The Vermont. Journal of the Vermont Philatelic Society. May 2016: Volume 61, Number 2 -- Whole Number 241. A New Vermont Connection

Transcription

1 The Vermont Philatelist Journal of the Vermont Philatelic Society May 2016: Volume 61, Number 2 -- Whole Number 241 A New Vermont Connection Although this FOREVER stamp issued on June 2, 2016 as part of the 16 stamp sheet honoring the centennial of the National Park Service shows a painting of the Grand Tetons in Wyoming, it still has a Vermont connection. The painting is located at the Marsh-Billings-Rockerfeller National Historical Park in Woodstock. The MBRNHP is the NPS s art gallery for the country. According to the USPS press release: (the stamp shows) an iconic Hudson River School of Art landscape painting linked to the Conservation Movement that supported interest in creating the National Park system (and is one of the )16 Forever Stamp images to celebrate the National Park Service s 100th anniversary. This stamp exemplifies how our national park treasures extend beyond stunning vistas, wildlife, flora and fauna, said Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director, Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science, National Park Service. Albert Bierstadt s painting represents the convergence of artistic, literary and political attention toward America s scenic beauty in the 19th century, which helped establish conservation as a national value and laid the foundation for the first national parks a century ago. The stamp image is a detail of Bierstadt s ( ) 29-by-43-inch oil-on-canvas painting Scenery in the Grand Tetons. The permanent home of the painting is Laurance Rockefeller s study in the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion. Another of Bierstadt s paintings, The Domes of Yosemite is located in the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum.

2 page 2 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Table of Contents A New Vermont Connection... 1 Cover of the Issue: Woodstock Vt Handstamp Cancels on 1st Issue Revenuse by Terence Hines... 4 The Post Horn by Bill Lizotte... 5 New Dates / Updates...11 Seen At Auction...12 Member s Adlets...13 Vermont Post Offices: Granville & Hartland Four Corners...14 An Emergency Postmark and Telephones Connect to Fairlee...15 Grillin In Vermont (Part 8) by Paul Abajian...17 Have You Seen These by Bill Lizotte...21 A Vermont Prankster by George Slawson...22 VPS Mail Auction # Prices Realized for Sale # The Vermont Philatelic Society President: Glenn Estus, PO Box 451, Westport, NY (518) Vice President: We need a volunteer Sec./Treas.: Robert Edson, 693 West Hill Rd, North Middlesex, VT (802) Director: Michael J. McMorrow, PO Box 147, N. Clarendon, VT (802) Director: Stan Sumner, 3 Dwinell St, Montpelier, VT (802) Club Representatives: Brattleboro: Paul Cook, PO Box 320, Chester, VT (802) Chittenden: Wendell Weston, 1119 VT Rte 15, Underhill, VT (802) Green Mountain: Roberta Breese, 211 Breese Hollow Rd, Hoosick Falls, NY (518) Memphremagog: Rutland: Paul Cook, PO Box 320, Chester, VT (802) Alternate: Michael J. McMorrow, PO Box 147, North Clarendon, VT (802) Upper Valley: John A. Lutz, 3 Elm Street, Randolph, VT (802) Washington: Robert Edson, 693 West Hill Rd, North Middlesex, VT (802) Exec. Director: Bill Lizotte, 250 Junction Hill Rd., Jeffersonville, VT (802) Auction Coordinator: Stan Sumner, 3 Dwinell St, Montpelier, VT (802) The Vermont Philatelist [ISSN ] is the official quarterly journal of the Society. Editor: Glenn A. Estus, PO Box 451, Westport, NY gestus@vermontps.org Dues: $15 per year * Contributing member: $20

