1851 / 1857 (Mostly) 5 Or More Rate Covers

Multiple rate covers from the 1850s and 1860s are rare. Double, triple and quadruple rate covers aren't that hard to find, but covers paying 5 or more rates are rare. William K. McDaniel published a census of 1851 and 1857 issue covers with 3¢ stamps in the USPCS Sesquicentennial book and he recorded just 47 covers. The covers are not popular with collectors because they tend to be hard to display, be in poor condition, and are often courthouse covers that may have been "liberated" from government offices.



Here is an example of a 5 times rate cover from Harroldsburg, KY

Here is a 7 times rate cover from Covington, LA

Here is an 8 times rate cover from Richmond, VA

Not an 1851 / 1857 cover, but a 14 times rate cover from Washington, DC franked with the 3¢ 1861 issue.

This is a 27 times rate (81¢) with a block of 8 of the 10¢ type V, from Boonsville, MD.

Good topic.

I will always associate 5X or larger domestic rates with Bill McDaniel. I recall contributing several to his census way back.

For this thread - domestic only or also foreign?
I don't off-hand recall if I have any domestics this large at the moment but I'll check.

I have some quadruple rate foreign covers, but nothing paying more than the quadruple rate. If you have anything feel free to add it.