Show Your US 1851-57 Imperforate Stamps

Thanks, Ioagoa.
:insert waiting with baited breath emoji:
Chip

Gary hope you don't mind, this isn't about the stamp but thought it might be of interest to this group.

Here's a case where the stamp is a nondescript 26 on a less than mint cover but has awesome content.
It's written from the U.S. Naval Academy by Arthur Dickson Wharton to his sister.

The back shows what I assume are some class rankings. The names match some of the 24 graduates of the class of 1860.


This is the first page of the four page letter. In the letter he writes about a luncheon where they dined with some Senators.
Also talks about the possibility of being on the opposing side of the possible conflict.



Can't always judge a cover

Took this excerpt from his memorial I found on "Find a Grave" website.
He was in the Confederate navy on vessels in the Mississippi and Red Rivers, where he did valiant service. He was on the ram Arkansas when the gallant dash was made at Vicksburg. He was afterwards lieutenant on the battleship Tennessee, and fought in the decisive battle of Mobile Bay, firing the last gun. He had sighted the gun, and it was about to be fired, when his comrade standing by his side was instantly killed by a shell from the enemies' gun, which struck the Tennessee, shivering it, a splinter taking off the top of his comrade's head, whereupon Lieut. Wharton fired the gun himself. He was then forced to surrender, as the ammunition was all exhausted. He was for some time a prisoner.
The picture is from the, USNA digital collection.

Stephen, Your cover and letter, and additional research provided us with an interesting read. It's great how postal history can take us down an enjoyable path of learning about people in the past. Thanks for posting this!

#11A with an inking problem. This would be a tough one to plate.

That looks a lot like an ink pull.

Annapolis/Wharton: I note "Wharton" written in the upper right corner. I wonder if this is evidence of a credit system where cadets would write their names on outgoing mail and a clerk would stamp it for them and debit their account? Effectively like a "Charge box xx" seen on SFL's. Thoughts?

Ink pull plating: the stamp to the right being entered high should certainly help narrow the search.

John, that's an interesting observation.

The Wharton at UR appears in the same handwriting as the rest, which argues against it being docketing by the recipient, and certainly reinforces speculation of the sort that you bring up.

More such covers from the academy would be needed to establish a trend.

Here is a 1¢ I picked up with some other goodies in a local auction. Center line copy that shouldn't be difficult to plate....I hope :) I'll probably start looking at it later today / tonight.

Stallzer - 80L1L double transfer.

Classic Coins - wonderfully ugly stamp!

Scott 11 horizontal pair on a U9 cover.
Charleston, SC PAID cancel
Left stamp 99L3
Right stamp 100L3

Two more Scott 11 horizontal pair

Indeed! I love it.

Moyock13, Nice "three rows" pair on the Charleston cover.

I'm guessing that pair on the San Francisco cover is plated, considering the top dots.