The first stamp collector may have been the lady in England who decided to wallpaper a room with Penny Black stamps shortly after they were issued. More than 75 years would pass before postal history collecting became popular in the United States.

By the late 1920s, collectors were beginning to publish works on postal history. In 1929, August Dietz published The Postal Service of Confederate States of America. His first catalog of 1931 included stampless Confederate covers. Later, his 1937 catalog was greatly expanded.

In 1933 and 1935, Delf Norona published Cyclopedia of US Postmarks and Postal History in two volumes. These two publications would begin to expand the number of cover collectors in the United States. The American Philatelic Congress began running postal history articles in 1935.  In 1938, the Michigan Postal History Society was formed, though its main focus was bringing together Michigan philatelists.

By the 1950s and 1960s, we would begin to see much more detailed postal history research being published. Ashbrook Special Service by Stanley Ashbrook was published in 1951-52, but only to a handful of subscribers. Tracy Simpson published US Postal Markings 1851-61 in 1959, which was revised and greatly enlarged in 1979 by the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society. The first American Stampless Cover Catalog by E.N. Sampson was published in 1965.

With volumes of information on postal markings being more readily available, collectors began to focus on their local geography or area of interest.

The Western Cover Society was formed in 1951 and the Alaska Postal History Society in 1959. By the mid-1980s, most major states would have some form of postal history group, either organized societies or smaller groups of interested collectors.

 State postal history societies would change the hobby greatly by adding more local history to the collecting community. New York collectors started a state society in 1967, philatelists in Virginia in 1972 along with those from New Jersey; the Colorado Postal History Society formed in 1979, and the North Carolina Postal History Society debuted in 1982. 

Thus, we have seen the philatelic hobby grow from just stamp collecting to postmark collecting, cover collecting, and to some who focus on specific areas of postal history, such as a state’s postal history.

Let’s now look at the many options a state collector has to explore. As a founding member of the North Carolina Postal History Society, I will share with you a few areas that have been greatly expanded by the research conducted by the society members.

Before the United States was formed, the British operated a postal service in what was to become the state of North Carolina. During the Revolutionary War, in which the country and its first states were formed, the British mail system was replaced by individual regional postal services so that mail could be carried locally and between the states. Following the adoption of the Constitution in 1789 a temporary postal system was established and the office of the postmaster general was established. By late February 1792, detailed provisions for a Post Office Department were enacted. 

Up until that time, only four post offices existed in North Carolina. They were in Edenton, Newbern, Washington and Wilmington, all on the one North-South road in the eastern part of the state. [All towns mentioned hereafter are in North Carolina unless otherwise noted.]

Shown (Figure 1) is a stampless cover posted from Fayetteville on October 31, 1792. The post office had no handstamp and used a manuscript cancel on the cover. The 25-cent postage rate due on this cover carried the cover to Worcester, Massachusetts. 

Figure 1. Fayetteville, October 31, 1792, folded letter from one of the four North Carolina post offices in operation at that time when the U.S. postal system was formally enacted in 1792. 

Another cover (Figure 2) is a fancy cogwheel cancel used in 1820 for Edenton on a prepaid folded letter to Boston. The North Carolina Postal History Society’s online catalog of postmarks lists each known postmark from every city in the state. Handstamp and machine markings are numbered, starting with the first, No. 1. This Type 2 cancel, the second postmark from Edenton, was used from 1818 until 1823.

Figure 2. Edenton, December 4, 1920, red fancy cog-wheel cancel used in Edenton from 1818 until 1823. 

The North Carolina Postal History Society has published on its website (www.ncpostalhistory.com) the “North Carolina Postmark Catalog Update,” which lists all the state’s postmasters and illustrates all the postmarks that have been recorded for the 6,886 post offices of North Carolina from the 18th through the 21st centuries. In addition, the website also updates the North Carolina section of the last American Stampless Cover Catalog (ASCC), Volume 1, which is the standard reference for handstamp and manuscript town marks of United States post offices, last published in 1997.

