United States Post Office Label Form B - On Cover

From my postal history collection, I will share with the club a registered cover mailed from Firenze, Italy on 28 January 1911 to Des Moines, Iowa, USA passing through Chicago, Illinois on 9 February 1911 with United States Post Office Label - Form "B" attached to the front, titled "SUPPOSED LIABLE TO CUSTOMS DUTY." The cover arrived in Des Moines 10 February 1911

I searched the Stampsmarter "United States Post Office Forms Database" for Form B and found it listed, but without image. Don D, you are free to use my images below for Stampsmarter if you like, as well as anyone else who can use them. Stampsmarter listed the EKU (earliest known use) as "1912 DLS." I believe this label would have been applied in Chicago on 9 February 1911 on my cover.

Other notes:

The label measures 39mm in width at the top, and is 71 mm tall.

Using my Linn's Multi- Gauge, the label is Perf 12 on the left edge.

The letter "L" is omitted in the word "located" so it reads "ocated." The letter was not scuffed off, it was simply not printed at all.

Linus

With the visible damage to the letter "o" as well, it appears the type was damaged after proofing but before the end of the printing run.

There should be examples with the "l" and undamaged "o" in collector's hands.

Hi Linus,
Thank you very much. The Stamp Smarter USPS Forms Community project has been updated with your images and new EKU. I also credited you for them (if this is not ok please let me know.)
https://stampsmarter.org/features/N..._ViewDB.html
Don

Here is a copy with the same Customs Label, Great Britain to Harris, California. Mailed Aug 26, 1911, Arrived San Francisco Sept 7.

The "lo" in locate are undamaged.



Cover front...



Cover reverse...



It is likely that these forms were printed in panes and sheets, and one of 10 or 50 or 100 was damaged. The others were normal.

Mike

Don,

Now you have both types, damaged and not. Both belong together.

Linus and mmf1942 and all,

Thanks for the contribution to the Forms data base. We still have many forms listed missing examples. Any examples of these greatly appreciated, too. Send to Don or me and they will be added to the database with thanks. Russ

Glad to help out, in a small way, to the great Stampsmarter knowledge base. I will see what else I can find around here.

I got new carpet in my stamp room, and I had to empty out my closet. The "new-carpet" smell was keeping me out of there, but that has dissipated now, and I am moving boxes of covers back in. I am finding a lot of good stuff, to put into my albums. I got my first cutting of hay done, and I work in the garden in the morning and evening, but in the heat of the afternoon, it's "Stamp Time."

Linus

Mike's form has also been added.
Don