent land I then wondered what the history two different Dead Letter Branches. LENT./Mail to this address returned/ scheme in Jacksonville, for which he of fraud announcements was in vari- The first is a valuable fraudulent letter by order of Postmaster General” — is was indicted in February 1926. Flee- ous official U.S. Post Office Depart- postmarked Aug. 27, 1926, addressed the same as the one on the Chicago ing again, Ponzi was captured and ment documents. This is what I found. to Lewis Laboratories in Chicago, Ill. envelope previously discussed. served seven more years in prison. From the April 1879 to the August In the PB 13728 of March 21, 1925, In Postal Bulletin 18999 (Jan. 23, The USPOD fraud order in April 1883 United States Official Postal Guide we find the fraud announcement for 1947), we note this fraud announce- 1926 was issued none too soon. supplements, all known fraudulent Lewis Laboratories, Druesen-Kraft ment, “On January 16, 1947, a fraud schemes from March 12, 1875, to Au- Laboratories, and their officers and order was issued against Avalon Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are gust 1883 were noted and announced. agents as such, at Chicago, Ill. I was Press, Inc., and its officers and agents the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- mestic and international postage rates since From this latter supplement up to the unable to find this announcement in as such, at New York, N.Y.” 1872. These books are both available from the one dated January 1896, no domestic the Postal Guide. The postmaster at New York City American Philatelic Society. n 22 LINN’S STAMP NEWS February 12, 2018 Linns.com

31022p022.indd 22 1/26/18 9:58 AM MODERN U.S.MAIL bY TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ A new look at Imperial Airways letter airmail rates to Australia after July 9, 1935 A number of years ago, Jim Forte no- Airways flights to Australia that led ticed that he had seen international air- me to do some new research. mail letters mailed to foreign countries Two covers from the Forte stock after July 9, 1935, with rates and along shown here are similar to the 1938 routes that, according to U.S. Interna- cover DiPaolo pictured in his article. tional Postal Rates, 1872-1996 (which I The first is a May 1937 airmail letter authored with Henry W. Beecher) ap- from New York City to Australia sent peared to have ended earlier. via ship to London (a 5¢ for up-to-1- That is, these were letters that ounce Universal Postal Union surface were mailed using rates and routes rate), then via Imperial Airways from that were not listed in the reference London to Australia (44¢ for up-to-½- book because they were supposedly ounce rate). The total of 49¢ postage is no longer available. paid with four 1922 series 10¢ Monroe In particular, Forte suggested stamps from the Fourth Bureau issue that these were flights defined by (Scott 562) and one 1922 series 9¢ Jef- rates and on routes of the foreign ferson Fourth Bureau stamp (561). carrier Imperial Airways, and most The next cover illustrated is an Au- commonly seen for Imperial Airways gust 1938 airmail letter from Massa- flights to Australia. chusetts to Australia “per Queen Mary” For a while, I believed that these (according to the handwritten inscrip- An August 1938 airmail letter from Massachusetts to Australia, “per Queen Mary” to London (5¢ happenstances were just for the con- tion). It traveled to London (5¢ for up- for up-to-1-ounce UPU surface rate), then via Imperial Airways from London to Australia (44¢ for up-to-½-ounce rate). The 49¢ postage due was shortpaid 5¢. venience of business mailers who to-1-ounce UPU surface rate), then via preferred the British service, and Imperial Airways from London to Aus- Fourt Bureau stamp (556). The amount First, as I’ve illustrated in this col- these were not official flights. How- tralia (44¢ for up-to-½ ounce rate). A of postage due was twice the short- umn, multiple airmail letters that ever, Bill DiPaolo recently published total of 49¢ postage was due, but only paid 5¢, indicated by the markings at used this route and rate are known an article in The Prexy Era newsletter 44¢ was paid, with two 1922 series 20¢ right, “T 50 CENTIMES.” That amount after July 9, 1935. (summer 2017) that mentions dis- Golden Gate Fourth Bureau stamps presumably was paid by the address- Second, three United States Post covered references about Imperial (Scott 567) and one 1922 series 4¢ Taft ee on delivery. Office Department Postal Bulletin These letters were mailed in 1937 announcements clearly confirm and 1938 and traveled on a route the late continuance of this route/

An announcement from a 1939 Postal Bulletin, with the header “Air-mail Service-London to Asia and Australia,” confirms the late continuance of the Imperial Airlines 44¢ route/rate to Australia.

paid at a rate that the Wawrukiewicz– rate. The example reproduced here Beecher international postal rates is from Postal Bulletin 17494 dated book states ended on July 9, 1935. Aug. 2, 1939. How was this possible? Was this Third, in each case where there correct? was a Postal Bulletin confirming an- I am now going to list four sourc- nouncement, there was a simulta- es of information: three that are in neous confirming announcement in agreement and definitely support the U.S. Official Postal Guide. A May 1937 airmail letter from New York to Australia, via ship to London (5¢ for up-to-1-ounce UPU the post-July 9, 1935, Imperial Air- The contradicting information, surface rate), then via Imperial Airways from London to Australia (44¢ for up-to-½-ounce rate), to- ways 44¢ route/rate from London to the fourth source, is also the Postal tal of 49¢ postage paid. The cover is franked with four 10¢ Monroe stamps and a single 9¢ Jefferson. Australia, and a fourth that does not. Guide, specifically, the 1936, 1937,

16 LINN’S STAMP NEWS March 12, 2018 Linns.com

31032p016 17.indd 16 2/23/18 7:14 AM MODERN U.S.MAIL bY TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ All these are new routes and rates Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- are corrections to the Wawrukie- mestic and international postage rates since wicz–Beecher international postal 1872. These books are both available from the rates book. American Philatelic Society. n

Identical announcements from 1936, 1937 and 1938 U.S. Official Postal Guides (all published after July 9, 1935) incorrectly do not confirm the 44¢ Imperial Airways Australia route/rate.

and 1938 Postal Guides (after July 9, was informed of the new rate. The 1935). All have the same content, re- mailer was to attach the “Par Avion- produced here in the last illustration. By Air Mail” label and add “From Eu- In that content, no 44¢ Imperial rope,” instead of indicating dispatch Airways route/rate to Australia was “From London,” “From Amsterdam,” listed. or “From France,” as heretofore. However, because of the three The exchange office of New York agreeing resources just described, I was to send particular mail dispatch- am convinced that the 44¢ Imperial es by the most advantageous service. Airways route/rate to Australia contin- This later use of the 44¢ Impe- ued until Jan. 1, 1939, and, thus, that rial Airways route/rate was clearly al- the yearly Postal Guides are in error. lowed, and was official. From similar Why Jan. 1, 1939? On Jan. 1, 1939 research, I now believe that earlier (according to Postal Bulletin 17597), Imperial Airways routes and rates to the rate became 40¢ for up-to-½- India, Thailand and Hong Kong also ounce from anywhere in Europe to extended to Jan. 1, 1939. Australia (which includes London Finally, similar to the Australia and Amsterdam). route, there was a London-to-New Items paid at the old rate were dis- Zealand 44¢ route/rate in effect from patched for a time until the public Dec. 17, 1934, until Jan. 1, 1939.

Buying

ZillionsOfStamps.com March 12, 2018 LINN’S STAMP NEWS 17

31032p016 17.indd 17 2/23/18 7:14 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Postmasters recanceled the precanceled stamps on undeliverable mail In July of last year, Arnold Selengut, the premier exhibitor and dealer of United States precanceled stamps, sent me the following message and query: “For years I have assumed that there was a reg- ulation codified somewhere in the PL&R [Postal Laws and Regulations] that instructed postmas- ters to obliterate the precanceled stamp(s) on a piece of mail that was returned to the sender, so that the sender could not reuse the precanceled stamp(s). In the precancel world, we call these stamps ‘round-trippers’ because the post-cancel, when readable, matches the town shown on the precanceled stamp. This indicates to me that it was the task of the sending (originating) [post of- fice] to deal with this revenue protection issue. “These round-trippers are not uncommon on older precancel postal history, including items for which postage due was assessed. Are you aware of the actual regulations that defined this prac- tice, and can you provide me with a reference to it so that I can examine the exact wording?” I have an example of such a use in my postage This November 1933 bulk third-class item was mailed from Santa Clara, Calif., to Oklahoma City, Okla., at the 1¢ rate for an item due exhibit, but first, here are the requested refer- weighing up to 2 ounces. It was undeliverable and thus returned to the sender with the correct single-piece third-class rate of 1½¢ ences I located concerning this matter. collected from the sender. The Oklahoma City postmaster correctly obliterated the precanceled stamp with his mute cancel. In the July 1915 Postal Guide, Sections 38-9, page 52, I found: Then, in Postal Bulletin 11024 of April 21, 1916, November 1933 weighing up to 2 ounces. It was 38. Matter bearing precanceled stamps — when mail I noted: mailed from Santa Clara, Calif., to Oklahoma City, of the transient second-class, or of the third- or fourth- Reports received by the Department indicate that Okla., at the 1¢ up-to-2-ounce bulk rate, and class, bearing precanceled postage stamps, is returned many postmasters, when returning mail to the sender, franked with a single 1¢ 1923 Benjamin Franklin (RTS) under the provisions of Section 637 PL&R, or re- fail to deface the precanceled postage stamps affixed mailed, postmasters shall thoroughly deface such stamps thereto, as required by Section 38, page 52, July, 1915, stamp from the Fourth Bureau issue (Scott 552) with the canceling stamps of their respective offices … Postal Guide. Postmasters are, therefore, requested to that is precanceled SANTA CLARA/CALIF. When such matter reaches the office of original mail- read this article carefully and comply strictly therewith. ing for return to the sender, the postmaster at such It was returned to sender because, as the add- office shall, if the precanceled stamps have not been Both of these references, together, indicate to ed pointed finger postal marking explains, it was defaced by the postmaster of the returning office, de- me that it was appropriate for either the returning “UNKNOWN AT ADDRESS.” face such stamps with the canceling stamp of his office before delivering the matter to the sender. or the mailing postmaster to deface the precan- Also noted in a postal marking is “POSTAGE DUE 39. When returning to the sender undeliverable mat- celed stamps on the returned mail matter, before 1½ CENTS.” ter, the original address thereon should not be defaced it was returned to the sender. As per Section 38, page 52, of the July 1915 or obscured in such manner as to make it impossible for the sender to read the address and correct his mailing Now, let’s look at an example that obeys these Postal Guide, the Oklahoma City postmaster cor- list. Light lines only should be drawn through the origi- references. rectly obliterated the precanceled stamp with his nal address. Pictured here is a bulk third-class cover from mute cancel. The third-class cover was returned to the sender in Santa Clara, where the correct single-piece third- class rate of 1½¢ was collected from the sender, as indicated by the three ½¢ postage due stamps (Scott J69) placed and canceled in Santa Clara. It was a pleasure to be asked by Selengut to document this Post Office Department method of revenue protection.

Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. domestic and international post- age rates since 1872. These books are both available from the American Philatelic Society. n

16 LINN’S STAMP NEWS April 9, 2018 Linns.com

31042p016.indd 16 3/22/18 4:12 PM MODERN U.S. MAIL BY TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Mail suspected of containing prohibited lottery matter opened, examined

I have become interested in the pro- lations (PL&R) addressed the concern. (or words of similar effect indicating cess by which customs duties are col- The regulation said that if a sealed that the article could be opened by lected on incoming mail to the United letter suspected of containing lottery customs officers without recourse to the addressee), it was to be handled as suspected of containing lottery- related matter. The letter would be stamped or endorsed “Supposed to Contain Matter prohibited importa- tion, see Sec. 2232 PL&R,” and for- warded at once to its destination. Such was the case for the illustrat- ed letter. Its contents were believed to be lottery related, and the enve- lope carried no waiving endorse- ment. Therefore, it was endorsed A Chicago circular datestamp struck on the back “SUPPOSED TO CONTAIN MATTER/ of the envelope includes the text “CUSTOMS PROHIBITED IMPORTATION/See Sec. MAIL SEC.” and shows the date the envelope was processed by the customs worker. 2232 PL&R” by Foreign Section 2 of the Chicago post office. terial. The “SUPPOSED TO CONTAIN The Customs Mail department MATTER” endorsement was crossed then took over the letter’s handling, off, and what appears to be initials applying a “Customs Mail” hand- of the customs worker were added stamp in black directly below the below the endorsement. endorsement on the front. A March The envelope was closed with two 31, 1948, circular datestamp on the official seals, each stamped once A March 1948 letter mailed from Ireland to Chicago was suspected of containing lottery matter. reverse of the envelope reads “CHI- with “Customs Mail,” and the mail When it reached Chicago, it was correctly endorsed “SUPPOSED TO CONTAIN MATTER/PROHIBITED CAGO, ILL.” and “CUSTOMS MAIL SEC.” was delivered to the addressee. IMPORTATION/See Sec. 2232 PL&R.” Customs officials obtained permission from the addressee to The addressee was then notified This letter received a remarkable open the envelope and examine the contents. Finding no prohibited material, the envelope was that the letter needed to be exam- and circuitous routing before deliv- closed with official seals marked “Customs Mail” and the endorsement was crossed off. ined, but instead of going to the post ery that illustrates another function States. As I have researched this pro- matter arrived in the United States, office, the addressee must have giv- of the customs office. cess, I have discovered two unusual and the letter was not endorsed “May en remote consent to open the mail. The fact that it was finally delivered uses of the customs process. Here’s one. be opened for customs purposes A customs worker opened the let- (instead of being seized) represents a The cover pictured here was before delivery to the addressee” ter and found no lottery related ma- very unusual final routing of the letter. mailed in March 1948 as surface let- By the way, this process actually ter mail from Ireland to Chicago, Ill., began in 1935, as it was announced at the 2½-penny Universal Postal in PL&R insert No. 244 dated Nov. 22, Union letter rate for up to 1 ounce. 1935 (and found in the December The postage fee was paid by the 1935 Postal Guide Supplement). The 2½-penny chocolate Coat of Arms process the insert announced was stamp (Ireland Scott 110). almost the same as the 1940 PL&R Upon reaching the United States, process just described, except that the envelope arrived at the ex- it references Section 2233, not 2232. change office of Chicago. At the time, it was quite common Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are for illegal lottery mail to be sent from the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- mestic and international postage rates since Ireland to the United States. Section The handstamped endorsement on the Ireland-to-Chicago envelope warned of the potential that 1872. These books are both available from the 2232 of the 1940 Postal Laws and Regu- prohibited matter was included. An added handstamp below reads “Customs Mail” in black. American Philatelic Society. n SAVE ON SHOWGARD MOUNTS Digital Microscope Packages of SHOWGARD SECOND QUALITY MOUNTS sell for the same price as first quality mounts but Amazing 5.0 megapixel resolution with 10x-300x magnification. have TWICE AS MANY MOUNTS PER PACKAGE for a 50% savings. The defects, where they exist, consist Take quality pictures and short videos while organizing your collec- of minor irregularities but are never of a nature to harm stamps. 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Item# Retail AA* Ordering Information: *AA prices apply to paid subscribers of 30 44 ...... 9.75 50 30 ...... 9.75 89 20 ...... 11.95 204/153 10 ...... 11.25 Amos Media titles, or orders placed online. Prices, terms and 31 44 ...... 9.75 52 30 ...... 9.75 100 14 ...... 11.95 260/40 20 ...... 10.50 LHDMST2 $69.95 $64.95 product availability subject to change. Taxes will apply in CA, OH, & IL. Shipping and handling rates will apply. ROY SMITH Call: 1-800-572-6885 P.O. Box 21117-L, Sarasota, FL 34276-4117 b Phone (941) 378-4881 Visit: AmosAdvantage.com Outside U.S. & Canada Call: 937-498-0800 16 LINN’S STAMP NEWS May 14, 2018 Linns.com

31052p016.indd 16 4/27/18 10:54 AM MODERN U.S. Mail by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Checking incoming Armed Forces mail for possible custom duty assessment

In the most recent Modern U.S. toms declaration tags as prescribed rate of 5¢ for up Mail column (Linn’s Stamp News, May by paragraph 9 (a), section 2229, to 1 ounce plus 5¢ 14, page 16), I mentioned that I have 1940 PL&R.” for the additional discovered two unusual uses of the I added the italics to the para- ounce was paid customs collection process. graph for emphasis. with two examples The first, as described in that ear- I have found two examples of mail of the 5¢ carmine lier column, concerned mail suspect- that followed this requirement. DC-4 Skymaster air- ed of containing prohibited lottery The first is a double-weight letter mail stamp (Scott matter. mailed in 1943 from APO 788, essen- C32). Apparently the APO 751 military post office was con- cerned that the en- velope might con- tain dutiable matter and thus applied the handstamp “Supposed/Liable An airmail letter mailed in March 1948 from APO 751 to San Francisco, Calif., paid at the rate of 5¢ for up to 1-ounce with 10¢ in stamps. The to customs duty.” APO 751 military post office was concerned the letter might contain When the letter dutiable matter and used the handstamp “Supposed/Liable to cus- reached the deliv- toms duty.” When the letter reached the delivery and customs city ery and customs of San Francisco, the letter was opened to determine whether or not city of San Fran- there was dutiable matter inside. Presumably none was found, since cisco, the letter was neither a “Collect Duty” or “Passed Free” handstamp was place on the opened (there is letter, and no customs clearance fee was collected. closing tape on the cover’s reverse), A letter mailed in 1943 from APO 788, essentially a leased defense base, to Duluth, Minn. Weigh- to determine whether or not there ing 1 ounce or less, but apparently more than ½ ounce, it was mailed at the rate of 6¢ for up-to-½ was dutiable matter inside. Since ounce, so it was shortpaid and marked “POSTAGE DUE 6 CENTS.” When authorities realized the en- neither a “Collect Duty” or “Passed velope contained only written material, St. Paul, Minn., customs marked it with the “DUTY FREE” handstamp and sent the letter on to Duluth, where 6¢ due was collected from the addressee. Free” handstamp was then placed on the letter, and no 10¢ customs clear- A clear view of the APO 751 handstamp “Sup- Here is the second. tially an American leased defense ance fee was collected, it should be posed/Liable to customs duty,” which is marked Even though the United States base, to Duluth, Minn. assumed that the letter was found to reading down on the front of the 1948 letter. customs duty collection process is The 6¢ U.S. airmail stamped enve- contain only written material. PB 20027 of May 9, 1957, it was made almost entirely concerned with col- lope, die 3 (Scott UC6), was issued in The 1941 Postal Bulletin reference clear that no customs clearance fee lecting duties on incoming foreign 1942 with the bicolor red and blue cited earlier makes no mention of was to be charged. mail, there is one exception: duty border. whether a customs clearance fee In fact, this type of duty collection collection on incoming U.S. Armed The imprinted stamp pays the air- was charged when duty was col- continues today, and in no case is Forces mail. mail rate of 6¢ for up to ½ ounce, but lected on this type of mail. However, the customs clearance fee ever to be Specifically, the Postal Bulletin for the letter must have weighed more when this process was reaffirmed in charged for this type of matter. n July 7, 1941 (PB 18233), commented than ½ ounce and up to 1 ounce, re- that customs declaration tags were sulting in the mail being shortpaid Royal Canadian national stamp exhibition required on parcels of merchandise 6¢ and therefore marked “POSTAGE mailed at American bases. To wit: DUE 6 CENTS.” set for June 22-24 in St. Catharines, Ontario “Although the domestic rates and Initially there was apparent con- The Royal Philatelic Society of a few from the United Kingdom and conditions apply to mail matter ex- cern at the customs city of St. Paul, Canada and St. Catharines Stamp the United States. changed between the U.S. and its Minn., that the heavy letter con- Club are hosting the 90th edition of Groups meeting or hosting speak- possessions and the leased defense tained dutiable matter. However, the Canadian national stamp exhibi- ers at the show include the Royal bases where the U.S. mail service is when it was determined that it con- tion the weekend of June 22-24. Philatelic Society of Canada, Ameri- tained only written material, the St. The Royal-2018-Royale show will can Topical Association, British North Paul customs office marked it with take place at the Parkway Conven- America Philatelic Society and the the “DUTY FREE” handstamp and tion Centre and adjacent Holiday Inn Philatelic Specialists Society of Canada. sent the letter on to Duluth. There and Suites in St. Catharines, Ontario, The show will host a competition the 6¢ due was collected from the Canada. of single-frame and multi-frame addressee, as indicated by the two Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. exhibits. The award winners will be A clear reproduction of the St. Paul, “DUTY FREE” 3¢ postage due stamps (Scott J72) Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 3 recognized at a banquet on Saturday handstamp seen on the 1943 airmail envelope. affixed to the front of the envelope. p.m. Sunday. evening. Banquet tickets are avail- in operation, and no customs decla- The 10¢ custom clearance fee was Admission is $3 (Canadian) each day able in advance for $95 and include ration tags are required in connec- correctly not collected in this case on Friday and Saturday, or attendees a multi-day pass to the bourse. tion with parcels mailed from the U.S. because the letter was found to con- may pay $5 for both days. Admission is An exhibitor feedback session will to American forces at such bases, tain only written material. free on Sunday. Parking is free. be held late Sunday morning. merchandise mailed from the bases The second example pictured here Throughout the three-day event, The show features hotel room rates to the U.S. is subject to custom du- is a March 1948 airmail letter mailed at least 30 dealers are expected to ranging from $149.99 to $199.99 per ties. Therefore, parcels of merchan- from APO 751 to San Francisco, Calif. offer philatelic collectibles at the night, depending on occupancy. dise mailed at the bases referred to The letter weighed more than 1 bourse (sales area). The majority of For more information about the must be accompanied with the cus- ounce, up to 2 ounces; the airmail the dealers hail from Canada, with show, visit www.rpsc.org/royal2018. n 22 LINN’S STAMP NEWS June 11, 2018 Linns.com

