Display by Members of The Collectors Club (New York)

June 9, 2005

Frames	Exhibit	Name
1 - 2	U.S. Domestic Mails, 1776 - 1800	George J. Kramer,† RDP
3 - 4	U.S. Postal History before the U.S. Post Office (1792)	Edward J. Siskin*
5 - 6	Early U.S. - G.B. Mails by Steamship	Richard F. Winter*
7	U.S. Private Carriers, 1844 - 45	Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D.
8	New York Postmaster's Provisional	Thomas C. Mazza†
9 - 10	Private Posts that Handled the Mail in the U.S. 1844 - 1868	Larry Lyons
11 - 12	The William H. Gross Collection of Classic United States	Presented by Charles F. Shreve*
13 - 14	The U.S. National Postage Stamp Collection - Selected Items	Curator of Philately: W.Wilson Hulme†
15 - 16	Philadelphia Carriers	Vernon R. Morris, Jr., M.D.*
17 - 18	Using America's First Issue to Prepay Domestic Postage Rates	Harvey Mirsky*
19 - 20	Struck on Stamps - 1851 to 1868	Wade E. Saadi†
21	United States Five Cent Issue of 1856	Frederick R. Mayer*
22	Private Carriage of Transcontinental Mail	Thomas C. Mazza†
23 - 24	Confederate States of America	Van Koppersmith*
25	The 1903 Two Cent Washington Shield	Nicholas Lombardi*
26 - 27	U.S. Series 1902 - Universal Postal Union	Roger S. Brody†
28 - 29	United States 90¢ Stationery Reay and Plimpton Issues - Source Material and Usages	Robert L. Markovits*
30 - 31	Hawaiian Stamps	Richard Malmgren*
32 - 33	U.S. Spanish American War Possessions - Early Postal History	Richard A. Pounder
34 - 35	The Hidalgo First Issue of Mexico	Omar J. Rodriguez
36 - 37	Mexican American War, 1846 - 1848	Mark E. Banchik, M.D.†
38	Costa Rica - Usages of the First Issue	Frederick R. Mayer*
39 - 40	Cayman Islands: Three Philatelic Episodes	Richard Maisel*
41	British Packets and Cuba	Yamil H. Kouri, M.D.
42 - 43	Early Turks Islands Postal History	Peter P. McCann†
44 - 45	French and British Postal Agencies in Haiti 1860 - 1881	F. Burton Sellers,† RDP
46	Guadeloupe: The British Carry the Mails	Edward J.J. Grabowski*
47 - 48	Colombia	Deborah I. Friedman†
49 - 50	Prephilatelic and Classic Ecuador Including Maritime Mail	Robert A. D'Elia†
51 - 52	Recent Research in Chilean Postal Stationery	Ross A. Towle†

These thirty exhibits by members of the Collectors Club were chosen to show a selection of material from the Western Hemisphere. Most of the participants are also Fellows (†) or members (*) of the Society. Virtually all of the exhibits contain selected pages from larger exhibits that have received gold medals and grand awards at the national level, with many that have reached the large gold medal or grand prix level in international competition.

Strong emphasis is given to United States philately, starting with pre - stamp postal history and the first two decades of stamps, including those prior to the first official U.S. stamps of 1847. Some early twentieth century specialties and " back of the book" exhibits round out this portion.

The remaining third of the exhibits show Central and South American areas, with most of them having a connection to British mail services. The basic arrangement of this group display is chronological for the United States, followed by a geographical tour that proceeds down Central America, across the Caribbean, and then down the western coast of South America.

Frames 1 and 2

U.S. Domestic Mails, 1776 - 1800 George J. Kramer, RDP, New Jersey

Pages excerpted from the first two sections of the exhibit "U.S. Domestic Mails, 1776 - 1869," this eighteen page exhibit has several goals; to illustrate public and private existing routes and rates, to trace their development and expansion, and to emphasize postally those historical events that altered the nature of routes, rates and markings.

A letter datelined Fairfield (Connecticut), carried privately to New York where it was posted " Free" on July 4, 1776, to John Hancock in Philadelphia. The free carriage was permitted to delegates of the Continental Congress while in session.

Frames 3 and 4

U.S. Postal History before the U.S. Post Office (1792) Edward J. Siskin, New Jersey

This collection includes covers that traveled to, from and within the areas that now comprise the United States before the establishment of the U.S. Post Office on June 1, 1792. Mail was handled by the many means, including ships, local subscription posts, provincial systems, the Parliamentary Post, military systems, the Continental Congress Post and the Confederation Post.