3 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 3 Cover of the Issue Do you notice that this cover from Woodstock has two different types of cancels? The cancel at the lower left is a common type found in use at many post offices of this era. However, the cancel on the stamps is unusual: a double circle cancel with Woodstock, VT at the top and USPOD at the bottom. I wonder why the clerk used two devices on this letter to Australia. Vermont Stamp Clubs Information about Vermont stamp clubs is on-line at It would help greatly if a member of each club would check out the club s information and inform me of changes. Also, if the club program for the year is available that would help also. Glenn Estus ( gestus@vermontps.org) When you return your 2016 VPS dues payment, don t forget to send the editor a short 25 word TRADING POST advertisement. It s free and does not have to be limited to finding only Vermont postal history items. Vermont Postal History Resources on the Internet:

4 page 4 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Vermont Handstamp Cancels on First Issue Revenues by Terence Hines Since the last article on these cancels I ve come across a number of varieties I ve not seen before. Unfortunately, two of the cancels do not have full impressions or give full information on the users. L. R. KIBBY / CUSTOMS AG T ST. ALBANS This comes in two varieties, one in blue with sans serif capital letters and one in black with serif letters. Both are shown on examples of the 25 cent certificate, R44c. GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY/ ISLAND POND / T. H. COOPER AGT. Oval in black. On $1 Inland Exchange, R69c.??????T & HALL / BURLINGTON, VT Circle, blue. On $1 Inland Exchange, R69c.

5 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 5 The Post Horn by Bill Lizotte This quarter I m taking a look through my collection of Vermont stampless covers with handstamp postal markings to note a few things that are not correctly or completely listed in the American Stampless Cover Catalogue (ASCC). This is the best and most complete available reference on the subject of American stampless covers. However, even after eighty years of publication, the ASCC is still a work in progress. This catalogue is flawed in one respect, i.e., by listing circle postmarks by diameter and by state abbreviation, but not by type font of the office name. Therefore there are examples of covers not differentiated which are very different indeed. Unlisted Barton Postmark or Two on SFLs: The Barton straightline postmark is well-known, with two documented examples both dated 1830, and listed in the ASCC. There are, however, only two different circle postmarks for Barton listed in the ASCC. I have four examples in my collection which seem different enough, although three have a diameter of 29 mm. The first is internally dated 1845, with postmark date of August 20, struck in black ink, with letters of Barton compact, there being only 17 mm between the bottom of the letters B and N. The state abbreviation is V.T., although the period after V is extremely faint. The five cent rate is noted in manuscript and prepaid. The second cover is similar at 29 mm in diameter and struck in black, with postmark date of August 23 over-written by hand as August 24, internally dated This one has postage of five cents noted by a numeral 5, and a large handstamp PAID, addressed to Congressman Stephen Thomas in West Fairlee. The state abbreviation is clearly V.T. with both periods boldly struck. The important difference, however, is that the letters of Barton are widely spaced, with the bottom of letters B and N now 22 mm apart. The third cover is like the second except that it is struck in red ink, with postmark date of January 1, and no internal mention of the year. The letters of Barton are again widely spaced, but the state abbreviation is Vt., unique among the four Barton covers. This one has the same numeral 5 rate mark struck in red, but the letter was sent postage collect to be paid by the addressee.

6 page 6 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 The final cover is a folded letter (front only) with postmark date of March 20 and fancy ornaments at the right and left sides of the circle between letters of Barton at top and the state abbreviation as VT. below. This postmark is struck in red ink with matching large numeral 5 in a circle of 19 mm. The postmark is a circle of 28 mm diameter, and the letter is docketed 1850 in pencil. This is the example used for illustration in the ASCC, with use recorded for , although this example is docketed in pencil as an 1850 usage.

