C3 Postmarked And NCS Perfin

I figure, in all likelihood, the initials probably stand for something as simple as National Cement Suppliers, but does anybody recognize the initials and have an idea when the stamp might have been used? Input is appreciated.




<<title edited to add PERFIN -- moderator>>

National Cloak & Suit Company, New York, NY

I don't know the dates of usage. The example I've seen on cover was 1915. The Jenny was issued in 1918. So obviously it was still in use after that.

Hopefully a perfin collector will chime in...

khj - Thank you. I know that there is a database somewhere to look those things up, however since that aspect of stamps isn't terribly high on my bucket list, I appreciate the help of those who know. Thank you, again.

Some history of the National Cloak and Suit Company suggests that the firm was founded in 1888 and changed its name to National Bella Hess in the 1920s, so the overall period of perfin use would have to be in that window.

I also found this excerpt from a NY Times article on the creation of Parcel Post interesting, suggesting that the National Cloak and Suit Company expended more than $600,000 with the Post Office in 1911 (which is the equivalent of about $15 million in today's dollars) -- it seems they were right up there with Sears and Montgomery Ward in terms of their mail order business.



The entire article can be found here:

http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archiv...9C946096D6CF

Indeed, I've seen NCS perfins on parcel post stamps. Now I know why. Thanks, wt1.

wt1 - Thank you, very much for that bit of information. Sometimes working with antiques, and I suppose stamps, as well, we can forget that there are others that come and gone that were quite as important in building the country (providing employment) as the railroads, automobile companies and steel works. Wonderful bit of history to know. Thank you for sharing.

As khj notes, the NCS perfin occurs on parcel post stamps: