Stamps

"Hussey's Express Special Message. 54 Pine St., N.Y. R. Easson, prop'r. N. F. Seebeck, Wall St., N.Y." This stamp was affixed to a nineteenth-century postage stamp dealer's business card. See J. T. Handford, Importing Dealer in Postage Stamps for Collectors (below).

"J. T. Handford, importing dealer in postage stamps for collectors, P.O. Box 1870, New York. Stamps bought, sold, and exchanged. Circulars free." For a closer view of the stamp affixed to the middle of the card, mouse over it to see an enlargement, or go to Hussey's Express Special Message Stamp .

"Rehn & Sons' new & commodious ground floor galleries, 510 Arch Street, Philadelphia. Portraits, card, ivorytypes, ambrotypes, photographs, in crayon, pastel, water, and oil." The U.S. Internal Revenue stamp on this CDV backmark dates it to between August 1, 1864, and August 1, 1866. Another Rehn and Sons backmark , which is part of Richard D. Sheaff's amazing collection , has an added border and a handwritten date of March 1866.

An example of postage stamp collage art on a vintage postcard. This clever construction consists of used U.S. postage stamps that have been cut apart and arranged to depict a colonial interior scene that includes a grandfather clock, spinning wheel, writing table with a quill pen and inkwell, chair, fireplace, cat, and two works of art hanging on the wall. Based on the issue dates for the Warren G. Harding stamp (1925) and the Yorktown sesquicentennial stamp (1931), the collage was probably created sometime in the 1930s. Although this postcard was not postally used (there's no message, address, or postmark on the other side), the glaring hole in the middle of the Yorktown stamp suggests that it was hung on the wall at some point. For some interesting articles on stamp collages, see David A. Norris, "Vintage Stamp Collage Postcards," American Philatelist , Jan. 2012, pp. 56-58, and Russ Hahn, "Postage Stamp Collage Art," American Philatelist , Dec. 2012, pp. 1120-32 (to locate copies, Google the article citations). For another example of repurposed stamps, see Easter in Stamps :

A " cinderella stamp " issued for the Pan-American Exposition , which was held in Buffalo, N.Y., in 1901. For other images of the building, see Pan-American Exposition - Electricity Building from the Southeast and Electricity Building at Night on Wikimedia Commons.

As Wikipedia points out, Christmas seals , like these examples from 1936, are a type of Cinderella stamp . For other Christmas seals, view the American Lung Association's Christmas Seals Galleries , or check out the association's AmericanLung Flickr photostream.

"Dover, Somersworth & Rochester Street Railway Co. Newspaper stamp, 2c. Franklin Woodman, gen'l m'g'r."

See also the front of this pass (below). "I hereby accept this free ticket, and assume all risks of accidents, losses and injuries, both to person and property, on the route of this Company, while using it whether occasioned by negligence of its agents or otherwise." "This ticket is invalid unless signed by the individual named thereon, and, if presented by any other person, is to be taken up by the Clerk."

"Playing Cards, 1 Pack, U.S. Int. Rev. A.P.C. Co." Revenue stamps used to indicate payment of fees or taxes on playing cards, oleomargarine, and photographs, plus a telegraph stamp used to pay for a telegram (see above and below).

"Western Union Telegraph Company, 1906, complimentary, frank no. 234D. R. C. Clowry, president. [International Bank] Note Co., New York."

"Tax Paid Stamp for Uncolored Oleomargarine, Series of 1931. 12 oleomargarine. Acts Aug. 2, 1886, May 9, 1902, and March 4, 1931. Tax one-fourth cent per lb. United States Internal Revenue."

This stamp collage postcard, which I found recently (2015) at a postcard show, is similar in concept to the Stamp Collage Postcard, 1930s (see below) that I posted a while ago. There's no identifying information on the back of this one, but I believe that it's a recent creation.

"Your letters are priceless. Make folks happy. National Letter Writing Week, October 1-7." A poster stamp for National Letter Writing Week in 1939.

"Edison Mazda Lamps, 6-60 watt, price $1.50. Phone your order today." A poster stamp for Edison Mazda light bulbs .

"100,000 Population Jubilee, May 17, 1928. Allentown, Pa. Founded 1762."

A kiss photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. This French tinted real photo postcard shows a man bending over to kiss a woman on the neck. A pen, sheet of paper, and ink bottle are visible on the small table in front of the woman, and the man has evidently interrupted her as she was writing a letter or note. The caption at the bottom of the card humorously describes the situation: "À courir plus longtemps la plume se refuse / Quand un brûlant baiser à l'arret sert d'excuse" (Google translation with assistance from John FitzGerald: "To run longer the pen refuses / When a burning kiss serves as an excuse to stop"). (Thanks to John FitzGerald for helping to improve the translation.)

A poster stamp advertising the celebrations in 1927 that commemorated the 150th anniversary of the sessions of the Second Continental Congress that were held in York, Pennsylvania, after British troops occupied Philadelphia. "150th Anniversary, York, Penna., of the session of Continental Congress at York, Pennsylvania, from Sept. 30, 1777, to June 28, 1778. Big celebration, Oct. 13, 14, 15, 1927."

"1er Avril" (April 1st.). A French real photo postcard for April Fools' Day, called poissons d'avril (April fish) in France. This hand-tinted card was postmarked on March 31, 1910.