7 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 7 Manchester: Two Different Paid Three in Arc Marks: Rate markings are an important part of collecting and studying Vermont s stampless covers. In the February 2014 issue of the VP, editor Glenn Estus provided a tentative listing of Paid 3 in Arc rate markings from twenty seven Vermont Post Offices. These were in use from July of 1851 through the end of 1855 only, with mandatory prepayment of postage for the lower three cent rate. In the November 2014 issue, I added Gaysville and Manchester, to bring the listing to twenty nine towns. I included the Manchester example for illustration in the Post Horn, the Paid in serif letters. More recently I acquired another Manchester cover with a slightly different rate mark with sans serif, or gothic, letters, and a much smaller number 3. North Bennington Circle Postmarks Listed: The North Bennington Post Office was established in late 1828, serving continuously for nearly 190 years. The earliest recorded manuscript stampless cover recorded was dated to 1840 until one dated to 1833 was reported in the February 2015 Post Horn article in the VP. North Bennington is also well known for recorded use of a straightline postmark in 1840, with but one example reported. This is struck in black with the Free Frank of third Postmaster William E. Hawks, assuming the office one year earlier.

8 page 8 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 The American Stampless Cover Catalogue lists the straightline, and only one circle postmark for North Bennington, recorded as an 1835 usage, with the postmark measuring 35 mm in diameter and struck in red or black. In checking notes from another source, the extensive compilation of postal markings for Vermont stampless covers completed during the 1970s by VPS member Mike McMorrow, I note the only circle postmark reported is one used circa 1851, struck in black with diameter of 34½ mm, with note that the postmark is poorly struck, and hence not traceable. Since half a millimeter is so tiny a space, and postmarks may slide a bit when struck, I prefer to use rounded or whole millimeter measurements. This would make the circle 35 mm as reported in the ASCC. I believe that I have the poorly struck example in my own collection, and illustrate it here for the record, demonstrating its poor condition. Note that the hand-written PAID 3 in the upper-right corner, and the date of Dec 6 inside the postmark limits the usage to 1851 through 1855 only, with the three cent rate required as pre-payment.

9 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 9 I also have a folded letter with a red circle postmark of 35 mm. internally dated 1850, with a matching numeral 10 as rate mark. This cover was seen in a recent auction, and confirms the listing, adding red as a correct color. There is likely another North Bennington cover with this postmark and Paid handstamp, therefore at least three North Bennington covers with this circle postmark. The 1835 date for the ASCC listing is very likely not correct, as I find no mention of it in other reference works. Earlier Than Previously Reported: Morrisville 1836 The Morrisville Post Office was established early in Although Morrisville is the leading village in Lamoille County today, it was not the first village in the Town to host a Post Office; the first was at Morristown in 1822, about one mile to the west as the crow flies, and somewhat more on crooked roads. This village is known locally as Morristown Corners. The earliest Morrisville stampless cover with manuscript postmark has long been recorded as 1837, now superseded by the cover illustrated with postmark date of December 3, apparently over-written as December 6, and internally dated The postmark rate of ten cents sent collect is correct for a distance of thirty to eighty miles to lawyer Leavenworth in Burlington. This is still nearly three years after the PO was established in this village.

10 page 10 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 East Corinth Stampless, Ms Postmark, rate HS: The unusual combination of a manuscript town postmark and a handstamp rate marking (or Paid, Free) is worthy of recording. I have one such cover from East Corinth which is likely not among those of record. The fragile cover is addressed to Thetford, with postmark noted as East Corinth/ Dec 6 Vt. The rate is a common Paid over 3 in a circle more commonly used with the second East Corinth circle postmark. The earlier one reads E. Corinth. There are still likely no more than a dozen covers reported with manuscript postmarks and handstamp rate markings. (ed. note: There are at least 30 different towns known). An Unfamiliar (2nd) Barre Postmark: Here s a Barre cover recently with a circle I had not seen before. The circle is 28 mm, with serif letters for town name and state abbreviation VT without period, and curved line to fill in the space between. The SFL is docketed 1850, but without an internal letter. The numeral 5 rate is struck in red, and the cover addressed to Dorchester, Mass.