Frames 5 and 6

Early U.S. - G.B. Mails by Steamship Richard F. Winter, North Carolina

A selection of unusual items of transatlantic postal history, with stampless covers from 1838, when the first transatlantic steamships carried the mail, until 1876, just after the start of the General Postal Union. This includes mail between the two countries during each of the rate periods, as well as mail to destinations in which each country acted as an intermediary post. Two notable non - contract steamship letters are an 1849 letter from Genoa, Kingdom of Sardinia to the United States carried by Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. steamships to the Caribbean and then to Mobile, Alabama, and a 9¢ rate letter from India to the United States. The latter could only have been possible because of the soldier's concessionary rate from India to London. The final group of covers illustrates some unusual mail to and from California, the last an extraordinary cover from France by West India mail to California.

The illustrated cover (with reverse) was posted on 13 June 1851 in Angoulême, France, and addressed to San Francisco, paid 2 Francs 80 centimes, a very short - lived rate marked on the reverse, and was due 20¢ in the United States. An additional $1.00 for express service to the northern gold fields by Reynolds & Company Express is marked on the reverse along with the express company markings.

Frame 7

U.S. Private Carriers, 1844 - 45 Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D., Florida

A selection of important items related to the inter - city mail system organized by private companies, beginning in late 1843 and ending on June 30, 1845. The so - called "Independent Mails" have been described by scholars as the catalyst for the major U.S. postal reforms passed by Congress in 1845.

Frame 8

New York Postmaster's Provisional Thomas C. Mazza, New York

The first and most widely used of the provisional adhesive stamps prepared after the United States postal reform, which simplified and lowered rates from July 1, 1845, to 5¢ for up to 300 miles and 10¢ for greater distances. These provided the first tests of whether the British example would work in the United States.

Frames 9 and 10

Private Posts that Handled the Mail in the U.S. 1844 - 1868 Larry Lyons, Connecticut

This exhibit shows some of the adhesives of private local post companies that competed with or supplemented the official mail service. The story begins with the independent mail companies of 1844 - 5 who operated in conjunction with other independents to deliver the mail locally and intra - city effectively. Numerous private local posts charged 1 or 2 cents to deliver mail to the post office or make local deliveries. The 34 covers shown here were carried by various private local companies through 1868.

This 10¢ red California City Letter Express adhesive is applied to a letter from San Francisco to Brooklyn, October 10, 1862, and is the only known such combination cover with a U.S. Stamp.

Frames 11 and 12

The William H. Gross Collection of Classic United States Presented by Charles F. Shreve, Texas

The collection of United States classic stamps, 1847 - 1869, formed by Mr. Gross, is one of the most comprehensive of its kind in private hands. It is an essentially complete assemblage of a mint single and an uncommon mint multiple of every U.S. stamp from the period (used is shown if it only exists thus), and is augmented with unusual usages on cover. Selections have been made from his collection to show some of the most recognizable rarities in United States philately.

The unique mint block of six of the United States Ten Cent 1847 Issue - being the largest known multiple.

Frames 13 and 14

The U.S. National Postage Stamp Collection - Selected Items Curator of Philately: W. Wilson Hulme, Washington, D.C.

This exhibit highlights selected items from the U.S. national postage stamp collection, housed at the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum. The collection was started in the 1886 and today is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in the world. The collection consists of nearly six million items U.S. and international philatelic items.

This cover was found in a New York City furnace where trash had been burned. A small group of items was only singed. The cover and stamps have been extensively repaired. This unusual cover has a horizontal strip of three thirteen - cent stamps affixed, the only multiple of Hawaiian Missionaries known. It paid triple the normal rate. It is the only piece that clearly shows the location of the two types of Hawaiian Missionary stamps.

Frames 15 and 16

Philadelphia Carriers Vernon R. Morris, Jr., M.D., Florida

In 1753, Benjamin Franklin established a " Penny Post" in colonial Philadelphia for the delivery of mail. During the following century Philadelphia grew to be the fourth largest city in the Western World. Private enterprise, and especially Blood's Despatch in Philadelphia, exerted considerable competitive pressure. The government product was a physically separate Carrier Department with its own revenue, prepayment adhesives, rate reductions, street collection boxes, and multiple daily deliveries. In the process, however, the Government was encumbered with ever - changing, confusing, and non - uniform policies from the Postmaster General and many Acts of Congress. In the end legislative monopoly prevailed.

