Rutland Fair Covers

A Vermont philatelic tradition ended in 2009 when for the first time since 1953, the Rutland Stamp Club didn't produce a special cachet or cancel for the Vermont State Fair. Like many other groups today, the members are getting older and finding it more difficult to participate in events.

The Rutland Stamp Club would have a stamp exhibition for the whole week long fair plus man the club table from early in the morning to late in the evening each day. Some Vermont collectors actively collect each of the fair covers.

Here's the 1st in the series which spanned 1953-2008:

Vermont Doane Cancels

Fellow collector Bill Lizotte and I are beginning to work on a website dealing with Vermont Doane cancels.

Doane cancels were issued to small post offices between 1903 and 1906. Here's a basic primer about the 3 types of Doanes.

All Doanes have a number in the killer bars. The number represents the amount of business the post office had done in the previous year. The examples below were chosen because they illustrate well the differences between the Types.

Type 1 Doanes are easy to identify since they all have 5 killer bars with a number in the center.

Type 2 and Type 3 Doanes both have only 4 killer bars with a number in the center.

Type 2 bars are hollow, but can deceive since they can be filled as they were used more and more.

Type 3 bars were issued completely filled. There are other differences between Types 2 and 3 but these are the most obvious.

1st "FIRST DAY OF SALE" cancel in Vermont

A few years ago, the USPS introduced "FIRST DAY OF SALE" cancels at any post office that was willing to purchase one. Beginning in 2007, the Postal Service agreed to allow new stamps to be sold nationwide on the First Day of Issue. Stamps would still be officially issued at one post office designated by the USPS and that post office would have a "FIRST DAY OF ISSUE" cancel.

A local stamp collector arranged for the Bethel Vermont post office to acquire one of the special cancels.

A word about the cachet on this cover. Calvin Coolidge became president while he was visiting his father at Plymouth, Vermont in 1923. He and Chester Arthur are the 2 men born in Vermont who have served at president of the United States.

Sutton Post Office Closes

On Friday, August 27, 2010, word began circulating around the Vermont philatelic community that the Sutton (Caledonia County) post office would be closing at the end of business that day. There had been a small news story the previous evening on WCAX TV (Channel 3, Burlington).

The news reports also said that the lease on the premises which housed the Sutton office would run out at the end of August, 2010 and would not be renewed. A USPS facility person said that the he had found not acceptable alternative sites in Sutton.

Immediately, collectors contacted the Sutton PO and the officer-in-charge, Barbara Pine. One was successful in getting 20 last day cancels on postal cards. Another made the long trip from central VT to the Sutton PO. Sutton is one of the communities in the North East Kingdom that you "can't get there from here". He was able to get 20 envelopes cancelled on the last day.

The Sutton patrons were only notified a few days previous to the closure. Those with post office boxes were now assigned to the West Burke PO. West Burke is 4 miles to the East on US Route 5.

According to a news report in the local paper, the Sutton PO office cost the USPS $45,000 to run but only generated $24,000 income in a year. That's about $250.00 a week.

Sutton was originally established on May 30, 1811 as "Billymead". There is one example known from the Billymead timeframe. According to postal records the Post Office name was changed to Sutton sometime in 1817 although the Vermont legislature changed the name of the town to Sutton in 1812.

"VERMONT" Ovals

A few post offices in the later 1800s used ovals. Since I collect the 2c Brown stamp canceled by Vermont postmarks, these fit right into that collection

Williston is in Chittenden County and today is a bedroom suburb of Burlington. It's one of the fastest growing areas of the state, home to many box stores and condos. Today's population is about 7700. In the 1880's it was a small farming community. The historic village section is in the center of town, the box stores and other commercial development is to the west.

South Shaftsbury was a post office in the Town of Shaftsbury in Bennington County. Shaftsbury was once the home of poet Robert Frost as well as Jacob Merrit Howard, one of the founders of the Republican Party. The South Shaftsbury post office existed from 1831 to 1961.

Both of these ovals have the full name "VERMONT" for the state name rather than VT usually sound on postmarks.

Home Made Star Cancels

You can almost find anything to suit your interests in 19th Century postal history. I find STAR CANCELS very interesting. Below are 2 examples which look like they are home made star cancels.

The Ludlow (Windsor County) example has a negative star in the center of the positive star.

This example below from McIndoes Falls (Caledonia County) is probably home made also. It was used in the 1860s.

