Interesting Cloumbia Postal Stationery Item (Usage)

Here is what may not be a "rare" Columbia postal stationery item (H&G #10) issued in 1887.

What makes it interesting (to me) is the "Transito Panama"
cancellation.

It went through the Panama Istmus on February 5, 1898, and arrived in New York City on the 21st of February of the same year.

From data on the back, it was written (mailed) January 31, 1898.

So long story short... 21 days to go from Columbia to New York City.
Seems it must have been a slow tramp steamer!





Emjoy!
Bob

Can you explain further,
In 1898 would they have not carried that across
the Isthmus by mule or something?
I am not au fait with postal history
of Panama.

I would have to agree with you. I don't beleive the canal was built yet (that came later), so it would appear it was carried across the land mass. Not knowing anything for sure (except I am getting older) I can only assume it was taken to a port on the Eastern side of Panama and put on a boat...someone with more Central American knowledge can answer it.
Bob

Next question Rod, how long does it take to get an avatar request filled? Still waiting...
Bob

Shouldn't take long Postat,
a good time to excercise patience :)
If not after a few days,
re-post the request.
Our webmaster has lots to do.

Avatar requests can take a few days.

If the postal card was mailed from a location in Colombia such that it left the country by a port of the Pacific Ocean, it would have had to cross the continental divide in Panama.

The Panama Railroad would have been in operation for nearly half a century when this postcard was mailed. The item would have been picked up in Panama City and taken by train to Aspinwall (this city was later renamed Colon), where it was put on board a ship bound for the USA (New Orleans, Louisiana possibly).


http://www.panamarailroad.org/


Here is where I am less likely to be correct, but I might surmise . . . From the Big Easy the mail might have been taken by steamer up the Mississippi, and then up the Ohio River to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

At Pittsburgh, it might have traveled by the Pennsylvania state canal system north to Erie, Pennsylvania, and then by Erie Canal to the Hudson River, and down the Hudson to NYC.


http://www.latinamericanstudies.org...s-canals.jpg

http://www.captainjohn.org/sitebuil...-627x436.jpg