Introduction

By way of introduction, I have been a stamp collector for more years than I can recall, but I am mostly a postal history collector these days.

My primary interest is the postal history of Texas, but a close second is the study of the operation of the Post Office in the United States in the 19th and early 20th century. To that end, I also collect the forms, documents, Instructions to Postmasters, and virtually any sort of paperwork associated with the operation of a post office or the communication between the USPOD headquarters and individual post offices and postmasters.

Does anyone on this forum share that interest?

Welcome to the Forum. I'm sure you'll find someone here that shares your interests.

to SCF

Welcome

We are quite a diversified group here. I'm certain there is someone with similar Interests.

Dianne

I have a topical interest in Texas for Route 66 precancels, pictorial postmarks, postcards, etc. Welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the stamp community, mml1942!



Sounds like you have a fascinating collection! I am interested in all aspects of postal history.
I look forward to seeing some pictures of your covers and collateral items!

Mml1942, welcome to the SCF.

Great to have you here.



Steve

mml1942.. Welcome to the forum








Yes, David Giles, collects Postal History of Texas

Welcome to the forum MML1942 the only thing I can think of that I have that might possibly interest you are some post office forms 3083 that prepay bulk mailings from a business..here is one example showing the postage side !!

MML1942

Welcome to the forum ! I am sure you will find folks that share your interest or who knows maybe you can sway some folks to take an interest

Welcome mml1942...

I collect the AIR postal history of Texas. Close enough, eh?

Actually, if you go back to the introductions, you will see the list of things I collect. My main consideration being the King George VI Reign of the British Empire and Commonwealth. I am also a specialist in Costa Rica.

From the American angle, with respect to your collecting interests, I have a specialised collection of the Americana Definitive series (1975-1986), and a United States Air Mail Collection. Everything I collect is used, with the exception of the Americana Series plate blocks.

The United States Air Mail collection is housed on White Ace pages. I collect the stamps used in singles, blocks of four, and plate number singles (all positions). I also collect fancy duplex cancels on U.S. air mails.

I lived in Brownwood, Texas, 1994-5. I collect the AIR postal history of Texas. That means any first flight, aeroport dedication, night flight or experimental flight cover postmarked in Texas. Any U.S. air mail stamp with a clear city/town TX postmark. I also send away to the fancy cancels offerred by the USPS in Linn's postmark pursuit column for Texas towns and cities. I am interested in any of those cancels with an air mail theme, or one that honours a town or city. Usually I get an air postal card cancelled, and I ask the postmaster (or postmistress) to add the other cancels to the cover... they usually oblige.

I also have a few vintage (1918-1950) picture postcard of post offices in Texas, to dress up my first flight Covers collection.

Lastly, I am trying to get an example of each air mail stamp, single usage, postally used on cover, in-period, showing the rate that that air mail stamp was paying.... postmarked in Texas.

Enough about me, tell me about your collection of Texas postal history.

Do you reside in Texas?

All the best,

David

For David Giles and others: Some more details about my Texas postal history interests....

1. I try to collect or accumulate anything that went through the mails in Texas.
2. I "accumulate" postmarks from Texas post offices in all 254 counties. That's really way too broad, sort of like collecting all stamp issues world wide. So I seriously collect about 60 counties, primarily in the Panhandle and South Plains regions of Texas, and around the Dallas-Ft Worth Metro-plex where I live. Tthe bulk of the collection is from 1880 forward. I stay away from the classic stuff as I can have more fun with 500 $1.00 covers than I can with one $500 cover.
3. I collect postmarks from stations and branches and contract units.
4. I collect both postally used materials, and "philatelic" postmarks; the latter primarily as a reference collection as to which devices were used in the period since the 1970's when the P&DC virtually eliminated local postmarks.
5. I collect both hand cancels and machine cancels. For the machines from the classic (pre 1920) era, I try and collect all machines and varieties used in the state.
6. I accumulate specialty areas like Air Mail First Flights, RPO's, HPO's, but don't seriously seek them out.
7. I am most recently working on a specialized collection of Registered Texas covers from the 19th century with hand stamped markings (not with manuscript markings).
8. I also have a collection of postcards or view cards with Texas post offices. unfortunately, I can't find them since moving last fall. So maybe I don't have that collection. I also photograph post offices when I am traveling around Texas.

I can post a few things later. At the moment I am away from home so I don't have much and most are at too high a resolution to get by the screening for the site (I tried and they were rejected).

My question is where to post these. Do we want a new Forum topic called Texas covers?

I just posted one USPOD document on the Cherokee Nation forum. I'll elaborate on these at a later time as well.

Mike

For PHILB:

Could you post an image of the form side of your USPS Form 3083. I am not familiar with it.

Thanks

Mike

Hello mml1942.....

Welcome to the club.....from your description your collection sounds quite interesting.....can't wait to see some samples.

Mike, see if you can make this out..the front of the 3083..one of our club members used to bulk mail brochures or something and being a stamp collector he always made the post office put stamps on the form when he prepaid shipping !!

https://www.stampcommunity.org/uplo...894_3083.JPG[/img]

i goofed a bit but you can see the scan ....David Giles it reminds me of you taking a picture of our Red Hook post office when you were here !