July 2010 Pictorial Cancels

Joe's Pond in Danville, Vt has an ice out contest every winter. A block is placed in the center of the pond which connects to a clock. When the ice melts and the block falls through the clock stops. The person guessing closest to the actual time of ice-out wins $100s.
The first boy scout troop in the US was formed in Barre in 1909, even before the Boy Scouts of America was formed. In November 2009, there was also a pictorial cancel.
Every year, the town of Jamaica holds an Old Home Day celebration. Jamaica is in southern Vermont on the Massachusetts border. There have been many cancels over the past few years.
The National Speleological Society is a not for profit organization dedicated to the study, conservation, exploration and knowledge of caves. Looks like the Lake Champlain Monster is pictured in the lower right of the cancel. The cancel comes with August 2-6 dates.

For the last few years, there has been a pictorial cancel at the Lamoille County Field Days in northern Vermont.

A Few More B/W Photos from the late 50s and early 60s

Isle LaMotte (Grand Isle County)

Richford (Franklin County)

Post Office and Customs House

Dorset (Bennington County)

Old Post Office Pics from the 1960s

Recently, postal history dealer Mike McMorrow gave me many old negatives that he found in an accumulation of postal history that he had purchased. Looks like they were all taken in the 1950s and 1960s.

I have been slowly scanning them for use on the Vermont Philatelic Society website. Here's a few that I've finished.

Rupert, VT

East Highgate Octagon

I usually buy only covers for my postal history collection, but in the case of this example of the octagon from East Highgate, it was such a perfect specimen in the beautiful red (or is it pink?) shade, I made an exception.

This Franklin County post office existed from October 28, 1834 to September 27, 1963 as an independent post office. Then it changed to an independent rural station of Highgate Center from September 28, 1963 to July 29, 1972

Vermont Pictorial Cancels (June 2010)

There are at least 5 pictorial postmarks scheduled in Vermont for June 2010.

Opening Day Station

Montpelier: June 4, 2010

Vermont State Stamp Show Station

Montpelier: June 5, 2010

Runaway Pond Station

Glover: June 5, 2010

Fishing Derby Station

Chittenden: June 6, 2010

Sherlock Holmes Conference Station

Bennington: June 25, 2010

Vermont State Stamp Show 2010

The Vermont State Stamp Show 2010 is now in the history books. Thanks to the Washington County Stamp Club and exhibit chair, Bob Edson, for hosting the Vermont Philatelic Society annual meeting.

2 exhibitors were awarded the grand prize: Terence Hines (Hanover New Hampshire Postal History) and Glenn Estus (US Domestic Postage Rates: 1792-1855).

Other exhibits:

World Wide Printing Industry (Martin Morrissey) (Gold)

The Five-Cent Franklin Stamp of 1847: Vermont Usages (Paul Abajian) (Reserve Grand)

Vermont Presidential Campaign Covers (Dick Marek) (Reserve Grand)

Vermont Postal Markings (Bill Lizotte) (Postal History Award)

British Colonies (Bill Lizotte)

Vt Later Manuscripts (Bill Lizotte)

Vt Rural Stations (Bill Lizotte)

Montpelier Picture Post Cards (Gold)

2010 Vermont State Stamp Show

Every year the Vermont Philatelic Society holds its annual meeting at the Vermont State Stamp Show, which is hosted by one of the 7 stamp clubs in Vermont. This year the Washington County Stamp Club in Montpelier celebrates its 50 anniversary and has graciously agreed to host the VPS and the VSSS. The show and meeting will be on Saturday, June 5 at the Montpelier Elks Golf Club just off Rte 2 on the road to St. Johnsbury.

There will be 20 dealer tables plus exhibits.

The USPS might have a table at the show, but that is still being firmed up. However, there will be a special pictorial cancel to honor the show with the WCSC sponsoring two cachets: one showing the Vermont Capitol and the other showing the Montpelier 1st Baptist Church where the stamp club holds its monthly meetings.

Next year, we are scheduled to travel to Bennington for the 2011 VSSS.

West Haven Doane: New Early Date

Doane cancels are named after Edith Doane who studied this type of cancel in the mid part of the 1900s. Doanes were an attempt by the USPOD to standardize the types of cancels used by smaller post offices beginning about August 1903. There are 3 types of these cancels, sorted by the bars: Type 1 has 5 solid bars, Type 2 has 4 pairs of thin line while Type 3 has 4 thick parallel bars. Currently there are over 21,000 post offices recorded with Doane cancels. Vermont has 145 recorded post offices in the latest edition of the catalog edited by Richard W. Helbrock and Gary Anderson (2002).

The example from West Haven (Rutland County) is a new earliest use from that post office. The previous earliest use was October 22, 1906. One the reverse is a East Poultney Doane which is also the earliest reported use from that post office. The "1" in the bars means that the West Haven post office had business which amount to less than $100.00.

