U311 cut square UPSS Die 88, Pittsburgh, PA 1892 CDS with ellipse obliterator

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

41x52mm. This cut square is Scott U311, green indicium on laid white paper. The United Postal Stationery Society (UPSS) identifies this as Die 88. This copy does not include any portion of a watermark. The 1892 cancellation includes part of a circular date stamp (CDS) from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a clear ellipse obliterator with numeral “5” in the center. There are paper bends creating shadows at the upper right edge of the indicium and at the bottom of the left edge. The lower right-hand corner is creased and the bust of Washington has some yellow staining from the heavy black ink.

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. Dozens of other cut squares in the Union City collection have this same Pittsburgh CDS and an ellipse obliterator with various numerals. Numeral “5” may be the most common of the bunch.

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. A 1910 railway guide gives the travel distance between Pittsburgh and Dayton, Ohio, as 262 miles via the P. C. C. & St. L. (Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis) Railway. The distance from Dayton to Union City via the Dayton and Union Railroad was an additional 47 miles. Total travel distance was 309 miles.

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. Many Die 88 cut squares display a few oddities that may be related to inking problems rather than being die varieties. This copy seems to have no distinguishing characteristics.

An ongoing study of the Die 88 type indicium and its varieties is presented online. Contact me if you are interested in finding that website.

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Seller Information

Seller

keesindy (4649)

Registered Since

04/11/2016

Feedback

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Store

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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.