The 1869 issue is one of the shortest-lived SET OF United States postage stamps, issued for 54 weeks in 1869 and 1870. The society’s 1869 study group has done a wonderful job of producing a census of the known North Carolina covers of the less common stamps of the series; however, the more common 1-, 2-, and 3-cent 1869 stamps were not documented. Articles in the North Carolina Postal History Society journal have documented the known uses of the 1-cent stamp.

A cover shown (Figure 3) is an example of the 1-cent issue from this series. The cover was posted in Edenton on January 24, 1870. This stamp paid the 1-cent drop rate used within Edenton. The stamp was canceled with a Type 6 handstamp, the sixth handstamp used in Edenton, which was used from 1868 until 1875. There are six recorded 1-cent 1869 covers used from North Carolina.

Figure 3. Edenton, January 24, 1870, cover with a 1-cent 1869 stamp paid the drop letter rate within Edenton at the time. The 1869 issue was issued for use only 54 weeks in 1869 and 1870. This is one of the six recorded use of an 1869 1-cent stamp from North Carolina.

Figure 3. Edenton, January 24, 1870, cover with a 1-cent 1869 stamp paid the drop letter rate within Edenton at the time. The 1869 issue was issued for use only 54 weeks in 1869 and 1870. This is one of the six recorded use of an 1869 1-cent stamp from North Carolina.

The illustration in Figure 4 is of a cover posted August 31, 1869, from Charlotte to Morganton, with a Type 6 circular datestamp used from 1868 until 1875. The state society has conducted a census of all 1869 issues and has recorded 207 examples of the 3-cent stamp used in North Carolina.

Figure 4. Charlotte, August 31, 1869, cover, one of the 207 3-cent 1869 issue covers recorded by the North Carolina Postal History Society. The cover sent by the bank in Charlotte to Morganton.

Numerous books have been written illustrating fancy postmarks and cancellations used in the United States. None are as thorough as the North Carolina Postal History Society website that lists all known postmarks and killers used in the state, contained within more than 6,400 pages of the online catalog. 

From our first meeting in 1982 the NCPHS members decided our first task was to begin gathering copies of all known North Carolina postmarks. We developed a form for members to submit photocopies of their covers to us. Members set up at stamp shows and copied collections for this database. This was the beginning of the four-volume Post Offices and Postmasters of North Carolina we published in 1996-1998. It later became the basis for the digital version to be released later. The digital version covers all cities from day one to modern day. It is still a work in progress. This base of information allows members to focus on areas of interest such as U.S. Scott 1 and 2 or stampless covers.

The cover shown in Figure 5 illustrates the use of a double circle-datestamp in purple with a six-bar grid cancel used in 1879 from Elmwood. This was the first handstamp used in this post office after it opened in 1878. 

Figure 5. Elmwood, October 21, 1879. A purple Elmwood double circle cancel used in 1879. This was the first handstamp used by the post office when it opened in 1878.

Figure 6 is an illustration of a Pine Hall postmark used on January 21, 1881, to Bowles. This is the only recorded example of this fancy eight-sided, nine-circle killer.

Figure 6. Pine Hall, January 21, 1891, purple cancel is the only recorded example of this eight-sided, nine-circle killer.

North Carolina has one of the largest military populations in the nation. Over the years numerous military bases have existed in the state, from which a vast number of letters have been written. 

Maintaining a collection of military mail from the Revolutionary War to modern-day conflicts from North Carolina is a challenging endeavor. All have connections to the state. Illustrated (Figure 7) is a cover posted in 1918 from Camp Greene, which was in Charlotte. The city had grown to 50,000 inhabitants in the previous 150 years. Within 90 days, the federal government built a military base in 1917 with more than 60,000 troops, quite an undertaking. The camp lasted until 1919 when World War I ended. This camp had two different types of universal machine cancels used at the base. Figure 7 is an example of the Type 2 cancel, the smaller of the two recorded markings.

Figure 7. Charlotte, Greene Branch.  July 11, 1918, Type 2 postmark used at Camp Greene from December 8, 1917, until December 18, 1918. This was a Type DSB – 200 Universal Machine cancel.

