I was wondering if anyone wished to claim purchasing these two items today on
ebay. Or if anyone knows who did.
I am asking to learn who new(?) may be starting or continuing a collection of US Parcel Post usages on items. Always nice to exchange information with other collectors of the area.
The items shown below were part of a group of items which mostly had arrival docketing during early 1913, including one item postmarked 2-16-1913. One was not docketed and a second docketed with a 1915 arrival date. The ratings under each image set are mine.
Beginning 1-1-1913 parcel post matter weighing four ounces or less had a postage rate of one cent per ounce no matter the distance traveled domestically. The four cent stamp was available and valid beginning 1-1-1913**. This was mailed by Sears Roebuck as the "From" address is the company's 1913 headquarters. This per ounce parcel post rate was in effect from 1-1-1913 through 4-14-1925 when all parcel post matter under eight ounces was reassigned to third class. Thus the claimed date listed in the manuscript docketing falls within the rate period.
This is a zone 4 (300< to
<600 miles) parcel weighing four pounds at eight cents for the first pound and 6 cents for each additional pound or fraction. 8 + (3 x 6) = 8 + 18 = 26 cents. This rate was in effect from 1-1-1913 through 12-31-1913 thus the claimed date in the manuscript docketing is within the rate period. Both the 1 cent and 25 cent stamps were valid and available 1-1-1913**.
Of course anyone can docket any postal item long after the item was actually carried in the mail. That is the issue with docketing, one does not normally know if it was done contemporaneously or not nor if the intent was to defraud.
** This must included as the three, fifty and dollar values were not available until some months after 1-1-1913 contrary to what may be listed in Scott. Three cent EDU is mid-April, for the dollar it is May and it has not been closely determined. The delays were due to issues around gaining approval from the Postmaster General of the final die designs with specifically the vignettes at issue.
Posted 12/11/2023 12:57 am
