Change From Ind. T. To Okla. Postmarks.

When I saw this postmark, I thought the postmaster might still be hung over from celebrating the new year. It looked like it was a Jan 8, 1903 postmark. I thought the postmaster hadn't changed the year stamp, because this stamp wasn't issued until Feb 3, 1903. So I bought it as an oddity.

After some research, in 1903 it seems Ada would have had an Ind. T. designation rather than Okla. This only changed when Okla became a state on Nov. 16, 1907. That would actually make this postmark 1908, but it sure looks like 1903.

I couldn't find any Ada Ind. T. postmarks (or really any other Ada postmarks). Please let me know if I've got my facts straight. I'd also like to see any Ind. T. postmarks you might have.

It probably is 1908 and it looks like 1903 as the last digit of the year is on the edge of the stamp. That can cause some underinking as a result thus an 8 looks like a 3.

Blowing it up on screen it a looks like an 8 to me.

I agree it's 1908. Also, did anyone notice the day has the "8" in "JAN 8" upside down? Apparently the "8" for the day was inserted backwards into the handstamp.

I did see the upside down 8, I thought there were 2 things wrong with this postmark. When I look at my scan as compared to the ebay scan, I can see it's 1908. I was convinced it was a 3 in the ebay pic, because the top of the 3 (actually an 8)looked to go straight across.

So on an actual 1903 postmark, would it say Ind. T. instead of Okla.?

Ray

I believe the Bureau of Engraving and Printing reports the issue date on #300 as 2/4/1903. The EDU date is 02/03/1903. Oklahoma became a state on 11/16/1907 and that should be when the post marking changed to reflect statehood. I suppose there could be some I.T. postmarks lingering after that date but I wouldn't think there are state postmarks before that date. The cancel on your postcard is most likely 01-08-1908.

For flag cancels, they came from 7 towns... Ardmore, Bartlesville, Chickasha, McAlester, South McAlester, Muskogee, and Tulsa.

The one I am looking for is McAlester - the scarce one - it figures! :)

Thanks for the posting these great examples, Chasa. Very nice. I see the Chickasha cancel was only a month before the Okla. cancels went into effect.

Oklahoma became a state in November of 1907 so it stands to reason that the date is 1908. Also, the "8" slug is simply inverted in the cancellation device. Nice flag cancels though!