Advertising covers are one of the most colorful aspects of collecting a state’s postal history. North Carolina, like most states, has had industries that produced numerous outstanding covers. The journal for the society has had a large number of articles pertaining to the subject.

The tobacco industry was an early producer of advertising covers. Shown (Figure 8) is an example of a Z.I. Lyon “Pride” of Durham smoking tobacco company cover whose advertisement covered the entire face of the cover, called by collectors “all over ad covers.” This 1890 cover was posted from Durham in 1890 to Lockville. The company was established in 1867, just after the Civil War when many of the state’s tobacco companies began.

Figure 8. A Durham, February 22, 1890, tobacco industry (which started in North Carolina after the Civil War) advertising cover. 

Another mailed advertising cover (Figure 9) promoted  strawberry plants from one of the largest growers of the time, O.W. Blacknall in Kittrell. The 1-cent rate covered the cost of mailing the circular to Chester, South Carolina. Between 1888, when the business started, and 1918, the year of Blacknall’s death, four different ad covers are known.

Figure 9. Kittrell, February 1893, O.W. Blackwell began selling strawberry plants in 1888. This advertising cover is one of four different designs that he used until his death in 1918.

In 1903, the U.S. Post Office Department began issuing distinctive rubber handstamps to all of its fourth-class post offices. The numbers contained within the killer bars of these markings were based on the annual compensation of the postmaster, which was determined from the gross receipts of the post office. A “1” indicates $100 or less; a “2” $101 to $200 and so on.

Edith Doane began the early research into these markings, which now are called Doane postmarks. Doane began her collection of Doane cancels in the 1950s. Her studies were first published in La Posta. By 1978 a catalog was published of all known markings. I was and am still the North Carolina state editor of these markings. To date, considerable information has been gathered on these markings. For example, Doane identified three major types of cancels. The first was issued in 1903 and were issued through 1906. They were used by post offices as long as they were useable or until they were replaced. The latest use in North Carolina was 1924.

The North Carolina Postal History Society maintains an updated list of these postmarks. Shown (Figure 10) is a Type 3 Doane cancel from Terrell. This is the second recorded handstamp from this post office, which operated from 1893 until today. The corner card on this cover is that of the first postmaster, Thomas F. Conner, whose business was illustrated in the corner card. The original post office building was torn down in 2020. This Doane cancel was used from 1909 to 1911.

Figure 10. Terrell, February 10, 1911. This cover features a Type 3 – 1 Doane cancel used from 1909-1911. 

During the American Civil War, New Bern was occupied by Union soldiers early in the war. Freed slaves and escaped slaves would go to New Bern for safety. Over the years the town name was changed officially, or by use, to similar names, such as Newbern, Newberne, New Berne, New-Berne, New-Bern and New Bern. 

A small community across the river from New Bern was formed. Known as James City, the unincorporated community on land once owned by a Confederate army office became the home of many former slaves and free Black citizens.  

In 1888, a post office was opened there with the first postmaster, Washington Spivey. Over the years, there have been many African-American postmasters at this office. Shown (Figure 11) is a cover posted in 1889 from James City to New Bern. Considerable work has been done by the North Carolina Postal History Society to identify the African-American postmasters of North Carolina.

Figure 11. A cover dated December 18, 1888, from James City in Craven County. Washington Spivey, an African American, was appointed the first postmaster in 1888 and served until 1908. 

North Carolina seceded from the Union on May 20, 1861, and joined the Confederacy one week later on May 27, 1861. The Union mail system, in operation at the time, continued to operate in the seceded states until June 1, 1861. A cover shown (Figure 12) was mailed from Hamptonville on May 27, 1861, to Huntsville. The 3-cent 1857 issue  stamp was still valid for postage. Just five days later, on June 1, all previously issued U.S. stamps started to be demonetized and were invalid for postage in the state. The war brought about major changes in the postal operations in the South. The North Carolina Postal History Society has developed a database of more than 5,000 North Carolina Confederate covers, which supplements the online catalog of postmasters and postal markings.

