Collecting Old Covers With Letters Question

Since I have found my new interest in collecting older covers (preferably with letters) I am curious as to what I am really after.

I love to find out the history of the people and places and record the info. Is this really postal history??

I notice a lot of people on ebay bid on these types of items (especially Civil War items, and items with good letters) and tend to pay more for the such.

My impression has always been that true postal history is the study of rates and markings. However, I find YOUR idea of collecting much more interesting. If I put together an exhibit of "postal history," the genealogists would give it a first prize, but the philatelic judges would snicker up their sleeves...

How about this cover - purchased for $15 on ebay and just received today.

The recipient of this letter was the Honourable Robert Duncan Wilmot, a Father of Canadian Confederation and the 6th Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Brunswick.

He was a delegate to the London Conference in 1866 which led to the formation of Canada and a long-serving Senator. He was also a Mayor of my home town, Saint John, from 1849-1850.

I've managed to find three similar covers recently and I have to believe this might eventually (after I've found a few more) form the basis of an interesting postal history exhibit.

Not really. "Postal" history, as the name implies, is the study of the stamps, covers, postmarks and other postal markings and possibly a stretch to even add in the stationery and/or envelopes used for the mailing. In other words, I would refer to "postal" history as that portion of the study that actually gets the piece of mail from one destination to the other.

On the other hand, genealogical research or even current history of the names in the return address or in the addressee of the cover are more or less historical facts about the people (or companies or organizations) that generated the mail.

As most will know, I love to do the historical research above and beyond just the "postal history" aspects of any cover. Often, one learns of a connection between two people (relatives?) or even two separate companies that complement each other in terms of a supplier that may offer equipment to a firm that manufactures the final product.

Then, of course, there is war correspondence, often dating back to the Civil War, but even more recent history of 20th century wars as well.

Obviously, the internet is a treasure trove of information about any variety of these sort of things. Of course, I try to limit myself by not getting into any personal information about a personality if it is thought that they may still be living. However, in terms of genealogical history, anything pre-World War I is quite often easily obtained and since virtually all of the personalities involved are deceased, there is little concern for invading anyone's privacy.

As it relates to more modern covers, I tend to focus on companies rather than individuals as I try to use some discretion about delving into personal details of a specific individual that may still be alive today, and certainly would use good judgment about posting anything of a personal nature (i.e. content of letters, etc.) on a forum such as this, since the information becomes an open book for virtually anyone wishing to gather what could be considered an unintentional invasion of privacy.

I have over 800 of the "modern" business covers 1955-57 with correspondence,most unopened.Interesting to research the names,returned mail gives a few clues,deceased,moved, no such address,"has not lived here for 8 years".Does one open the cover?

I find the history much more fascinating that the "postal history" however studying rates, markings, postal routes and all of the other postal material in the context of a locale's history is always fun! I agree with jim2222 I think I could make an exhibit much more interesting to local historians and genealogists than to philatelic judges.