31062p022.indd 22 5/25/18 9:15 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ Postage validation imprint does the job on a 2018 postage due notice In my column in the June 12, 2017, make the United States Official Postal Linn’s Stamp News, I described a ma- Guide and its supplements available jor change made more than 30 years to fellow postal history collectors ago in the way United States post- and researchers. If a collector mailed age due mail was handled. With an me a flash drive that was large announcement in its Postal Bulletin enough, I would copy the informa- 21587 (Oct. 2, 1986), the U.S. Postal tion on the flash drive and return it. Service discontinued the use of ad- A flash drive is fairly thick, so it hesive postage due stamps. has to be mailed in a thickened or “Effective immediately, postage padded envelope. As a result, the due stamps will no longer be used,” mailpiece is classified as a first-class the announcement revealed. “Proce- package, and it needs to be mailed dures are changed to eliminate the at a special package rate that is cur- use of postage due stamps on post- rently $3.50 for up to 4 ounces. age due mail.” This rate is required because such As I pointed out in that earlier col- a package cannot be processed sole- umn, regular postage stamps and ly by machines; instead, it requires meter stamps, and eventually post- handling by hand. age validation imprints (PVI), were One sender was unaware of the A postage due notice delivered for the underfranked package, on Postal Service Form 3849. The used in place of the discontinued package rate, so he affixed only $2.50 postage due is indicated on the form. When the fee was paid, a postal worker correctly placed postage due stamps. two forever stamps on the padded a $2.50 postage validation imprint on the form, indicating that the amount due had been paid. I was able to use a PVI label just envelope he mailed to me in April. a few months ago to indicate that a The package is franked with two of That resulted in $2.50 postage due $2.50 PVI label on the form docu- postage due amount was collected. the Classics Forever stamps issued in marked on this up-to-2-ounce pack- menting that I had paid the amount This happened after I offered to 2016 (Scott 5079e and 5079f). age. due. A notice on Postal Service Form 3849 was placed in my post office Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- box indicating that $2.50 was due. mestic and international postage rates since When I paid the $2.50 fee, the 1872. These books are both available from the postal worker correctly placed a American Philatelic Society. n ASDA announces election results The results of the American Stamp chael Eastick and Irv Miller. Dealers Association election for vice “I want to thank Tom Jacks for his president, secretary and three direc- service to the ASDA and the hobby tor positions for the board were an- during his several terms as director nounced in June. and treasurer,” ASDA executive direc- The new terms begin July 1. tor Dana Guyer wrote in an email to Kristin Maravelias replaces Stanley Linn’s. Pillar as vice president, Scott Shaulis Founded in 1914, the ASDA is an replaces Maravelias as secretary, and international organization of stamp Mark Reasoner replaces Tom Jacks as a dealers. director. Piller was previously appoint- For more information, write to ed as treasurer for a one-year term to the ASDA, Box 513, Centre Hall, fill the vacancy left by Caj Brejtfus. PA 16828, email Guyer at dana@ The stamps on this small first-class package mailed in April underpaid the $3.50 first-class package Remaining on the board are presi- americanstampdealer.com or visit rate for up to 4 ounces. It was handstamped POSTAGE DUE, and the $2.50 figure was written in. dent Tami Jackson and directors Mi- www.americanstampdealer.com. ■

16 LINN’S STAMP NEWS July 9, 2018 Linns.com

31072p016.indd 16 6/22/18 10:30 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ

Four stamps paid for 1926 two-route airmail journey

Alan Warren recently asked me about the Sept. 30, 1926, cover pic- tured in Figure 1. It is a light airmail cover (not over ½ ounce in weight) mailed from Dallas, Texas, to Detroit, Mich. The “AIR MAIL” service designa- tion is typed at lower left on the front of the envelope. The cover was mailed by J.E. Guest, the sales superintendent of the American Philatelic Society at the time, and he was asking a mem- ber to return some overdue circuit books. Warren was concerned that the 20¢ in postage affixed to the cover — a strip of four of the 1926 5¢ John Ericsson Memorial stamp (Scott 628) — had been incorrectly placed on the letter. In the third edition of the Beech- er-Wawrukiewicz book U.S. Domes‑ tic Postal Rates, 1872‑2011, there is a picture of a United States Post Of- Figure 2. Part of a map showing the U.S. government and contract fice Department map (the book’s airmail routes in effect from Jan. 26, 1926, until Jan. 31, 1927. Figure 8.4) that illustrates the gov- ernment and contract airmail (CAM) map shows that in order for a letter along two different CAM routes, the routes of the time. to be sent by airmail from Dallas to first from Dallas to Chicago, the sec- Reproduced here in Figure 2, this Detroit it was necessary for it to pass ond from Chicago to Detroit. Here is a quote from the Jan. 26, 1926, Postal Bulletin No. 13987: “4. The rates of postage on mail carried by airplane on contract air mail routes shall be 10 cents for each ounce or fraction thereof on each route or part thereof not exceeding 1,000 miles in length” (emphasis added). Therefore, the correct postage charge was 10¢ for each of the two CAM routes traversed by this letter, so the 20¢ paid in postage was cor- rect. This is a good time to mention that a search of the U.S Postal Bul- letin at www.uspostalbulletins.com for information about CAM routes requires using the search phrase C A M without periods.

Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are Figure 1. A domestic airmail letter weighing up to 1 ounce mailed from Dallas, Texas, to the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- Detroit, Mich., in 1926. Because the letter traversed two contract airmail routes before mestic and international postage rates since 1872. These books are both available from the delivery, it required 20¢ postage (twice the 10¢ rate per ounce for each route). American Philatelic Society.

22 / August 13, 2018 / Linn's Stamp News

31082p022.indd 22 7/27/18 7:49 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL by Tony Wawrukiewicz

Unpaid domestic mail from military in Shanghai excused

This cover illustrated here mail addressed for local de- represents an unusual use livery, or for transmission from of military mail service from one place to another within the Shanghai, China, to the United United States, or to or from or States. between the possessions of This 1936 cover is a letter from a United States Marine Corps colonel stationed Before 1898, use of U.S. do- the United States, and to that in Shanghai, China, unpaid because “No Postage Available” according to the mestic postage rates was only for transmission to or from the typed note. Only 3¢ postage was collected on delivery of the letter in Cheyenne, Wyo. The author asks if this unusual process of postage payment was legal. allowed within the continental United States or its posses- United States. However, begin- sions and officers or members He was, however, eligible ed upon delivery here? ning that year, U.S. domestic of crews of United States na- to send his letter at domestic Although I am unable to find rates slowly but surely were val vessels, and to or from the rates. But there was a problem. a ruling concerning this cir- allowed for mail between U.S. United States postal agency at Neatly typed in the upper cumstance, because there are military forces and the United Shanghai, China, and to officers right corner is the message other special circumstances States, then between the U.S. and men of the United States “No Postage Available.” where military personnel mail Possessions and the United Navy in the United States Na- The marine had to mail the was given special handling States. val Hospital at Yokohama, Ja- letter without postage (but not (such as, “soldier’s mail”), it The first chapter of U.S. Do‑ pan. The term ‘United States as a certified marine’s letter), seems reasonable to me to mestic Postal Rates, 1872‑2011, and its possessions’ includes and the 3¢ domestic surface have another exception made which I wrote with Henry W. Porto Rico, Hawaii, the Philip- rate was apparently due and and to have only the 3¢ post- Beecher, includes a com- pine Islands, Guam, Tutuila and collected on delivery in Chey- age due assessed in this cir- plete discussion of how these Man/La Islands of the Samoan enne, Wyo., as indicated by the cumstance. changes developed. group, and the Canal Zone.” 3¢ postage due stamp (Scott Note that I have never seen The first announcement of The cover illustrated is a J72) affixed at upper left and another such example, but I this fact in the Post Office De- 1936 mailpiece from a U.S. Ma- cancelled in Cheyenne. suspect that they are out there partment’s Postal Laws and rine Corps colonel stationed Was this correct? Normally, to be found. Regulations came in 1913, in in Shanghai, China. Because when an unpaid non-local let- Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Sec. 395, where the following he was an officer, he was not ter reached the office of deliv- Beecher are the co-authors of two useful was found: eligible to mail his letter as a ery, double the rate (6¢) was books on U.S. domestic and international postage rates since 1872. These books “The domestic rates of post- certified marine’s letter (that is, due upon delivery. are both available from the American age and conditions apply to without postage). So, why was only 3¢ collect- Philatelic Society.

18 / September 10, 2018 / Linn's Stamp News

31092p018.indd 18 8/24/18 9:26 AM

modern u.s. mail by tony wawrukiewicz

Returned by ‘CARE’ in New York City as unclaimed

Both this column and the pri- letter was also certainly returned or one published in the Sept. 10 within a month of its mailing. Linn’s address subjects where, At the time (October 2015), because I could not complete- we were unable to discern ly document an explanation for what the word “care” in the a cover, there was significant handstamp referred to. speculation on my part. However, I recently acquired In the October 2015 issue the cover pictured in Figure 3, of the Auxiliary Markings Club and I believe I now might un- quarterly newsletter, Auxiliary derstand the marking. Markings, a mysterious pair of This 1936 cover is franked United States domestic covers with the 1922 5¢ dark blue The- mailed to New York City were odore Roosevelt stamp (Scott discussed. 557) to fulfill the 5¢ rate for Figure 3. This 1936 cover, franked at the 5¢ for up-to-one ounce international international Universal Postal UPU rate, was sent from Peoria, Ill., to a passenger on the Norwegian Union-rate mail weighing up ship Toronto. In addition, the address included the following: “”CARE”” / to 1 ounce. It was sent from Bergenske Baltic / Transport, Ltd. / P.O. Box 122. Questions remain about the Peoria, Ill., to a passenger on meaning of the word “Care” on these covers. board the Norwegian ship To- a private company in New York was placed on the cover in Fig- ronto. In addition, the address City that handled mail that was ure 3 confuses me, because also included the following: addressed in care of someone the letter was supposedly to a ““CARE””/Bergenske Baltic/ at a nonspecific address, say a passenger on a ship in the New Figure 1. The text on this handstamp Transports, Ltd./P.O. Box 122. worker at a bank or a passen- York City harbor (refer to the reads, “returned to N.Y.P.O./by I assume that the ship was in ger on a ship. cover in Figure 2). ‘care’ as unclaimed./APR 10 1926/ RETURNED TO WRITER/INQUIRY the New York City harbor, and I believe that we happen to Again, let me say that what I SECTION.” This marking is struck on the other address was of a pri- have three examples of this have stated above is still spec- the 1925 cover in Figure 2. vate company named Care in company handling this mail, ulative, as I can find no definite A 1907 cover to a person New York City. Apparently the because in each case it was re- official reference for my spec- supposedly at a bank and a letter was undeliverable (like turned to the writer in the United ulations. I would appreciate 1925 example to a person who the 1907 and 1925 covers), and States. The fact that I could find any further thoughts readers was to be a passenger on the it was returned to the sender, no reference in the Postal Bulle- might have about this marking. White Star Liner Olympia were following the instructions on tin is, to me, consistent with Care The Auxiliary Markings Club, both unclaimed. Each carried the purple handstamp, “RE- being a private, nongovernmen- which was founded in 2004, a handstamp similar to the ex- TOUR” (RETURN TO WRITER). tal entity handling these mails. publishes an award-winning ample pictured in Figure 1. So, what was happening? By the way, the fact that 5¢ quarterly newsletter in color, The handstamp reads, “re- I now believe that Care was postage, the international rate, edited by me. The club dues turned to N.Y.P.O./by ‘care’ as have remained at $15 for the unclaimed./APR 10 1926/RE- whole life of the journal. TURNED TO WRITER/INQUIRY The journal contains 12 pages SECTION.” almost completely dedicated Thus, both were returned to to the myriad auxiliary mark- their respective senders. ings that have been produced Figure 2 shows the 1925 ex- in the United States and world- ample, franked with the 1923 wide. Anyone interested in join- 2¢ carmine George Washing- ing can find the club’s website ton stamp (Scott 554) to fulfill at www.postal-markings.org. the domestic rate of 2¢ for up Click the “New memberships” to 1 ounce. tab on the left side of the page The 1925 letter was mailed for information about joining. March 27, 1925, so I believe the Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beech- April 10, 1926, date on the hand- er are the co-authors of two useful books stamp was in error. The 1907 on U.S. domestic and international post- age rates since 1872. These books are example was returned within Figure 2. This 1925 letter to a passenger on the White Star Liner Olympia is struck both available from the American Phila- a month of mailing, so the 1925 with the Figure 1 New York marking identifying it as returned “by care.” telic Society.

34 / October 8, 2018 / Linn's Stamp News

31102p034.indd 34 9/21/18 1:17 PM MODERN U.S. MAIL by TONY WAWRUKIEWICZ

Meter stamp on U.S. customs form didn’t pay customs duty

This column discusses a use of United States Post Office Depart- ment Form 2967, “Declaration for the French Customs.” Beginning with Postal Bulletin 11944 dated May 1, 1919, the mail- ing of parcel post items to certain French colonies was allowed. For this to occur, the parcels had to go through intermediary countries including, in some cases, France. The parcels were to be ac- companied by a new special cus- toms declaration — Form 2967. When this form was introduced, it also had to be used with parcels sent to France. In May of 2017, I was fortunate to purchase the example of Form 2967 pictured here. Filled out on Sept. 11, 1945, in New York City, the form correctly item- izes the matter sent to a person in postwar France. The parcel weighed 8 pounds and carried a postage me- ter stamp with $1.12 in value on it. Until recently, I was unable to deter- mine why this meter stamp was ap- plied to the form. I knew that customs in France would be collected from Both sides of a Sept. 11, 1945, example of Post Office Department Form 2967, “Declaration for the French Customs.” This required form for parcel post matter sent to France and its colonies was the French addressee, so the meter franked with a $1.12 postage meter stamp, which paid postage for the 8-pound parcel to France. stamp should have had nothing to do with customs duty collection. used for accompanying parcels to was on the reverse of the cover. Suddenly this past August, I re- all other countries. The imprinted U.S. Marine colonel alized why this meter stamp had Form 2967 ceased to be pro- certification at upper right on the been applied. duced and used as of the July 1948 front of the cover was a certification In September 1945, the parcel Postal Guide, part II. for Lawrence. Therefore, as a Ma- post postage rate to France was 14¢ rine’s letter, it was correct for the let- per pound. According to the pen- Corrections ter to go unpaid, with only the 3¢ do- cil notation on the form, the parcel I need to make two corrections to mestic postage due on delivery and weighed 8 pounds, and 14¢ times my column titled “Unpaid domes- paid as indicated by the 3¢ postage eight is $1.12. tic mail from military in Shanghai due stamp affixed to the cover. The $1.12 meter stamp paid the excused” published in the Sept. 10 In the article, I also said that of- postage for the parcel. issue of Linn’s. ficers were not eligible for the Ma- Presumably, the form was placed Henry Sweets, who owns a num- rine’s letter unpaid domestic rate. on the outside of the parcel and ber of covers from military person- This is incorrect, because commis- paid the due postage. The address nel in the Asiatic area, correctly sioned officers became eligible must have been placed elsewhere pointed out that my Shanghai-to- for this special rate as of the 1887 on the parcel. Wyoming cover really was a Ma- Postal Laws and Regulations. This special customs declaration rine’s letter. form, Form 2967, was apparently Specifically, the letter was not from Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are specially produced and used only a Marine colonel but rather from J.N. the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- mestic and international postage rates since for France and its colonies, with the Lawrence, a Marine at the regimental 1872. These books are both available from the more generic Forms 2966 and 2972 hospital in Shanghai. This information American Philatelic Society.

20 / November 12, 2018 / Linn's Stamp News

31112p020 21.indd 20 10/26/18 9:30 AM modern U.S. M a i l by TONY Wawrukiewicz

Calculations from decades ago make it possible to better understand the use of business reply mail

This Modern U.S. Mail col- The stamps are postmarked umn and the column planned Richmond, Va. for next month both consider As documented by the subjects where the auxiliary handwritten notation on the markings on covers make returned envelope, these them special. stamps paid for the return Before I begin with this of 61 items to Wycoff: at 3¢ month’s description of two postage and 1¢ BRM fee/ex- special items related to re- tra postage for three regular turned business reply mail, letters, at 1¢ postage and 1¢ I would like to mention my BRM fee/extra postage for 2016 book, Insights into Mod- five noncarrier drop letters, ern U.S. Postal History, 1855 to and at 2¢ postage and 1¢ BRM 2016. fee/extra postage for 53 post- The book presents discus- Figure 1. This envelope at the top of a stack of items returned to auditor cards. sions on 13 subjects, includ- J.T. Wycoff in Richmond, Va., carried $1.81 in postage due stamps. As This documentation sur- ing, among others, shortpaid documented with handwritten notations on the returned envelope, these prised me because it was the U.S. surface letter mail, held stamps paid for the return of 61 items to him, consisting of three regular first time I realized and docu- for postage mail, attempted letters, five noncarrier drop letters, and 53 postcards. mented that the BRM return use of invalid postage, the types of items were returned document exactly what type of drop letters occurred. Per- dead letter office, remailing of are rarely seen. of items were returned. How- haps it shouldn’t have been mail, returned unmailable and For those who don’t under- ever, the March 1935 BRM re- such a surprise, as local mail- undeliverable cards, airmail stand the BRM process, here turned envelope pictured in ings from businesses must forwarding, business reply is a brief explanation. It was Figure 1 does this. have commonly occurred. mail service additions, auxil- introduced in 1928 because The envelope, which was at Anyway, it was a pleasant iary markings on typed labels, businesses would often send the top of the stack of items surprise to obtain such an pressure-sensitive package out large mailings to custom- returned to auditor J.T. Wy- item. labels, and nondenominated ers, hoping to get a response coff, carries $1.81 in postage Beginning Aug. 1, 1958, the letter definitive stamps on in- from a percentage of them. due stamps: one example BRM process applied to all ternational mail. These same businesses found each of the $1 stamp (Scott types of matter, not just letters Like this column and the that they got better responses J77), 50¢ (J86), 30¢ (J85) and and postcards. Also, the fee following one, this book pres- if they enclosed a postage- 1¢ (J80). rate was the same for all items. ents the results of extensive paid card or envelope in their research into these topics, mailing, addressed back to presenting information that I the business. believe has never before been On the other hand, they reported anywhere. This 234- might send out 10,000 mail- page case-bound book is en- ings yet receive less than 10 tirely in color and available at percent of the postage-paid a very reasonable price from cards or envelopes in return. the American Philatelic Soci- The BRM service allows ety. mailers to do this, yet they pay Now for this month’s dis- only for the items returned to coveries. them. The permit holder guar- Examples showing the re- antees payment of the appro- turn of business reply mail priate first-class postage plus (often abbreviated as BRM) a handling charge per piece are quite common. Howev- on all returned BRM cards er, examples where there is and envelopes distributed un- Figure 2. A company in Tontitown, Ark., paid a business reply mail fee of documentation on the return der the permit holder’s permit $60.97 for the return of 178 items from its advance deposit account. An exact envelope or form such that number. accounting of the fee charged was provided on a slip of accounting paper one can discern exactly what The returned items rarely that accompanied this Postage Due Bill form.