11 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 11 New Dates/Updates In the February VP Bill Lizotte reported a large postmark from West Burke used in The attached cover bears a large four bar killer postmark on a special delivery cover from Cavendish dated August 16, The circle measures 40 mm in diameter. --Terence Hines When I received Terry s above, I did a quick search of my contemporary handcancels and found these larger examples. Bakersfield is 39 mm, East Corinth is 38mm, and Hardwick is 37 mm. With the centralization of postal services, these types of handstamps are found less and less on everyday mail. Most mail going outside the local post office is machine canceled in Burlingto or White River Junction. --Glenn Estus

12 page 12 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Seen at Auction Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. recently had an auction of US and Confederate Postal History. Two of the lots were Vermont rarities. #472. Bradford, Vermont. Trace of 3c Dull Red (11) tied by New York circular datestamp, mostly peeled off of cover with blue embossed advertising design on flap, addressed to Bradford Vt., fancy blue negative Paid 3 in circle handstamp struck at Bradford and forwarded from there to Providence R.I. and Springfield Mass. with an array of markings including FORWARDED straightline, Providence R.I. Jun. 12 circular datestamp, 3 handstamp, manuscript Ford., Due, Adv., $10- and Springfield Mass. Oct. 1 backstamp, finally a P.O. Dept. Dead Letter Office double oval datestamp of Dec. 8 and bold red B handstamp, accompanied by a letter from the New York Post Office to Mr. Searles (the sender) stating surprise that your letter containing ten dollars has come to light. I see that it has made the rounds..., a fascinating cover with an Extremely Fine strike of the Bradford fancy Paid 3 marking, the stamp was likely peeled during its long forwarding journey to indicate it was no longer prepaid EST.: $400-$500 SOLD: $225 #473. DERBY-LINE VT. Aug. 23 Clear strike of fancy negative datestamp in notched arc with date in manuscript on 1836 datelined folded letter to Grantham N.H., two manuscript rates crossed out with 12-1/2 cents for correct miles rate, some minor wear and light age spotting, Very Fine strike of this rare town marking,

13 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 13 EST.: $750-$1000 SOLD: $3500 Member s Adlets Your adlet could have gone here. Send it to Glenn Estus at the address on page 2 or by to gestus@vermontps.org SEEKING 19th CENTURY ADVERTISING COVERS for Vermont Remedies, Cures, etc. Fine condition only, Dick Sheaff (802) , dicksheaff@gmail.com WANTED: VT & NY MACHINE SLOGAN CANCELS. George Mc- Gowan, PO Box 402, East Schodack, NY WANTED: SCOTT US #536, MINT, USED, OR ON COVER in the Emerald shade that #525 & #531 come in. Send Scan and terms to BFCAT@aol.com FOR SALE: OLD VT & TOPICAL POSTCARDS. Send Want list to Robert Page, 25 Lexington Ave., Brattleboro, VT Wanted: NYS/VT COUNTY/POSTMASTER POSTMARKS, also VT PAID 3 in circle killer, RFDs, Doanes, #210s, #11s on Vermont Covers. Glenn Estus, PO Box 451, Westport, NY 12993, gestus@ westelcom.com

14 page 14 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Vermont Post Offices The Granville (Addison County) Post Office closed on January 15, According to The Addison Independent, the USPS had leased one room in the home of Alice and William Parrish on Route 100 since 1963, but the couple decided to suspend the lease. The patrons have been directed to the Hancock Post Office about 5 miles south of Granville. The Windsor County Post Office of Hartland Four Corners was closed due to safety and sanitation concerns on December 15, All operations were transferred to to the Hartland Post Office on Route 5. The Post Office might open again after improvements have been made.

15 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 15 An Emergency Postmark & Telephones Connect to Fairlee by Glenn Estus I recently obtained this cover and its contents at the Spring auction of the Chittenden County Stamp Club. The enclosed letter was written on Pavilion stationery in May The postmark is an emergency cancel of the Railroad Mail System. These are cancellers put into service when the regular device is unavailable. The text of the letter is shown on page 16. It interesting to realize that only 100 years ago in the early 1910s, telephones were still evolving. The first telephones in Vermont came to Burlington in 1879 with 168 subscribers and by 1910 New England Telephone had central offices in the larger towns, but most of the state was either telephone-less or just had local systems that didn t connect to the outside world. The letter s sender, J.Ralph Pierce is suggesting to John Davis of Fairlee that the local Fairlee system should connect, using AT&T, of course.

