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Identify City On A R.p.o. Postmark

 
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Author Replies: 7 / Views: 185Next Topic  
New Member
United States
3 Posts
Posted Yesterday   08:11 am  Show Profile Bookmark this topic Add cricktrout to your friends list Get a Link to this Message
I'm trying to identify this postmark on a postcard I have.
I'm certain "SEAT" is Seattle. But "BELL PORTT" is confusing. Based on Postcard content, it originated in or near Seattle Washington. The recipient address was Portland Oregon.
But I don't think the other city in the postmark is Portland Oregon as the "BELL" makes no sense. Also, There are two "T"s in PORTT. Additionally, I found (online) a R.P.O. postmark of "SEAT & PORT". If the two starting and ending cities of that railway were Seattle and Portland, that would be the postmark used.
I'm also assuming "NORTH" is an abbreviation of the railway. Not very helpful as many, many railways had "North" in their names.
Any help would be appreciated.
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Posted Yesterday   08:47 am  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add John Becker to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
MPOS catalog number W-15-c
Bellingham, Port Townsend & Seattle, 182 miles, Puget Sound steamboat
Rarity "V", which is quite good for a 20th century postmark.
Please show up the entire postmark/message side, thanks.
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Edited by John Becker - Yesterday 08:48 am
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United States
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Posted Yesterday   09:46 am  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add ZebraMan to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Also, "North" is the direction of travel, not part of the name of the railway.
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United States
199 Posts
Posted Yesterday   5:00 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Bobcat126 to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
That month and day is my birthday. I expect gifts from everyone next month. lol I'm kidding.
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Edited by Bobcat126 - Yesterday 5:00 pm
Valued Member
United States
148 Posts
Posted Yesterday   5:45 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add stampsOnMail to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
You should acknowledge the basic mis-step made at the start, causing some of the confusion. There was no "PORTT", the spacing difference between the two Ts is obvious when one is carefully looking to tell what it is, and the second T has a period (.) after it. Placement of ampersand (&) reinforces this.

So, looking for a "PORT T. " would have likely allowed you to find Port Townsend. Lesson, practicing "attention to detail" is a lifelong learning skill (speaking to myself as well).
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United States
3 Posts
Posted Today  9 Hrs 4 Min ago  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add cricktrout to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Thank-you for the help.
I did notice the space in PORTT, which caused me to consider Port Townsend. I also considered Bellingham. But I could find no railway link between all three cities that wasn't two different railways. I didn't think about ferries.
After I posted this, I did find a reference to ferries so considered it.
But my understanding was a R.P.O postmark was the two "end" cities. But I suppose this is a triangle. Or, is the ferry between Bellingham and Port Townsend combined considered an endpoint?

My collection is one my step grandfather collected for my brother and me in the 70's and 80's. My brother died and I am looking at it seriously for the first time in years. So there is a lot I need to learn. I have started combing the two collections of covers. Many of the First Day of Issue, postcards and other mail pieces are in no protective sleeves of any kind, so I'm making that a priority.
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United States
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Posted Today  8 Hrs 54 Min ago  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add cricktrout to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Also, since I am new to all this, can you please explain
MPOS catalog number W-15-c
and
Rarity "V"
Thanks
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
3152 Posts
Posted Today  1 Hr 23 Min ago  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add littleriverphil to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Here are the screen shots I sniped from the Mobile Post Office Society catalog, a combination of two pages of the 1399 page catalog.







The number W-15-c is the number of the CDS, to differentiate between two quite similar markings as shown above.
The "V" rarity rating indicates that it is scarcer than an IV, III, II, or I. Probably due to it being a Staemboat and it's two year life span.
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I collect most of California's Redwood Empire , Humboldt & Mendocino counties, including the RPOs that ran through them. Any town or city I mention is located in one or the other.
My primary sources are
California Town Postmarks 1850 - 1935 compiled by John H. Williams & the Western Cover Society
Mobil Post Office Society RPO Catalog, MPOS U. S. Route and Station Agent Catalog, and the MPOS RPO Directory and AGT Directory
California Postmaster Compensation compiled by Alan H. Patera
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