22 / December 10, 2018 / Linn's Stamp News

31122p022 23.indd 22 11/21/18 11:21 AM On Sept. 12, 1976, the ad- stamps and, eventually, post- Specifically, returned to this the tabulation that accompa- vance deposit account (ADA) age validation imprints, for company (which had a BRM nied the form were calcula- process was initiated. Busi- collecting due amounts. advance deposit account) tions for the company’s ad- nesses using the ADA re- Figure 2 pictures an ex- was a total of 178 first-class vance deposit account. ceived a significantly lower ample of Form 3582A from letter items, including 125 That account totaled BRM return fee. To be eligible Feb. 12, 1988. Correctly ap- items weighing up to 1 ounce, $1,062.93. The $60.97 in BRM for this lower fee, they paid plied to it are $60.97 in Great 51 up-to-2-ounce items, and fees was subtracted from this an extra annual accounting Americans postage stamps in two up-to-3-ounce items. amount, leaving $1,001.96 in charge and were required to the form of 12 $5 Bret Harte The advance deposit ac- the account. This, of course, maintain an account in which stamps (Scott 2196), and one count fee for all 178 items was was required of an advance there were enough funds to each of the 56¢ John Harvard 7¢ times 178, or $12.46. deposit account company. cover the total return postage (2190), 40¢ Lillian M. Gilbreth In addition to this fee, the These examples of BRM re- and the required fees. (1868) and 1¢ Margaret Mitch- BRM company was required turn items that contain tabu- Initially, the BRM return fees ell (2168) stamps. to pay postage on all these lation information concerning and postage were collected The stamps are postmarked returned items. The postage exactly what was returned are using Form 3582A, where the Tontitown, Ark., and the cus- payment breaks down as fol- invaluable to postal historians. postage due was collected tomer name on the form is lows: 125 times 22¢ ($27.50), Because they allow us to using adhesive postage due simply written as “PAM,” most 51 times 39¢ ($19.89), and two fully understand exactly what stamps and postage due me- likely the PAM Transport com- times 56¢ ($1.12), for a total of items were returned, we are ter stamps. pany headquartered there. $48.51 return postage. That able to more completely un- After Oct. 2, 1986, adhesive On a separate slip of ac- amount added to the $12.46 derstand the BRM process. postage due stamps were no counting paper accompany- advance deposit account fee Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry longer produced and used. ing this form was a tabulation previously tabulated totals Beecher are the co-authors of two useful Instead, Form 3582A was that explains exactly what $60.97, the amount paid on books on U.S. domestic and international postage rates since 1872. These books used with postage due meter items were returned to the the form. are both available from the American stamps, regular U.S. postage business. By the way, at the bottom of Philatelic Society.

Linn's Stamp News / December 10, 2018 / 23

31122p022 23.indd 23 11/21/18 11:21 AM MODERN U.S. MAIL By Tony Wawrukiewicz

Though not charged, markings on 1946 registered letter package represent customs clearance fees of the time

Last month’s Modern U.S. Mail or letter packet were dutiable. column (Linn’s, Dec. 10, 2018, page For letters and letter packets 22) examined auxiliary markings on mailed after June 8, 1930, the details business reply mail and how they of when this clearance fee was col- Figure 3. The second Los Angeles marking can provide the postal historian with lected are complicated and will be identified the mailed item as a letter useful information. enumerated in the new monograph. package and requested payment of 10¢. This month’s column considers To give you an idea of this com- how auxiliary markings affected the plexity, at one time or another in- coming mail containing only can- celed and uncanceled stamps (and many other items) were no longer subject to the clearance fee. With Postal Bulletin 15318 (June 9, 1930), the category of small packet Figure 4. The third marking on the English was added to items liable to cus- mailpiece clarified that the contents were toms duty, and until May 15, 1957, a free of duty. Because there are no postage 5¢ delivery fee and a 10¢ customs due stamps on the envelope, it is apparent that no customs duty or clearance fee was clearance fee was charged on them charged or paid. whether or not their contents were dutiable. shown in Figure 2. However, it was Finally, with Postal Bulletin 15568 discovered that the item was a letter Figure 1. The manner in which customs clearance (April 6, 1931), incoming parcel post package, not a small packet, so this markings on this fees were gathered. items became dutiable, and also un- handstamp was determined to be 1946 registered By the way, I am in the process of til May 15, 1957, a 5¢ delivery fee and incorrect and was crossed out with letter package writing a new book that will be pub- a 10¢ customs clearance fee was a pencil. mailed from lished around the middle of 2019. charged on them whether or not the We know that this item was not England to Los Angeles, Calif., One subject of this monograph is a parcel post item was dutiable. a small packet because of the rate represent the complete discussion of the U.S. cus- To repeat, until May 15, 1957, the paid, which is the letter rate. Pre- customs fees toms collection process, including delivery plus clearance fees con- sumably, the Los Angeles post of- then charged on the collection of customs clearance tinued to be invariably collected on fice recognized this, obliterated the certain items. and delivery fees. incoming small packets and parcel Figure 2 marking with pencil, and The 5½-penny Postal Bulletin imprinted stamp According to 13906 post items. However, from 1925 un- placed the second handstamp read- paid the 2½d dated Oct. 19, 1925, a 10¢ customs til 1957, for incoming foreign letters ing “LETTER PACKAGE/COLLECT international letter clearance fee for letters and letter and letter packets, the clearance fee TEN CENTS” (Figure 3). rate and a 3d packages was introduced on Oct. was quite variably collected. The item was then opened and registration fee. 15, 1925, for some incoming foreign The cover pictured in Figure 1 is found to contain nondutiable mat- items. There was no delivery fee as- remarkable because it reflects much ter, resulting in the application of a sociated with these items. of the information just described. third handstamp, “FREE OF DUTY/ From Oct. 15, 1925, until June 8, This is a 1946 registered letter U.S. CUSTOMS/LOS ANGELES, CAL” 1930, the clearance fee was only package mailed from England to (Figure 4). collected if the contents of a letter Los Angeles, Calif. More importantly, the letter packet The 5½-penny printed envelope contained matter not requiring a cus- franking paid the 2½d Universal toms clearance fee. That is, in such Postal Union up-to-one-ounce sur- a circumstance, depending on the face international letter rate plus the contents, a letter package — but not 3d registration fee. a small packet — could be exempt This letter was evaluated at the Los from the customs clearance fee. Angeles exchange, customs and de- Because this exemption turned livery office, where three handstamps out to be true in this case, no clear- Figure 2. The first marking applied by the Los Angeles office were placed on the letter package. ance fee was paid, as evidenced incorrectly requested a 15¢ small packet fee, and was First placed was the “SMALL by the fact that no postage due subsequently obliterated with pencil marking. PACKET”/Collect 15 Cents marking stamps were placed. The presence

14 / January 14, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31012p014 15.indd 14 12/27/18 10:44 AM of postage due stamps would Gregory Hines stamp ceremony have indicated that the fee was paid. planned for New York City So this cover reflects a great By Michael Baadke deal of the history of the pay- ment of the customs clear- First-day ceremony details “The 42nd stamp in the ance fee on incoming foreign for the Gregory Hines forever Black Heritage series honors items. stamp have been revealed by Gregory Hines, whose unique By the way, the Great Britain the United States Postal Ser- style of tap dancing injected small packet rate was, as of vice. new artistry and excitement Jan. 1, 1935, 5d for a minimum The nondenominated (55¢) into a traditional American package of 10 ounces. I was stamp honoring the innovative form,” the Postal Service an- able to find this information on entertainer will be issued Jan. nounced. the website of the Great Britain 28 with an 11 a.m. ceremony Hines is pictured on the Philatelic Society at www.gbps. at Peter Norton Symphony stamp wearing a red blazer org.uk. Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th and gray slacks and smiling I highly recommend the Street), in New York City. broadly. While resting on his website to those interested in The event is free and open right knee, Hines has his left the historic postage rates of to the public, but attendees leg extended with one foot Great Britain. are encouraged to register in raised to show the tap plate on advance at www.usps.com/ the bottom of his shoe. Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beech- gregoryhinesblackheritage. The 1988 photograph is by er are the co-authors of two useful books The Gregory Hines forever stamp will on U.S. domestic and international post- Acting chief postal inspec- Jack Mitchell. The stamp is age rates since 1872. These books are be issued on Jan. 28. A ceremony both available from the American Phila- tor Gary Barksdale will serve as designed by USPS art director will take place at the Peter Norton telic Society. the dedicating official. Derry Noyes. Symphony Space in New York City. •••••••••••••

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Linn's Stamp News / January 14, 2019 / 15

31012p014 15.indd 15 12/27/18 10:44 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

Airmail letters denied air service when shortpaid

Collectors might encounter the mailing office, should be examples of international air- returned to the sender for the mail labeled “Not in air mail.” shortpaid amount. Otherwise Such pieces intended for air- the item was to be dispatched mail service were instead giv- as surface mail. en surface service because in- In other words, if it could not sufficient postage was applied. be returned to sender, it was to The first reference to this be sent by surface mail in ac- type of handling of United cordance with the 1929 Postal States international shortpaid Bulletin directive. airmail was in Postal Bulletin Although there were varied 14925, dated Feb. 21, 1929. and often contradictory state- I found this instruction in the ments over the years, this basic publication: “ … proper fees for approach remained in place International Air Mail Service until the May 26, 1949, Postal Figure 2. This 1945 letter mailed from the United States to Australia in an airmail envelope was franked with 6¢ postage, insufficient for the then-current 25¢ were to be prepaid.” Bulletin 19235, where we find: airmail rate. The return address was such that it was inconvenient to return the letter for the shortpaid postage, so the Seattle post office added the ”Insufficiently paid for Airmail” handstamp and sent the letter on via surface mail.

which airmail service was re- while in other situations it quested would receive that would be endorsed “Not in Air service, while in other situa- Mail” or something similar, and tions it would be endorsed then be forwarded by surface “Not in Air Mail” and then for- means. warded as surface mail. This approach was also true The message in Part II of the for the mails of other Universal July 1953 United States Official Postal Union countries and re- Postal Guide added only the mains true today. phrase “at least 75 percent of Recent articles in the Auxil- the” to the message in the 1949 iary Markings Club’s newslet- Figure 1. The United States 20¢ airmail stamp franking this airmail envelope Postal Bulletin 19235. So, again, ter, Auxiliary Markings, have addressed in 1934 from New York City to Colombia shortpaid the then-current under specific circumstances, shown numerous examples 35¢ rate. The “VIA AIR MAIL” message was partly obliterated, and the New a shortpaid letter for which of this type of handling in the York City post office added the handstamp “NOT IN THE AIR MAILS/SHORT PAID” before correctly sending it on by surface mail. airmail service was requested non-U.S. foreign airmails. would receive that service, The handstamp messages Specifically, it said that post- If the office of mailing observes an unregistered air-mail Postal Union masters were to issue instruc- article to be insufficiently prepaid tions at their offices to assure and the return address on the ar- that mail on which the airmail ticle is at the office of mailing, or if it bears a return address other than at fee was not fully prepaid — as the office of mailing and it weighs 4 set forth in that notice — was ounces or less, it shall be returned to the sender (by air if practicable) for to have every notation there- the necessary postage. If the article on relative to the air trans- bears a return address other than at the office of mailing and weighs portation stricken out and be over 4 ounces it shall be sent by air marked “Not in air mail,” before to the United States exchange office of dispatch. If the article bears no the item was dispatched by or- return address, it shall be sent by air dinary surface means. to the United States exchange office of dispatch, regardless of its weight, In other words, if shortpaid, provided it bears at least 25 percent the mail was to be sent on to its of the required air mail postage; oth- erwise the air-mail markings shall be Figure 3. Though struck with an airmail handstamp, this 1951 letter mailed destination by surface service. canceled and the article endorsed The July 1932 United States “Not in Air Mail” and forwarded by from the United States to Scotland was also shortpaid, with 6¢ postage surface means. instead of the required 15¢. With no return address, the letter could not be Official Postal Guide added returned for the shortpaid postage, so the New York City post office partly that a shortpaid international So, under the right circum- obliterated the “VIA AIR MAIL” marking, added the “NOT IN AIR MAIL” airmail item, if shortpaid at stances, a shortpaid letter for handstamp, and sent the letter on via surface mail.

18 / February 11, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31022p018 19.indd 18 1/25/19 10:45 AM that indicated this fact includ- SHORT PAID” handstamp, and City post office partly obliterat- items fully show how this type ed (but were not limited to) the letter was correctly sent on ed the “VIA AIR MAIL” marking, of mail was handled over the the following: “Not in Airmail,” via surface mail. struck it with the “NOT IN AIR years. “Insufficiently Paid/For Air- In Figure 2 is a 1945 letter MAIL” handstamp, and sent the Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry mail,” “Insufficiently Franked mailed from the United States to letter on via surface mail. Beecher are the co-authors of two useful for Air,” “Insufficient Postage/ Australia in an airmail envelope. These three examples of the books on U.S. domestic and international postage rates since 1872. These books for Transmission by Air Mail,” The 1941 6¢ carmine Transport U.S. Post Office Department’s are both available from the American “Postage Insufficient for Air Plane airmail stamp (Scott C25) handling of “Not in airmail” Philatelic Society. Mail,” “Insufficiently Prepaid, shortpaid the 25¢ airmail rate for/Transmission by Airmail,” in effect at the time for a letter AUCTION CALENDAR and “Insufficient Prepaid by weighing up to ½ ounce. Air/Converted to Surface.” The return address was such Jan. 30-31 Spink USA Suites in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Eastern However, these journal arti- that it was inconvenient to re- The Philatelic Collector’s series; United Auctions Ltd, Box 250, Bathurst, NB E2A cles did not present the afore- turn the letter for the shortpaid States (including unexploded booklets) and 3Z2, Canada. worldwide; collections. Spink USA, 145 W. Feb. 15-16 Mueller mentioned references or ex- postage, so the Seattle post 57th St., New York, NY 10019. Germany, Europe and worldwide amples of this approach for the office placed the “Insufficiently Jan. 31 Status International stamps and postal history, plus collections Australia and worldwide stamps, cov- and estates. Gert Mueller, Carl-Zeiss-Str. 2, U.S. mails, so three are shown paid for Airmail” handstamp ers, collections and large lots. Status In- D-76275 Ettlingen, Germany. and described here. and sent the letter on via sur- ternational Auctions, 64 Parramatta Road, Feb. 16-17 Rasdale In Figure 1 is a 1934 letter face mail. Forest Lodge, NSW 2037, Australia. Worldwide stamps, covers, collections, Feb. 1 Phoenix estates. Catalog free upon request. Ras- mailed from the United States The final example, in Figure Australian commonwealth, worldwide dale Stamp Co., 35 Chestnut Ave., West- to Colombia, South America. It 3, is a 1951 letter mailed from stamps, covers, collections and accumula- mont, IL 60559-1127. tions. Phoenix Auctions, 274a Canterbury Feb. 18-22 Gaertner was mailed in an airmail enve- the United States to Scotland Road, Surrey Hills, Victoria 3127, Australia. Germany, German area, China and lope, but the affixed 1927 20¢ with a “VIA AIR MAIL” hand- Feb. 1-2 Auction Galleries Hamburg worldwide stamps, covers and collections. Germany and area, worldwide stamps Christoph Gaertner, Steinbeisstrasse 6+8, yellow green Map and Mail stamp. The envelope is frank- and covers, large lots and collections. Auc- D-74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany. Planes airmail stamp (Scott C9) ed with 6¢ in postage stamps tion Galleries Hamburg, Kleine Reichen- Feb. 19-20 Kelleher shortpaid the 35¢ airmail rate (two examples of Scott 807, strasse 1, 20457 Hamburg, Germany. Flagship sale of U.S., British and world- Feb. 2 Sterling Kingbrook wide stamps and postal history. Daniel F. for up to ½-ounce in effect at the 1938 3¢ light violet Thom- U.S. and worldwide stamps, covers, Kelleher Auctions, 22 Shelter Rock Lane, the time. as Jefferson definitive), which large lots and collections. Sterling King- Unit 53, Danbury, CT 06810. As per the 1949 Postal Bul- shortpaid the 15¢ airmail rate brook Auctions, 455 E. Grand River, Suite 103, Brighton, MI 48116. Auction houses should send information letin 19235 message previously in effect at the time for mail Feb. 14-15 Rolli (date of the sale, address, material to be cited, the “VIA AIR MAIL” eti- weighing up to ½ ounce. Switzerland and worldwide stamps and offered and catalog price) about upcoming covers. Rolli Auktionen AG, Buzibachring public auctions to Auction Calendar, Linn’s, quette was partly obliterated, As there was no return ad- 4a, CH-6023 Rothenburg-LU, Switzerland. Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365, at least eight the New York City post office dress on the envelope, it could Feb. 14-16 Eastern weeks before the sale. Catalogs should be British North America and Canada in- sent as soon as available. Mail-bid only marked the envelope with not be returned for the short- cluding stamps, specialized collections sales (including internet- and fax-bid sales) the “NOT IN THE AIR MAILS/ paid postage, so the New York and estates, at the Lord Nelson Hotel and will not be included in the listings.

