Hand Stamp On 1869 Money Order Form

I picked this up recently for the strong hand stamp from Idaho City in 1869 Idaho Territory. My question is -- would this have been the same as the hand cancel used on postal items? Or did postmasters use a specific stamp for money order business?

No thoughts?

So both worldcovers.org, and the ASCC report for Idaho City -




So it doesn't sound the same to me, but data on early Idaho is sketchy to say the least.

The date stamp on your MOB application is most likely the one used on mail.

Here is one example.



Many postmasters did have a separate date stamp device to use on MOB forms. It would usually have the post office name across the top of the circle, and an "M.O.B." across the bottom. I am not certain when the Department began to provide them directly to postmasters but they are listed in the Supply Catalogs by 1909, for example, see page 17 item 570 (5th entry on the page) in this Supply Catalog.

https://stampsmarter.org/learning/G...201909).pdf.

You will occasionally find an ordinary letter with this M.O.B. datestamp used to date or even cancel the stamp. The postmaster or clerk would simply grab the most convenient device and cancel the item.

My earliest example of an MOB Advice with a date stamp with the "M.O.B." was 1888.



All of the examples I have after this time are dated using an "M.O.B." date stamp device. This is certainly not definitive as this is not an area where I have a lot of examples.

Mike

Your cancel reminds me of the one on this old postal note.

Thanks, this is helpful. I was wondering whether an octagonal cancel signified MOB, but I've seen them on postally used material, as well. Is there a group that specializes in Idaho postal history?

The requirement for a special (ink) stamp for use on Money Orders was included in the instructions for postmasters at all Money Order Offices when the Money Order System began operations November 1, 1864. Here is the instruction pertaining to the special stamp, included in the "Instructions to Postmasters of Money Order Offices", printed in the November, 1864 (Vol. V, No. 2, Whole Number 50) United States Mail and Post Office Assistant.



Note that it explicitly states this special stamp shall never be used for stamping letters.

Initially, the postmasters procured these date-stamping devices. Given this latitude, many different shapes, sizes and styles were purchased, depending on each postmaster's preference. According to the 1887 Postal Laws and Regulations, the Post Office Department was providing the "M.O.B." date stamps to the Money Order Offices. This was likely an effort to standardize the design used by all of the Money Order Offices. In 1887, the newly formed Postal Note Offices were also issued standardized "P.N.B." date stamps.

So anytime you see a "M.O.B." or "P.N.B." date stamp on a cover, that use was actually in violation of the Postal Laws and Regulations. Examples seen were probably stamped in error (they grabbed the wrong stamping tool) or out of necessity (the postal stamping tool was worn out.)

GregAlex:




You might contact this group.

https://pacificnorthwestpostalhistorysociety.org/

Those postal regulations are very helpful! I wonder if red ink (vs black ink for postal use) would suffice as a distinction for MOB hand stamps.

A different color ink, generally red, was often used, but I have seen blue and black ink used with the M.O.B. date stamps too.

The Money Order Business, abbreviated M.O.B. was by law, to be accounted for separately from the other business conducted at all post offices authorized as Money Order Offices. That is likely one reason the postal cancels were not supposed to be used on any Money Order documents, and why the M.O.B. date stamps were not supposed to be used on postal document.

From 1864 to 1886, the clerks hired for the Money Order operations were prohibited from performing other postal duties, and vise-versa for the clerks hired for the postal operations.