What is a C.P.O. Cancel

Richard Willis

Keep on Stamping
Richard

Michael Almond

"A contract post office is an “approved postal provider” that’s operated by a private business or community and not staffed by USPS workers. There are basically two types — a contract postal unit (CPU) and a community post office (CPO) — and then there’s the closely related “village post office” (VPO)."

Richard Willis

Thank You
Richard

Phil Atarium

I'm wondering if context is important here.

When I first saw the question, without reading any of the replies, I would've thought that "CPO" meant "Central Post Office", i.e., the main post office in a city.

Since the postmark city is Boston and the timeframe is early 1930's, I'm wondering if "Central Post Office" might not be the best answer in this situation.

Phil Atarium

Let me amend my own answer: I just saw something from the post office in that time frame, and they referred to a post office in Washington DC as the 'city post office'.

So there are several possibilities.

Harry Patsalos

Hello Everyone, I think that may be a "G" and not a "C" look at the Bottom Right of the Letter. It is has a Straight line.

Richard Willis

I compared it with other Boston G P O it looks like a match. Thanks for the heads up.
Thank you
Richard

Phil Atarium

I had wondered if it might be a different letter than "C", but didn't want to muddy the waters any more than I already had!

Harry Patsalos

Glad to help.

https://www.hipstamp.com/store/harry-patsalos-philatelics/?sort=started_desc

John Maloney

So, what does GPO stand for? General Post Office? Does that refer to the main po in a city?

Harry Patsalos

John, Yes General Post Office

Bill O'Malley

Looks like every other GPO from Boston during that time era.