US Stamps
A purple handstamp mystery

U.S. Stamp Notes by John M. Hotchner
Purple is the color most often seen for post office handstamps. Most private handstamps are in black. So what are we to make of the inverted purple handstamp on the 1886 cover pictured here?
The handstamp reads, “the initiatory Catalogue Tax of $1.50.” What possible postal purpose would that have served?
In the days when postage from New York to Florida was a mere 2¢, $1.50 was a lot of money. Could the marking have anything to do with the fact that this is a mourning cover?
I’m stumped, any thoughts from Linn’s readers would be welcome. Contact me, John Hotchner, at jmhstamp@verizon.net.
Connect with Linn’s Stamp News:
Sign up for our newsletter
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
MORE RELATED ARTICLES
Headlines
-
US Stamps
Mar 23, 2023, 2 PMInside Linn’s: The excitement of collecting covers by Space Craft Covers
-
US Stamps
Mar 23, 2023, 12 PMCincinnati’s Union Terminal hosts Railroad Stations first-day ceremony
-
World Stamps
Mar 22, 2023, 3 PMSergio Sismondo, 1943-2023
-
World Stamps
Mar 22, 2023, 3 PMPhilippines 1901 special delivery stamp is a good buy