US Stamps
Fractional postal routes and Chicago mail

U.S. Stamp Notes by John M. Hotchner
Linn’s reader Ben Termini of Fort Worth, Texas, recently asked if I could help with a question he had regarding the 1905 postcard shown here. He had noticed the curious purple “55½” marking on the front and wondered if it had anything to do with mail handling?
As it happens, I am a longtime collector of postal handstamps, usually referred to as auxiliary markings. While my special area of interest is mail delays, I have seen these markings before associated with mail handled in Chicago, and I recalled the wonderful book Chicago Postal Markings and Postal History by Leonard Piszkiewicz.
In Chapter 44, “Carrier Markings,” Piszkiewicz wrote: “Many route numbers are expressed as fractions, e.g., ‘45½’ and ‘74¼.’ These numbers were generated when a route was divided into additional routes, primarily in the center of the city, as business grew.
“The fractions originated in the following manner. As a carrier route grew too large to be serviced by a single carrier, the route was divided, part retaining its original number and part being assigned the same number with the fraction ½ added. As a route was divided further, additional fractions were added. These fractions were, in turn, 1/3, ¼, 1/5, etc. Fractions as high as 1/9, are known.”
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
Feb 11, 2025, 5 PMVess joins APS as new director of education
-
US Stamps
Feb 11, 2025, 1 PMUSPS pane celebrates centennial of Appalachian Trail
-
US Stamps
Feb 10, 2025, 4 PMThe Order of the Iron Cross
-
US Stamps
Feb 10, 2025, 1 PMDahlias and Baby Animals stamps to be issued at shows