1893 Columbian Exposition Issues On Cover

Hey Tom, cover arrived today.... I must say that it is in an awesome condition, considering it is 104 years old.... The tear on the back is....... though....

I'm glad you like it!

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I must say that it is in an awesome condition, considering it is 104 years old.

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I thought it was an 1894 cover, not 1904.

Here is a Swiss chocolate 5c Columbian on cover:



It was posted in West Hoboken, New Jersey on July 28, 1893 and traveled to New York, where it obtained a (machine straightline) receiving cancel on the reverse that same day.
The second postmark on the reverse tells us that this cover reached its destination "Affoltern am Albis" on August 7th, 1893,



which is a small city in the district of Affoltern in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.

The scene on the stamp is "Columbus Soliciting Aid of Isabella."
Queen Isabella of Spain appears on several of the Columbian Exposition Issue stamps.
I believe she is the first woman to be pictured on a US stamp.



I'm not positive about the shade. It could be a Swiss dark chocolate 5c Columbian.

Am pondering the significance of using Swiss chocolate or Swiss dark chocolate on mail to Zurich.

I'm sure they have plenty of chocolate stamps there. It's like carrying coals to Newcastle.

Nice pieces of history once again Tom

I did read up on columbians since you've explained them but havent's found any in my stash as of yet.

Dianne

This cover with 5c and 8c Columbians was described as addressed to Germany, which would be a common destination.




However I saw French, not German on the cover and realised it was actually addressed to Gonaïves, Haiti.

more? anyone want to see more columbians on cover?

No? The thrill and excitement of more Columbians on cover is just too much?
(I agree the cover to Haiti sure is awesome!)

There must be some nagging questions...

Does anyone have a non-philatelic usage of the 10 cent Columbian?

Does anyone have a 15c Columbian on cover? a 30c? a 50c?

Great Scott! how high can we go?

Surely we have not reached a climax!



However we have come to a Climax, Alabama cancel on
a 2c Columbian cover, neatly addressed to the
Methodist Publishing Co. in Detroit, Michigan.

Tom, those covers with the 5 and 8 cent columbians--does that have a wax seal on the back??? (The one addressed to Haiti)

Gussyboy1

Hey Tom, I would love to see more Columbians, since that may very wellbe the only way I get to see any. I also got the stamps and booklets today, I love them specially one I found is a German overprint with Ostland on it that, thanks to the lit. you sent I was able to identify as a Russian during German Occupation. It becomes my first foreign overprint AND my first Hitler stamp. Thank you so very much for the hours of fun you have provided.

Heres on postmarked Baltimore Jan 20 1893 that some anxious person like myself torn open !

Since the stamps came out on January 1, 1893, you have a nice "early usage" cover.

When sorting through inexpensive covers,
always keep an eye out for the 2c Columbian canceled on

January 1, 1893 (SCV $20,000, any city) or
January 2, 1893 (SCV $5000, any city).

I'm convinced there are still some undiscovered Columbian FDCs
in batches of old covers out there.