By Charles J. DiComo, PhD, Copyright 2022, All Rights Reserved.
Please feel free to email me with any questions or comments at charlesdicomo@gmail.com. I am always looking for more examples for my research. Credit will be given.
Numerous students of philately have extensively written about the cancellations and postmarks of New York City. A work relevant to this present study is that by Hubert Skinner (Philatelic Foundation Seminar Series #3, pp. 79-107). In his treatise, Skinner extensively and expertly discusses and describes the uses and postal history of cancellations and postmarks of NYC during the 1845 – 1876 period. Importantly, a classification scheme incorporating code letters and numbers was introduced, denoting the type of marking, the year first recorded, and a serial number for that particular cancel. I will discuss in detail the marking referred to as NYDM 52-3 (Figure 1 and full cover) and share some interesting, new findings.
Figure 1 – NYDM 52-3 tying a #11 to FLS used in April 1852.This marking was one of many used on domestic inter-city letters. It is found in black and given the code NYDM 52-3, where the “NYDM” denotes “New York Domestic Mail”, the “52” denotes “first seen in 1852”, and the “3” denotes “type three”. So why revisit this cancel?
First, the most compelling characteristic of this cancel is the usage of “APL” to abbreviate the month of April. Traditionally, April has most often been seen abbreviated prior to, during, and after the 1851-57 period by the three letters “APR”. Second, some recently discovered “APL” covers and numerous re-examined “APL” singles demonstrate that the NYDM 52-3 cancel had a much broader period of use that once thought, being found on covers from the Stampless, Carriers, Locals, & 1847 Periods. Finally, I will present evidence that more than one “type” or “sub-type” of canceling device was used to create the New York “APL” CDS’.
Figure 2 – New Finds and Sub-Types (02FEB2018).Since this cancel was first observed used by Skinner in April of 1852, my search began for cancelled examples of the U.S. 3¢ 1851-57 issued-stamps with the “APL” marking. My first thought was that since the 3¢ Issue had over a six year life span, finding the “APL” markings would be as easy as finding an “APR”. This turns out not to be the case. These “APL” markings turn out to be scarce. Moreover, it became apparent quite rapidly, that more than one “sub-type” of canceling device was in use (Figure 2 – New Finds).
The upper left CDS (which I call NYSM 52-3, where “S” is for “Ship”) is found on stampless letters, for example this “SHIP” cover from Liverpool to Boston carried on the Black Ball Line sailing packet Europa. There are two types of this “APL SHIP” postmark used from 1836-1838.
The upper middle and right CDS (which I call 52-3c) is found in red only on stampless covers, for example this “DROP RATE” undated front. Period of use for these two postmarks is from 1837-1846.
The lower left CDS (which I call 52-3b) is found in red only on stampless covers, the first appearance of the “APL in NYC, for example this 1835 folded letter. Period of use is 1834-1836.
The lower right CDS (which I call 52-3a) is found on a N.Y. Tribune cover with enclosure dated 1855. While these CDS’s are apparently of the same “type” as Skinner’s NYDM 52-3 (Figures 1 and 2 lower right), upon closer examination a number of differences are observed.
Figure 3 – Key Features.My years of searching have turned up over 150 folded letters, covers and/or stamps with the red or black “APL” circular date stamp. These are dated from 1834 up to and including 1855, a 21 year span of use (see Timeline & Census [02FEB2018]). The red ink was predominant on Stampless and stamped letters up to 1851. Then starting in 1852 and continuing through to 1855, black ink was used for this NYC “APL” postmark.
Another difference is with the diameter of each CDS. Figure 3 denotes the dimensions (e.g., c-27, c-28, c-30), ranging from the smallest (NYFM-52-3d at 27mm) to the largest (NYDM-52-3a at 32mm).
Noticeable variations are also seen in: (1) the lettering of “NEW-YORK” most notably in the “W”; (2) the size and shape of the “APL”; and (3) the size of the numerals. I will discuss each one individually.
- With respect to (1), the most pronounced feature that distinguishes the “NEW-YORK”‘s from one another is the “W” in “NEW”. As illustrated in Figure 3, the 52-3c “Drop Rate” front “W” is smaller and thinner than its counterparts, the feet are wide (compared to 52-3) and end in a point (compared to 52-3a), and the arms end in small caps. The 52-3b 1835 stampless FLS “W” is larger and thicker than its counterparts, the feet are wide (compared to 52-3) and end in a point (compared to 52-3a), and the arms end in large caps (compared to all others). The 52-3 “W” is relatively thick, narrow, and while the feet end in a point (as 52-3b & 3c), the spacing between is very narrow. Finally, the 52-3a “W” is the thickest of them all, the feet are wide and quite noticeably blunt-ended, and the arms end in a serif that is quite parallel to the base of the blunt-ended feet. Obviously, similar comparisons can be made between other letters in “NEW YORK.”
- With respect to (2), the “APL” of 52-3, -3a, and -3b appear identical in many if not all respects. The “APL” exhibits an overall tall, narrow lettering (as compared to 52-3c), especially seen in the “A” (see Figure 3). The “APL” of 52-3c is smaller than the other three. The lower leg of the “L” is extended, and the feet of the “A” are wider apart than the other three.
Figure 4 – Comparison of 52-3b and 52-3c.
- With respect to (3), the date numerals of 52-3, -3a, and -3b appear identical in many if not all respects. As with the “APL” they are larger when compared to the numerals seen in the 52-3c CDS (see Figure 3).
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Click to view Timeline & Census (02FEB2018)