West Haven was a post office in 3 distinct periods: 1809-1888, 1888-1907, and 1907-1912. The DPO scarcity rating for the above cover "6" (very scarce) with a value of $50-$100 dollars. The Doane catalog rating is "3" (scarce). The Doane catalog doesn't list monetary values.

3 New Pictorials

I have just received information about 3 upcoming Vermont pictorial cancels: Newport (celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Milk Train between Newport and Boston), Bethel (shows the old High School) and Chittenden (the Annual Fishing Derby).

All 3 cancels can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to the postmasters of the respective towns.

PAID 3 in Circle

One of the reasons that I like collecting postal history is that there are innumerable ways of collecting.

Irasburgh 1854?

Lately I have become interested in cancels from the 1851 period on stampless mail that show PAID 3 in a circle. I am currently researching this area for a future article for The Vermont Philatelist but I thought you might like to see some of the material currently in my collection.

I just added some very nice examples that I purchased from Elwyn and Anne Doubleday. They are disposing of an old time collection which seems to have been built with quality as the #1 goal. The cancels are exquisite and sharp.

Orwell 1851-1855

Hydeville 1853-54

Vermont Post Office Pictures

For the past year I have been traveling through Vermont taking pictures of its post offices.  The goal is to be able to document all 270+ post offices.  

I think that the Fair Haven (Rutland County) post office is the most unusual design that I have photographed so far.  Definitely a modern design.

Coventry (Orleans County) is a small post office located in a private home.  But I love the gingerbread design on the eaves and on the side porches.  Such an inviting post office.

When I return home, I print the picture on envelopes and send to the post office for copies of their postmark.  Currently, I have about 90 such envelopes and hope to do at least another 90 this summer while it's easy to get around the State of Vermont.

New Pictorial Cancels in April

There are 2 pictorial cancels being used in Vermont in April.

the 1st is from Norwich and honors Hannah Kearney, a Norwich native who won the Gold medal in Ladies Moguls at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games in British Columbia this past February. A similar cancel was used the same day at Hanover, NH where Kearney went to High School.

The other is from Vergennes and is used at the Boy Scout Camporee held at Button Bay State Park to honor the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

All the 2010 pictorials used so far are listed at my website:

http://www.glennestus.com/VTCancels/2010cancels/vt2010.html

Brookfield (Orange County) Vermont Cancel

One of the more popular postal history collecting interests are cancels that show County Names and/or Postmaster Names.

Vermont postal historian Bill Lizotte did a recap of all such Vermont cancels in the August 2009 issue of The Vermont Philatelist. In his listing Brookfield (Orange County) is one of the rarer examples from Vermont. Yesterday at the Stamp Show in Quechee, I purchased the above Return Registered-Letter Receipt. This is the only example of this postmark known. It was originally reported in The Vermont Philatelist in August 1970. As a matter of fact, lightly penciled on the back of the receipt is a notation that the example is unique and had been reported to the VPS.

This item fits into 2 of my collecting interests: County/Postmaster cancels as well as Star Cancels.

If you interested in County/Postmaster cancels, the Vermont Philatelic Society website has a complete recap of all the current information: http://www.vermontps.org/CountyPostmaster/VTCountyPostmaster.html

Vermont's Olympic Medalists

3 Vermont women were medalists at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The USPS has decided to honor them with special cancellations at celebrations in their home areas.

On March 21, celebrations were held for Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark, both medalists in Ladies' Halfpipe snowboarding.

According to recent information pictorial cancels will be used at Norwich, VT AND Hanover, NH to honor Hannah Kearney who won the Gold medal in Women's Downhill Moguls.

If you're interested in Vermont pictorial cancels, I have created a number of webpages showing such cancels for the last 18 years. They are located at http://www.glennestus.com/VTCancels/VTPictorials.html

Centre Rutland PO closing

Postal History is always being made. 

Local news sources are reporting that the Centre Rutland Post Office will be closed by the end of March, 2010.  PO Office Box holders will now have to get their mail from the West Rutland PO down about 2 miles from the Centre Rutland Post Office.

When I visited the Centre Rutland Post Office in October 2009, I was appalled at the condition of the building it was in and also the state of the parking lot.  Pot holes everywhere.

As you can see from the attached scan, the PO was the only business in the strip mall and the cancellation was atroucious.

VT PH Sampler: 1851s

In 1851, the postage rates were reduced to 3c if you prepaid your letter. If you sent your letter unpaid the recipient had to pay 5c to receive it. This necessitated a new issue of postage stamps including a 3c George Washington stamp.

A classic Washington bust design was pictured on the 3c stamp which was used until the beginning of the Civil War in both imperforate (1851) and perforated versions (18.

Examples shown are from East Wallingford (unusual oval) and Middlebury (blue paid cancel).