16 page 16 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Dear John: I am sending you under separate cover a copy fo the report of Mr. Vail to the stock holders of the American Tel & Tel Co. Mr. Vail, as you know, is a Vermonter and the Preseident of both the American Bell & the Western Union Co. I know from the talk that I had with you that you have given the telephone subject a good deal of thought. I suppose you appreciate the importance of local and long distance telephone communication. This book will give you a lot of ideas from a master mind on the subject. I realize that it is from a prejudiced source. Yet I think that if you read that part of it which applies to telephone companies, thoughtfully and thoroughly, you will get a good deal to think about. Many and in fact most of these statements and arguments I use everyday in my work for the Company and I believe them sound. You owe it to yourself after having thought so much about the situation to give this report careful attention. I should be glad to win you as an adherent to this one system idea and your help and influence of our local conditions would be appreciatd. Sometime I hope to have a chance to talk the subject dry with you and I really believe my experience has taught me a good deal about it. Yours very truly, J. Ralph Pierce In 1914, the Vermont Public Service Commission listed J. Ralph Pierce as one of the owners of the Fairlee Telephone Company which commenced business July 1, Local business is conducted in the towns of Fairlee and Thetford, Vt., Orford and Lyme, N.H. There are about 230 subscribers in all, of which 60 are in Vermont. Connects with the New England Telphone and Telegraph Company for toll service. (Biennel Report of the Public Service Board, State of Vermont, 1914). The 1917 PSC report lists J. Ralph Pierce as the general manager of the Connecticut Valley Telephone Company, which had been founded in The Vermont towns covers were Bradford, Fairlee, Groton, Newbury, Ryegate, Thetford, Topsham, and W. Fairlee.

17 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 17 Grillin in Vermont (Part 8) (ed note: Paul Abajian showed this exhibit at the 2014 Vermont State Stamp Show. We began reproducing the exhibit in the August 2014 issue and conclude the series this quarter.) 1869 Issue (15c brown & blue) National Bank Note Company The 15c brown and blue was issued primarily for letters to France and Germany as well as to pay domestic registry fees. Six Vermont uses are recorded, all domestic registry uses. North Hyde Park to Wolcott, VT February 18, Montpelier to Calais, VT April 8, (1871)

18 page 18 The Vermont Philatelist: May Issue (1c ultramarine) National Bank Note Company The 1c ultramarine was issued primarily to meet the requirements for third class and drop mail. Most uses actually seen are combinations with other stamps. Uses as originally intended are somewhat scarce. Only three examples are recorded used in Vermont Rutland to Dorset, VT 27, This is is a third class circular use. Rutland to Centre Rutland, VT July 2 First class use on an express company envelope

19 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page Issue (3c green) National Bank Note Company The 3c green was issued to meet the requirements of the first class letter rate per half ounce. No census has been attempted, but observation leads one to believe the grilled issues are rarely seen used in Vermont. Royalton to Strafford, VT September 5, 1873 St. Johnsbury Centre to Barton, VT February 22, 1872 (editor s note: notice the difference in spelling: CENTRE in the postmark and CENTER in the corner card return address.

20 page 20 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 A MOST INTERESTING ERROR Bennington to Erie, Pennsylvania August 17, 1867 The earliest known experimental grill, Type A, has an earliest known use of August 13, Is this a very early use of a grilled stamp? NO. The type A grill covers the entire stamp. The grill on this stamp does not cover the stamp. So, what is it? A fake? NO again. It is real, with a postal clerk error... see below!