Linn's Stamp News / February 11, 2019 / 19

31022p018 19.indd 19 1/25/19 10:45 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

Concessionary airmail from WWII to the Vietnam War

I was recently surprised to During World War II — as be transmitted to destination by air mail, dependent upon air space avail- learn that the concessions per Postal Bulletin 18418 dated ability therefor. … airmail rate for United States April 1, 1942, referring to the Act “b. Regulations.—(1) Letters sent by members of the Armed Forces of military personnel changed of March 27, 1942, and subject United States in Korea and such oth- dramatically with the advent of to certain rules — any surface er areas as the President may des- ignate, to be mailed free of postage, the Korean War. first-class letter mail matter, shall bear in the upper right corner of including postcards, admis- the address side in the handwriting of sible to the mails and sent by the sender the word ‘Free’ and in the upper left corner the written name of a member of the U.S. armed the sender together with his serial forces on active duty, was to number, his rank or rating, and the designation of the service to which be transmitted in the surface he belongs. … mails free of postage. “(3) Such letters, including mes- sages on post cards, weighing not Such mail had to be ad- to exceed 1 ounce and endorsed by dressed to any person where the sender for air service, shall be given air mail transportation, when- U.S. mail service was in opera- ever practicable. Letters intended for tion. air service should be marked or en- dorsed ‘Air Mail’ or ‘Via Air Mail’ in a It’s important to note that prominent manner above the address this free mailing privilege did and below the word ‘Free.’” not apply to matter sent by air- Postal Bulletin 19628, dated mail, which the Postal Bulletin April 16, 1953, extended this Figure 1. Correctly claiming free mail service, this March 12, 1955, airmail notice made clear. airmail concession to at least letter was sent from a member of the United States armed forces at APO The airmail postage require- June 30, 1955. 970 (the Seoul, South Korea airport) to Ohio. ment continued until after the The U.S. Post Office Depart- end of WWII. For instance, if ment used the phrase “air mail” one looks at military related before the 1950s and “airmail” covers offered in online auc- as a single word after these tion sites, one finds that the years. domestic airmail rates contin- These Postal Bulletin refer- ued on military-related mail, ences explain the March 12, including items that originated 1955, cover pictured in Figure 1. from Korea. This letter was mailed from But what happened once APO 970 (the Seoul airport) to the Korean War began? That an Ohio address. It is appropri- war started June 25, 1950, ately endorsed for “Free — Air when North Korea invaded the Mail” service with the hand- South. written notation at upper right. Postal Bulletin 19356, dated I don’t have the exact date Figure 2. This properly addressed As a reminder, Order No. Aug. 3, 1950, advised: for the end of this concession, Aug. 24, 1964, concessionary 16604, dated Dec. 23, 1941, In text, insert a new section 34.14a but at some point after the end domestic airmail letter was mailed by and effective Dec. 25, 1941, as follows: “§ 34.14a Free mail privi- of the Korean War, this airmail a service member at the Fleet Post lege for members of the Armed Forc- Office near Vietnam (FPO 96643). At provided a postage rate of 6¢ es of the United States.—(a) Law.— concession ended and domes- this time, U.S. armed forces, when for each half-ounce for airmail (1) Any first-class letter mail matter tic airmail postage was then admissible to the mails as ordinary mailing a letter via airmail to the to and from the personnel of mail matter which is sent by a mem- required on mail from South U.S., were required to endorse the U.S. armed forces stationed ber of the Armed Forces of the United Korea. mail, but use postage at the domestic States, while on active duty or in the airmail rate of 8¢ for up to 1 ounce. outside the continental United active service of the Armed Forces of Now, what were the conces- States, where U.S. mail service the United States in Korea and such sion rules for airmail service for other areas as the President of the was in operation. United States may hereafter desig- members of the armed forces Such mail had to show, in nate as combat zones or theaters of serving in Vietnam? military operations, to any person in the delivery address or in the the United States, including the Ter- At least as late as Aug. 24, return address (corner card), ritories and possessions thereof, 1964, a person at the Fleet shall be transmitted in the mails free the rank of the serviceman re- of postage, subject to such rules and Post Office near Vietnam (FPO ceiving or sending such matter, regulations as the Postmaster Gen- 96643), when mailing a letter eral may prescribe: Provided, That and the unit to which he was when specified by the sender, letters via airmail to the United States, assigned. weighing, not to exceed 1 ounce shall was required to endorse his

18 / March 11, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31032p018 19.indd 18 2/22/19 12:49 PM Under provision of law approved corner of the address side in hand- August 21, the free mail privilege is writing the word “FREE”. The name of being extended effective September the sender together with his service 1, 1965, to letter mail sent by members number, grade, and complete military of the Armed Forces in Vietnam. address will be placed in the upper This law (10 United States Code left corner. 1040) reads as follows: Any first-class mail matter admissible to the mails Although there is no explicit as ordinary mail matter which is sent statement here that expressly by any member of the Armed Forces from— allowed a free airmail conces- (1) Vietnam, until such time as the sion, most endorsed “Free” President determines that Vietnam is no longer an area in which members covers I have seen were sent Figure 3. Free airmail concession to U.S. armed forces in Vietnam was of the Armed Forces are engaged in via airmail. For instance, Figure combat and allowed as of Sept. 1, 1965. Here is a properly endorsed and postmarked 3 shows a properly endorsed Sept. 21, 1966, “Free” airmail letter from an individual stationed at APO (2) any other area or areas in which the President determines members of Sept. 21, 1966 “Free” airmail let- 96345 (Bien Hoa, Vietnam) to an address in Palo Alto, Calif. the Armed Forces are engaged in combat, to any person in the United ter from a person stationed at mail but use postage at the stamp (Scott C64). States (including Puerto Rico or any APO 96345 (Bien Hoa, Vietnam) possession of the United States) domestic airmail rate of 8¢ for The free mail privilege for shall be transmitted in the mails free to a California address. up to 1 ounce. The postage on airmail was extended to the of postage, subject to such regula- tions as the Secretary of Defense may Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beech- the 1964 cover in Figure 2, also armed forces in Vietnam by prescribe after consultation with the er are the co-authors of two useful books bound for Ohio, was correctly the following announcement Postmaster General. on U.S. domestic and international post- paid by the U.S. 8¢ Jet Airliner in Postal Bulletin 20488, dated Letter mail sent free by members of age rates since 1872. These books are the Armed Forces of the United States both available from the American Phila- over Capitol airmail booklet Aug. 26, 1965: in Vietnam, will bear in the upper right telic Society. AUCTION CALENDAR

Feb. 27-28 Maresch March 9 Auckland City portant Great Britain stamps and multiples. April 25-28 Rumsey Canada, British Commonwealth and New Zealand and worldwide stamps and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 6 W. U.S. and worldwide stamps and cov- worldwide stamps, covers and collections. covers, collections and accumulations, at 48th St., Ninth Floor, New York, NY 10036. ers, at the Westpex Exhibition in the San Catalog free upon request. R. Maresch & 1 Ngaire Ave., Newmarket, Auckland, New March 26-30 Koehler Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront Son, Fifth Floor, 6-2 Vata Court, Aurora, ON Zealand. Auckland City Stamps, Box 99988, German area and Germany, Europe and Hotel. Schuyler J. Rumsey Auctions, 47 LG4 4B6, Canada. Newmarket, Auckland 1149, New Zealand. worldwide. Heinrich Koehler Auktionshaus, Kearny St., Suite 500, San Francisco, CA March 1 Argyll Etkin March 9 Gaertner Wilhelmstrasse 48, 65183 Wiesbaden, Ger- 94108. Great Britain and worldwide stamps, German occupations during World War many. May 10-11 Dutch Country postal history and collections, at the Re- II from the Peter Zgonc collection, Part 2, March 29-30 Postiljonen U.S. and worldwide stamps and cov- gus Conference Centre, 1 Northumber- at Schlosshotel Monrepos, Ludwigsburg, The Gummesson collection of Finland, ers. The Stamp Center, 4115 Concord Pike, land Ave., London, England. Argyll Etkin Germany. Christoph Gaertner, Steinbeis- Part 6; classic Sweden and Iceland; Scan- Wilmington, DE 19803. Ltd., 1 Wardour St., London, W1D 6PA, strasse 6+8, D-74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen, dinavian and worldwide stamps, covers May 11 Corinphila Veilingen England. Germany. and collections, at Oresundshuset, Hans Netherlands and colonies, worldwide, March 1 Phoenix March 11-15 Siegel Michelsensgatan 9, Malmo, Sweden. Pos- single lots and collections. Corinphila Veil- Australia and states, worldwide stamps, U.S. stamps and postal history featuring tiljonen, Box 537, SE-201 25 Malmo, Swe- ingen, Mortelmolen 3, 1185 XV Amstelveen, covers, large lots, at 274a Canterbury Road, the Angel collection of U.S. international den. Netherlands. Surrey Hills, Victoria 3127, Australia. Phoe- mail. Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 6 March 29-30 Kelleher May 13-14 Schlegel nix Auctions, Box 4346, Melbourne, Victoria W. 48th St., Ninth Floor, New York, NY 10036. Collections, stocks and accumulations Germany and worldwide stamps and 3001, Australia. March 12-13 Cherrystone of the world. Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions, covers. Schlegel Berliner Auktionshaus March 2-3 Abacus U.S. and worldwide stamps and postal 22 Shelter Rock Lane, Unit 53, Danbury, CT fur Philatelie, Kurfuerstendamm 200, 10719 Australia and colonies, worldwide history. Cherrystone Auctions, 119 W. 57th 06810. Berlin, Germany. stamps, postal stationery, covers and accu- St., Suite 316, New York, NY 10019. April 4 Grosvenor May 20-25 Rapp mulations, Australian scenic letter cards, March 13 AB Philea Specialized Great Britain including Switzerland and worldwide stamps and Cocos Islands and New Guinea postal his- Sweden, Scandinavia and worldwide Machins. Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, postal history. Rapp Internationale Auk- tory, at 19A Hampshire Road, Glen Waver- stamps, covers and collections. AB Philea, 399-401 Strand, London WC2R 0LT, England. tionen, Toggenburgerstrasse 139, Box 276, ley, Victoria, Australia. Abacus Auctions, Svartensgatan 6, SE-116 20 Stockholm, April 4-6 H.R. Harmer CH-9500 Wil, Switzerland. Box 296, Mount Waverley, Victoria 3149, Sweden. U.S. and worldwide stamps, postal his- June 1 Global Philatelic Network Australia. March 15-16 Kelleher and Rogers tory and collections, in Costa Mesa, Calif. The Royal Philatelic Society London March 6 McCusker China and Asia stamps, postal history H.R. Harmer, 2680 Walnut Ave., Suite AB, birthday sale and Stockholmia 2019 rarity United States first-day covers, postal and collections; Karl Lewis illustrated cov- Tustin, CA 92780. auction, in association with the Stockhol- history. James T. McCusker Auction Gal- ers. Kelleher and Rogers Ltd., Room 35/F, April 10 AB Philea mia 2019 exhibition at Waterfront Congress lery, 804 Broadway, Raynham, MA 02767. Central Plaza, 18 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Sweden, Scandinavia and worldwide Centre, Nils Ericsons Plan 4, Stockholm, March 7-9 Felzmann Hong Kong; U.S. offices, 22 Shelter Rock stamps, covers and collections. AB Philea, Sweden. H.R. Harmer, 2680 Walnut Ave., Germany and worldwide stamps and Lane, Unit 53, Danbury, CT 06810. Svartensgatan 6, SE-116 20 Stockholm, Suite AB, Tustin, CA 92780. postal history, World War II concentration March 16 Mowbray Sweden. camp postal history, collections. Ulrich New Zealand and worldwide stamps April 12-13 Schwarzenbach Auction houses should send informa- Felzmann, Immermannstr. 51, 40210 Dus- and covers, at West Plaza Hotel, Wakefield Swiss, Lichtenstein and worldwide seldorf, Germany. tion about upcoming public auctions to Street, Wellington, New Zealand. Mowbray stamps, postal history and collections. Auction Calendar, Linn’s, Box 4129, Sidney, March 8-9 Dutch Country Collectables, Private Bag 63000, Wellington Catalog $20 postpaid by airmail. Schwar- OH 45365, at least eight weeks before the U.S. and worldwide stamps and cov- 6140, New Zealand. zenbach Auctions Zurich, Merkurstrasse sale. Catalogs should be sent as soon as ers. The Stamp Center, 4115 Concord Pike, March 16, 21-23 Corinphila Veilingen 64, CH-8032, Zurich, Switzerland. available. Wilmington, DE 19803. Netherlands and colonies, Seychelles April 24-26 Spink London The information sent should include the March 8-9 Hellman and worldwide, single lots and collections. The Arthur Gray collection of Australia date of the sale, address, material to be of- Worldwide stamps and postal history. Corinphila Veilingen, Mortelmolen 3, 1185 Queen Elizabeth II decimal issues; Philatel- fered and the price (if any) of the catalog. Hellman Auctions Ltd., Philatelic Service XV Amstelveen, Netherlands. ic Collectors’ Series sale. Spink, 69 South- Mail-bid only sales (including internet- and of Finland, Noutokatu 3, 21100 Naantali, March 19 Siegel ampton Row, Bloomsbury, London WC1B fax-bid sales) will not be included in the Finland. The Dimitris Bertsimas collection of im- 4ET, England. listings.

Linn's Stamp News / March 11, 2019 / 19

31032p018 19.indd 19 2/22/19 12:54 PM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

How mail was handled when requests for domestic airmail in the United States were insufficiently prepaid

The Modern U.S. Mail column in the Feb. 11 Linn’s Stamp News looked at the handling of United States mail intended for international airmail service but in- sufficiently franked with postage. This month’s column concerns short- paid U.S. domestic airmail that is labeled “Not in Air Mail” — that is, shortpaid do- mestic mail intended for airmail service that instead was given surface service. The U.S. Postal Bulletin is a useful ref- erence concerning shortpaid domestic airmail. Postal Bulletin 14436 of July 16, 1927, states: “Although it is highly desirable that postage on air mail be fully prepaid in order to expedite its handling, and postmasters are expected to make ev- Figure 1. This 1947 letter from Amsterdam, N.Y., to Ithaca, N.Y., was mailed in an airmail-type ery effort to have patrons prepay the full envelope imprinted with a “VIA AIR MAIL” etiquette. The 3¢ stamp on the letter shortpaid the 5¢ domestic airmail rate then in effect for letters weighing up to 1 ounce. Apparently, the sender amount on such matter, nevertheless all could not be located for the 2¢ shortpaid postage, so the handstamp “Insufficient postage/for Air short-paid mail intended to be carried Mail” was applied, and the letter was given surface service only. The “VIA AIR MAIL” etiquette by airplane should, if it bears at least 10 should have been obliterated, but it was not. cents postage, be rated with the defi- ciency and dispatched as intended by the sender, the amount due to be col- lected on delivery of the matter.” The 10¢ postage cited in this passage was, at the time, one full rate for a letter weighing ½ ounce or less sent by do- mestic airmail. This type of message or a similar one is found repeated in multiple subsequent issues of the Postal Bulletin and the year- ly United States Official Postal Guide. Beginning with the 1936 Postal Guide (and subsequently in the annual Postal Guide through 1947), shortpaid mail in- tended for domestic airmail service bearing at least one full airmail rate for its intended destination was to be rated Figure 2. This 1953 letter from Washington, D.C., to Lewisburg, Pa., also was mailed in an airmail- with the deficiency and dispatched as in- type envelope with imprinted “VIA AIR MAIL” etiquette. The 3¢ stamp shortpaid the 6¢ domestic tended by the sender. The recipient was airmail rate then in effect for a letter weighing 1 ounce or less. Apparently, the sender could not to pay the amount due upon delivery. be located for the 3¢ shortpaid postage, so the handstamp “Insufficient postage/for air mail” This rule included mail addressed to was applied, and only surface service was given. The “VIA AIR MAIL” etiquette was obliterated. U.S. possessions and territories. postage due for any other rates. mestic airmail. With this rule still in effect as of Oct. Unfortunately, I have never seen an Postal Bulletin 16989 of Aug. 5, 1936, 1, 1946, the full rate for domestic airmail example of the rules and regulations states: “It has come to attention that let- was reduced to 5¢ for up to 1 ounce, in- just described being followed in the ters prepaid at the regular 3-cent rate cluding possessions and territories. handling of domestic airmail paid with only, but enclosed in air-mail envelopes, Postal Bulletin 19197 of Jan. 6, 1949, di- at least one full rate. or envelopes bearing air-mail stickers, or rected that if an item weighed less than • otherwise endorsed to indicate that they 8 ounces and one full airmail rate was I do have examples of a different cir- are to be dispatched by air mail, are in prepaid, the item was to be dispatched cumstance for handling shortpaid do- some instances being accepted and dis-

22 / April 8, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31042p022 23.indd 22 3/22/19 8:31 AM patched by air mail. This is not bearing the return card of the mail-type envelope imprinted rate in effect at the time of the proper action and may result sender at another post office is with a “VIA AIR MAIL” etiquette. mailing for a domestic airmail in loss of postal revenue due to deposited in the mails with only The 3¢ Thomas Jefferson letter weighing up to 1 ounce. the failure, through inadvertence 3 cents in stamps affixed, or in stamp (Scott 807) franking the Apparently, the sender could or oversight, to collect the defi- case the sender be unknown letter shortpaid the domestic not be located for the 3¢ short- cient postage at the office of ad- or cannot be located without airmail rate of the time of 5¢ for paid postage. The handstamp dress. unduly delaying the matter, up to 1 ounce. Apparently, the “Insufficient postage/for air “When a letter is deposited the words ‘Via Air Mail’ should sender could not be located mail” was correctly applied, for mailing in a distinctive air- be obliterated and the matter for the 2¢ shortpaid postage. and only surface service was mail envelope, or a plain en- promptly dispatched to the ad- The handstamp “Insuffi- given to the letter. The “VIA AIR velope prominently endorsed dressee by ordinary mail. cient postage/for Air Mail” was MAIL” printed etiquette was ‘Via Air Mail’ with only 3 cents “A short-paid letter intended struck twice on the envelope properly obliterated. postage prepaid and the send- for air mail and so endorsed front, and the letter received It is fascinating to me that I er is known and can be readily weighing in excess of 1 ounce, only surface service. Incorrect- could locate only one refer- located without undue delay, but which is prepaid at least ly, the “VIA AIR MAIL” etiquette ence to the rules for handling the letter should be returned one full rate, that is, 6 cents, was not obliterated. shortpaid domestic airmail as to the sender for the collection unless it is addressed to a In Figure 2 is a 1953 letter they applied to these two pic- of postage at the air-mail rate. place (Hawaii, Puerto Rico, etc.) mailed from Washington, D.C., tured examples. “This contemplates that requiring a higher rate, should to Lewisburg, Pa. (misspelled On the other hand, I found the mailer will be a patron of be charged with the deficient “Lewisberg” by the sender). multiple references to the the office where the matter is postage at the air mail rate and This second letter also was rules for handling shortpaid mailed. When the return card dispatched via air mail.” mailed in an airmail-type en- domestic airmail when at least shows the mailer to be located Two examples of these rules velope with an imprinted “VIA one full airmail rate was pre- in another place, the delay in- and regulations follow. AIR MAIL” etiquette. paid, yet I could find no exam- volved in notifying the sender In Figure 1 is a 1947 letter The 3¢ stamp on the let- ples where this type of process would, of course, preclude from Amsterdam, N.Y., to Itha- ter, the Thomas Jefferson coil for handling such shortpaid such treatment. When a letter ca, N.Y. It was mailed in an air- (Scott 842), shortpaid the 6¢ items took place.

ZillionsofStamps.com

31042p022 23.indd 23 3/22/19 8:31 AM The souvenir sheet measures Bridge, Nova Scotia. by telephone from the United printed were 200,000 book- 82 millimeters by 85mm, and The Endangered Turtles States or Canada at 800-565- lets; 75,000 souvenir sheets; the stamps are different sizes: stamps and FDCs are avail- 4362, and from other countries and 7,000 FDCs. 34.74mm by 32.79 for the Spot- able online from Canada Post at 902-863-6550. Canada products also are ted Turtle, and 34.87mm by at www.canadapost.ca/shop, The Canada Post ordering available from many new-is- 34.11 for the Blanding’s Turtle. and by mail order from Canada numbers are 414114111 for the sue stamp dealers, and from The official FDC bears a pair Post Customer Service, Box booklet of 10, 404114145 for the Canada Post’s agent in the of the stamps with a dragon- 90022, 2701 Riverside Drive, souvenir sheet, and 414114131 United States: Interpost, Box fly postmark from Maitland Ottawa, ON K1V 1J8 Canada; or for the FDC. The quantities 400, Hewlett, NY 11557.

