Postal Updates

Postmark listings shine with celestial, local charm

Apr 25, 2024, 11 AM
Chester, Ill., honors both the eclipse and Popeye. The comic’s creator, Elzie Segar, grew up in the town.

Postmark Pursuit by Molly Goad

The recent eclipse has left behind a bevy of postmark listings, each offering its unique perspective on the celestial event.

The Chester, Ill., postmark shown nearby includes the beloved character Popeye among the trees as the eclipse unfolds above him. The small town located on the banks of the Mississippi River is known as the home of Popeye.

Other pictorial cancellations depict the eclipse’s path of totality etched across the states of Ohio, Missouri and Arkansas.

A whimsical Sterling, N.Y., postmark features the moon and sun looking at each other.

In a Peninsula, Ohio, cancel, the eclipse floats over an outhouse to highlight the village’s struggle with sewage and water access, a problem that has persisted for decades.

While the number of postmarks is substantial, it pales in comparison to the multitude created during the historic 2017 eclipse. 

To obtain the Popeye cancel, address your request to:

ECLIPSE VIEWING Station, Postmaster, 1321 Swanwick St., Chester, IL 62233-9998, April 8.

Share information by writing to Postmark Pursuit, Box 4129, Sidney, OH 45365.

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