Trying To Date Brewery Cover With A Green 3c Washington 136 147 207? Sigh

Jumping the gun a hair as it hasn't arrived yet but thought I would see if there is enough here to date the cancellation and/or stamp? I have one reference that says the brewery started using the steam brewery name in 1873. Thanks, Andy

1880 to 82 would be my estimation.

I agree, the perfs look like soft paper and the stamp appears very dark green.

The oval has a wide shadow line on the right so it can't be 207.

Well, there goes the easy one!
What's on the reverse? Generally, with 3 cent banknotes without any handling marks or docketing (and how much you trust it), you're left with the issues use range, 1870-1, 1873-9, 1879-82.
Another help can be the town cancel, if Stillwater, Minn town cancels are well documented, that could be the earliest or latest use of that one.
Nice corner.

It's missing one or more stamps. 3 cents won't get it to Switzerland, although that may increase the odds of a Swiss backstamp providing a yeardate.

I am not an expert but my recollection is that a standard weight transatlantic letter postal rate in that general timeframe was 5 cents and so it would need to have a 5 cent stamp, or possibly lower value stamps sufficient to make the 5 cent rate. A 3 cent stamp was not enough postage and I do not see a postage due charge from the Swiss post office. In looking more closely at this cover, I am not sure I see where a 2 cent stamp has been removed though I suppose it could be to the right of that 3 cent stamp. Another possibility is that this letter is a partial fake where someone has come across an interesting cover except for it being missing the original 5 cent stamp and then added that 3 cent stamp to sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. This thought is reinforced by my not being able to see that 3 cent stamp being tied to the envelope. Just a thought.

The cover is clearly shorted at the right; there was probably another stamp there.

The envelope is clipped at the right edge. There could have been room for a second stamp to the right of the current stamp.

An image of the reverse, and the full front, would certainly be of help. We're groping in the dark with insufficient information.

According to "American Breweries II", by Dale P. Van Wieren, page 177:

Stillwater, MN
Joseph Wolf & Co, 1875 - 1879
Joseph Wolf (403/414 South Main Street), 1879 - 1896
Joseph Wolf Co., 1896 - 1920

https://www.josephwolfbrewing.com/about/

https://www.stillwaterhistory.com/p...olf-brewery/

The Wolf brewery is VERY hard to collect. The cover may well be unique. Unfortunately it is mounted on paper so will see what I can do if it ever arrives. It's in a registered, heavily insured package that has been sitting in Tampa since Oct. 4 at 1:02am yet hasn't clearly been signed in there yet. Started the inquiry process th so may learn more today.

This post brought back some great memories for me!
I lived in Minnesota from '89-'91 and did some business in Stillwater. At that time part of the Wolf Brewery was occupied by Vittorio's, and it was the first place I was taken to for a meal. After that, I had probably 20-50 meals there.

Their specialty was Cannelloni Bianchi, baked in a porcelain dish and just fabulous. You could eat in the dining room, or one of the rooms in the cave, the Blue Grotto room. Great ambience and a great experience.

It was one of those places where you could be comfortable in business attire or in a bathing suit when your boat was docked in the marina across the street. Again, this was a very special place..

Here is what you see now when you drive by--

I'm about 15 minutes from Stillwater Ray. Was Nacho Mama's Mexican Restaurant open back then? I didn't move to MN until 1993. Still a great little river town

Great to hear from others who know the area... When we moved abt 8 miles away in 74 it still looked like at 3:50.


Here is a pre-pro postcard I have

Well this has turned into an unmitigated disaster... The package with 25 very rare labels (at least 12 unique and 3 the best known of only 2 or 3 as near as I can tell) and this cover is still MIA. It appears that it was in a bag with another registered package and both were signed in to St Paul, MN Oct 1 and then just vanished. Has some local PM help and they have involved the IG so fingers crossed it somehow turns up. On the other side my claim and appeal have now been denied so waiting to talk with our postmaster on what I can do now. They keep saying I am not proving the value even though I included images of me paying with PP and the receipients PP showing the money got there. From a historical perspective this is a catastrophe.... still fighting but not very hopeful... Andy

If paid by PayPal start there for a non-delivery refund. If paid via PayPal with a credit card, you have to make a claim there and the charge can be reversed. Did the purchase start in the USA (domestic) or from a foreign country?

What do you mean the "on the other side my claim...has been denied..." What or who is "the other side?

My be time to mention seller/buying source to see if other folks have had similar issues with seller/buying source. It may be a return address known as "steal this package for its value" among the knowledgeable lowlifes of society.

Now back to the cover. Yes 3 cents doesn't work so you need evidence of a second stamp's loss or someone could have lifted the 5 cent for a collection and later an untied 3 cent was affixed. To show the untied 3 originated you would need to find a killer cancel which matches what is shown on you current version of the cover.

Lastly I feel your pain of the loss of the material which exceeds the pain of the loss of cash. I will send good philatelic prayers your way.