Modern U.S. Mail by Tony Wawrukiewicz

Regulations prohibiting use of regular postage stamps to assess postage due were later rescinded

Before the publication of stamp collectors working with the 1948 edition of the United willing postal workers. States Post Office Depart- However, with the Aug. 8, ment’s Postal Laws and Regu- 1955, Postal Procedures Trans- lations, regular postage stamps mittal Letter 5 (and until at least officially were not allowed the Feb. 2, 1978, Postal Service to be used as postage due Manual) we find, “If no postage stamps. This fact was first em- due stamps on hand, ordinary phatically stated in the January stamps may be used.” 1880 Postal Guide, in ruling 207. Therefore, beginning with On the other hand, collec- that period, it was legal to use tors of uses of various defini- ordinary postage stamps in this tive series from around 1948 manner, and in my experience, and earlier, such as the 1938 examples are commonly seen. Figure 2. This 1972 business reply mail envelope was on the top of a stack of 16 Presidential series, own mul- Two such post-1955 exam- envelopes returned to the mailer. The $1.60 in ordinary stamps affixed indicates tiple examples where regular ples are pictured here. that the 8¢-per-ounce domestic rate and the 2¢-per-envelope business reply mail fee for the 16 returned items was correctly collected from the mailer. postage stamps from the se- In Figure 1 is a 1963 business ries they collect are used in reply envelope, where the 7¢ the 5¢-per-ounce domestic postage due stamps was quite place of postage due stamps. Woodrow Wilson definitive rate and the 2¢ business re- common. I believe that these numerous stamp (Scott 1040) of the 1954 ply mail fee for one envelope By the way, without going illegal uses were produced by Liberty series correctly pays returned to H.F. Byrd, the Cali- into detail because the refer- fornia business to which the ences are so contradictory in envelope is addressed. their content, after Feb. 2, 1978, In Figure 2 is a 1972 business until the present, ordinary reply mail envelope that was on stamp use was indeed allowed the top of a stack of 16 returned where postage due amounts envelopes. The $1.60 in stamps were collected. affixed to this envelope, with two These varied and differing ref- examples of the 30¢ John Dew- erences and later examples of ey stamp (Scott 1291) and one ordinary stamp use will be found of the $1 Eugene O’Neill stamp in my new monograph, to be (1294), indicates that the 8¢-per- published in 2019, with its chap- ounce domestic rate and the 2¢ ter concerning postage due use. business reply mail fee for 16 re- turned items was correctly col- Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beech- er are the co-authors of two useful books Figure 1. The 7¢ postage stamp of the 1954 Liberty series correctly pays the lected from the mailer. on U.S. domestic and international post- After 1955, this type of use age rates since 1872. These books are 5¢-per-ounce domestic rate and the 2¢ business reply mail fee for this 1963 both available from the American Phila- business reply envelope returned to H.F. Byrd. of postage stamps in place of telic Society.

Linn's Stamp News / May 13, 2019 / 19

31052p018 19.indd 19 4/26/19 10:18 AM Modern U.S. Mail by Tony Wawrukiewicz

Postage due payments made with regular stamps on forms

In last month’s Modern U.S. Mail column (Linn’s Stamp the redrawn 5¢ George Washington stamp (1283B). The News, May 13, page 19), I showed two examples where stamps are struck with a July 20, 1982, postmark from payment for the return of business reply mail was legally Quaker Hill, Conn. The franking indicates that the 65¢ accomplished with ordinary postage stamps rather than due was collected from the addressee following deliv- with postage due stamps. This continued to occur le- ery of the item. gally until and even after Oct. 2, 1986, when adhesive In Figure 2 is an Aug. 12, 1985, example of Form 3083 postage due stamps were no longer produced or used. (with a form date of August 1971) that was used to col- This month’s column pictures two examples of or- lect $3.77 from an account. dinary postage stamps used for payment (in place of Various references in the Postal Bulletin from July postage due stamps or other remittance) on two United 1954 until the present mention this form (again, referring States Postal Service forms, from 1982 and 1985. In my to the U.S. Postal Forms list). It has always been labeled experience, these two forms are rarely seen with any “TRUST ACCOUNTS RECEIPTS AND WITHDRAWALS.” type of payment. From the various Postal Bulletin references, the pur- In Figure 1 is an example of carrier Form 4245 used in pose of the form is not always clear. However, from 1980 1982 (with a form date of November 1977). The form is ac- on, it appears the form was used to collect money due tually an envelope that is used to show that some amount for a permitted procedure. And, from discussion with of money for some service is due to the mail carrier. at least one postal worker who was involved with this According to the U.S. Postal Forms list I created with form’s use from 1980 on, the companies that paid for David Straight (now available on the U.S. Postal Bulletins permitted mail had an account and paid by check from site at www.uspostalbulletins. this account. com), this form was at least However, in the example shown, the form has had available from February 1955 $3.77 in regular postage stamps affixed: one each of the until June 1999. 25¢ Frederick Douglass (Scott 1290), the 50¢ Iron Bet- A handwritten notation on ty Lamp (1608), the $1 Rush Lamp and Candle Holder the form in Figure 1 indicates (1610), the $2 Kerosene Table Lamp (1612), and the 2¢ that the carrier was delivering Igor Stravinsky (1845). an item of postage due mail In this unusual circumstance, the permit payment is that required a remittance of indicated by the affixed stamps, and a check was not 65¢ from the recipient. used. According to the postal worker I spoke with, this is Affixed to the form is a pair a rarely seen example of how the form was used. of the 30¢ Americana se- Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful ries definitive (Scott 1606), books on U.S. domestic and international postage rates since 1872. These along with one example of books are both available from the American Philatelic Society.

Figure 1. An example of United States Postal Service Figure 2. United States Postal Service Form 3083 is a trust account form. After 1980, this form was usually used Form 4245, a carrier’s statement envelope. This to collect (commonly by check) the amount due on permitted mail. In this unusual example from Aug. 12, 1985, example from July 20, 1982, has a handwritten $3.77 in postage stamps is affixed to indicate successful collection of this small amount on permitted mail. notation showing 65¢ due the carrier. The 65¢ in postage stamps affixed to the form indicates the amount due was collected when the mail was delivered to the addressee.

22 / June 10, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31062p022.indd 22 5/24/19 8:28 AM Modern U.S. Mail by Tony Wawrukiewicz

The varied but brief existence of Form 1513

This column shows three The stamps, all from the 1931 examples of the use of Unit- rotary press issue, are nine ed States Post Office Depart- of the 10¢ (Scott J84), one of ment Form 1513. This form, the 3¢ (J82), and two of the 2¢ with this exact designation (J81). (1513) was announced in the On the back of the form is USPOD Postal Bulletin 19687 an April 19, 1957, PAID hand- (Nov. 10, 1953). stamp from the San Diego At the time, the purpose of Gas and Electric Co. of El Ca- the form was to state that a jon, Calif. first attempt at delivering a These due stamps indicate parcel had been unsuccess- payment of the due postage ful. for a local up-to-54-pound For this purpose, it had package (18¢, plus 54 times

Figure 3. A December 1958 example of Form 1513, serving as a “NOTICE OF MAIL HELD” for a letter on which 3¢ of the 4¢ total postage was due. The “Pd” (paid) manuscript and the 3¢ postage due stamp indicate that the amount due was paid.

one would expect a gas com- ber 1958 and used as a “NO- pany to receive a local pack- TICE OF MAIL HELD” for a let- age from a local customer. ter on which 3¢ of the 4¢ total The other two examples I postage was due. have are notices of mail held The “Pd” manuscript nota- for postage due for letters. tion (for “Paid”) and the af- Shown in Figure 2, for the fixed 3¢ postage due stamp same gas and electric com- (Scott J82) indicate that the pany, is a June 3, 1958, Form amount due was paid. 1513 bearing 60¢ in postage As noted in the headline due stamps (two of the 30¢ for this article, Form 1513 as Figure 1. This example of United States Post Office Department Form 1513, stamp, Scott J85), indicating a “NOTICE OF MAIL HELD,” “NOTICE OF MAIL HELD,” dated April 19, 1957, was used to collect 97¢ postage due on a 54-pound local package to a gas and electric company. payment for the return of 20 had a short life. Postal Bulle- letters at the 3¢ letter rate in tin 20207 (July 14, 1960) an- been introduced as Form 1.45¢, equals 96.3¢, rounded effect at the time. nounced that Form 1513 had 1513a in Postal Bulletin 18476 up to 97¢). The example of Form 1513 been revised and redesig- (Aug. 14, 1942). This makes sense to me as in Figure 3 is dated Decem- nated as Form 3570 — Notice At some point, perhaps be- of Attempts To Deliver Mail. I ginning in August 1956, it was have examples of this revised also used as a “NOTICE OF form used to collect postage MAIL HELD” where postage due before delivery on first- was due. class and third-class domes- I have no examples of the tic mail. form used to announce that Presumably because Form a first attempt at delivering a 1513 had such a short life, I parcel post item was unsuc- have rarely found examples cessful, but as a collector of of it. material where postage due stamps were placed, I’ve ob- Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry tained three examples of the Beecher are the co-authors of two form used to collect postage useful books on U.S. domestic and due. international postage rates since Shown in Figure 1 is my Figure 2. For the same gas and electric company, this June 3, 1958, Form 1872. These books are both avail- earliest example, with 97¢ in 1513 has 60¢ in postage due stamps affixed, indicating payment for the able from the American Philatelic postage due stamps affixed. return of 20 letters at the 3¢ letter rate then in effect. Society.

24 / July 8, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31072p024.indd 24 6/21/19 8:04 AM Modern U.S. Mail by Tony Wawrukiewicz

Examples of certain Dead Letter Branch returns are elusive

I have a Dead Letter Office exhibit that encompasses the years 1860 to 1985. Much to my amazement, there is one type of Dead Letter Office usage that I have not been able to locate. First, here is some background. After 1917, a series of Division of Dead Letters (formerly the Dead Letter Office) branch offices was formed. Dead letters were sent to these branch offices rather than to one office in Washington, D.C., thus expediting the function of the divi- sion. At least until around 1955, dead let- ters were returned from a Dead Letter Branch in return envelopes that carried a geometric symbol, with a fee charged Figure 2. This 1951 Dead Letter Branch envelope from Chicago also returned a minor-value dead letter for this return. for a 5¢ fee. After World War II, the five-pointed star symbol was used to indicate this. The 5¢ postage Minor-value letters (those without due stamp is evidence the fee was collected from the addressee. money) were returned in envelopes like the example from 1942 pictured in Fig- The 5¢ fee for the New York City Dead also collected from the addressee, as ure 1. This envelope displays a six-point- Letter Branch envelope pictured in Fig- indicated by the 5¢ postage due stamp ed star or hexagram printed in black. ure 1 was collected from the address- (again Scott J83, but printed in a differ- It is believed that after World War II ee, as indicated by the 5¢ postage due ent shade). this symbol was changed to the five- stamp affixed to the front (Scott J83). How was the return of a money-con- pointed star symbol shown in black on The 5¢ fee for the Chicago Dead Let- taining valuable letter indicated? the 1951 return envelope in Figure 2. ter Branch envelope in Figure 2 was As my new book, Further Insights into U.S. Postal History, 1794–2019, states, it is not clear how this occurred from 1866 to July 1, 1935. However, the U.S. Post Office Depart- ment’s Postal Bulletin No. 16709, dated July 3, 1935, explains that as of July 1 of that year, when money-containing valu- able letters were returned from a Dead Letter Branch, the return fee, as well as the minimal registration fee, was to be collected from the addressee. That payment would then be indicated by an equivalent total of postage due stamps affixed to the envelope. I have never seen such an example, and I would be interested in learning whether any Linn’s reader has seen one.

Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. do- mestic and international postage rates since Figure 1. This Dead Letter Branch envelope from New York City was used to return a minor-value dead letter in 1942. 1872. These books, along with Further Insights The printed hexagram (six-pointed star) symbol on the outer envelope indicates the envelope’s purpose. The affixed into U.S. Postal History 1794-2019, are avail- 5¢ postage due stamp shows that the required 5¢ fee was collected from the addressee. able from the American Philatelic Society.

16 / August 12, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31082p016.indd 16 7/26/19 7:35 AM Modern U.S. Mail by Tony Wawrukiewicz

Wartime caution reflected in handstamp on airmail

Order No. 19008, as announced in This order was amended as per the name of the post office, signature of the accepting postal employees, and postmark of Postal Bulletin 18506 (Oct. 23, 1942), Postal Bulletin 18513 (Nov. 9. 1942) the office where mailed. was effective Oct. 22, 1942. with Order No. 19126, effective Nov. Referring to letters in their “ordinary and usual form” as used in Order No. 19008, this By this order, Section 511 of the 6, 1942. may be construed to include matter in large Postal Laws and Regulations (PL&R) envelopes or flats, as, for example, envelopes ... [I]t appears that in some cases parcels 12 by 9 inches, etc., obviously containing only was adjusted as follows: intended for dispatch by air mail contain arti- written or printed matter. “6. No sealed package, parcel, cles of such nature as to make it impracticable to open the parcels at post offices, examine or other sealed article (except let- their contents, and repack them without in- This pair of announcements during ters in their ordinary and usual form, jury to the articles, or lessening the protection World War II was meant to protect thereof as originally prepared. Among these and official mail) shall be accepted articles are perishable laboratory specimens, the mails. On the other hand, the later vaccines, dentures, order clarified that if a parcel could undeveloped photo- graphic films, etc. In be verified as “unobjectionable” it other cases such par- need not be opened. cels contain confiden- tial matter connected Pictured in Figure 1 is an April 1943 with the conduct of envelope sent by airmail from Port- the war, or matter such as securities, land, Ore., to Chicago, Ill. The enve- currency, and jewelry, lope clearly is a letter in its “ordinary newspaper matrices, and usual form,” as described in the and photographs, commercial papers original Oct. 22, 1942, order. and similar articles As a letter, it was not a parcel and presented regularly, some in consider- should not have been opened or veri- able quantities, all of fied. which are obviously unobjectionable. Therefore, no announcement or In view of this the handstamp should have been placed instructions accom- panying Order No. on it, but it is, in fact, struck with a 19008 appearing in the handstamp matching the wording in Postal Bulletin of Oc- tober 23, 1942, regard- the Nov. 9, 1942, order. ing sealed parcels or Figure 2 shows a clear enlarge- other articles presented for dispatch by air Figure 1. This for transmission by air mail unless it mail are amended as follows with respect to ment of the marking. April 1943 letter bears on the address side thereof the the prescribed endorsement to be placed on Still, it’s interesting to see an example such matter by the examining postal employ- sent by airmail name and address of the sender, to- of this erroneously placed handstamp during wartime ees: gether with the endorsement ‘Post- When a postmaster has verified the fact — interesting because it forced me to should not have that a parcel intended for dispatch by air mail been opened master: This package may be opened is presented by a reliable concern and he is learn why this handstamp existed. or verified, for postal inspection, if necessary.’” satisfied that it contains only articles known to Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beech- because it is This introductory statement was be unobjectionable or of such nature that the not a parcel. parcel cannot be opened by postal employees er are the co-authors of two useful books followed soon after by further in- without imminent danger of damage to the on U.S. domestic and international post- It can be contents or because of other obviously valid described structions. reason, there may be placed on such parcel, age rates since 1872. These books, along as a letter in In connection with paragraph 6, section in lieu of the endorsement heretofore pre- Further Insights into U.S. Postal 511, PL&R, as amended by Order No. 19008 of with the “ordinary scribed, the following: this date, … postmasters are directed to see “Contents examined or acceptability veri- History 1794-2019, are available from the and usual that all such sealed articles are examined by fied under Order No. 19008 …” followed by American Philatelic Society. form,” and a postal employee before dispatch in order to therefore, no make sure no inflammable, explosive, or other unmailable matter is enclosed. Such examina- announcement Figure 2. The tion shall be made in the presence of another handstamp on or handstamp postal employee, if available. If the matter is should have acceptable for mailing, the package, parcel, or the Figure 1 letter been placed other matter shall be resealed and endorsed: was unnecessary, on it. “Contents Examined at ______(post office)” according to Order followed by the names of the examining em- No. 19126, because ployee and witness, together with the post- mark of the post office where examined. After such handstamps such endorsement examination is not to be only needed to be made at any other office. marked on parcels … Of course, those containing explosives sent by airmail. or other dangerous substances should be handled with care and disposed of in such manner as to prevent injury to postal employ- ees, the mails, or premises. Prompt report of any instance of this nature should be submit- ted to the Inspector in Charge of the district where discovered.

20 / September 9, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31092p020.indd 20 8/23/19 8:15 AM Modern U.S. Mail by TONY Wawrukiewicz

Unusual 1930s business reply mail returns deciphered

The Modern U.S. Mail column in the Dec. 10, 2018, Linn’s Stamp News illustrated a business reply mail en- velope with postage due stamps affixed and showing penciled num- bers accounting for multiple re- turned items, including five noncar- rier drop/local letters. As I described in that 2018 column, business reply mail (BRM) was intro- duced in 1928 because businesses would often send out large mailings to customers, hoping to get a re- sponse from a percentage of them. These same businesses found that they achieved better response rates if they enclosed a postage- paid card or envelope in their mail- Figure 2. This business reply mail envelope documents 33 returns, all at the carrier drop rate. ing, addressed back to the business. All were local returns from the subscribers to a newspaper, the Oakland Tribune. Therefore, the In this month’s column, I will look newspaper paid only the 2¢ carrier drop rate plus the 1¢ fee/extra postage for the 33 returned reply at two other remarkable examples envelopes, as indicated by the 99¢ in postage due stamps on the envelope. of drop/local BRM returns. The term “drop/local letters” is Pictured in Figure 1 is an August stamps (Scott J70) affixed to the en- another way of saying that the let- 1932 New York City BRM carrier drop velope, indicates that the BRM send- ter was mailed at a local post office item. er paid the 3¢ surface return postage (dropped off there), then placed in It is remarkable because the re- and the 1¢ BRM fee/extra postage. a post office box in the post office. turn occurred in the one-year period This is, therefore, a doubly re- It was then picked up from the box from July 6, 1932, to June 30, 1933, markable BRM return item, as it was by the patron to whom it was ad- where the carrier drop rate was 3¢ a drop letter return during a special dressed. for up to 1 ounce, the same as the rate period. As a result, no carrier service at intercity rate. The second example of a drop the post office delivered the letter Therefore, the 4¢ postage due, evi- BRM return, in Figure 2, is equally to the addressee’s home. denced by the four 1¢ postage due remarkable because it represents 33 returns — all at the carrier drop rate. This was so because they were all local returns in August 1938 from the subscribers to a newspaper, the Oakland Tribune. Therefore, the Tri- bune paid only the 2¢ carrier drop rate plus the 1¢ fee/extra postage for the 33 returned reply envelopes. You can see the penciled calcula- tion written near the upper left cor- ner of the envelope. The 99¢ in postage due stamps — one each of the 50¢ (Scott J86), 30¢ (J85), 10¢ (J84) and 5¢ (J83), plus two of the 2¢ (J81) — indicate payment of the 99¢ due from the BRM sender.

Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. domestic and international postage rates since 1872. These Figure 1. This 1932 New York City business reply mail carrier drop item is remarkable books, along with Further Insights into U.S. Postal because the return occurred in the one-year period from July 6, 1932, to June 30, 1933, History 1794-2019, are available from the American where the carrier drop rate was 3¢ for up to 1 ounce. Philatelic Society.

16 / October 14, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31102p016.indd 16 9/27/19 8:00 AM Modern U.S. Mail by Tony Wawrukiewicz

Weight limits for U.S. domestic first-class surface mail

I am grateful that Linn’s face mail. ful, so he asked me to fill in first-class surface domestic readers regularly ask me The reader had carefully the blanks that developed weight limit became equal questions about mod- looked through various re- as he did his research. to the surface parcel post ern mail use in the United sources, including books I checked the historic limit as of the Aug. 21, 1916, States. I had written and the on- Postal Laws and Regula- Postal Bulletin 11125. Recently I was asked line Postal Bulletin archive tions, Postal Bulletins and all The parcel post limit in- about the history of the at www.uspostalbulletins. editions of the United States creased to 70 pounds as of maximum weight allowed com. His search efforts Official Postal Guide. The March 15, 1918 (Postal Bulle- for domestic first-class sur- were only partly success- latter I now have access to, tin 11587, Feb. 27, 1918), and including the Postal Guide has remained so up to the monthly supplements. present day. Here is what I found. However, Jan. 7, 1968, saw From 1857 to 1873, the as- a sea change in the manner sociated Postal Laws and in which the weight of first- Regulations indicated that class matter was limited. the maximum weight al- As of that date, first-class lowed for domestic first- mail up to and including 13 class mail was 3 pounds. ounces was figured at a rate From 1873 until 1913, the per ounce. This was noted in Postal Laws and Regulations Postal Bulletin 20260 dated indicated that the maximum Dec. 28, 1967. weight allowed for first- Items weighing more than class mail was 4 pounds. 13 ounces were henceforth For reasons that will be- subject to the air parcel post come clear in a moment, rates, where the maximum the July 1916 (annual) Post- weight was still 70 pounds. al Guide indicated that the Air parcel post mail is now maximum weight allowed labeled as Priority Mail. Upper weight limits for domestic first-class surface mail have changed over the for domestic parcel post This separation at a cer- years. This 1963 first-class mail piece weighed 1 pound, 4 ounces when the mail mail was 50 pounds. This tain weight between simple rate was 5¢ per ounce, so the $1 Patrick Henry stamp paid the postage fee exactly. is important because the surface domestic first-class HELP!

