U311 cut square UPSS Die 88 Frankfort, Indiana, CDS and ellipse target cancel

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Catalog Number

U311

Stamp Type

Postal Stationery

Condition

Used

Stamp Format

Single

Topic

People - Politicians

Year of Issue

1890

Item Description

54x53mm. This large cut square is Scott U311 with green indicium on white paper. The United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS) identifies this indicium as Die 88. This copy part of a UPSS watermark 8. The Circular date stamp identifies Frankfort, Indiana, as the originating post office. The year is unclear and the obliterator design was a target ellipse. Household ammonia has been applied to spots along the right edge to neutralize what may have been foxing.

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. Frankfort was 90 rail miles west of Union City. Travel was via the Lake Erie & Western Railroad to Muncie and then via the C. C. C. & St. L. (Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis) Railroad to Union City.

Most types of the Die 88 stamped envelopes and cut squares are common. However, a wide range of inking problems during their production resulted in a long list of inking varieties. In addition, several die varieties have been identified. This copy has a fairly common inking issue, green ink around the hair ribbon at the back of the president’s neck and at his eye. However, on this copy, the inking is much more pronounced than usual.

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 since 1998

Seller Information

Seller

keesindy (4649)

Registered Since

04/11/2016

Feedback

100%

Store

Stamps from Keesindy

• Sales

Item Location

Indiana, United States

Ships To

United States

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.