Parcel Tags Pre-1900

Thought I'd post these as there have been a couple threads about parcel tags lately. The majority of the tags I've seen are after 1900, haven't seen many pre-1900.

Neat. I haven't seen many pre-1900, and the ones I've seen offered weren't cheap.

Question though: Since neither the tags nor the cancels have dates on them, how do you know they were used pre-1900? The stamps were issued pre-1900, to be sure, but theoretically the usages could have been at any point, correct? Or were those cancel types only used during a certain period? Presumably the event on the last tag can be dated.

Last one is from 1891:



https://books.google.com/books?id=S...a%22&f=false

Jim

It's very likely that they were used pre 1900, there were so many other smaller options available after.

Since there is not mixed usage of post 1900 stamps I'd have no reason to believe they that they were used after 1900. I also found out that the Walter baker company is the oldest Chocolate company in the US.

The last example, franked just 1c, appears to be an advertising circular made in the form of parcel tag, rather than an actual tag. Sent at the circular rate within the local city. Which makes it even more interesting, I think.