VERY FINE APPEARANCE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE "OLD STAMPS NOT RECOGNIZED" HANDSTAMP.
After the U.S. Post Office Department declared its demonetization policy for stamps issued prior to the new 1861 Issue, federal post offices throughout the country were instructed to set expiration dates for the exchange of old for new issues -- generally, the exchange period was six days from the date of receipt of new stamps. In Philadelphia the cut-off date was August 26, 1861, from which time letters bearing demonetized stamps were marked "Old Stamps Not Recognized". This is a very early usage of the marking.
The Philadelphia "Old Stamps" marking and similar ones applied to mail originating in the North are related in purpose to the "Southern Letter Unpaid" handstamp, which was applied at the Louisville terminal office on mail originating in the South before all mail exchange was suspended.
VERY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL AND RARE USAGE OF THE 1857 ISSUE TO CHILE.
Ex Hollowbush and Grunin.
VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE FRANKING FOR THE 39-CENT RATE TO AUSTRALIA VIA MARSEILLES.
Ashbrook notations on face of cover.