21 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 21 Have You Seen These? I am always working on future articles and solicit your help if you have in your collection, or have seen, any of the following items: DANBY 1827 CIRCLE POSTMARK: The American Stampless Cover Catalogue lists a Danby circle postmark of 24 mm struck in black ink dated 1827 with the state abbreviated as VT. There is another cover of similar nature listed therein, dated 1831, differing only with the state abbreviated as Vt. Slawson mentions these two covers with the description of the two Danby ovals in The Postal History of Vermont (page 49), but without further information. ST. ALBANS 1850 DOUBLE CIRCLE POSTMARK: This is not listed in the ASCC, nor is there any tracing or mention of it in the notes and records compiled by McMorrow on Vermont stampless covers. However, Slawson does include this in his listing of multiple circles in PHV (Chapter 8). There seems to be no other precedent for this. ST. JOHNSBURY 1819 CIRCLE POSTMARK: This circle is listed in the ASCC with diameter of 30 mm, and struck in black, but otherwise there are no other circle postmarks on record from St. Johnsbury until 1840 (McMorrow 1839), including St. Johnsbury Plain, as this village was known between SPRINGFIELD CIRCLE POSTMARK: The ASCC lists this one as a circle of 31 mm in diameter and struck only in blue ink. There is no Springfield postal marking prior to 1835 mentioned by Mc- Morrow, and no listing for Springfield in Slawson. I have not seen anything from this office so early. I have seen items from other states leak into the Vermont section of the ASCC, but in this case it would be hard to prove, since nearly every state has a Town of Springfield, the classic Everytown! WEST CORNWALL 1851 DOUBLE CIRLCE: This is listed in Slawson as well as in the ASCC, but not in McMorrow s work. It occurs to me that this may be a typographical error, since the information appears to duplicate the description and dimensions of the well-known West Concord concentric circle listed correctly in all references. Note that Slawson differentiates between double circle and concentric circle, but the ASCC does not. (continued on page 28)

22 page 22 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 A Vermont Prankster reprinted from the August 1967 The Vermont Philatelist (ed. note: Bill Lizotte reported on Tyson Furnace in the August 2015 Vermont Philatelist. Here s an interesting philatelic story dealing with Tyson Furnace.) In the town of Plymouth, Vermont, not too far from the Calvin Coolidge home, there resided Warren R. Taylor who derived a vast amount of amusement playing such various harmless pranks as occurred to him, using the postmasters in his neighborhood as his co-conspirators. As a result we have today various mementoes of these whimsies, dating back to the late 1870s and the 1880s, all of which were begun for his own amusement. but he quickly discovered there were people who could be gulled into, purchasing them - or at least some of them. None of them were meant in any way offensive and the postmasters humored him in his little schemes. For instance, he went a mile or so to the postoffice of Plymouth Union and tried mailing letters to himself at Sherburne, via Rutland! Presumably Postmaster Alpheus N. Earle did his part to help Mr. Taylor, but the letter had to be transited through Bridgewater Corners, and Postmaster Volney C. Babcock apparently failed to cooperate since the letter went directly from Bridgewater Corners to the adjoining town of Sherburne-without making the extra thirty mile round trip to Rutland. and no Rutland marking appeared. But this was one of the few times Warren R. Taylor failed to obtain his objective. He liked to play with names and since stamped envelopes bearing corner cards cost money, he spent as little as possible by buying 10 envelopes. His first venture in this line was one ordered at his home office of Plymouth,using the name of Quincy Quaverly, an odd combination of letters that greatly appealed to him for some time until, reputedly, someone mispronounced the name of Quincy as though the word was quinsy. Mr. Taylor corrected the pronunciation several times, but then was forced to conclude the mispronunciation was intentional and intended to convey a message. With today s slang it would probably be called a pain in the neck, but in his time it was usually called stiff-necked, which was equally complimentary. Mr. Taylor sold off as many of these covers as he could at a nickel apiece to such collectors and others as were amused by the name. But as late as 1887 he was still mailing them to himself, at Sherburne. for the benefit of persons who might desire a used copy of this masterpiece.

