U311 cut square UPSS Die 88 Dayton, Ohio, ellipse numeral cancel, serif "E" EFO

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

U311

Stamp Type

Postal Stationery

Condition

Used

Stamp Format

Error

Topic

People - Politicians

Year of Issue

1887

Item Description

42x54mm. This large cut square is Scott U311, green indicium on laid white paper. The United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS) identifies this as Die 88. This copy includes nearly an entire UPSS watermark 8. The “TON, OHIO” and the “92” in the circular date stamp perfectly match another 1892 circular date stamp from Dayton, Ohio. The small ink dot at the left edge of this cut square matches the bottom end of the “Y” of DAYTON on the other cut square. The obliterator is a barred ellipse with a numeral “2” in the center. There is some paper discoloration along the top and right edges.

This item has never been mounted in a collection. It was among 11-12,000 cut squares collected from Union City, Indiana, businesses. Although a few cut squares may have been collected across the state line in Union City, Ohio, I have found no evidence of that. Most of the readable postmarks are from 1891 to 1893, with the majority from 1892. However, there were also postmarks from the 1880s.

Although mail was coming to Union City from all over the country, much of it seemed to be coming from small cities and towns in Indiana and Ohio and to a lesser degree from smaller communities in other nearby states. In other words, most of the fancy and geometric cancels probably originated within 150 to 200 miles of Union City. The Dayton & Union Railroad connected Dayton and Union City. According to a 1910 railway directory, the rail distance between the two cities was 47 miles.

The Die 88 stamped envelope indicia were printed in huge quantities. They display a wide variety of inking problems (including setoffs) and die varieties that fall under the EFO (errors, freaks and oddities) umbrella. Except for a few newly identified items that are yet to be confirmed, these characteristics are repeating and documented; some display progressive characteristics. One of the variations involves serifs on the lower arm of the letter “E” of UNITED, STATES and POSTAGE. When they appear at all, the serifs appear in varying sizes on different copies of the Die 88s, and this Dayton cut square is an example of the largest serifs that can be found.

You may combine this item with other stamp sale lots to save on shipping. Thank you for looking.

All stamps are carefully packaged for safe delivery.

APS Member

Seller Information

Seller

keesindy (4648)

Registered Since

04/11/2016

Feedback

100%

Store

Stamps from Keesindy

• Sales

Item Location

Indiana, United States

Ships To

United States

Shipping Instructions

About 3½ years ago, I stopped selling and shipping outside the US due to new postal rules and rapidly rising costs. The USPS is raising postal rates again in January 2019. Today, December 25, 2018, due to the continuing rise in the cost of postage and associated fees, I am reluctantly raising my general shipping fee for the first time in many years. My sales here at HipStamp involve no additional charge for the purchase of multiple stamps. Shipping is via USPS unless otherwise specified. Be sure to contact me before making your purchases if you have questions.

Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

All items may be returned unless otherwise stated in the listing. Of course, I cannot be responsible if uninsured items are damaged during shipping. If you are dissatisfied with a purchase, contact me within 7 days of your receipt of the item to make arrangements for returning it. If I have made an error in my listing or the item is not as described, you will receive a full reimbursement plus the pre-agreed-upon cost to return the item.