16 / November 11, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31112p016 17.indd 16 10/25/19 8:36 AM POSTMARK PURSUIT by molly goad

mail rates and Priority Mail rates continues today. Cast a spell on your mail with this cancel As of May 1, 1977, the do- mestic airmail category was The Waltham Stamp Club’s WALPEX 2019 HALLOWEEN Station, INSTRUCTIONS FOR District Retail, 25 Dorchester Ave., Room eliminated, and the methods annual stamp show and phila- 4009, Boston, MA 02205-9600, Oct. 26-27. REQUESTING POSTMARKS used by the U.S. Postal Service telic exhibition, Walpex, em- The following cancels are Linn’s subscribers can see com- plete instructions for requesting post- to handle domestic first-class bodied a spooky theme this also available. marks by registering at www.Linns. surface mail and domestic air- year, with a special postmark UPR – RP Station, Postmaster, 585 Ave. com and clicking on this box in Linn’s FD Roosevelt, Suite 223, San Juan, PR 00936- digital edition, or by visiting online at mail became indistinguishable. that followed suit. 9681, Oct. 25. (Text only: “15 Anos de alianza, www.linns.com/en/insights/instruc- Really heavy domestic sur- The pictorial cancel features UPR – Rio Piedras, OSHA, Protegiendo y edu- tions-for-requesting-postmarks.html. face first-class items are not a traditional witch and black cando en Seguridad y Salud Ocupacional.”) MERPEX Station, Postmaster, 2700 “U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Smilax WLIC-315; frequently seen. The illustra- cat flying on a broom at night. Mount Ephraim Ave., Camden, NJ 08104- Queen of the Fleet; Natu Maximus Manda- tion here pictures a July 1963 Walpex took place Oct. 26- 9998, Oct. 26. (“One Small Step, One Giant tum Traba; 1944”; shield with stars, stripes.) Leap, Apollo 11,” footprint on moon.) 75th ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY PITTPEX 20-ounce (1-pound, 4-ounce) 27 in Boxborough, Mass. BURNS HARBOR Station, Postmas- Station, Postmaster, 1001 California Ave., domestic first-class pack- To obtain the postmark, ad- ter, 1070 S. Calumet Road, Chesterton, IN Room 2036, Pittsburgh, PA 15290-9998, Nov. 46304-9998, Oct. 26. (“USS Indianapolis LCS 2-3. (Text only: “75th Anniversary of D-Day age that carried some type of dress your request to: 17” crest with checkered flags, victory stat- 1944-2019.”) large contract. Because the ue, moon, sun, two swords, shield, “Legacy of War.”) The following pictorial post- rate was 5¢ for each ounce, JACK DANIEL’S WORLD CHAMPION- marks have been extended for the $1 Patrick Henry stamp SHIP INVITATIONAL BARBECUE Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Lynchburg, TN 30 days: (Scott 1052) exactly paid the 37352-9998, Oct. 26. (“31st Annual, Jack SUSAN G. KOMEN PR Station, Post- proper postage. Daniel’s 2019 World Championship Invita- master, 585 Ave. FD Roosevelt, Suite 223, tional Barbecue,” two stars.) San Juan, PR 00936-9681, Oct. 1. (“Susan Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beech- CUY-LOR PEX Station 60th ANNIVERSA- G. Komen Puerto Rico” logo; “Actua. Dona. er are the co-authors of two useful books RY, Postmaster, 2200 Orange Ave., No. 234, Involucrarte.; Conmemorando el mes del on U.S. domestic and international post- Cleveland, OH 44101-9998, Oct. 26-27. (“1869 cancer de seno”; heart on handprint.) Golden Spike,” spike, railroad tracks.) age rates since 1872. These books, along The Walpex stamp show celebrates OMAHA CHILDREN’S MUSEUM EXCA- with Further Insights into U.S. Postal 75th ANNIVERSARY OF COMMISSION- VATION Station, Postmaster, 6005 Lockheed History 1794-2019, are available from the Halloween with this pictorial postmark ING Station, Postmaster, Box 9998, Atlantic Court, Omaha, NE 68110-9998, Oct. 12. (Dino- American Philatelic Society. from Boxborough, Mass. Beach, NC 28512-9998, Nov. 1. (Badge with saur wearing hard hat, “Diggin’ Dinos.”)

Linn's Stamp News / November 11, 2019 / 17

31112p016 17.indd 17 10/25/19 8:36 AM Modern U.S. Mail by Tony Wawrukiewicz

Intended as airmail, shortpaid letter traveled by surface

Recently I acquired more It was my incorrect under- than 100 different examples standing that the option of of domestic and international paying for only airmail service covers mailed from the Unit- to U.S. exchange offices end- ed States. Some represent ed Oct. 1, 1946. Then I found Figure 2. The handstamp reading “Insufficiently prepaid for/air dispatch within types of attempted airmail the cover pictured in Figure 1. the U.S.” on the Figure 1 letter indicates that it traveled by surface mail. service that I’ve never seen This is an Oct. 8, 1947, let- before. ter from the U.S. armed forces However, at the time, the Until I saw the cover illus- Prior to July 1, 1948, it was APO (Army Post Office) 331 rate for airmail service to the trated here, I had forgotten possible to pay for airmail (Schofield Barracks in Oahu, exchange office plus surface this fact. This detail is also service for an item mailed to Hawaii) to the Soviet occupa- service beyond it was 7¢, so noted in the table on Page a U.S. exchange office, and tion zone (“Russische Zone”) the 1947 5¢ DC-4 Skymas- 106 of U.S. International Postal then the item could either be in Germany. ter airmail stamp (Scott C33) Rates, 1872-1996, the refer- sent on via surface service (by The letter was intended shortpaid this service by 2¢. ence book that I wrote with ship and/or by land), be sent for airmail service, as indi- Because the return address Henry W. Beecher. via surface service to a for- cated by the “VIA AIR MAIL” was an APO address, return- I believe the letter’s sender eign country where the item etiquette on the cover, as well ing the envelope for the post- placed the 5¢ stamp on the then was sent on by airmail, as by the use of an airmail en- age due was not reasonable. envelope because the airmail or be sent via airmail from the velope and an airmail stamp Instead, the letter was sent on rate from the U.S. territories exchange office to a foreign (both of which were allowed to the destination via surface and possessions to the conti- destination. only for airmail letters). mail. It is struck with a hand- nental United States was 5¢ as stamp reading, “Insufficiently of Oct. 1, 1946. It seems likely prepaid for/air dispatch with- that he forgot or did not realize in the U.S.” That handstamp is that minimal full international enlarged in Figure 2. service required a 7¢ franking. By the way, as described in • the Postal Bulletin 14925 dat- I have corrections to make ed Feb. 21, 1929, the “VIA AIR regarding two Modern U.S. MAIL” etiquette should have Mail columns previously pub- been obliterated when the lished. letter was sent on to the des- In the column in the April tination via surface mail. 8 issue of Linn’s, I incorrectly Until July 1, 1948, it was stated that I had never seen possible, for 7¢, to send a U.S. an example of a double- letter to the exchange office, weight domestic airmail letter plus surface service beyond. where one rate was paid, the Figure 1. This letter intended for airmail service was mailed Oct. 8, 1947, from an Army Post Office in Hawaii to the Russian zone in Germany. Since the rate for This ended following a direc- second rate wasn’t, and the airmail service to the exchange office plus surface service beyond it was 7¢, the tive published in Postal Bulle- letter was correctly delivered 5¢ stamp shortpaid this service by 2¢, and the letter traveled by surface mail. tin 19144 dated June 29, 1948. due the second rate.

16 / December 9, 2019 / Linn's Stamp News

31122p016 17.indd 16 11/22/19 10:52 AM POSTMARK PURSUIT by molly goad

However, such a double- Postmark for Pennsylvania railroad exhibit weight example from 1940, shortpaid just one rate at the A postmark has been issued of baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates. INSTRUCTIONS FOR 20¢ rate from Hawaii to the for a teeny-tiny exhibit’s big To obtain the postmark, ad- REQUESTING POSTMARKS mainland, is shown in Figure 5 birthday. dress your request to: Linn’s subscribers can see com- plete instructions for requesting post- of Chapter 4 in my new book, The Miniature Railroad and MINIATURE RAILROAD AND VILLAGE marks by registering at www.Linns. Further Insights into U.S. Postal Village at the Carnegie Science Station, Retail Manager, 1001 California com and clicking on this box in Linn’s Ave., Room 2036, Pittsburgh, PA 15290-9998, digital edition, or by visiting online at History, 1794-2019, which is Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., is cel- Nov. 21. www.linns.com/en/insights/instruc- available from the American ebrating 100 years, and the Nov. The following cancels are tions-for-requesting-postmarks.html. Philatelic Society. 21 cancel pictured here marks also available. A reader of the column in USS OLYMPIA SSN 717 Station, Post- master, Box 719, Norfolk, VA 23501-9998, the Feb. 11 issue of Linn’s not- Nov. 17. (Badge with “Este Paratus,” two ed that the three examples salmon, Washington State Capitol building, of shortpaid mail I illustrated “35th Anniversary.”) LOIZA 300 ANNIVERSARY Station, Post- were ambiguous because master, 585 Ave. FD Roosevelt, Suite 110, Holiday greetings can be enhanced one could correctly wonder San Juan, PR 00936-9681, Nov. 22. (Loiza 300 logo with cross, heart; “1719-2019.”) with this pictorial North Pole postmark. whether, once these airmail WICKENBURG, AZ Station, Postmaster, letters reached the U.S. ex- 2029 W. Wickenburg Way, Wickenburg, AZ Station postmark illustrated change office, they went on to 85390-9998, Nov. 22. (“Henry Wickenburg’s with a crescent moon sporting This Nov. 21 Pittsburgh, Pa., pictorial 200th Birthday,” Wickenburg portrait.) their respective foreign desti- postmark shows a train from the POLONUS Station, Postmaster, 1050 a beard and stocking cap to nations via surface mail or air- Miniature Railroad & Village exhibit at W. Irving Park Road, Itasca, IL 60143-9998, resemble Santa Claus. Nov. 22-24. (“80th Anniversary of Polonus mail. I agree with him that the the Carnegie Science Center. Polish Philatelic Society,” eagle logo, flags The illustrated postmark outcomes met by these three the occasion. of United States, Poland.) does not show a date. SANTA’S WORKSHOP Station, Post- examples are unclear. The replicas depict west- master, 324 Whiteface Memorial Highway, To obtain the postmark, However, the airmail let- ern Pennsylvania during an era Wilmington, NY 12997-9998, Nov. 23-Dec. send stamped and addressed 31. (Ornament with Santa hat, workshop ter in Figure 111 of Chapter 5 spanning 1880 to 1940. The scene.) mail inside another envelope of the aforementioned postal display began in the home of BLACK RIVER Station, Customer Rela- addressed to: history book did indeed cor- Charles Bowdish of Brookville, tions Coordinator, 2200 Orange Ave. No. NORTH POLE Postmark, Postmaster, 234, Cleveland, OH 44101-9998, Nov. 23. rectly pass on to its destina- Pa., in 1919, according to www. 4141 Postmark Drive, Anchorage, AK 99530- (Stamp shape containing “100th anniversa- 9998. tion from the U.S. exchange carnegiesciencecenter.org. ry of easterseals introduced in Elyria, Ohio in 1919,” Ohio outline with star on Elyria.) The Postal Service recom- office via airmail. That is, there The exhibit moved to the Buhl COMFORT Station, Postmaster, 726 mends mailing requests by were circumstances where Planetarium in 1954, and then to Front St., Comfort, TX 78013-9998, Nov. 30. Dec. 14. (Candy canes tied with bow, “33 years of the letter could correctly the Carnegie Science Center in Christmas in Comfort.”) The following pictorial post- be sent on from the U.S. ex- 1992, where it remains today. SANTA CLAUS Station, Postmaster, Box marks have been extended for change office via surface mail The Miniature Railroad and 9998, Santa Claus, IN 47579-9998, Dec. 1-25. 30 days: (Santa, reindeer, snowflakes.) or via airmail. Village features 105 animations, CHRISTMAS STAR Station, Postmaster, VETERAN’S DAY Station, Postmaster, more than 250,000 trees, 14 air- Box 9998, Nazareth, MI 49074-9998, Dec. 11251 Rancho Carmel Drive, San Diego, CA 92199-9998, Nov. 8. (“Honoring Those Who Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beech- craft, 85 automobiles, 60 trucks, 1-25. (Star, stable.) er are the co-authors of two useful books STAR Station, Postmaster, 202 S. Main Served,” six stars, five wavy lines.) on U.S. domestic and international post- 22 horse-drawn vehicles, and St., Star, NC 27356-9998, Dec. 2-31. (Train, WATERFOWL FESTIVAL Station, Post- age rates since 1872. These books, along 23,000 hand-painted cotton snowflakes, “Star” water tower.) master, 116 E. Dover St., Easton, MD 21601- with Further Insights into U.S. Postal 9998, Nov. 8-10. (Waterfowl.) History 1794-2019, are available from the swabs representing fans in The United States Postal Share information by writing to Post- American Philatelic Society. Forbes Field, the former home Service is offering a North Pole mark Pursuit, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365. ••••••••••••• ••••••••••••• ••••••••••••• ••••••••••••• Linn's Stamp News / December 9, 2019 / 17

31122p016 17.indd 17 11/22/19 11:33 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

‘ Outside Mail’: requesting special handling for fragile items

I recently obtained the tag such obvious items as liq- pictured here, an item that uids in bottles (oils, honey and caused me to pause. pastes), and even fragile items The tag was originally at- such as umbrellas. Notice that tached to a Dec. 12, 1960, up- this announcement occurred to-6-pound c.o.d. parcel post relatively soon after the parcel item mailed from Lytle, Texas, post service was introduced in to Seattle, Wash. the United States in 1912. As indicated on the tag, it Apparently, postal workers was mailed to Zone 7. The par- were not always careful about cel contained honey and was how they admonished custom- marked as “OUTSIDE MAIL.” ers regarding the need to care- The c.o.d. fee at the time was fully package fragile items. 30¢ for an item valued up to $5. Numerous subsequent Postal The postage for an up-to- Bulletin announcements reiter- 6-pound package was a 26¢ ated the warnings found in the per piece charge plus 16¢ per March 16, 1914, Postal Bulletin. pound times six, or a total of And, as the illustration here $1.22. shows, the handstamp ‘“OUT- Adding in the 30¢ c.o.d. fee SIDE MAIL” was added to such brought the total to $1.52, paid fragile items. for with stamps from the 1954- It was difficult to locate a ref- 68 Liberty definitive series: one erence containing the money $1 Patrick Henry (Scott 1052), order fee schedule. My book one 50¢ Susan B. Anthony U.S. Domestic Postal Rates, (1051) and a vertical pair of the A December 1960 tag for an up-to-6-pound c.o.d. parcel post item mailed from 1872-2011 does not list them, Lytle, Texas, to Seattle, Wash. (Zone 7). The $1.52 in applied postage stamps paid 1¢ George Washington (1031). a 30¢ c.o.d. fee, a 26¢ per piece charge, plus 16¢ per pound times six. The parcel and a search of the Postal The domestic postal money contained honey, and thus, as fragile, was labeled as “OUTSIDE MAIL.” Bulletin archive for these fee order fee for $5.01 to $10 was schedules was not always suc- 15¢, which is noted on the tag, remitter and the sender of Now, why was the package cessful. so the total cost of postage, the parcel as the payee of the marked as “OUTSIDE MAIL?” For example, the 1944 mon- the c.o.d. fee and the honey money order. The March, 16, 1914, Postal ey order fee changes were an- fell within that range of $5.01 “Although he is named as the Bulletin 10382, reported that nounced in a Postal Bulletin, to $10. remitter, the money order is- items placed in packages that but the Jan. 1, 1949, fee chang- An explanation of the money sued for such purpose is not to were so fragile that they could es were only found in the Oc- order usage was given in Part be delivered to the addressee damage themselves or other tober 1948 supplement of the I of the July 1949 U.S. Official of the parcel and it cannot be mail matter were to be ade- U.S. Official Postal Guide. Postal Guide. repaid to him unless endorsed quately packed to prevent any “Postal money orders are to him by the payee. The mon- such damage. Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on used exclusively in remitting ey order is mailed in a penalty Such items were also to be U.S. domestic and international postage sums collected on mail sent envelope to the sender of the placed “Outside of Mail Bags.” rates since 1872. These books, along with Further Insights into U.S. Postal History C.O.D., the addressee of the C.O.D. parcel at the address Included as examples in 1794-2019, are available from the American parcel being named as the shown on the C.O.D. tag.” the Postal Bulletin notice were Philatelic Society.

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31012p020.indd 20 12/27/19 10:39 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

Mail to foreign countries held for postage

Every once in a while, one encounters a “Held for Post- post office in New York City. age” auxiliary marking on a letter or card to a foreign country, There, the postmaster exchanged the Canadian stamp for most typically to Canada, but also (incorrectly, I believe) to the U.S. 2¢ stamp (Washington-Franklin Type A140) that paid other countries. the 2¢ treaty rate for up to 1 ounce to Canada, and the letter Let’s first look at the situation for Canada. was sent on to Canada for delivery. From the 1913 Postal Laws and Regulations (PL&R), Sec- Now consider the shortpaid postal card mailed in 1928 that tion 650.2, to the 1924 PL&R, Section 620.3, and to the Sept. is pictured in Figure 2. 9, 1931, Postal Bulletin No. 15699, the following process was This 1¢ postal card (Scott UX27) is addressed to Dresden, Germany. Since it paid only the 1¢ postal card rate, it was shortpaid by 2¢ for the 3¢ Universal Postal Union surface card rate. According to the handstamp on the card, it was “HELD FOR POSTAGE.” According to the aforementioned references, the request for the shortpaid postage should not have been sent to the addressee, but sent to the sender. If one accepts the mes- sage of the applied handstamp, this was not done. However, it is more likely that the handstamp was placed in error — I have seen this done in other circumstances — and the shortpaid 2¢ postage (two examples of the 1¢ green Franklin, Scott 552) was produced by the sender or even the postmaster. I recently found a reference in the Jan. 28, 1932, Postal Bul- letin 15816 indicating there was a similar reciprocal agree- Figure 1. This unpaid letter from New York City to St. Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, ment with the Philippine Islands that allowed the “held for was “HELD/FOR/POSTAGE” from the addressee, who sent a Canadian stamp to the postage” process for shortpaid or unpaid mail between the post office in New York City. The postmaster then exchanged the Canadian stamp United States and these islands. In each case, the address- for the U.S. 2¢ George Washington stamp that properly paid the treaty rate to Canada, and the letter was sent on for delivery to its destination in Canada. ee sent the postage stamps of his respective country in re- sponse to the request for postage, and this postage was then allowed for unpaid or insufficiently paid items mailed to placed on the shortpaid or unpaid matter. Canada: “ … postmasters shall treat unpaid and insufficiently I have found no other reference that allowed the “held prepaid matter addressed for delivery in Canada in the same for postage” process for any other foreign country besides manner as domestic matter, requesting postage directly Canada. from the addressees. On receipt of Canadian stamps in re- Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books sponse to such notices the postmaster shall take from his on U.S. domestic and international postage rates since 1872. These books, along with Further Insights into U.S. Postal History 1794-2019, are available from the American stock equal amount of United States postage stamps, affix Philatelic Society. them to the matter and dispatch it to its destination. The Canadian stamps should be held temporarily as stock, and transmitted to the Division of Dead Letters quarterly to be exchanged for like amounts in domestic stamps.” The 1932 PL&R in Section 2204 stated: “Mail matter ad- dressed to a foreign country, unprepaid or insufficiently prepaid to authorize its dispatch, where full or partial prepayment of postage is required, shall be returned promptly to the sender if known, or, if the sender is not known, shall be sent at once to the Division of Dead Let- ters and Dead Parcel Post, or a branch thereof. Notice of retention for postage shall not be sent to the addressees in such cases.” That is, even for Canada, the “held for postage” process ended as of the 1932 PL&R notice. The 1922 letter in Figure 1 followed the rules and regu- Figure 2. This postal card addressed to Dresden, Germany, was shortpaid by lations in effect from 1913 to 1932. This unpaid letter from 2¢ and marked “HELD FOR POSTAGE.” The marking was likely applied in error, New York City to Canada was “HELD/FOR/POSTAGE” and the additional 2¢ postage required for this mail was probably produced by from the addressee, who sent a Canadian stamp to the the sender or even the postmaster.