Frames 17 and 18

Using America's First Issue to Prepay Domestic Postage Rates Harvey Mirsky, New York

The basic purpose of the first issue of the United States - the 5¢ Franklin and the 10¢ Washington stamps - was to encourage and facilitate the prepayment of domestic postage. This exhibit illustrates the success the new stamps had in meeting that goal. Examples are shown of their use in various combinations to pay basic letter rates, multiple rates, and even to overpay postage on other categories of 1847 mail.

Strip of three pen - canceled U.S. first issue 10c stamps, and single stamp (single tied by "Washington D.C./MAR 25/5cts" circular date stamp), on partial blue letter to San Francisco. Manuscript routing instructions: "By Steamer Via New York."

Frames 19 and 20

Struck on Stamps - 1851 to 1868 Wade E. Saadi, New York

This exhibit shows the development of cancellations and postmarks that were "Struck on Stamps," from the genesis of the "Cheap Postage" period of 1851 through 1868. Postmasters frequently added ancillary markings to an already canceled stamp in spite of additional room on the cover to place a second or third strike. The exhibit includes all types of cancellations and postmarks, not just fancy ones.

In 1851, the vast majority of cancellations were postal markings, many of which were rate markings reactivated from the stampless period and put into service as makeshift obliterators. New canceling devices, which started as simple cork obliterators, over the years matured into miniature works of art. Highlights include the "Chittenden Eagle" of New York City and the "Man in Hat" of Waterbury, Connecticut.

Frame 21

United States Five Cent Issue of 1856 Frederick R. Mayer, Colorado

This exhibit presents a survey of the rarities of this issue, which was in use for less than two years. Included is the only reported mint block in private hands, the largest known used multiple, a usage by Colonial Express to Great Britain, as well as unique usages to other destinations.

Frame 22

Private Carriage of Transcontinental Mail Thomas C. Mazza, New York

When the gold rush opened California with a bang, there was enormous competition for carrying passengers and freight to the West, and gold back to the East. From the early to the mid - 1850's shipping and express companies provided this service, beginning with the Nicaragua route of Cornelius Vanderbilt and extending to the Pony Express.

Frames 23 and 24

Confederate States of America Van Koppersmith, Alabama

The four and one - half years of Confederate States of America (CSA) postal history is almost certainly richer than any other similar period in American history. This display concentrates on the regularly issued stamps of the CSA. All of these stamps are shown on a variety of unusual covers, including adversity, turned, wallpaper, fancy and patriotic. Unusual uses include Flag of Truce, bisected stamp, Trans - Mississippi, blockade run and smuggled mail. All examples shown either originated in or passed through the city of Mobile, Alabama.

The strip of five 2¢ stamps on the U.S. 3¢ star die envelope are from positions 16 - 20 of the pane. There is another strip of five on the reverse from the adjoining positions 11 - 15. This is the largest recorded franking of the 2¢ lithograph. The 20¢ postage paid the 1⁄2 to 1 ounce double rate to Selma, Alabama, from Mobile on July 27, 1863.

Frame 25

The 1903 Two Cent Washington Shield Nicholas Lombardi, New Jersey

The Washington Shield stamp was produced from 1903 until 1908 and its usage continued for some time afterwards due to supplies still on hand at many post offices and in private hands. Since this stamp paid the first class domestic letter rate during this period, it was the most commonly used adhesive in the United States and the study of it and its usages provides a comprehensive look at the formats in which stamps were produced and the way mail matter was handled during the first decade of the twentieth century in the U.S. It should also be noted that although more than 22 billion Shield stamps were produced, many varieties are among the rarest in twentieth century U.S. philately.

A pair of the International Vending Machine Co. coil stamp, which shows the privately applied perforations with their typical slight diagonal angle.

Frames 26 and 27

U.S. Series 1902 - Universal Postal Union Roger S. Brody, New Jersey

The Series 1902 regular issue was in general use from late 1902 through 1909 when mail was the primary method of international commercial and personal communication. During that period, 57 countries and their colonies and possessions were signatories to the Universal Postal Union Convention. This exhibit displays Universal Postal Union usage from the United States for each of the fourteen original values of the Series.

One hundred thirty times the letter rate of 5¢ per 1⁄2 oz.; registry fee, 8¢; 2¢ overpaid. The envelope accompanied a package from New York, NY, Oct 3, 1904, to Lucerne, Switzerland. One of three known and the earliest reported use of both the $2.00 and $5.00 value on UPU mail.