23 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 23 Several years and cornercards later he had a new inspiration for a cornercard, and drove to the postoffice south of Plymouth Union, where he prevailed upon Postmaster John W. Stickney of Tyson Furnace to order some envelopes for him under the name of Count LeDiable on the sole basis that a good address for a titled devil was at a Furnace. Tyson Furnace from Town of Plymouth website These items were most pleasantly received by philatelists who collected envelopes because they turned out to be all in the scarce dark blue color. And as envelope collectors became more and better aware of what the dies were, these proved to be of the scarce die I, And as their knowledge increased still further they were found to be about evenly divided among working dies 12 and 16, neither of which has been often found except with this one cornercard, (Thorp catalogues each at $25.00 today [1967}, and they ordinarily retail at about $17.50.) Warren Taylor sold them at varying prices, sometimes realizing as much as ten or fifteen cents each, and which, percentage-wise, was a tremendously profitable bit of whimsy on his part, although it is doubtful he ever realized the cornercard was not what made them so attractive to most purchasers. He also had the brilliant idea of addressing himself at the Ludlow jail. These covers mailed part at Plymouth and part at Plymouth Union were returned to him immediately as soon as they were cancelled, and Mr.Taylor having business in Ludlow that day carried them with him and had his friend, John R. Spefford, post-

24 page 24 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 master at Ludlow, add his backstamp to them, thus giving them an appearance of having actually been mailed to him while sojourning in jail. These few examples illustrate the variety of ideas that Warren R. Taylor, our Vermont postal prankster of eighty or ninety years ago, used to dream up and put in effect with the aid of friendly postmasters. Yet too many of today s collectors are unaware of Warren R. Taylor and his little tricks, with a result they are cherishing these little oddities under the impression they located really unusual things, rather than some of Mr. Taylor s toys. When you see unusual items from any of the postoffices above mentioned as participating in humoring him it would be well to check whether or not that cherished cover is of this group Comments: These examples of U108 (upper right) and U109 (lower left) sold for $200 and $150 respectively in the 2007 Saddlebrook Collection of US Postal Stationery. In the 2012 Catalog of the 19th Centuery Stamped Envelopes, Lettersheets and Wrappers of the United States, published by the United Postal Stationery Society, they have catalog values of $275 and $200. The catalog is available for download for a small fee at upss.org.

25 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page 25 VPS MAIL AUCTION #122 CLOSING DATE: July 1, 2016 Standard auction rules and conditions apply. Errors returnable within 5 days. Successful bidders will be notified; lots mailed upon receipt of payment. No buyer s fee. Successful bidders will be charged postage and insurance at cost. Bid increments; under $25 =.50; $25-50 = $1.00; $50 and up = $5.00. Mail bids to Stanley Sumner, POB 956, Montpelier, VT WE NEED AUCTION LOTS Please send in material for the VPS Auctions. Lots should be in VG or better condition and should relate to Vermont Postal History. Small amounts of other philatelic material will be accepted. Please provide your minimum bid per lot. A 10% fee of the sale price will be deducted for the Society on consignment lots. Mail lots to Stanley Sumner, Auction Coordinator, POB 956, Montpelier, VT VERMONT GPC s & PPC s CARDS: 1. Breadloaf 4 Bar on RPPC Photo of Lake Plead VF Canaan cds on Tuck patriotic Decoration Day bar VF PPC of State Capitol bldg. Rutland Flag w/north Dorset Rec VF Last Day of West Bolton on GPC VF Putney 1884 GPC Ux7 W/ blue pinwheel & blue cds F/VF PPC Ep. church /Bellows Falls Flag tys-1b on # Green River Last Day 1941 on GPC VF Whitingham RPPC of Train Station & Train VF Comic PPC Wilmington in Future / 1909 duplex VF Woodstock RR Bridge over Quechee Gorge hand colored 1909 VF St. Johnsbury Railway Station hand colored PPC c1913 with Q1 on back VF Waits River on GPC UX F/VF Healdville on humorous PPC Pompanoosuc 4 bar on GPC Boltonville 1957 last day on GPC VF S. Windham PPC 1937 Greetings South Windham F/VF Huntington PPC 1910 East Bethel rec d. F/VF ADK Mtns Rutland Flag on PPC of Fort Ethan Allan 1907 Litho No. Dorset doane rec d VF So. Shaftsbury hand colored of Bennington Church 1910 F/VF PPC Greetings from East Barre (partial strike) to Washington VT F/VF 3.00

