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)