Frames 28 and 29

United States 90¢ Stationery Reay and Plimpton Issues - Source Material and Usages Robert L. Markovits, Massachusetts

High value stationery was introduced in the U.S. in 1861, culminating with the first 90 - cent value in 1870. High value envelopes were not intended for letters as correspondence would almost never reach that tariff level based on the limited size of the envelopes. Rather, the 90 - cent envelope functioned as a "parcel" envelope. Like parcel cards and forms used in Europe, envelopes allowed for an easier processing of parcels in the distribution systems of the day. The envelope was preferred in the U.S. postal system of that period as it could also carry documents accompanying a parcel. Surviving examples are rare.

The only recorded example of a postally used 90¢ envelope.

Frames 30 and 31

Hawaiian Stamps Richard Malmgren, Hawaii

Displayed here are the first six rows from a traditional exhibit entitled "Hawaiian Postage Stamps." While the exhibit commences with the 1851 Missionary stamps of the Kingdom of Hawaii and continues up to the 1900 Annexation by the United States, this display is limited to the " classic" issues that preceded the Banknote or Royal Portrait issues.

The illustrated piece is one of three known examples of inbound mail, all of which are addressed to Mrs. Pogue, the sister of postmaster Henry Whitney, who presumably added the stamp to avoid her need to pay the inbound 5¢ rate.

Frames 32 and 33

U.S. Spanish American War Possessions - Early Postal History Richard A. Pounder, New Jersey

The short - lived Spanish American War of 1898 put four former Spanish territories - Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Guam - under U.S. control, some temporarily. Post offices, hastily opened to handle soldiers' mail, initially used then - current U.S. stamps. Overprints with the individual names of the territories on U.S. issues followed at different points in 1899, the Philippines making the transition last and therefore offering more examples of the use of U.S. issues. This exhibit displays examples of the two postal history "periods," both pre - overprint and post. Frankings with U.S. stamps appear first, some only a handful known, followed by unusual examples of uses of the overprinted varieties.

Philippines to Mauritius paying 8¢ registry fee plus 2 times the 5¢ first class rate. Unusual destination and scarce routing via Italian paquebot.

Frames 34 and 35

The Hidalgo First Issue of Mexico Omar J. Rodriguez, New York

The First Issue of Mexico (1856 - 1864) saw a total of 23 different stamps issued from the same plates but different papers. This issue comprises three different printings: The first (1856), the second (1861) and the Gothic (1867). The exhibit illustrates key characteristics of the issue, including large multiples, uncommon district overprints, small town cancels, uncommon usages (such as certified fronts) and the very unusual splits, from the octosects (1 8) to the 3⁄4. The exhibit opens with an important forerunner of the postage stamp, the rare Correo Mayor from Veracruz, a 1739 entire with the first postal marking in the whole Latin American continent.

Frames 36 and 37

Mexican American War, 1846 - 1848 Mark E. Banchik, M.D., New York

An overview of the postal history during the period of the Mexican American War. The United States consolidated its reach across the North American continent during this period. Rates, routes, and markings are presented in the context of " theater of activity" and " order of progress" of United States forces. United States, Mexican, and British mail services coexisted in the region throughout this period.

An inbound official Presidential Free Frank (signed by President James K. Polk) to the Quartermaster General inspecting facilities in Northern Mexico dated December, 1846.

Frame 38

Costa Rica - Usages of the First Issue Frederick R. Mayer, Colorado

This exhibit presents some of the rarities of the 1863 issue. Included are combination frankings of Costa Rica with Great Britain as well as the United States. Also shown are usages with additional postage due adhesives of France, Italy, and the United States. Other rare frankings, such as bisects used on circular to England, and registered usages are included.

Frames 39 and 40

Cayman Islands: Three Philatelic Episodes Richard Maisel, New York

The Cayman Islands consist of three small islands located in the northwestern Caribbean Sea about 150 miles south of Cuba. They were one of the smallest and most isolated of British West Indian colonies prior to World War II, yet they produced a rich treasure of philatelic materials. This exhibit illustrates three of the most interesting episodes in Cayman philately: (1) Jamaican stamps used in the Caymans between 1889 and 1900; (2) the hand - stamped provisionals of 1907 - 08; and (3) the Rural Posts of 1908 through 1916.

Cayman Islands: 1907 1d on 5s Provisional, block of four with inverted surcharge on upper left stamp.

