This 1956 airmail cover
was sent from Burlington, Iowa, to San Francisco, California. It features a
blue and red lozenge border, typical of mid-century airmail stationery. The
circular date stamp marks the departure on June 17, 1956.
The cover is addressed to Geo. D. Austed and includes a signature and purple handstamp from O.J. Hertel, the Burlington Postmaster. This suggests the item might be a philatelic souvenir or a commemorative local mailing.
This 1950 philatelic cover commemorates the Cavalcade of Dearborn, a historic civic festival in Michigan. These events often featured parades and historical pageants. The envelope features a black slogan cancel over a 3-cent California Statehood stamp, promoting the event held that October.
On the left, Dearborn Postmaster John A. Vogler personally signed over his official title. This "postmaster-signed" status validate significant local postal events. The piece was sent to Lasus Brothers, a manufacturing chemist firm in Toledo, Ohio.
Dog Team Mail refers to a
historical postal service where mail was transported across frozen, remote
terrain using sled dog teams. In Canada and Alaska, this was the primary and
often only—way to deliver letters and supplies to northern communities during
the winter months from the late 19th century until the mid-20th century.
The beauty of
"postal covers" like this one lies in the story told by their
Circular Date Stamps (CDS). By following the markings on this envelope, we can
reconstruct a three-day journey through the frozen wilderness of Quebec's North
Shore:
Departure: Havre St.
Pierre, P.Q. (January 31, 1949): The journey began in this major maritime hub.
In the dead of winter, with the Gulf of St. Lawrence choked by ice, the dog
team was the only reliable way to move the mail.
Transit: Aguanish
(February 1, 1949): Just twenty-four hours later, the mail reached Aguanish.
This rapid transit across the snow underscores the incredible efficiency of a
seasoned musher and a well-trained team.
The Final Sled Stop: Baie
Johan Beetz (February 2, 1949): The team hit this small coastal settlement the
following day. From here, the dog team portion of the trip concluded.
Captain Bamburg's
signature at the bottom isn't just a return address; it signifies his role as a
self-censor, a common practice for officers during the war. This ensured that
no sensitive operational details could be accidentally or intentionally communicated,
safeguarding military intelligence. The 6-cent airmail stamp and the legible
1944 postmark further date this artifact, placing it firmly within the crucial
year when the 36th Fighter Group, flying P-47 Thunderbolts, was deeply involved
in the Allied push through Europe after D-Day, providing critical close air
support.
The Pony Express
(1860–1861)
This stamp celebrates the
100th birthday of the Pony Express. This famous mail service used riders on
horseback to carry letters and news between Missouri and California.
To move the mail fast,
riders worked in a relay team. Each person rode about 75 miles before passing
the mail bag to the next rider. This system cut the delivery time across the
country down to just ten days.
The Pony Express only
lasted for 18 months. It shut down in 1861 as soon as the telegraph was
finished, because messages could then be sent instantly over electric wires.
