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Bedrock Of The Community
United States
12128 Posts |
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This cover measures 3-1/2" x 4-5/8". Does that dimension seem unusual to anyone for a postal stationery item from 1917? I've never encountered one of that size before with the embossed postage.  Any comments would be welcomed |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2547 Posts |
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That doesn't appear to be standard size, I have never seen one like that before. BTW, nice CF-26 Back Bay Station cancel. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
5894 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
Canada
4648 Posts |
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wt1
Your stationery is possibly a 'special order' one, since there is a return address for "James Marsh Jackson" printed on it and that could explain the different size (?) It is possible that they specified they wanted this size for whatever reason.
Chimo
Bujutsu |
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Bedrock Of The Community
Australia
38679 Posts |
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Long shot,
maybe the surgeon that looked after Taft,
27th president of the US.
A man of that skill may have his
own stationery.
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Bedrock Of The Community
United States
12128 Posts |
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Quote:
Long shot,
maybe the surgeon that looked after Taft,
27th president of the US. Why do you say a "long shot"? I looked it up and this IS the doctor that looked after President Taft, and one of the first to have uncovered some of his medical conditions (i.e. sleep apnea, high blood pressure, etc.) Interestingly, Dr. James Marsh Jackson died at an early age (in 1918 at age 54) and was in ill health for sometime, suggested to have been due to overwork to the detriment of his own health. Its amazing what you find when you look at the names and addresses of these prominent individuals. |
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Bedrock Of The Community
Australia
38679 Posts |
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I never take anything for granted in philately  been burned too many times. ...apparently Taft had a blood presure of 310! Whaaa! or maybe I misread it  |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2547 Posts |
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I guess that blood pressure could be right if it was 310 it would have matched his weight. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
527 Posts |
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I Googled the good doctor's return address, it is currently listed at $1,075,000.00  |
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Pillar Of The Community
Canada
4648 Posts |
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Wow, that is fantastic. I didn't know that James Marsh Jackson was the President's doctor.
Interesting piece of postal history / stationery
Chimo
Bujutsu |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1518 Posts |
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Doesn't this cover go to embossed and therefor multiple sizes of covers, die and knife cuts? I know I have some really small ones known as "ladies" covers but there are a full range of sizes. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1518 Posts |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
977 Posts |
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I am surprised the return addy doesn't specifically say "Doctor"...
Are you sure it's the same person? Seems it would at least say "Dr."
People with uppity titles take them VERY seriously. |
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
1518 Posts |
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Bedrock Of The Community
United States
12128 Posts |
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Quote:
I am surprised the return addy doesn't specifically say "Doctor"...
Are you sure it's the same person? Seems it would at least say "Dr." I was kind of surprised by the non-use of the term "Doctor" also. But when you read his obituary, you'll note that he gave up his practice due to ill health a few years before his death. The date of the cover shown is after he gave up his practice, thus, he may have preferred not to use the term "Doctor" even though he was entitled to do so. (My guess, anyway.) His obituary is noted in the link that follows: http://books.google.com/books?id=-U...n%22&f=falseAs to Dr. James Marsh Johnson's connection with President Taft, it was only during his "summer white house" days in Massachusetts that he was involved as noted in this quote from a very long history of President Taft: Quote:
Taft's obesity produced other complications. In October 1910, he developed gout at the summer White House in Massachusetts. A Boston physician, Dr. James Marsh Jackson,evaluated Taft and found the President's systolic blood pressure was 210 mm Hg. Jackson thought Taft's heart was "weakened" and "in a very bad state." Butt spoke with Jackson:
I told [Jackson] how the President had a way of dropping to sleep as he was writing or playing cards, and he shook his head in such a way as to cause chills to run up and down my spinal column…. I then urged on [Jackson] the utmost secrecy in turn in regard to this matter, and I tried to bring to his mind the result of the condition of the country should such a state of affairs become known—to say nothing of the fatal results to the President's political future if any hint of invalidism should even be whispered. He said he would not mention it to anyone.
Jackson advised weight loss, but Taft did not lose weight. A year later Butt wrote, "he pants for breath at every step." In January 1912, the writer Henry Adams had a chance street encounter with the President and wrote the following:
[Taft] gave me a shock. He looks bigger and more tumble-to-pieces than ever, and his manner has become more slovenly than his figure; but what struck me most was the deterioration of his mind and expression. [He] is ripe for a stroke. He shows mental enfeeblement all over, and I wanted to offer him a bet that he wouldn't get through his term.
Rumors about the President's health began circulating. Butt knew Taft needed help, but was powerless:
He looks terribly. His flesh looks like wax, and his lips are thin, and he is getting those unhealthy bags under his eyes. I begged him to see a specialist, for I felt sure that all his drowsiness was due to some toxin in his system … His response was a slap on the back, followed by: "Archie, you go to hell! I will not be hauled around by specialists! [Secretary of the Navy] Meyer has been talking to you, I know."
Butt's chronicles end in April 1912, with his death aboard SS Titanic. |
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Pillar Of The Community
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Replies: 21 / Views: 3,437 |
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Posted 12/11/2010 9:42 pm
