"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.

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).