Numerous students of philately have extensively written about the cancellations and postmarks of New York City. A work relevant to this present study is that by Hubert Skinner (Philatelic Foundation Seminar Series #3, pp. 79-107). In his treatise, Skinner extensively and expertly discusses and describes the usages and postal history of cancellations and postmarks of NYC during the 1845 - 1876 period. Importantly, a classification scheme incorporating code letters and numbers was introduced, denoting the type of marking, the year first recorded, and a serial number for that particular cancel. I will discuss in detail the marking referred to as NYDM 52-3 (Figure 1 and full cover) and share some interesting, new findings.

Figure 1 - NYDM 52-3

This marking was one of many used on domestic inter-city letters. It is found in black and given the code NYDM 52-3, where the "NYDM" denotes "New York Domestic Mail", the "52" denotes "first seen in 1852", and the "3" denotes "type three". So why revisit this cancel? First, the most compelling characteristic of this cancel is the usage of "APL" to abbreviate the month of April. Traditionally, April has most often been seen abbreviated prior to, during, and after the 1851-57 period by the three letters "APR". Second, some recently discovered "APL" covers and numerous re-examined "APL" singles demonstrate that the N.Y.D.M. 52-3 cancel had a much broader period of use that once thought, being found on covers from the Stampless, Carriers, Locals, & 1847 Periods. Finally, I will present evidence that more than one "type" or "sub-type" of canceling device was used to create the New York "APL" CDS'.

Figure 2 - New Finds!

Since this cancel was first observed used by Skinner in April of 1852, my search began for cancelled examples of the U. S. 3¢ 1851-57 issued-stamps with the "APL" marking. My first thought was that since the 3¢ Issue had over a six year life span, finding the "APL" markings would be as easy as finding an "APR". This turns out not to be the case. These "APL" markings turn out to be quite scarce. Moreover, it became apparent quite rapidly, that more than one "sub-type" of canceling device was in use (Figure 2).

The upper left CDS (which I call NYSM 52-3, where "S" is for "Ship") is found on stampless letters, for exmaple this "SHIP" cover from Liverpool to Boston carried on the Black Ball Line sailing packet Europa.

The upper middle and right CDS (which I call 52-3c) is found in red only on stampless covers, for example this "DROP RATE" undated front.

The lower left CDS (which I call 52-3b) is found in red only on stampless covers, for example this 1835 folded letter.

The lower right CDS (which I call 52-3a) is found on a N.Y. Tribune cover with enclosure dated 1855. While these CDS's are apparently of the same "type" as Skinner's NYDM 52-3 (Figures 1 and 2 lower right), upon closer examination a number of differences are observed.

Figure 3 - Key Features

The first apparent difference is the color. A census of past "covers sold" by mining Siegel's 5+ yr. Catalog Archive, as well as those owned by myself or other collectors has turned up numerous covers with the red "APL" CDS. These are dated from 1835 up to and including 1851 (see census). This red CDS usage covers the Stampless, Carriers and Locals, and 1847 Periods. Then, abruptly in the early months of 1852 and continuing through at least 1855, black ink is used for marking this CDS.

The second noticeable difference is with the diameter of each CDS. Figure 2 illustrates the full CDS' and Figure 3 denotes the dimensions, where the undated "Drop Rate" front is the smallest at 28 mm (52-3c), the 1835 stampless folded letter sheet (FLS) is 30 mm (52-3b), the 3¢ 1852 cover (Figure 1) is 31 mm (Skinner 52-3), and the 1855 N.Y. Tribune cover is 32 mm (52-3a).

The third noticeable difference lies in the following: (1) the lettering of "NEW-YORK"; (2) the size and shape of the "APL"; and (3) the size of the date numerals. I will handle each one individually.

Figure 4 - Comparison of 52-3b and 5203c

More to come, text, covers, singles....

NYDM 52-3 Cover	1835 Stampless Cover	N.Y. Tribune Cover
NYDM 52-3a Cover	Astor House Cover	Stampless Drop Cover
	Ship Europa Cover

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