22 / February 10, 2020 / Linn's Stamp News

31022p022.indd 22 1/23/20 3:18 PM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

N o directory service given to these letters mailed locally

From page 11 of the July 2009 explaining that letter’s handling. Auxiliary Markings newsletter By the way, as of Post Offices and from Marjory Sente’s large- Circular 1 (Oct. 18, 1954), directory gold-winning 1932 Washington service at any carrier office was Bicentennial Commemorative now only given to registered, exhibit come two examples of certified, insured, C.O.D., special a mail use that is remarkable. delivery, special handling, per- Both of these covers, illus- ishable matter, incoming armed trated here, are local (drop) forces mail, international mail, uses from a carrier city. Both and parcels of obvious value. letters were undeliverable The handstamp on the Fig- and not allowed ure 1 cover is illustrated so directory service cleanly because of manipula- (address correc- tion with Adobe Photoshop Figure 1. Postage for this 1932 tion from master Tacoma, Wash., carrier-city drop software. This manipulation lists of address- letter was paid at the 3¢ letter rate and cleaning of handstamp es). for mail weighing up to 1 ounce. markings is typical of the man- In Figure 1, from It was handstamped and returned ner in which auxiliary mark- to the writer as unclaimed. No the Sente exhibit, ings are shown in the Auxil- directory service was given to letters is a 1932 Tacoma, of local origin. iary Markings newsletter of the Wash., carrier-city Auxiliary Markings Club. drop letter paid at 1932 example. This club publishes its quar- the 3¢ letter rate In Postal Bulletin 17332 of terly newsletter in color, and (for up to 1 ounce) with a 1932 the literature, at least before Nov. 29, 1937, we finally find (for annual dues are just $15. 1¢ green Washington Bicenten- 1925 or so, any unclaimed first- letter carrier offices): “Letters Additional information, in- nial stamp (Scott 705) affixed class item, drop or nondrop, at of local origin without specific cluding a club membership to a 1915 2¢ carmine George carrier cities was correctly giv- address or undeliverable at application, can be found at Washington stamped envelope en directory assistance. address given and bearing a www.postal-markings.org. (Scott U429). However, at least as early as return card shall be returned at Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher The cover is struck with a Postal Bulletin 10773 of June 25, once without directory service.” are the co-authors of two useful books on U.S. domestic and international postage pointing finger “RETURNED TO 1915, at second-class post of- Therefore, only well after rates since 1872. These books, along with WRITER” auxiliary marking that fices where there was no carri- the 1932 letter in Figure 1 was Further Insights into U.S. Postal History 1794-2019, are available from the American explains “UNCLAIMED/LET- er service, there was no neces- mailed do we find a reference Philatelic Society. TERS OF LOCAL ORIGIN/NOT sity for a directory service. This GIVEN DIRECTORY SERVICE.” makes perfect sense because Similarly the cover pictured delivery in those cities was to a in Figure 2 is a 1942 Tacoma post office box. carrier-city drop letter paid at However, what about carrier the 3¢ 1-ounce letter rate with cities? Only when I searched a 1940 3¢ Torch of Enlighten- through the Postal Bulletin did ment stamp (Scott 901). I find the answer, and then only This cover is struck with a in 1937, five years after Sente’s marking that also reads “UN- CLAIMED./Letters of Local Ori- gin/Not Given Directory Ser- vice.” The appearance of the second handstamp is differ- ent from the first, even though both letters were mailed from the same city. These two markings are the only two of this type of use I Figure 2. Ten years after the Figure 1 letter was mailed, this have ever seen. 1942 local example, also from Tacoma, was similarly treated: If one looks at references in handstamped, returned to the writer and denied directory service.

20 / March 9, 2020 / Linn's Stamp News

31032p020.indd 20 2/21/20 9:23 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

C learing up errors in the U.S. international postal rates book

I recently received an email from stamp and postal history expert Ken Lawrence pointing out an error in U.S. International Postal Rates 1872‑1996, my international rate book written with Henry W. Beecher. The error is found in Chapter 19 of the book, which concerns internation- al registration. I have been aware of errors in this chapter and limited errors elsewhere in the international book, and also in various editions of the domestic rate book, the third edition of which is U.S. Domestic Postal Rates, 1872‑2011. Another expert, Wade Saadi, found a majority of these errors, and I am grateful to him for this. In an effort to make the corrected Figure 2. The “A.R.” handstamp on this 1930 registered surface letter from New York City information available to people who to Zeitz, Germany, indicates a requested return receipt. The 25¢ franking paid the 5¢ per have bought the Beecher-Wawrukie- ounce surface postage, the 15¢ registration fee and the 5¢ fee for return receipt service. wicz rate books, I added an errata ap- pendix in my recent Insights into U.S. Germany, that was mailed RETURN ceipt requested (the “A.R.” marking Postal History, 1855-2016. This book is RECEIPT REQUESTED, as indicated by represents “avis de reception”) mailed still available through the American the handstamp above the registration as a surface letter from New York City Philatelic Society. marking. to Zeitz, Germany. This errata also will be added as an The 1915 2¢ George Washington The 25¢ franking, consisting of one appendix on the Postal Bulletin ar- stamped envelope (Scott U429) is 1923 10¢ orange James Monroe stamp chive site at www.uspostalbulletins. additionally franked with four 1917 (Scott 562) and a 1922 15¢ gray Statue com before too long. stamps from the Washington-Frank- of Liberty stamp (566), paid the 5¢ UPU Lawrence noted that the book said, lin definitive series: a 1¢ green (498), a rate per ounce for surface postage, the in error, that before April 15, 1925, the 2¢ rose (499) and two 5¢ blue stamps 15¢ registration fee, and the 5¢ fee for fee for an international return receipt (504). The 15¢ total franking pays the the requested return receipt service. was 5¢. This is incorrect, as this ser- 5¢ Universal Postal Union per ounce This pair of covers nicely represents vice was free before that date. surface postage rate, the 10¢ regis- the change in the price of the return The 1923 cover pictured in Figure 1 tration fee, and the free requested receipt service that went into effect illustrates this free service. return receipt service. on April 15, 1925. Figure 1. This is a registered cover mailed The cover pictured in Figure 2 is a This 1923 The correction of this detail from registered from Dubuque, Iowa, to Tuebingen, 1930 registered letter with return re- the international postal rates book is letter from among the corrections that can be Dubuque, found in the PDF that will be added Iowa, to to the Postal Bulletin archive site. Al- Tuebingen, though the number of errors in the Germany, was mailed international book and the three edi- RETURN tions of the domestic book are not RECEIPT numerous, I am pleased that the cor- REQUESTED, rected information will be available a free service for free to the philatelic community. at the time. The total of In my next column, I plan to discuss 15¢ postage another error found in the internation- paid the 5¢ per al postal rates book. ounce surface Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co- letter rate authors of two useful books on U.S. domestic and inter- and the 10¢ national postage rates since 1872. These books, along registration with Further Insights into U.S. Postal History 1794-2019, fee. are available from the American Philatelic Society.

Linn's Stamp News / April 13, 2020 / 21

31042p021.indd 21 3/27/20 7:22 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

C learing up a question about airmail rates to New Zealand

As I noted in my previous column (Linn’s Stamp News, April 13, page 21), my inter- national rate book written with Henry W. Beecher. U.S. International Postal Rates 1872‑1996, has relatively few errors in it, but there are some, unfortunately. The errata appendix for the international rate book was published in my later book, Insights into U.S. Postal Histo‑ ry, 1855-2016. That appendix includes the following: “Re: Chapter 13 — Interna- tional Airmail Letter Rates. Jim This Aug. 9, 1938, airmail letter from Chicago, Ill., to Christchurch, New Zealand, is franked with 57¢ in postage to pay for 8¢ Forte has shown me … that of- in U.S. airmail service and surface service to London, 44¢ airmail service from London to New Zealand, and 5¢ for airmail service within New Zealand. However, the 8¢ rate for the first segment had been reduced before the cover was mailed. ten when an airmail route offi- cially ended (for instance with er, there was a notable change face service to London fell to 1855-2016 should be available a Postal Bulletin announce- in the 8¢ rate. 3¢ from the prior 8¢ rate. The soon as a PDF on the Postal ment), routes often continued What is incorrect is the writer of this letter might have Bulletins website at www. and covers with the old rate missing 44¢ airmail rate from been unaware of this change uspostalbulletins.com. and route continue to be found London to New Zealand. when he mailed it just a few Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher — because the old routes con- Postal Bulletin 16571 dated weeks later on Aug. 9, so he in- are the co-authors of two useful books on tinued in use.” Dec. 17, 1934, announced the correctly paid the extra 5¢. U.S. domestic and international postage Last summer I received a 44¢ airmail rate from London As a reminder, the errata ap- rates since 1872. These books, along with Further Insights into U.S. Postal History rate question concerning the to Australia. Unfortunately I pendix from my recent book 1794-2019, are available from the American cover pictured with this col- did not notice that it also indi- Insights into U.S. Postal History, Philatelic Society. umn, an Aug. 9, 1938, airmail cated that this same service letter from Chicago, Ill., to extended airmail service to Christchurch, New Zealand. New Zealand and many other Arlene Driscoll 1943-2020 The cover is franked with islands of the South Pacific, seven stamps totaling 57¢ in including Fiji, New Hebrides Arlene Driscoll, the long- The Driscolls purchased the postage: five of the 1923 10¢ and more. And, per the errata time publisher of the Brook- Brookman company in 1981 orange James Monroe stamp announcement quoted earli- man stamp price guide (as and published the price guide (Scott 562), and one each of er in this article, even though Arlene Dunn) and co-owner of while also operating their suc- the 1922 6¢ red orange James this rate unofficially ended a prominent stamp and cover cessful mail-order business Garfield stamp (558) and the July 8, 1935, it was still avail- mail order company based in and meeting with customers 1923 1¢ deep green Benjamin able long after this date. New Hampshire, died at age at national stamp shows. Franklin stamp (552). Therefore, the cover cor- 77 on April 5. After Mr. Driscoll’s passing, My rate charts for the airmail rectly rates as follows: 8¢ for Born in Portland, Ore., on Ms. Driscoll continued both rates to New Zealand (on pag- airmail in the United States March 24, 1943, Ms. Driscoll businesses until 2018 when es 106 and 174 of the interna- and surface service to Lon- grew up in Queens, N.Y. she sold the Brookman price tional rate book) unfortunately don, 44¢ for airmail to New She married Robert “Bob” guide to dealer Michael Jaffe. fail to completely explain this Zealand, and 5¢ for airmail Driscoll in 1981, and they She is survived by three chil- rating. service within New Zealand, merged their philatelic busi- dren from her earlier marriage What is correct in the chart correctly totaling the 57¢ nesses to open a store in Lex- to John Dunn: daughters Lisa is the 8¢ airmail and surface postage affixed on the cover. ington, Mass., and founded M. Martelli and Kimberly Dunn mail rate for airmail service However here is the rate Brookman, Barrett & Worthen. Spelman, and son Christopher within the United States and change alluded to earlier. Mr. Driscoll, a former presi- M. Dunn; as well as stepchil- surface service to London, and On June 21, 1938, the combi- dent of the American Stamp dren and 10 grandchildren. the 5¢ airmail rate within New nation rate for airmail service Dealers Association, died in A memorial service will be Zealand, but as I’ll explain lat- in the United States and sur- 2005. held at a later date.

26 / May 11, 2020 / Linn's Stamp News

31052p026.indd 26 4/24/20 11:11 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

When wastepaper turns into postal history

Collectors of covers some- able and undeliverable matter times find items for sale and was treated as waste matter are not certain how they came until at least Issue 44 of the on the market. Domestic Mail Manual, dated This is especially true of pri- Sept. 20, 1992. vate postcards, which often do The postcard pictured here not have a return address. When was mailed in June 1959 in such a card is determined to be Anaheim, Calif., but it is unad- unmailable or undeliverable, dressed. Postage was paid with one has to wonder how it gets the 1954 4¢ red violet Abraham into the hands of collectors. Lincoln stamp (Scott 1036). In the past when I found an As it was unaddressed, the item such as this and sought an postcard was unmailable and explanation, I relied on a state- marked “Held for Better Ad- ment I found in the 1902 Postal dress.” As there was no return Laws and Regulations, Section address on the card and it was 571.2, which explains that a This postcard was mailed in June 1959 and received an Anaheim, Calif., slogan not readdressed, it is reason- postcard could be returned to postmark. Though the then-current 4¢ postcard rate was paid, the postcard was able to assume that it was held unaddressed and therefore unmailable (and marked “Held for Better Address”). a writer if, “ … he be known to As there was no return address on the card and it was not readdressed, it is for a while then sold as waste. or can be conveniently ascer- reasonable to assume that it was held for a while and then sold as waste. I have a number of similar tained by the postmaster.” This items, including postcards from would more likely be true for The public statute referred of separation and disposing of 1902 to 1907 that were sent to small cities of origin. to, 11 Stat. 293 of May 24, 1858, the same: Provided, That the the Dead Letter Office and were However, recently I learned reads: “Be it enacted by the accounts shall be preserved not returned to the sender. At that much of the matter held Senate and House of Repre- entire, at least two years.” that time, this procedure was by a postmaster could even- sentatives of the United States Subsequently the details of followed even if there was a re- tually be sold as wastepaper, of America in Congress as- handling unmailable and un- turn address on the card. with the proceeds being used sembled, That the Postmaster- deliverable matter are some- Similarly and subsequently, for the benefit of the Post Of- General may, from time to time, what difficult to determine. they, too, were eventually sold fice Department. in his discretion, dispose of any But after careful reading of the as waste, which is why I have Specifically Section 295 of quarterly returns of mails sent subsequent Postal Laws and them in my collection. the 1866 PL&R states, “(6) By or received, preserving the ac- Regulations, including the 1948 the act of 24 May, 1858, (11 Stat. counts current, and all vouch- PL&R volume, it is clear that Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on 293) the cost of arranging and ers accompanying such ac- such matter without a return U.S. domestic and international postage disposing of waste paper was counts, and use such portions address was frequently treat- rates since 1872. These books, along with Further Insights into U.S. Postal History paid out of the proceeds of the of the proceeds thereof as may ed as wastepaper and sold. 1794-2019, are available from the American sale thereof.” be necessary to defray the cost I can document that unmail- Philatelic Society. PostEurop opens poll to select the best Europa stamp of 2020

PostEurop, the association opportunity to travel through tions about them. oping the ancient postal routes representing European public time to where it all began for the Agnieszka Trzaskowska, chair concept. postal operators, opened its postal industry. Exquisite stamps of the PostEurop stamps and “We have seen several online competition May 9, Eu- and sheets are showcasing philately working group, said of books, tales and beautiful sto- rope Day, to vote for the best some of the most well-known this year’s Europe stamps: “This ries being inspired by the long Europa stamp of 2020. and historical delivery journeys theme gives a certain nostal- journeys postal workers had The Europa theme for this and include how mail was car- gic feeling, as it represents the gone through in order to deliver year is ancient postal routes. ried throughout Europe.” early day of our unique indus- goods across the world. There- The press release announc- The competition is open try. When PostEurop Members fore, we hope that this Europa ing the poll said: ”Whether you through Sept. 9 at www. were voting for the upcoming theme will be able to reach en- are a philatelic enthusiast, postal posteurop.org/europa2020. topics, one could see that the thusiasts’ hearts with the same fan or a history lover, this year’s The website includes imag- majority was rather excited with passion, and with the same Europa stamps will give you the es of the stamps and descrip- the possibility of further devel- meaning that it has for us.”

22 / June 8, 2020 / Linn's Stamp News

31062p022.indd 22 5/21/20 4:01 PM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

O rdinary U.S. stamps used as postage dues before 1955

The use of ordinary (regular- but we believe that this is a issue) United States stamps as reasonable explanation. postage due stamps is a com- In this month’s column I dis- plex process to explore, one cuss such an illegal use and a that I first discussed more than possible allowed use. a year ago in my column in Figure 1 shows a letter pack- the May 13, 2019, Linn’s Stamp age weighing up to 4 ounces News. mailed in 1935 from Swit- In that column I considered zerland to Chicago. A hand- examples used later than the stamp at top left indicates the announcement in the Postal package contained “postage Procedures Transmittal Let- stamps for collections.” ter 5 dated Aug. 8, 1955: “If no The cover bears a number postage due stamps on hand, of neat auxiliary markings. One ordinary stamps may be used.” of these markings states in All the references men- French (“Affranchissement au tioned in this column or in the verso”) and German (“Frankiert May 13 column are found in Ruckseite”) that the postage is various chapters in my book on the other side. Insights into U.S. Postal History, Twelve Switzerland 10-cen- 1855-2016, available through time Landscape stamps (Scott the American Philatelic Soci- 221) paid the 120 centimes ety. postage: 30 centimes for the In the May 13 column I sug- first ounce, 20 centimes for gested that any earlier such each of three added ounces, use was an illegal one driven and 30 centimes for the regis- by collectors and obliging tration fee. postmasters. This conclusion Even though the matter in was supported by numerous Figure 1. This letter package weighing up to 4 ounces was mailed in 1935 from the cover was “PASSED FREE announcements prohibiting Switzerland to Chicago. One handstamp indicates the package contained OF DUTY” in Chicago, the 10¢ “postage stamps for collections.” Shown cropped is the 120 centimes in such use, going back as far as Swiss postage affixed to the other side of the cover, which paid 30 centimes customs clearance fee was ruling 207 in the January 1880 for the first ounce, 20 centimes for each of three added ounces, and 30 collected. This fee was col- Postal Guide. centimes for the registration fee. Even though the matter in the cover was lected on stamps for collectors After discussion with postal “PASSED FREE OF DUTY” in Chicago, the 10¢ customs clearance fee was until a July 1939 Postal Guide historian Len Piszkiewicz, I no collected using two 5¢ Theodore Roosevelt stamps. The column explains the announcement. legality of this payment. longer believe that this is the Payment of the fee is indi- case. Instead we now both postage due stamps was an of postage due stamps and cated by the two 5¢ Theodore agree that the illegal use of expedient one necessitated having nothing else to use. Of Roosevelt stamps (Scott 557) ordinary U.S. stamps in lieu of by a postmaster running out course we cannot prove this, affixed to the bottom right cor- ••••••••••••• . . . and may LED ILLUMINATED 3.2 MAGNIFIER CUSTOM SHOWGARD MOUNTS FOREIGN protect us! APPROVALS ®

