Developed & Supported by Mark Scheuer. Based on the work of Thomas J. Alexander. Dedicated to the memory of Creighton Hart and Susan McDonald. Feedback, additions, and corrections most welcome. Please send to: mscheue1@rochester.rr.com
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| Scott Number | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date | April 13, 1850 |
| From City | Baltimore |
| From State | MD |
| To City | Philadelphia |
| To State | PA |
| Addressee | W. L. Schaffer |
| Cert Author | |
| Cert # | |
| Fake | |
| Quantity 1 | 1 |
| Quantity 2 | 0 |
| Bisect | |
| Others |
Notes
April 13, 1850 folded letter from Baltimore to Philadelphia. Stamp cancelled with two red ˜5's and the blue Baltimore town postmark. On arrival in Philadelphia the recorded letter had a small blue ˜R' and the manuscript number ˜8' applied. The small ˜R' was used from October 1849 until September 1851.
Gordon Eubanks exhibit
The mails, while mostly used for personal letters or other information of little monetary value, were sometimes used for currency (the term Money Letter) and other items of value. The ability to record the movement of letters from point to point with clear accountability or traceability gave a high degree of confidence that the letter would arrive at its destination intact.¨Registration was first used in England in the 1600's. In the United States there was no formal government system before 1855, but valuables were being sent through the mail, at the owners risk, from the late 1700's. Starting around 1845, while it was still the owners risk, if lost the policy was for the Post Office to make every effort in its power to discover the cause, ¦ . This led to efforts to trace letters at individual post offices since post office was actually competing with the express companies for this business and motivated to improve security.¨During the 1847 period there are letters to Philadelphia with an R to indicate that the letter was registered. Often a hand-written accounting or registration number appears on the letter.
PhilaMercury Cover #2726
Alexander listed as 4/13/50
H R Harmer sale 1865 (Ring) lot 2130
Gordon Eubanks exhibit
The mails, while mostly used for personal letters or other information of little monetary value, were sometimes used for currency (the term Money Letter) and other items of value. The ability to record the movement of letters from point to point with clear accountability or traceability gave a high degree of confidence that the letter would arrive at its destination intact.¨Registration was first used in England in the 1600's. In the United States there was no formal government system before 1855, but valuables were being sent through the mail, at the owners risk, from the late 1700's. Starting around 1845, while it was still the owners risk, if lost the policy was for the Post Office to make every effort in its power to discover the cause, ¦ . This led to efforts to trace letters at individual post offices since post office was actually competing with the express companies for this business and motivated to improve security.¨During the 1847 period there are letters to Philadelphia with an R to indicate that the letter was registered. Often a hand-written accounting or registration number appears on the letter.
PhilaMercury Cover #2726
Alexander listed as 4/13/50
H R Harmer sale 1865 (Ring) lot 2130