Frame 41

British Packets and Cuba Yamil H. Kouri, M.D., Massachusetts

A selection of covers carried by British packets to, from, and through Cuba, beginning in 1841 when the Royal Mail Packet Co. started its operations, and ending in 1877 when Cuba joined the Universal Postal Union. Some of the highlights include several unusual and unique routes, markings, and usages. A prepaid cover from New York City to Havana, carried by the British steamer "Medway," in 1842. This is one of the two reported 'PAID AT NEW YORK' crowned circles, and the only one to Cuba.

Frames 42 and 43

Early Turks Islands Postal History Peter P. McCann, Florida

The Turks Islands derive their name from the rare " Turks Head" cactus found only in these islands. The Post Office was established in 1854. Stamps and cancelers were introduced in 1867. The Turks Islands joined the UPU in 1881. Early postal markings and stamps on cover are the most difficult to acquire of any of the British territories in the Caribbean region because of a literate population generally less than 50 in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Shown here are early datestamps, cancellations, and other official markings on mail as well as rates and routes. Early Empire and other rates on mail originating from the Turks Islands before 1854 are also described.

" PAID AT TURKS ISLAND" Crowned Circle on an 1860 letter to London.

Frames 44 and 45

French and British Postal Agencies in Haiti 1860 - 1881 F. Burton Sellers, RDP, Arizona

To carry prepaid mail between Haitian cities and from Haiti to France on French ships, the Haitian Government authorized a French Postal Agency established in Cap Haitien in 1865. Similar British Postal Agencies for mail carriage on Royal Mail Steam Packets became operative in Jacmel in 1860 and in Port Au Prince in 1870. Since Haiti did not issue its first stamps until July 1881, French and British stamps were used by the respective agencies until that time. Most of the covers are rare and some of the stamps used, particularly some British which were available only in very small quantities, are extremely rare, both on cover and canceled off cover. Canceling devices for British mail were "C59" for Jacmel and "E53" (two types) for Port Au Prince. A variety of cancels and markings were used by the French services. Mail from Port Au Prince is less available than from Jacmel because of the shorter period of service.

Frame 46

Guadeloupe: The British Carry the Mails Edward J.J. Grabowski, New Jersey

The British have always played a major part in the transportation of mails from Guadeloupe to worldwide destinations. This exhibit examines the importance of British transit for mails from Guadeloupe beginning in 1851. The basic rate was 1F50c per 7.5g, and the mail carried by the British Royal Mail Steam Packet Company to England under a special agreement. The stamps were applied in Guadeloupe and canceled upon arrival in France, as shown by the above example posted on Nov. 2, 1851, from Basse - Terre with the stamps tied by a French continuous grill. This is the earliest recorded use of French stamps from any of the Colonies.

Frames 47 and 48

Colombia Deborah I. Friedman, New York

Highlights from a collection of Colombia, including the only recorded cover of the 1865 50c cubierta (a unique insured letter system) and one of two recorded covers of the 1867 issue, and with two 10c 1874 stamps, one bisected. Also shown are the four American Woolen Company SCADTA " bisect" covers (ex - Cole) reunited for the first time since 1939, a May 16, 1929, SCADTA crash cover with contents - the legendary air mail dealer Fred Kessler's wedding invitation, and one of two surviving 50c SCADTA envelopes issued in 1923 to pre - pay airmail in Colombia for letters sent from Germany, one of two recorded.

A 50 centavos cubierta of 1865 on cover sent from Bogota to Socorro; the 30 centavos in stamps of the 1865 issue paid for the excess weight at a rate of 10 centavos for each 15 grams.

Frames 49 and 50

Prephilatelic and Classic Ecuador Including Maritime Mail Robert A. D'Elia, California

This selection of major pieces from an exhibit of Ecuadorean postal history covers three periods. The prephilatelic mail includes eighteenth century covers and rare or unique wrappers. The classic era includes early wrappers with seldom seen cancellations and high franking, along with combination covers. Maritime mail includes a number of unusual combination covers to various destinations.

The only privately held cover to Italy bearing a classic Ecuadorean stamp and Italian postage dues.

Frames 51 and 52

Recent Research in Chilean Postal Stationery Ross A. Towle, California

Some of the results of research into Chilean postal stationery from the past 10 years. Original documentation in archives on three continents have been searched. The Archivo Nacional in Santiago contains the decrees for orders of postal stationery and placing them in circulation. The Ministry of Interior (Correos) and Embassy in Paris are the important sections. The De La Rue correspondence books held by the National Postal Museum (London) shed light on the DLR issue. The American Bank Note Co. Print Order books and incoming correspondence folders provide much inside information. The extensive business archive of J. Green and Son provide what might be the most comprehensive archive of a business between 1809 and 1987.