26 page 26 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 VERMONT STAMPLESS ETC.: 21. Receipt dated 1847 to Bellows Falls Gazette VF Bellows falls SFL cds sl paid & ms 6 no circa VF Berlin 1852 SFL cds sl paid & ms 3 VF with contents Bradford SFL 1839 Green 30mm cds unlisted in ASCC with VT with contents ms 10 VF Bradford SFL 1852 cds unlisted in ASCC without VT sl paid & ms paid 3 VF Brattleboro staples Ladies cover with Bold 5 VF Bridgewater cds folded letter with ultramarine cancels - 7 bar grid on #11 VF Burlington 1898 Flag cancel with small flag on Patriotic type cover VF Burlington cds with 5 in cds & sl paid on 1850 SFL with contents VF Castleton cds on front May 25 date cancel on #65 VF Clarendon Springs 1839 SFL ms & ms 10 with contents F Chester cds with fancy cancel on GPC dated 1885 VF E. Corinth ms on 1849 SFL with contents ms 5 VF Ira ms on 1850 SFL with contents ms paid 5 VF Middlebury cds on 1845 SFL with contents Bold 5 VF Quechee Village ms on 1840 SFL with contents & ms 10 VF Vergennes 1847 blue cds & paid on stampless cover no contents ms 15 VF Wallingford cds & ms 5 on undated SFL with contents VF Woodstock cds attached 12 1/2 Paid light strike on 1831 SFL with contents F VERMONT DPO S: 40. Andover c1890 VF Bartonsville c1887 FVF Berlin 1883 F Bread Loaf 1890 F/VF Briggs F/VF Briggs F Chimney Point 1910 VF Clarendon 1931 F/VF Cornwall c1878 VF East Barnet1941 VF E. Bethel 1910 F E. Braintree VF E. Concord 1932 VF 10.00

27 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 Page E. Enosburg 1910 F E. Franklin 1957 VF E. Shoreham 1912 F/VF E. Warren 1907 VF Eden Mills 1907 F (2nd) Ely 1945 VF Felchville 1917 F/VF Green River FVF Grove 1908 VF Hanksville 1907 VF Healdville 1942 F/VF Hubbarton 1888 F/VF Jericho Centre 1886 F/VF Lincoln 1911 F/VF Mechanicsville 1886 F/VF Morses Line 1915 F/VF Mt. Mansfield 1923 F N. Chester c1863 VG-F N. Duxbury 1909 F N. Hartland F/VF N. Orwell 1899 F N. Sheldon 1954 VF N. Tunbridge 1910 VF N. Windham c1888 F/VF Pompanoosuc 1941 VF Queen City Park 1914 F/VF (1st.) Randolph 1884 F 5.00 Notice: The Auction Manager has reported that he receives bids for every auction which are less than the Minimum Bid printed at the end of each lot listing. Save yourself some time and effort and don t bid less than the Minimum. No bids are accepted less than the minimum. PRICES REALIZED FOR SALE #121 1 $ $ $ $

28 page 28 The Vermont Philatelist: May 2016 (Have you seen these--continued from page 21) I would appreciate information on these postmarks, with a photocopy if possible, and if not, some word about where a record or copy might be obtained. Once the report of new material is included in many reference works, whether correct or not, it is very difficult to prove it in error. You may me at billlizotte17@gmail.com. Note three L s. Upcoming Stamp Shows Champex, Essex Junction, VT June 4, 2016 Blue Pavilion Champlain Valley Expo 9:30 am - 4:00 pm paid advertisement