The Taxman Cometh

                                              

It seems that taxes are a periennel condition of life as evidenced by this tax notice from 1866.  “all income for the year 1865; also, a list of taxable Carriages, Gold Watches, Piano Fortes, or other Parlor Musical Instruments, Gold and Silver Plate, Billiard Tables--kept for use--Yachets &c., &c.” 

                  

The tax notice was included in this cover from West Charleston to Brownington in May 1866. The two-cent Black Jack was canceled by an inverted “PAID” killer, probably left over from stampless period

Previous owner noted that there is a double transfer and that also a possible triple transfer at the lower right.

 

The previous owner also included this note:  “On July 1, 1862 Congress enacted the first income tax to meet Civil War requirements.  The rate, at first three per cent, was later raised, made progressive for a time and then returned to a propotional ten per cent figure with a 25% late fine in 1865!

(This originally appeared in the August 2013 The Vermont Philatelist, published by the Vermont Philatelic Society.)