This one has an imperforate copy of the $1 Miller Boat Line stamp from the same set as the 75¢ stamp on the prior cover.
Rattlesnake Island Local Post $1 Miller Boat Line stamp on cover
As you can probably tell form the scan, this envelope and the local post stamp got kind of dinged up traveling through the mail; there are some lovely vertical and diagonal creases through the stamp itself. Nevertheless, it’s a neat piece of modern local post postal history.
Navigators again uses stamp-sized designs on BRE and container
A little over a year ago, I wrote about a pair of envelopes from the nonprofit Navigators: one a business reply envelope, and the other an oversized envelope in which it was sent to me. Navigators sent a similar parcel to my wife earlier this month, but both envelopes this time have different images than last year’s.
The BRE we received this month bears three preprinted copies of a stamp-sized design picturing a pair of pine cones.
Navigators business reply envelope
The oversized envelope in which that envelope was mailed has three copies of a preprinted design picturing a green train.
Navigators envelopeStamp-sized designs of a train on Navigators envelope
As I mentioned last year, business reply envelopes bearing preprinted stamp-sized designs are pretty common these days, but it’s far less common to see a containing envelope with those sort of thing. It’s a pity the outer envelope got so bent up in the mail, but I suppose that is more or less inevitable these days.
Purgatory Post honors astronauts Borman, Mattingly
New Hampshire-based Purgatory Post on December 7 issued a pair of stamps commemorating two Apollo program astronauts who died within days of each other earlier this year.
The 8-sola stamps picture Frank Borman (1928–2023) and Ken Mattingly (1936–2023), with each photo accompanied by reproductions of the official patches for the missions on which the men flew.
Purgatory Post Frank Borman & Ken Mattingly stamps
Borman served as commander of Gemini 7 and later as commander of Apollo 8, the first manned mission that orbited the moon. He was also part of a NASA review board that investigated the Apollo 1 disaster. Borman died November 7, 2023.
Mattingly was named the backup command module pilot for Apollo 11 and was initially scheduled to fly as command module pilot on Apollo 13, but he was grounded due to exposure to German measles just days before launch. He would, however, serve as Apollo 16’s command module pilot and command two Space Shuttle flights in the 1980s. Borman died October 31, 2023.
The designs of both stamps follow the same general layout Purgatory Post operator Scott A. has used for his series of stamps commemorating the 50th anniversaries of various United States spaceflight missions.
Philosateleian Post to commemorate 20 years of service
On January 7, 2004, Philosateleian Post launched local post service in Valdosta, Georgia, issuing a 1-stamp stamp picturing the Flag of Philosateleia. Philosateleian Post later operated in Jacksonville, Florida, and San Antonio, Texas, before finally relocating to Floresville, Texas, in 2021.
To commemorate its 20th anniversary, Philosateleian Post will issue a 1-stamp commemorative local post stamp bearing the text “20 Years of Philosateleian Post” on World Local Post Day, January 29, 2024.
Philosateleian Post 20 Years of Philosateleian Post stamp
The new stamp design includes components of two previous Philosateleian Post stamp designs. The interior of the “2” of “20” is comprised of a portion of the design of Philosateleian Post’s 2014 Yosemite Grant Sesquicentennial stamp, while the “0” contains part of the vignette from the Red-shouldered Hawk stamp of 2015.
“I had no idea when I created my first stamp that I would still be operating a local post two decades later,” says Philosateleian Post proprietor Kevin Blackston. “My design skills have certainly improved since 2004, and I continue to enjoy ‘playing postmaster.’”
Technical Specifications
Format: sheets of 45 (9×5). Plate number: P231214. Design size: 23×33 mm. Overall size: 26×36 mm. Separation method: perforated 12. Adhesive: water-activated dry gum. Printing method: laser.
Philatelic Services
To receive a mint single of Philosateleian Post’s 20 Years of Philosateleian Post stamp, or for first day cover service, send either $2 or a self-addressed stamped envelope and your request to:
Kevin Blackston
Philosateleian Post
PO Box 217
Floresville TX 78114-0217
United States of America
When I acquired a 14¢ American Indian first day cover postmarked in Muskogee, Oklahoma, in 2019, I figured I was finished with gathering FDCs for my favorite stamp. I already had a copy of the flat plate-printed American Indian on a cover postmarked in Washington, D.C., as well as a FDC bearing a copy of the rotary press-printed stamp.
Last month, however, I spotted this beauty listed on eBay at a very reasonable price, and I was quick to snap it up.
14¢ Canal Zone 14¢ American Indian first day cover
This cover was postmarked in Balboa Heights on January 14, 1933, the day the overprinted rotary press-printed stamp was
released for use in the Canal Zone. This isn’t valued especially highly by Scott, so there must be plenty of them around to meet demand, but I’d never seen one before.
With this added to my collection, I think the flat plate-printed American Indian stamp with Canal Zone overprint is the only one for which I don’t have a first day cover. Based on the catalogue value for that item, I’m probalby not likely to get one any time soon. On the other hand, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to afford that Muskogee cover, either, but it happened, so you never know…