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31072p018 19.indd 18 6/26/20 9:35 AM until 1932. Finally to indicate payment of this type of forwarding, the postage due stamps were canceled at the office of de- livery. Figure 2 shows an 8-ounce magazine that was forwarded in 1946 from Washing- ton, D.C., to Clayton, N.Y., at the transient second-class rate of 1¢ for each 2 ounces using a 4¢ James Madison Presidential se- ries stamp (Scott 808). According to the 1932 Postal Laws and Regulations reference cited earlier, it seems most likely that the original ad- dressee left the 4¢ stamp to be used to forward the magazine. If the addressee did not do this, I am guessing that alternatively the postmaster affixed the 4¢ stamp instead of a postage due stamp. If the cancel were readable, we might know what actually occurred. In conclusion we have a first example of an ordinary stamp used for postage due Figure 2. An 8-ounce magazine that was forwarded in 1946 from Washington, D.C., to Clayton, N.Y., at the that was probably illegal, and a second transient second-class rate of 1¢ for each 2 ounces using a 4¢ James Madison stamp. As discussed in the column, it seems most likely that the original addressee left the 4¢ stamp to be used to forward the magazine. use where it is uncertain what happened. Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co- ner of the cover. These ordinary stamps this section, such postage shall be col- authors of two useful books on U.S. domestic and interna- tional postage rates since 1872. These books, along with served instead of postage due stamps, in- lected on delivery by means of postage- Further Insights into U.S. Postal History 1794-2019, are dicating that the addressee paid the cus- due stamps. Other mail of the second- available from the American Philatelic Society. toms clearance fee. class may be forwarded for addressee, Again this is now believed to have been if he shall have first prepaid the forward- British Virgin Islands done because the postmaster who affixed ing postage, in which case the necessary the two ordinary stamps had run out of the stamps shall be affixed and canceled by On June 15, the British Virgin Islands postage due stamps normally used to col- the forwarding postmaster. Matter of the issued new printings of two of its 2017 lect the 10¢ fee. second class when forwarded shall be Undersea Life definitive (regular-issue) Next I consider another situation. Since charged with postage at the transient stamps: the 80¢ Caribbean Reef Squid and 1884 if second-class matter was for- second class rate regardless of weight or $1 Pedersen Cleaner Shrimp stamps. warded, ordinary stamps paid what was distance.” The new versions of these stamps in- known as the transient second-class rate. So depending how second-class matter clude a “2020” year date in the lower right It wasn’t until 1932 (1932 Postal Laws and was forwarded, postage due or ordinary corner. The earlier stamps, Scott 1178 and Regulations, Section 769) that the follow- stamps could be used for forwarding at 1179, have a “2017” year date. ing is found: the transient second-class rate. And the According to the islands’ new-issue “When mail charged with the forward- use to pay for some of this forwarding agent Pobjoy Mint, $10, $50 and $100 rev- ing postage is forwarded as provided in with postage due stamps did not occur enue stamps also were issued June 15. Stanley Gibbons Classic Albums Fantastic news for collectors of Great Britain and British Commonwealth stamps: Amos Advantage now stocks Stanley Gibbons hingeless albums for Founded by an avid stamp stamps issued during the reigns of King Edward VII, George V and George VI! These collector in 1966, we insure sumptuous albums include deluxe binders, preprinted acid-free album pages and deluxe collections of all sizes. slipcases. The albums include Stanley Gibbons catalog numbers, useful information pages and numerous illustrations of the different types and dies. If you want to take your British collection to the next level, these albums are a must. Got a minute? Get a quote. Visit AmosAdvantage.com for more information Experience superior customer service. CollectInsure.com 888-837-9537 or give us a call at 800-572-6885 0616 2019 AD CIS Linn's Stamp News / July 13, 2020 / 19

31072p018 19.indd 19 6/26/20 9:35 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

R ules regarding shortpaid local letters changed in 1879

It has been my experience job on the guides). that local or drop items fre- Now the PDF files can be quently were not handled in downloaded from Denman’s the same manner as nonlocal Stampsmarter website at items. http://stampsmarter.com/ An excellent example of Learning/PostalGuide.html. this variation in the handling It is my hope that within a of local items is how unpaid year this collection will also local letters were processed be a searchable document on after December 1879. the U.S. Postal Bulletins web- First, though, I would like to site at www.uspostalbulletins. note the public availability of com. a new government document These postal guides, and resource, the editions of the especially the supplements, United States Official Postal have been an incredibly use- Figure 2. No postage was affixed to this 1-ounce carrier-city drop letter, so Guide from 1874 to 1953. ful resource for me. For in- it was assessed 2¢ postage due in 1937, the drop-letter rate at the time. A 2¢ About two years ago, the stance, I have found scattered carmine postage due stamp is affixed to the front of the envelope. U.S. Postal Service lent the opinions of the postmaster of the full amount chargeable Three 1¢ carmine postage 1874 to 1953 Postal Guide general as well as U.S. Post thereon at the single rate.” due stamps (Scott J70) are publications to the American Office Department rulings not I have no examples of un- affixed to the front of the en- Philatelic Research Library. found elsewhere in any offi- paid or shortpaid drop letters velope, indicating payment of The APRL then scanned all cial documents. from before this ruling, where the postage due amount by the volumes, including all the Here is an important rul- double penalties were as- the addressee. One of the 1¢ supplements, saving them as ing found in the supplement sessed. postage due stamps is affixed TIFFs (tagged image file for- of the December 1879 Postal However, in his article “The mostly covering the improper mat). Guide. 1863-1865 Penalty Period,” bisect. Mike Ludeman and Don “RULINGS OF THE DEPART- in the May 2007 issue of the It is worth noting that for the Denman organized each MENT FROM OCTOBER 25, Chronicle of the U.S. Classic year after July 6, 1932, the drop year’s supplements into one 1879, TO NOVEMBER 25, 1879: Postal Issues (the quarterly rate was no different than the file. The files were then con- “Ruling 168. Drop letters journal of the U.S. Philatelic nondrop 3¢ letter rate. verted using optical character not having one full rate pre- Classics Society), Michael C. In Figure 2 is a 1-ounce un- reading software from ABBYY. paid thereon are not subject McClung shows (in his Figure paid 1937 carrier-city drop let- (This software, by the way, did to double rates; they may be 3) a shortpaid March 3, 1865, ter mailed in Richmond, Va., what I consider a remarkable delivered upon the payment drop letter where the short- at the restored 2¢-per-ounce paid amount was assessed at rate. the double rate. From 1880-1958, no penalty I have two unpaid drop let- was assessed for deposited ters that were handled after unpaid drop letters, so only the 1879 publication of Ruling the unpaid 2¢ postage was 168 that I can illustrate. due. Figure 1 pictures a July 6, A single 2¢ carmine post- 1932, New York City drop letter age due stamp (Scott (J71) is mailed on the first day of the affixed, showing that the cor- new rate requiring 3¢ postage rect postage due was paid by for mailing a letter weighing the addressee. up to 1 ounce. Payment of the In the next Modern U.S. Mail postage fee in this instance, column, I plan to discuss the however, was attempted with handling of unpaid nonlocal an invalid bisect of the 1932 items. 6¢ red orange George Wash- Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher ington stamp (Scott 711). are the co-authors of two useful books on Figure 1. The mailer of this July 6, 1932, drop letter attempted to pay the 3¢ U.S. domestic and international postage postage with an invalid bisect of a 6¢ stamp. As a drop letter it was assessed Therefore, as a drop let- rates since 1872. These books, along with ter, the envelope is marked Further Insights into U.S. Postal History only the 3¢ postage due, evidenced by the three 1¢ carmine postage due 1794-2019, are available from the American stamps affixed to the front. “POSTAGE DUE 3 CENTS.” Philatelic Society.

20 / August 10, 2020 / Linn's Stamp News

31082p020.indd 20 7/24/20 11:17 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

C larifying the rules on unpaid nonlocal letters

As I mentioned at the end I have no examples of par- of the August column about tially paid or shortpaid non- shortpaid local letters (Linn’s, drop letters prior to this ruling Aug. 10, page 20), I planned where double penalties were next to discuss the handling of assessed. unpaid nonlocal mailed items. However Michael C. Mc- The importance of the Unit- Clung shows partially paid ed States Official Postal Guide 1863-65 nondrop letters where supplements as a ruling source the shortpaid amount was as- was explained in that column. sessed at the double rate in Concerning unpaid nonlocal Figures 2, 5 and 6 of his article, items, Ruling 394 in the August “The 1863-1865 Penalty Pe- 1880 Postal Guide supplement riod,” in the journal of the U.S. is the final definitive ruling Philatelic Classics Society (the concerning unpaid matter that Chronicle of the U.S. Classic remained in place until Oct. 8, Postal Issues, May 2007, page Figure 2. After an unsuccessful effort to return this letter for postage, this 1958. 119). unpaid 1936 1-ounce nondrop domestic-rate letter reached the delivery office “But if any mail-matter, on I am illustrating here two un- unpaid, where it was assessed double deficiency of the then-current 3¢-per- which by law the postage is paid nondrop letters that were ounce letter rate. The two 3¢ carmine postage due stamps affixed indicate the deficiency was paid by the Pontiac, Mich., addressee. required to be prepaid at the handled under the guidelines mailing office, shall by inad- of Ruling 394. addressee, as indicated by the DUE … 6 CENTS” (with the 6 vertence reach its destina- Pictured in Figure 1 is a 1909 two 1895 2¢ carmine postage added in blue pencil). tion without any prepayment, letter mailed from New York due stamps (Scott J39) affixed The nondrop double rate double the prepaid rates shall City to Utica, N.Y., that was on this deliverable letter. (6¢) was due, which was paid be charged and collected on originally unpaid and appar- Figure 2 shows an unpaid in Pontiac with two 1930 3¢ delivery,” Ruling 394 stated. ently reached the addressee at 1936 1-ounce nondrop domes- carmine postage due stamps There was a certain amount the delivery office unpaid. The tic letter mailed from Brooklyn, (Scott J72). of ambiguity prior to this ruling, postage rate then in effect for N.Y., to Pontiac, Mich., which This column and the previ- because assessment of the this first-class domestic letter would have required 3¢ post- ous column together illustrate double penalty could be made was 2¢ for up to 1 ounce. age per ounce. how the process for handling even if partial payment had oc- As it was mailed unpaid after It was first unsuccessfully unpaid local and nonlocal curred. The ruling clarified that the August 1880 Postal Guide “Returned for Postage,” as in- items developed. It is interest- double payment only occurred ruling, it was due twice the un- dicated by the handstamp on ing to me that local matter was when there was no postage paid rate, or 4¢. the left side of the mailing ad- often handled differently than payment whatsoever affixed. That 4¢ due was paid by the dress. nonlocal matter. It then reached the delivery Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher are the co-authors of two useful books on office unpaid and was marked U.S. domestic and international postage at right with “Letters posted rates since 1872. These books, along with Further Insights into U.S. Postal History without Stamps/Subject to 1794-2019, are available from the American Double Deficiency./POSTAGE Philatelic Society. Monaco honors Prince Honore III

Monaco will issue a se- prince as a boy, and a later tenant (side-by-side) pair of portrait is pictured on the other stamps Sept. 14 to commemo- 2fr stamp. A view of Monaco rate the 300th birth anniversary unites the two designs. of Prince Honore III (1720-95). Sophie Beaujard designed The longest-reigning sover- and engraved the stamps. eign of Monaco, Honore III was Philaposte printed them by Figure 1. This 1909 nondrop letter was originally unpaid and apparently reached the addressee at the delivery office. Following an August 1880 ruling, proclaimed prince in 1733 serv- four-color intaglio in panes the letter was due twice the unpaid rate of 2¢ and therefore assessed 4¢ ing for 60 years until 1793. of eight (four pairs). For more postage due. Postage due stamps totaling 4¢ indicate payment of the postage The 2-franc stamp on the information, visit the website due by the addressee. left side of the pair shows the www.oetp-monaco.com.

18 / September 14, 2020 / Linn's Stamp News

31092p018.indd 18 8/28/20 7:37 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

U p-to-date information on U.S. domestic rates available

Two members of the Aux- insurance fee was $1.80. That iliary Markings Club recently table is partly reproduced in asked me about rates and Figure 2. fees for United States matter Therefore the total amount mailed after the time periods due on this Priority Mail flat- reported in the first editions of rate envelope was $5, paid in two reference books I wrote this case by the single 1987 with Henry W. Beecher: U.S. $5 Bret Hart definitive stamp Domestic Postal Rates, 1872- from the Great Americans se- 1993 and U.S. International ries (Scott 2196). Postal Rates, 1872-1996. These up-to-date files, the Since the first editions of later editions of the domestic those two books were pub- books and the Notice 123 files lished, I have produced up- found on the Stampsmarter to-date lists of these rates site all contain updated U.S. and fees, now up to 2014. Figure 1. The postage rate for this small Priority Mail flat-rate envelope, postage rates and fees. weighing less than 1 pound and mailed insured on May 25, 1999, from Oregon to These extensive updated Pennsylvania, was $3.20, and the insurance fee was $1.80. Postal historians can Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher lists are available as download- find this rate information from sources described in the accompanying article. are the co-authors of two useful books on able PDFs from the digitized U.S. domestic and international postage U.S. Postal Bulletins website at Pictured in Figure 1 is a Table 42 from the up-to-date rates since 1872. These books, along with Further Insights into U.S. Postal History www.uspostalbulletins.com. small Priority Mail flat-rate rates and fees files for the 1794-2019, are available from the American In this Linn’s column and envelope mailed from Port- $50.01 to $100 indemnity, the Philatelic Society. the next, I will illustrate Prior- land, Ore., to State College, ity Mail items mailed after the Pa., on May 25, 1999, and dates covered in the first edi- weighing up to 1 pound. The tions of each book. blue label centered in the The rates and fees for these lower section of the cover covers can be found in those shows the contents were updated files online, or in the covered by USPS insurance. second and third editions of At the time, as per Ta- the Wawrukiewicz-Beecher ble 7-5 in the third edition domestic rates and fees book. of the domestic rate book These rates and fees are (U.S. Domestic Postal Rates, also found online in the 1872-2011, by Beecher and 1995 to 2019 U.S. Postal Ser- Wawrukiewicz), the Priority vice Notice 123 files at www. Mail flat rate for all zones was Figure 2. This condensed segment of the full updated insurance fees table stampsmarter.com/learning/ $3.20. from the digitized U.S. Postal Bulletins website provides detail to understand PostalRates.html. At the same time, as per the postage and fee payments assessed on the envelope pictured in Figure 1.

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31102p017.indd 17 9/25/20 9:15 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

I nternational rates and fees for 1996 to 2014 updated online

As described in the previ- period are updated and avail- ous Modern U.S. Mail column able as downloadable PDFs (Linn’s, Oct. 12, page 17), I have from the digitized U.S. Postal produced up-to-date lists Bulletins website at www. of rates and fees for items uspostalbulletins.com. mailed after 1996. These rates and fees are That is the year where the also found online in the coverage of the international 1995 to 2019 U.S. Postal Ser- Figure 2. This table from the digitized U.S. Postal Bulletins website provides information about Global Priority Mail rates after 1996, and explains the rate rates and fees ended in the only vice Notice 123 files at www. for the envelope pictured in Figure 1 that was mailed in 2000. edition of the Wawrukiewicz- stampsmarter.com/learning/ Beecher book U.S. International PostalRates.html. from Kentucky to Great Britain. structure of WPL, and service, Postal Rates, 1872-1996. Figure 1 pictures a small The envelope, which was although now available at most All the U.S. international rates Global Priority Mail flat-rate limited to no more than 4 U.S. post offices, is still limited and fees for the 1996 to 2014 envelope mailed Dec. 2, 2000, pounds, is franked with the to deliver to specific nations in $5 Bret Harte stamp from the western Europe and the Pacific Great American definitive se- Rim, and Canada.” ries (Scott 2196) to exactly pay The rate for this small Global the $5 flat rate. Priority Mail flat-rate envelope As the U.S. International Postal from 2000 is found in the two Rates book explains, “Effective sources mentioned above and March 16, 1995, WORLDPOST is reproduced in the table in Priority Letter service (WPL) Figure 2. was introduced as a test service As noted in that table, from … an expedited airmail letter ser- the U.S. Postal Bulletins web- vice providing ‘fast, reliable, and site, the flat rates were revised economical delivery of all items on May 30, 1999. mailable as letters.’” Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher That service was replaced are the co-authors of two useful books on March 26, 1996, by Global Pri- U.S. domestic and international postage ority Mail, a revised interna- rates since 1872. These books, along with Figure 1. The flat rate for this up-to-4-pounds Global Priority Mail envelope, Further Insights into U.S. Postal History mailed from Kentucky to Great Britain on Dec. 2, 2000, was $5. The rate was tional priority mail service, with 1794-2019, are available from the American paid by a single $5 Bret Harte definitive stamp from the Great Americans series. “no change in the basic rate Philatelic Society.

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31112p018.indd 18 10/23/20 7:42 AM Modern U.S. Mail By Tony Wawrukiewicz

A n unusual postage due usage turned up unexpectedly

In writing this monthly Linn’s 6¢ Twin-motor Transport air- column over the years, my mail stamp (Scott C25) short- main purpose has been to help paid the 8¢ rate by 2¢. readers become aware of all The 2¢ postage due stamp the wonderful types of modern (Scott J71) indicates that the postal history that exist. Vallejo, Calif., addressee paid In some articles I have pre- the deficient 2¢ to receive the sented information about postcard. items that I had only recently In my experience, this type discovered to exist. In other in- of airmail use is far from com- stances I delayed writing about mon, and even more so when a subject until I collected addi- it is shortpaid. I was not looking tional material, usually in the for this use and was pleasantly process of putting together an surprised to find it on an online exhibit. commerce site. During the past four years, I This domestic postcard was mailed April 18, 1945, when the domestic airmail rate Tony Wawrukiewicz and Henry Beecher have been developing a new was 8¢ for mail weighing up to 1 ounce, including postcards. The 6¢ airmail stamp are the co-authors of two useful books on exhibit of the uses of United on the postcard, therefore, did not fully pay the rate. The 2¢ postage due stamp U.S. domestic and international postage States postage due stamps indicates the addressee paid the shortpaid amount. rates since 1872. These books, along with Further Insights into U.S. Postal History from their introduction on July ficult to locate. I had to search mestic airmail rate was 8¢ for 1794-2019, are available from the American 1, 1879, until U.S. adhesive through thousands of these up to 1 ounce. Therefore, the Philatelic Society. postage due stamps were no types of uses before I located longer produced or used as of any shortpaid examples bear- Schwartz’s Boston 1847 exhibit wins Oct. 2, 1986. ing U.S. postage due stamps. Because of the existence of Some postage due usages I single-frame champions award internet sales venues such as have only found serendipitous- eBay and others and because ly. I am writing about one such Mark Schwartz has won the The winner originally was to of the availability of various discovery in this column. single-frame Champion of have been selected at the Nov. dealer stocks, I have been able Before Jan. 1, 1949, there was Champions award for his ex- 19-21 Chicagopex show, which to put together what I consider no special domestic airmail hibit titled “Boston’s Use of the was canceled because of the to be an outstanding collection rate for postcards. Rather, do- 1847 Issue.” COVID-19 pandemic. of this material. mestic postcards were simply The competition, sponsored “The exhibits were judged by Some of the uses I have ac- mailed at the airmail letter rate. by the American Association of the same jury that would have quired have been surprisingly Similarly, the special interna- Philatelic Exhibitors, was held judged at Chicagopex,” said difficult to locate. As an ex- tional postcard airmail rate did virtually this year to select the AAPE president Mike Ley. ample, I wanted to find short- not exist until June 1, 1954. top exhibit from single-frame Schwartz’s exhibit is shown paid incoming international The cover illustrated here grand award winners at World in its entirety, along with the printed matter and paquebot is an April 18, 1945, domestic Series of Philately shows in other entries, on the AAPE uses, and these were very dif- postcard mailed when the do- 2020. website, www.aape.org. 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Prices, terms and product availability subject to P.O. Box 21117-L, Sarasota, FL 34276-4117 b Phone (941) 378-4881 change. Shipping and Handling Rates will apply. Linn's Stamp News / December 14, 2020 / 17

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