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Old Postal History

 
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Author Previous TopicReplies: 12 / Views: 1,738Next Topic  
Pillar Of The Community
1545 Posts
Posted 05/13/2013   4:46 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this topic Add I Brake For Stamps to your friends list Get a Link to this Message
In 1693, letters were held in front of a candle to
determine the postage rate. The less the light shone through, the more costly the rate. This was known as candling.

When stamps were first issued, they had no gum on the back. If paste was not available, mailers sometimes pinned or even sewed stamps to envelopes.


-IBFS
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Rest in Peace
United States
7097 Posts
Posted 05/13/2013   5:39 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add I_Love_Stamps to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Neat information! Man that would have been tricky eh? I wonder how many "crash covers" they made by candling them?

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Pillar Of The Community
United States
6664 Posts
Posted 05/13/2013   5:48 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add stallzer to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Somewhere I have a Document with a Revenue stamp pinned to it, so yes that method was certainly used.
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Valued Member
86 Posts
Posted 05/13/2013   7:26 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add ilovelabbies to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
That is very interesting information...pretty neat.

I wonder if anyone on this site has a letter that old.
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Edited by ilovelabbies - 05/13/2013 7:28 pm
Bedrock Of The Community
United States
12128 Posts
Posted 05/13/2013   7:50 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add wt1 to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
When stamps were first issued, they had no gum on the back.


I seem to recall reading somewhere that when stamps were first issued (without gum) they contained advertising on the back of the stamps.

Is this true? Does anyone have any examples?
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2779 Posts
Posted 05/13/2013   11:40 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Battlestamps to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
I know New Zealand printed advertistments on the back of stamps in 1893, but they were also issued with gum.
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Pillar Of The Community
1545 Posts
Posted 05/14/2013   04:05 am  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add I Brake For Stamps to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply

Quote:
I seem to recall reading somewhere that when stamps were first issued (without gum) they contained advertising on the back of the stamps.


I've seen this once...

http://www.linns.com/howto/refreshe...rcourse.aspx


-IBFS
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All science is either Physics or Stamp Collecting. -- Ernest Rutherford
Pillar Of The Community
1545 Posts
Posted 05/14/2013   04:21 am  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add I Brake For Stamps to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
I found this online. Never actually saw one before, but I've heard of them.




-IBFS
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Bedrock Of The Community
United States
12128 Posts
Posted 05/14/2013   08:41 am  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add wt1 to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Thanks for the information and link. I guess it's a rare find to see these type of ads today.

But who knows ... with the financial difficulties of the post office, it may make a comeback.
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Pillar Of The Community
United States
2779 Posts
Posted 05/14/2013   09:05 am  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Battlestamps to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Here's another image of the New Zealand advertments on backs of stamps.



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Valued Member
United States
44 Posts
Posted 05/14/2013   12:17 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add cgcoins to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Some very interesting information, Did not know much about pre-stamp postage.
Those New Zealand Advertisements are gorgeous!
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Valued Member
Australia
283 Posts
Posted 05/14/2013   6:22 pm  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add Penguins to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Hi All,

How about this one from 1660.









If you enjoy this type of thing there are about 150 old letters illustrated and transcribed on our website and you can go direct to that section on

-/letters/Previctorian/lettersov.html

or to view the whole site (non commercial) you can go to our home page at

-/

Hope you find someting of interest
Regards
Ron.
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Rest in Peace
United States
7097 Posts
Posted 05/16/2013   03:59 am  Show Profile Bookmark this reply Add I_Love_Stamps to your friends list  Get a Link to this Reply
Postal history at it's finest! Love it!
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