Over Franked Cover From 1888 With Contents - Mystery?

OK, I'm getting frustrated trying to figure this cover out!
*Why the exorbitant postage? Special handling fee or weird rate?

*What was the receipt for?

These two towns are located in Ohio and they were/are very rural communities. They are North Bristol and Niles.

I was trying to figure out what it was for I *(and a few others) thought maybe for the purchase of nails or screws? Bullets? Lumber? Business cards? a Lawyers fee perhaps? Hard to say I suppose? I can't find anything on these people.

Any thoughts or help on this would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you.

$23 in 1886 was quite a bit of money. The rate in 1886 was 2¢ for the first ounce and 2¢ per additional ounce.

Registered mail - and overweight because of the cash included.

Could this be him? He would have been about 22 in 1888.

http://www.ancestry.com/1940-census...Rider_1445wf

Although registered mail dates back to 1855, what year did the price actually increase to register mail ?

I bet it is-

http://search.ancestry.com/iexec?ht...pid=18613892

Perhaps
Registry .10
Return receipt .02
Dbl Wt postage .04
Total .16

Russ, domestic registry fees were pretty scarce in those days. When did the fee increase from 8¢ to 10¢ ?

stallzer, registry was increased from 8 to 10 cents on July 1, 1875 and remained at that rate until Jan 1, 1893 when it was reduced back to 8 cents.

Unless there is something on the back of the cover (or the torn off portion) I don't see any indicator of registry but a 8 oz rate don't make sense.

In less they sent the $23 in pennies...

I believe that 62/62 is the registration number.

Thanks Steve

Registered covers from this time period are not particularly scarce. Eight and ten cent bank notes, and later Columbians and Trans-Miss were used all the time to pay the fee.

The old "I would have paid it sooner, but...." person.

Stamp dealer:

Also there is nothing on the back of cover.