Linclon Postmarks

Here are the first two of 19 postmarks in memory of the Lincoln funeral train. I missed out on three from the state of Illinois.

I found the second postmark particularly interesting as I never realized that Lincoln wore glasses. Apparently he did and there's even a website devoted to that study:

http://www.antiquespectacles.com/to.../lincoln.htm

These are great collectibles, but I must say that the first strike is horrible. Don't they teach these people anything about creating an attractive cancellation?

How are you getting these for 0.21 when even the postcard rate is 0.35?

Speaking of rates, here is a 1930s cover from Syracuse, NY noting Lincoln stopped there on February 18, 1861 and his funeral train passed through Syracuse on April 26, 1865. No idea which date the cachet maker was trying to commemorate since he used 1.5 postage to pay an unsealed 3rd class mailing rate and the PO (properly) canceled it with a dateless dial in their machine!

Thank you for sharing that.
In my ignorance the first three requests I sent out with insufficient postage on the envelopes. Two of the three have come back postmarked anyway.
The additional 16 I sent out with sufficient postage - the Lincoln stamp plus a 49 cent forever stamp. I selected the "flag and fireworks" design as that seemed to fit the theme pretty well. So far I have gotten back five of those.