Smallest Cover

As far as I can determine, this is the smallest mailed cover in my collection. It measures approx. 4-3/4 inches by 2-1/4 inches.

The man is talking in inches!
I like this man :)

...but I'd say 4 and 5/8ths x approx 2 and 1/2

man, that is small! Valentine card maybe?

I have found an even smaller cover. This cover measures approx. 2-1/2 by 3-5/16 inches. Notice that there is no street number or state.




Here is covered compared to a modern cover.

F.D.C. of an airmail? I never seen one before.

Man that is small and as far as the numbers and state I couldn't even guess. I do know that as "recent" as the mid 70's here in Pennsylvania, say if we had a get well card for the neighbor up the street, we could just write our name and the recipients name on the envelope and since it was just a small mountain town it would get delivered. Maybe the case back then, not sure? Interesting though. Thank you

Drat! NCBuckeye's cover from 2011 just beats mine out by 1/8th of an inch.

My candidate for smallest US cover measures 4 5/8" x1 7/8"mailed from Lawrence, Mass to Pelham,New Hampshire.

I tried searching the Postal Bulletins for when the first reference to curbing the use of those mini envelopes came into being. Here's one reference dated to 1921 that was issued to the news media in the hope of reducing those type of envelopes:



Obviously, as technology improved and mail sorting equipment became more automated, the USPOD (later the USPS) imposed more and more restrictions on the minimum size of covers that could be mailed at the standard first class postage rate.

2 5/8 long and 2 1/4 high.
Scott 398 used to pay the 2 cent treaty rate to England.

This ratty looking cover measures 4" x 2.5" but I like it because it is the earliest known usage of a U509.
Don

This one is 2-3/4" by 1-11/16"

Smallest Ladies cover I have is 2 3/4" x 1 3/4", barely big enough for the 3C banknote, CDS, and the address.

I like that West Decater, Pa. (or perhaps West Chester) CDS. second one up by little river Phil

Great thread. Thanks everyone for contributing.