Figure 12. Hamptonville, May 27, 1861. North Carolina was admitted to the Confederacy on May 27, 1861, though the U.S. postal system continued to operate in the South until June 1, 1861.

In 1994, the North Carolina Postal History Society published The Postal Markings of the North Carolina Railroads. This includes station agents and waterway markings. This section was updated and included within the 1996 four-volume set of books, Post Offices and Postmasters of North Carolina. As new markings have been found and new data discovered, articles have been included within the society journal. 

The Wilmington & Raleigh railroad was among the first to operate in the state. Figure 13 is an example of an 1846 cover carried on this railroad. The cover originated in Charleston, South Carolina, and was addressed to Philadelphia. It was placed on a steamship in Charleston, operated by the Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad Company, and carried to Wilmington, where it was placed on the railroad to be transported north on its route to Philadelphia. The railroad route agent who received this cover marked it for 10 cents postage due at destination.

Figure 13. Wilmington & Raleigh Railroad. October 27, 1846, folded letter to Philadelphia, first carried by the railroad company’s steamship from Charleston, S.C. 

As you can see, the North Carolina Postal History Society has been and continues to be the principal catalyst for the state’s considerable postal history research.  Some that are regularly covered in the journal are: stampless covers, 1869 issues, flights, Doanes, military cancels, fancy cancels, RFD cancels, CSA covers and more.  The information gathered from our members has been invaluable to our research on NC postal history. The society is APS affiliate 155 and is open for all APS members to join. If you send me an email at [email protected], I will send you a copy of the society journal and membership information.

I would encourage all collectors to get involved with their local state society and other societies related to their area of interest. The pooling of knowledge can provide a great insight into the hobby. 

Postmarks shown in article are cataloged in the North Carolina Postal History Society's postmark catalog, and were used in various towns across the state's history.

Resources

Dietz, August. The Postal Service of the Confederate States of America (1929).

Helbock, Richard. United States Doanes (1993).

Norona, Delf. Cyclopedia of United States Postmarks and Postal History (1933).

Remele, C.W. United States Railroad Postmarks 1837-1861 (1958). 

Skinner, Hubert C. and Amos Eno. United States Cancellations 1845-1869 (1980).

www.NCPostalHistory.com/postmarkcatalog

The Author

Tony L. Crumbley and his wife Renea are natives of North Carolina. After high school, Tony joined the U.S. Air Force and was trained to repair the tail gun of the B-52 H model/aircraft. He was put in charge of the research of the fleet at his air base.  Upon completion of his graduate studies, he went to work for the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, doing economic and community research to promote the economic development of the city of Charlotte. Tony has been an editor of the North Carolina Postal History Journal for more than 160 issues.  He has published several books and more than 100 articles on postal history.  Research drives his collection.

For Further Learning

Recommendations from the APRL research staff:

“Margie Pfund’s Postal History Research” by Loring F. Ebersole. Ohio Postal History Journal, March 1985. 

“On Postal History” by C.J. Peterson. Philatelic Literature Review, 2Q 1972. 

“Postal History Research Project: Colonial America” by Charles Peterson. New Jersey Postal History, March 1973. 

Advanced Philatelic Research by Patrick Pearson. (London: Arthur Barker Ltd., 1971. [HE6184 .R432 P362a 1971]

“Real Lives, Real People: The Second Annual Report of the Postal History Research Group” by Maura Atkinson and Jordan Tamborra. (Groton, CT: Postal History Research Group, May 2001).[G378 1 .P856 R642r 2001].

“Interim Report of the North Carolina Postal History Commission, May 1998” by North Carolina Postal History Commission. (Walkertown, NC: North Carolina Postal History Commission, 1998). [G3901 .P856 N866i 1998]

“Final Report of the North Carolina Postal History Commission, June 2000” by North Carolina Postal History Commission. (Walkertown, NC: North Carolina Postal History Commission, 2000). [G3901 .P856 N866f 2000]