14¢ American Indian solo usage on cover to Austria
Prior to December 2020, I had never seen an example of the 14¢ American Indian stamp used by itself to pay postage on a letter mailed to Europe. That month, however, I acquired an example mailed from Honolulu to Germany in 1935, and I’m excited to now have another example mailed from California to Austria, which by that point had been annexed by Nazi Germany, in 1938.
14¢ American Indian cover mailed from Los Angeles, California, to Vienna, Austria, Germany
In the case of the earlier cover from 1935, 8¢ postage covered air mail within the United States plus surface transportation to Europe for a one-ounce letter, with the other 6¢ covering a 3¢ per half ounce surcharge for air mail service within Europe. This newer cover, however, is an example of 5¢ postage covering standard transportation for a one-ounce letter and 3¢ covering a surcharge for air mail service within the United States, with the remaining 6¢ once again covering the 3¢ per half ounce surcharge for air mail service within Europe.
In both cases, the amount of postage due was the same—14¢—but from a postal history perspective, my newest acquisition technically represents a different set of rates.
This update includes spaces for all regular United States postage stamps issued over the past three months, this year’s federal “duck” stamp, and silver tax stamps from the 1930s and 1940s, so there’s a ltitle something for everyone, postage and revenue stamp collectors alike.
Thank you as always for your feedback and support, and happy collecting!
Here in the United States, a 3¢ postage rate hike for first-class letters went into effect last week. In olden days, such a rate increase for the United States Postal Service would have been accompanied by a “make-up” stamp allowing customers to pay the difference in postage between the old rate printed on stamps that they had not yet used and the new rate, but with Forever stamps, that’s no longer needed.
Rate change stamps are still necessary for Bat’s Private Post, however. The local post based in Beverly Hills, California, on August 29 issued 3¢ and 4¢ stamps picturing the California Condor.
Bat’s Private Post California Condor stamps
According to a press release, the orange brown 3¢ stamp is for use with 60¢ Bat’s Private Post stamps on letters, while the red 4¢ stamp is intended for use on Bat’s Private Post postal cards.
If you think the frame used on these stamps looks familiar, you’re right. It appears to have been borrowed from the United States fourth Bureau issue, but that does nothing to detract from the stamps’ appearance.
Update (2021-09-14): Bat’s Private Post on September 7 issued two additional local post stamps using the same California Condor design.
One, a black 10¢ stamp, covers Bat’s international rate when combined with an existing $1.25 stamp. The second, a 45¢ value in peacock blue, pays the new Bat’s Private Post postcard rate.
Bat’s Private Post California Condor stamps
In the local post world, we don’t necessarily see much in the way of definitive sets, but I think these four would look good together on an album pages.
Centerport local service stamp from early modern local
Purgatory Post operator Scott A. recently shared with me a local post stamp issued by what was arguably one of the older “modern” local posts: the Centerport, New York, local service.
Centerpoint local service stamp
According to reference material to which Scott has access, the local post was in operation only from 1953 to 1955, and the stamp pictured above—not denominated, but originally valued at 1¢—was part of its second issue. Although the design, which features an anchor and the outline of Long Island, is triangular, the stamp is rectangular and rouletted vertically, apparently having been issued in horizontal strips.
There seems to be little information about the Centerport service online, but I’m happy to add this to my collection.
Bat’s Private Post of Beverly Hills, California, on August 18 issued a pair of new self-adhesive stamps celebrating the local post’s 15th anniversary. The 63¢ designs picture a bat, with the standard use stamp having a blue background and the official stamp having a buff background.
63¢ Bat’s Private Post 15th anniversary stamps
According to a press release, each of the stamps has 16 scallops around its edge: 15 for the 15 years that Bat’s Private Post has been in operation, and an additional scallop representing the local post’s future.
In addition to the stamps, which are only the second self-adhesive issue in Bat’s Private Post’s history, two ungummed souvenir sheets were produced, each containing three copies of one of the issued stamps.
Bat’s Private Post 15th anniversary souvenir sheets
I hadn’t realized that Bat’s Private Post has been around as long as it has, but its only a couple of years behind my own Philosateleian Post. I like it when a modern private local post sticks around for a while, not just issuing a couple of stamps and then disappearing, and I wish the post’s operator, Scott Z., much success with his future local posting activities.
