Nice Old Columbus GA To New York Postal Stationery Cover:

Know nothing about the item except that it is cool to me

Robert

Appears to be U1, the red on white variety. Nice find!

It's a Scott U1 - the first US stamped envelope issue. There are a couple of varieties - they come with or without a Nesbitt circular crest printed on the point of the backflap (the seals were on the earlier printings but removed at order of the POD).

There are two different sizes of this envelope - the smaller is 120mm; the longer 134mm. The smaller is a bit more valuable. The first printing is on horizontally laid paper; later examples such as this one have a diagonal orientation.

Stamped envelopes were sold at a slight premium over face value to compensate for the value of the envelope; they seem to have been more popular in southern post offices (perhaps because of humidity issues and stamp adhesive...)

Thank you Stampman2002, and paperhistiry for the identification. My family in the Atlanta area get together during the holidays each year for dinner and a gift exchange. My youngest sister drew my name and purchased this cover from Jim Forte. According to my sister, Mr. Forte helped her choose the gift. I am totally pleased.