How Does One Identify A Cover As Originating From A Diplomatic Post Office (Dpo)?

I see a number of auctions for covers and I can't seem to understand how someone would identify a DPO cover and what that exactly means. Does it mean the cancel originated at a DPO?

Some examples attached.

Thanks!

DPO = Discontinued Post Office (not "Dead" Post Office), thus one which has been closed, renamed, etc.

The most convenient U.S. post office list is on Jim Forte's webpage:
https://www.postalhistory.com/Post_...es/index.htm

Which shows:
Portsmouth Grove, RI as open 1862-1866, which is quite short.
Chestnut Hill, Mass as open independently 1870-1901, then as a Station 1901-08, then as a Branch since 1908. Some might argue whether changes of status like this create a true DPO or not. Opinions will vary.

Hi Hac. You should change the title of the post - there is nothing diplomatic here


Peter

DPO does also stand for Diplomatic Post Office. Diplomatic Post Offices are a modern thing, started in 2004. They are post offices run by the State Department, at some embassies around the world. The system operates much like APOs (Army or Air Forces Post Offices) and FPOs (Fleet Post Offices, operated by the Navy.)

Peter, Thank you. I am a dolt sometimes.

I saw that Chestnut Hill DPO on drwhostamps as well and was shocked at the price. What amazes me is that some dead post offices are deader than others and therefore worth more?hmm

Value is both a function of supply and demand.

Some DPO's operated for shorter periods than others (supply).

Many town cancel collectors specialize in a single state or even a single county and some are more hotly contested than others (demand).

IMO, I have always felt there are two broad types of DPOs, not well differentiated by most dealers or post office lists:

1. Those which were actually closed such as (apparently) Portsmouth Grove, RI, typically for lack of business; but also for conversion to an RFD, creation of a dam or reservoir, etc. These are the "true" DPOs.

2. Those which were renamed (like "burgh's" losing the final "h" in the 1890s), conversion to a branch or station, name changes (Hot Springs, NM to Truth-Or-Consequences, NM in 1951), etc. These population centers did not wither away. Chestnut Hill is such a case. From Postal Bulletin #6554, dated August 28, 1901, which shows the change of status of Chestnut Hill from an independent PO to a station of Boston:


Note the use of the word "discontinued" and NOT the word "dead".

Naturally, the value of any item is driven by typical supply/demand, but I try to keep the difference above in mind between an office which petered-out in X years as generally being much scarcer than an office which name-changed after the same amount of time. An 1890's postmark from Chestnut Hill should not be scarce. Just my 2 cents, your mileage may vary.

Add: the Chestnut Hill postmark just closed at $81 (plus tax and shipping) with a 4-person bidding war, despite an $8 price penciled on the reverse side at some time in the past. $8 seems about right to me.