The first US Postage Stamps were issued in New York City in 1842 for the US City Despatch Post. Operated Aug 16, 1842 – Nov 28, 1846. Scott Catalog 6LB1- 6LB7. Extensive research previously done by Larry Lyons and Scott Trepel. Original census of 6LB1 on cover by Larry Lyons published in The Penny Post, the official journal of the Carriers and Locals Society, affiliate 211 of the Am. Phil. Soc.
Developed & Supported by Mark Scheuer. Additions and corrections are encouraged. Please send to: markscensus@uspcs.org
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| Scott Number | 6LB3 |
|---|---|
| Date | September 2, 1842 |
| From City | New York |
| From State | NY |
| To City | New York |
| To State | NY |
| Addressee | Miss M. S. Stoutenborough |
| Cert Author | |
| Cert # | |
| Fake | |
| No. of Stamps | 1 |
| Off Cover? | |
| Other Stamps | |
| Notes | 3c Black on Light Blue unsurfaced paper. CDS Sep 2 (1842) 4 O'Clock (see last image) Robert A. Siegel sale 868 lot 2010 realized 750 gives the time stamp as 9 O'Clock. Robert A. Siegel sale 825 lot 1493 realized 650 Illustrated in 100 Years Ago / February 1843 August / Centenary of the First Adhesive Postage Stamp of the United States, Elliot Perry & Arthur C. Hall, p. 20, fig. 9 Corinphila sale 339 lot 5870 group of 3 covers Corinphila sale 347 lot 87 group of 3 covers realized 480 chf Based on the address, this letter was written to the daughter of William Stoutenborough, a wire worker (1845 Doggett’s) 2nd image: (Illustration cropped from Fig 9, p 20 of One Hundred Years Ago 1842-1942 by Perry & Hall) Enclosure is an invitation that reads “Alex Fountain presents his compliments to Miss Stoutenborough and would be happy of her company to visit Niblo’s this evening. Friday Sept 2, 42. 90 Pine Street.” Niblo’s Garden was a New York theater on Broadway near Prince Street. Given the 4 O' Clock mailing, Alex Fountain had a lot of confidence that the US Despatch Post would deliver the note with plenty of time for Miss Stoutenborough to prepare for and arrive at their date. |
