What Town Was This Envelope Sent From And Proper Rate?

I can't make it out. Was this a proper usage? I also think this stamp came from the top of a booklet pane?

Some of the info can only be found if you show the whole cover?


Peter

here is the front and back full image.

That looks like an envelope that it is on - correct?
On a post car that would be fine, the most common usage for 1c at that time, right, but
as you express some doubt about validity or sufficiency, I take it it's on an envelope.

To really know why it was okay and sufficient, it'd help to have an image of the entire piece.

There are several possibilities:
The 1 cent is still sufficient for a first class letter, local, at a non-carrier post office. (Beecher & Wawrukiewicz, US Domestic Postal Rates, table 2)
Also for second class "transient" which is a periodical (table 20).
There are other second class possibilities as well.
Also good for third class "material for planting" i.e., seeds, under 2 oz. (table 22)

Hope this helps on that part of your query. But a full scan would be helpful.

edited to remove requests for full image now that one just went up.

so it is an envelope and it went from Minn to Florida. 1931 rate was 3 cents.

So this cover doesn't fit into any of your suggest options.

This looks like a return envelope from a commercial mailing.

The postmark is Laurel, Minn.

It is a purely philatelic cover.

Postal Bulletin #15482 dated December 22, 1930 had the following announcement of the closing of the Laurel, Minn PO:


It was common those days for collectors to send off for "last day of post office" covers. However in this case the USPOD changed their minds and reversed the order via Postal Bulletin #15494 dated January 8, 1931:


The collector had already sent their cover before the closing order was rescinded and the postmaster obliged them with a cancel.

The Laurel PO did finally close several years later.

Collectors being thrifty, it was common to find these philatelic covers sent unsealed (with or without the flap tucked in) as "single piece third class" which would be 1.5 cents in 1931. It appears this is underpaid by half a cent and was not caught, or perhaps the collector sent for several and the due amount was paid on the top piece of the stack when it got to Florida.

(The rates proposed by Jleb above are not possible or don't apply.)

The stamp is curious. It does have the appearance of being the top stamp from a booklet pane being most likely.

Great! Nice research! Yes this envelope is tucked in and stuck. As for the stamp it is odd how it is cut at the bottom not separated by the perfs and how the right side is a straight line but angled.

Given the amount of help you get here and how you then include the help to enhance your listings, have you considered donating a bit to this community or perhaps offering discounts to the members here?
Don

I would be more that happy to give a 20% discount to any customers who buy from me direct. I also would be happy to donate. What are you suggesting?

The forum has a number of ways to donate including sponsoring this category for $10 month. Alternatively, any one-time contributions can be made using the donate button on the left-hand side of all pages. For a list of all the various ways to give back to this community is here https://www.stampcommunity.org/advertise-here.asp
Don

I just submitted an application for a header ad. As I applied, I received security alerts saying the email is not secure.

The year date in the postmark is also quite wonky. Looks like the postmaster might have resorted to some self help in getting new year slugs for his 4-bar device.

Having now seen this cover listed on ebay with a considerable amount of my research postings incorporated into the description for the profit to the lister, I am a bit taken aback that there was no notice in the original post of the intent of post merely to gain information for personal profit rather than philatelic knowledge as a collector. Just saying ....

Hi John B --

I 100% agree with you -- as since joining SCF only a few years ago -- I have provided plating analysis and plating opinions for a number of imperf 1851 3c stamps under the belief that the person asking for help had a genuine interest in gaining philatelic knowledge as a collector -- but in some cases, only to see the stamp turn up on ebay a few days later with my plating opinion in the description -- and the stamp listed at what I considered to be an inflated price.

In hindsight, I realized that in some of these particular instances, all the OP really wanted was for somebody to plate their stamp so that they could profit from the knowledge -- especially when we are talking a Scott #10 / #10A versus a Scott #11 / #11A -- where the difference in catalogue value of one versus the other is roughly 10x or more.

At first, it really bothered me, as my "knee jerk" reaction was that if the lister (i.e., dealer) wanted the stamp plated for commercial purposes, they should send the stamp in for a cert and pay the plating fee -- but after I calmed down a bit, I rationalized that it was still good for the hobby if even one other collector reading the post got something out of it -- and even better if it sparked an interest in the subject.

I really enjoy reading your posts by the way -- and your post on this particular subject is very well articulated.

Regards // ioagoa

edited for minor typos only