U311 cut square UPSS die 88, red oval Cleveland & Indianapolis RPO stamp on back

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

39x46mm. 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 partial circular date stamp is unclear and the elliptical obliterator has the numeral 4 in the center. There was some minor foxing in the upper corners that has been neutralized with ammonia. Careful inspection will reveal faint residual paper staining remaining in those corners.

The back side of this cut square has been stamped by a large reddish purple double oval device. The stamp includes several pieces of information. An abbreviation for Cleveland & Indianapolis Railway Post Office is printed inside the bottom rim of the stamp and an employee’s name, “W. C. Griffis,” is printed inside the top. In the center, the date of “MAR 4” and “Tr. 3” are printed in one line and a partial year designation, “189,” is printed in a second line.

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.

I cannot explain how or why this W. C. Griffis stamp ended up on the back of one of the Union City cut squares. However, I have confirmed he was a railway mail clerk residing in Union City, Indiana. It is also interesting that another of the cut squares, a wrapper, has been stamped with the name of “Howard Griffis” in black script. A 1943 Union City newspaper account of Howard Griffis’ funeral mentions his being the son of the late W. C. Griffis who resided in Union City. Howard would have been a teenager when the Union City cut squares were collected/created. Maybe he and/or his father were responsible for doing all of the work involved in creating this hoard…..

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. Union City was served by three railroads and quite a few cut squares in this collection include partial R.P.O. circular date stamps for various railroads.

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. This copy has the unusual serifs on the lower bars of the letter “E” in words UNITED and STATES. The letter “E” in POSTAGE has a less noticeable serif. The green ink spot at Washington’s eye is a relatively common occurrence.

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 (4693)

Registered Since

04/11/2016

Feedback

100%

Store

Stamps from Keesindy

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.