Vermont Last Day Covers

Last Day of the North Derby, Vermont Post Office

My previous two blogs have been concerned with 19th Century material. Let's examine some 20th Century material. The February 2010 issue of the Vermont Philatelist, the official journal of the Vermont Philatelic Society has a lead article by Vermont postal historian Bill Lizotte about the Last Day Covers of Vermont. At the current time there are about 100 post offices recorded with last day covers from 1930 to the 2010. Lizotte notes that another 30 post offices were also closed in that time period for which no last day covers have been located.

Other articles in the Vermont Philatelist are a survey of Vermont 1847 Stamped Covers based on the recent auction at Siegels as well the 2009 "Muppet Letters to Santa" DVD promotion from Burlington and White River Junction processing plants.

If you would like a sample pdf of the February 2010 VP, email me at gestus@vermontps.org

I have also created an Internet Bonus on a series of articles written in the 1960s about the 1847 stamps used in Vermont. It's at the society webpage: http://www.vermontps.org

Thetford and President Harrison

Although the American Stampless Cover Catalog lists a number of Thetford (Orange County, 1806- in operation) cancels in the mid 1840s period, the ASCC doesn’t list this rimless circular date stamp from January 1841. Could this just be an example of poor inking around the edges or is it a true rimless cancel? Perhaps a reader has a similar cover.

The letter is from George H. Steele to Robert S. Hale. We have not been able to find information about Mr. Steele, but Mr. Hale moved to New York and became a member of the US Congress in 1866-77 and 1873-75.

However, there is another aspect of this stampless letter that is perhaps more note worthy. William Henry Harrison was elected president of the United States in the election of 1840 and was inaugurated in March, 1841. He died a month later becoming the first president to die in office.

Why do we mention this? The paper that this letter is written upon is embossed with the profile of President Harrison. It would seem that the writer was a supporter of the soon-to-be Whig president.

Brandon Grid Obliterator

This cover from Brandon was originally rated 5c and probably to be sent UNPAID. However, the 5c was negated by an unusual grid obliterator and the letter was rerated as PAID 3c.

These rates were effective from July 1, 1851 through April 1, 1855 when prepayment of postage was made mandatory.

The most interesting part of the cover is the grid obliterator. Brandon was one of 36 Vermont post offices that received the 5c Franklin stamp of 1847. Until there were stamps there was no need for obliterators. This distinctive type was sent to various towns who had been supplied with stamps. Unfortunately, we can't be sure when this obliterator was first used since this is the first recorded example from Brandon.

In Paul Abajian's "Abby & Brady's Chatter" (July 2008), he describes and shows a similar cover from St. Albans. At the end of his article Abajian writes "Examine this gem closely, you will probably never see another one."

But, as we all know, in postal history, NEVER say NEVER.

Here's a larger scan of the obliterator:

Welcome

WELCOME!

What is Vermont Postal History? It's the study of the post offices in the state of Vermont. This included cancellations, mail routes, stories, anything about Vermont and the postal service.

I am president of the Vermont Philatelic Society, an organization of about 200 members from within and without the state of Vermont. Our website is http://www.vermontps.org

I hope to interest people in collecting the postal history of Vermont. Also, it is my hope that this blog can become a clearing house for information about Vermont Postal History.

Glenn Estus