Author |
Replies: 18 / Views: 2,568 |
Moderator

8778 Posts |
|
  I am in-process in developing an online catalog of all HPO (Highway Post Office) First Trip and Last Trip covers. Each First/Last Trip is illustrated with a cover scan (front and back), vintage maps which illustrate each route, and other route details. My wife and I will be busy over the next few weeks completing data entry but the underlying code is all in place. Given the total number of routes and trips (about 1,110), we are missing about 40-45 covers, I am interested in buying these covers or at least getting scans of them for inclusion in the catalog. Once the catalog is complete it will be published on Stamp Smarter free of charge. Please see the bottom of this post for 'want list'. I find the HPO Highway Post Office (1941-1969) a very interesting part of postal history technology. Growing out of RPO (Railroad Post Office) history, improvements of the national highway system gave the Post Office an opportunity to improve efficiencies for mail stream processes. By processing mail en route and making more of a 'straight line' connection between post offices, HPO mail is a fascinating part of our postal history.    Want List  Don
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1126 Posts |
|
Neat idea Don!
I have several central PA HPOs and would like to know more about them so I'm glad for the info. I think I have the Harrisburg, Pa. items. I will advise tomorrow.
Hal |
Send note to Staff
|
Edited by Hal - 03/22/2019 8:56 pm |
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1188 Posts |
|
Don, I don't know if this is a first trip cover but it predates what you show in the thread, so I'm providing it.  |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1126 Posts |
|
Sorry, Don...  I have three Trip 1 - Lancaster, PA to Washington, DC Jan 17 1949 Hal |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
960 Posts |
|
Don:
A huge and time consuming project and a real contribution to collecting HPO covers. Thank you for doing it and making it available to us all at no cost.
Don |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Moderator

8778 Posts |
|
Quote: A huge and time consuming project... Indeed, quite a few HPO covers  Don |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Valued Member
United States
68 Posts |
|
Valued Member
United States
68 Posts |
|
I only collect HPOs from Indiana, and see that you need some of the same ones I also need. But I do have one that you need, Route 122B Princeton & St.Louis Trip 2. It's odd that it doesn't have a complete address, but the cancellation is correct. I can't seem to find a Route 2A South Bend & Indianapolis Trip 2. If you have one of these, we could swap them.  |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Valued Member
United States
68 Posts |
|
Moderator

8778 Posts |
|
Yes, I am a member but I have been covered up (pun intended) developing the new catalog. Hopefully over the next few weeks I will be able to finish up and turn my attention back to collecting.  Don |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
2747 Posts |
|
I've just bought a lot of 800 or so HPO covers. I'll be searching through them soon to see if any are on your want list. I've also have some facing and pouch slips as well. I've also come across a 2-3" stack of those slips, but they are mixed with RPO slips and maybe some related to air mail. It's a mix of a mess right now. |
Send note to Staff
|
Edited by Battlestamps - 06/20/2019 10:53 am |
|
Valued Member
United States
68 Posts |
|
Battlestamps, I thought I'd add my HPO need list (all Indiana):
Need First Trip Covers for: HPO-2A, South Bend & Indianapolis, Trip 2, November 1, 1958 HPO-121A, Louisville KY & Evansville, Trip 1, September 1, 1953, (canceled "LOU & OWENS") HPO-121A, Louisville KY & Evansville, Trip 2, September 1, 1953, (canceled "LOU & OWENS") HPO-293, Indianapolis & Champaign IL, Trip 8, November 22, 1965
Need First Trip Postcards for: HPO-98, Cincinnati & Indianapolis, Trip 1, July 1, 1952 HPO-113, Indianapolis & Decatur, Trip 2, August 25, 1952
Need Last Trip Covers for: HPO-2, South Bend, Peru & Indianapolis, Trip 2, October 31, 1958 HPO-114, Indianapolis & Peoria, Trip 1, February 4, 1961 HPO-217, Nashville and St. Louis, Trip 92, October 14, 1966
Need Indiana State Fair HPO Covers for: 1965 1966
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
2747 Posts |
|
I sorted them and found nothing from your list or Don's. I had quite a few that made the same trip, but they were different dates or Trip #s. No fair covers either. I didn't see any of those kind, but I came across HPOs that are also FDCs for the stamps which is new to me. |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Moderator

8778 Posts |
|
Battlestamps, I just sent you an email with a link to my draft online catalog (still populating some images). Don |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Valued Member
United States
398 Posts |
|
Morning Don and all,
I have a few Indiana HPO's but none on your list. I do not think I have ever seen a registered cover with an HPO marking? Has anyone?
Russ
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
Valued Member
United States
68 Posts |
|
Haven't seen one that's registered, but I just picked up this 10th anniversary cover for South Bend, Peru and Indianapolis, Trip 2 that I'm pleased with.  |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Replies: 18 / Views: 2,568 |
|