Early Postal Notes 1880-S-1890-S, Where Listed?

Hi, My name is Theo van der Caaij from Holland and the world leading expert on the later postal Notes of 1945-1951. I wrote a book on the subject: "U.S. Postal Notes and Postal Note stamps 1945-1951". I do start with a History part on those old Postal Notes. I do not have a real catalog on the older ones but I sure have a catalog on the 1945-1951 Postal Notes. I guess you will find some of the last ones at Eric Jackson's revenue stamps website. This is a USB device with all information on it. Varisell still has a book on sale which has no catalog integrated. If you need more information just ask.

postagedueguy:

Thank you for the close-up of the plate number and position letter of your New York, Station J Postal Note.
This is perhaps the most difficult piece of Postal Note data to obtain, primarily due to inadequate image resolution of entire notes that I get for study.
I agree that it is 10g. This will help in my printing plate study!

Yes, I have seen, and have images of the entire April 25, 1884 Postal Note instructions (for introducing postmasters to the new Type II Postal Note design.) I am still seeking a paper copy if you (or anyone reading this) ever come across one. As an aside, these instructions were an integral part of solving a Postal Note mystery that Charles and I wrote an article about in the SPMC (Society of Paper Money) Paper Money journal, Nov/Dec 2016 edition.

Here is an image of an obverse-only proof of the new Type II design (with stub section) that the instructions were written for:


The last two images you posted are from an Official Postal Guide published in 1895, if my recollection is correct.

Lastly, I had seen your Postal Note topic a while back. That is an excellent collection of the modern (1945-1951) type of Postal Note stamps and cards!
I had thought about collecting those too, but decided to concentrate my collecting and research energy on the 19th-Century Postal Notes.

To us-rev-1:

Hi Theo. Welcome to this topic!

Although I don't collect the 20th-Century Postal Notes, I appreciate your work and writing in this area and believe it would benefit any person who collects these.

You may recall we exchanged emails back in January 2022.

Perhaps we'll meet one day!

USPostalNotes: Thank you for the census information about my Evansville and Saint Louis postal notes! Glad all of them are new additions to the census, and way cool about the Evansville and Saint Loius being the second ones added.

Dug out the one I have kicking around. Mansfield OH, Sep. 17, 1883.

paperhistory:

Your Mansfield, Ohio #74 Type I is new to the census!
It is the first reported on that town too.

Thanks for sharing!

So glad you found this thread, Kent!

GregAlex:

The members here have been a tremendous help for my Postal Note research, and I am grateful. I also enjoy letting the owners of various Postal Notes know as much as possible about each one.

It has been several months since I last visited this topic, so I thought I would give y'all an update on the Postal Notes that have been discovered since September of last year. Here is the list, roughly in order they were added to the census.

Adrian, Michigan #702 Type I
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania #433 Type I
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania #021638 Type II
Baltimore, Maryland #233 Type I
Newark, New Jersey #313 Type I
Worcester, Massachusetts #006232 Type II
Anniston, Alabama #19494 Type V
Lena, Illinois #2 Type I
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania #14232 Type I
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania #16 Type V
Pottsville, Pennsylvania #30145 Type V
Muscatine, Iowa #006978 Type II
Burlington, New Jersey #002232 Type II-A.01
Taunton, Massachusetts #657 Type I
Albany, New York #84221 Type V
Albany, New York #84222 Type V
Albany, New York #84226 Type V
Manchester, Maryland #2385 Type V
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania #67 Type I
Milwaukee, Wisconsin #008311 Type II
Bunker Hill, Illinois #4247 Type V
Washington, District of Columbia #111913 Type V
Washington, District of Columbia #111914 Type V
Wauseon, Ohio #1000 Type I
Springfield, Massachusetts #59648 Type V
Odebolt, Iowa #013382 Type IV-A
Schenectady, New York #002646 Type II
Sandersville, Georgia #2 Type I
Lynchburgh, Virginia #781 Type I
Lynchburgh, Virginia #017735 IV
Hampton, Virginia #004494 Type II-A.02
Olneyville, Rhode Island #6013 Type V
New York, New York #404068 Type V
Geneva, New York #31829 May Type V
Belvidere, Illinois #1 Type I
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania #57 Type I
Grand Haven, Michigan #8 Type I
Grand Haven, Michigan #003127 Type II
Grand Haven, Michigan #006762 Type IV
Williamstown, Massachusetts #005794 Type IV
Galveston, Texas #007105, Type II
Winston, North Carolina #009978, Type IV-A
Girard, Ohio #1, Type I

The Postal Note Census now shows 2,364 Postal Notes.

Thanks for posting this information. Do you have pictures of all of these? What did the local post offices do with the postal notes once they were redeemed?

The post offices, once they redeemed a Postal Note, were required to send all redeemed notes to Washington, DC for accounting purposes. Then the Postal Notes were stored for seven to ten years, then sold as scrap paper or incinerated. 

I have pictures of most of the Postal Notes that I add to the census but am not at liberty to publish many of them. Some are in my thread on the site that I update monthly that other individuals have posted.

One of my favorites in the list that I acquired is joint pair with highest known serial numbers 111913 and 111914, last day issue June 30, 1894, from the nation's capital, Washington, DC.

I should add that both notes are souvenirs.
The images are distorted because I used my phone's camera, not a scanner.

Thanks for answering my questions.

Do you have any of these used for more than a dollar?

Do you have any where the receiving office stamped (cancelled?) the postal note?

How long were these postal notes valid for? The ones issued in 1945 expired after a certain length of time.

If a postal note disappeared (lost), stolen, or was destroyed (fire perhaps) in the mail was there a way for
the buyer to get their money back or the postal note replaced? There was in the 1945 postal notes.

Please let me know. Thanks!!!

Yes, I have some that were issued in amounts over $1.00. Of the reported 2,364 Postal Notes currently listed in our census, roughly 110 were issued for an amount from $1.00 to $4.99.

Yes, there are known "redeemed" examples with the date-stamp of the paying office also present. Here is an example that checks both boxes--issued for more than one dollar and has been redeemed.





Postal Notes were valid until the last day of the third month following the month of issue. For example, notes issued on June 1 or June 30 would both become invalid after September 30. All was not lost though. The person holding an invalid note could apply for a replacement by paying an additional fee of three cents. (We have not identified any Postal Notes as being issued as a replacement.)

Because Postal Notes were "payable to the bearer", if lost or stolen, they could not be replaced. The postal Money Orders in use at the time--and with a higher fee than the Postal Note--were replaceable if lost or stolen. The Postal Notes were introduced to be less expensive than the Money Orders for sending small amounts through the mail. Initially, Postal Notes (Types I, II, II-A) had a minor, but not foolproof, security feature of being payable at a specific office. So, if lost or stolen, the person holding the note would have to travel to that Post Office to redeem the note. That feature was eliminated in 1887 when all Postal Notes became payable at "Any Money Order Office". Postal Notes were still less detectable in an envelope; therefore, much safer than sending specie (coins) through the mail. Then, as now, mail depredations were a problem.

Thanks!!! Great information!!!