New 'Pointing Hand' Or 'return To Writer/Sender' Community Project

This appears similar to but slightly different than the 1906 New York City version in magenta and the Brooklyn 1937 version in purple in the database.

September 1918 New York STA. P...(illegible)

Adding another to list, unclaimed on a U406.

Just got this in the mail.
A 1924 May 9 registered cover which went unclaimed (refused, actually) and was returned to sender.
The "unclaimed" appears be be part of the pointing fingers stamp as it's so well aligned.. There is at least one similar in the database already which is also a 1924. The strike on this one is so poor that it would be hard to distinguish, but I offer it as an example from Pennsylvania, would have been struck in Sharon Hill to be specific.

The stamp is a perf 11 Sc. 510. The envelope is perhaps a die 1 U430 amber, unless it is a badly faded U429 white. (I am not an envelope guy except for air-stationery.)

"Return to writer" and a better direction marking of "No such Post Office in State Named".

I haven't been able to find an exact match for it yet in the Piszkiewicz book. I found one close that was in use in 1930 -1931 but the cover appears to have got wet and smeared so I can't make out the year in the registered markings.

Here is one I can't find in my literature. I can find the pointing finger with this instructional marking but not boxed.


It's like a velum paper. It was run through the machine a couple of times per machine cancel on back.

Did this type of envelope not play well with the sorting / cancelling machines?

Honorable mention to a hand drawn by the sender:

Don, here are a couple. Sorry, but I don't have a scanner.

here's a left hand pointing finger with the "return to writer unclaimed" directive.

In the database there is a similar from Los Angeles in 1932, but in green. Unfortunately it is a blurred impression, but I think the pointing finger and hand is the same. The directive however, is different in alignment, so overall, this one is new for Los Angeles. The impression (in black ink) is quite neatly done, although sadly truncated.

Recently acquired cover with "RETURNED TO WRITER" large PH from Station U, Chicago, 1899. One of my few right-hand, left-pointing large PH !



The "NAME REPEATED IN DIRECTORY / SUPPLY CORRECT ADDRESS" circle hand stamp, bearing a big "U" - supposedly of Station U P.O. - adds an extra spice to this cover.

I have absolutely no idea on the "54 1/2", "NOT EAST", "NOT WEST" + "26" hand stamps, so any help from my expert colleagues are welcome !

- Hironobu