New Purgatory Post stamp pictures West Swanzey bridge
If you’ve been keeping up with Scott A.’s Purgatory Post local post stamps, you’re no doubt aware of the series he is producing commemorating covered bridges in New Hampshire. Scott was kind enough to send a cover bearing a copy of his most recent bridge stamp, which pictures the West Swanzey bridge.
Purgatory Post West Swanzey cover
The West Swanzey bridge was built in 1832 for a bit more than $500. Although there’s a sidewalk along one side of the bridge, authorities closed it to vehicles in 1990.
Purgatory Post West Swanzey stamp
Concerns about the bridge’s safety arose as far back as the 1970s; at that time, students had to disembark from their school bus and walk across the bridge so that the combined weight of bus and children would not cause the aging structure to collapse.
I seem to recall seeing at least a couple of columns in the American Philatelist and other hobby publications over the years regarding stamps with humorous postmarks. Some of the most innocuous cancellations can become quite eye-catching if they land just so on a stamp.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. Thanks to how the Energy Awareness Month cancellation landed right on top of this Janis Joplin stamp, it almost looks like Janis has a giant hand that she’s extending to flip the light switch just to the left of the stamp. Janis, you see, is all for conserving electricity.
Energy Awareness Month cancellation on Janis Joplin stamp
What’s the grooviest (or funniest) postmark and stamp combination that you’ve ever seen?
If you don’t subscribe to the Philosateleian Post Horn, you may have missed the news that my wife and I recently welcomed our first child, a little girl we’ve named Hadassah. We’re very excited to have her here, and there’s already a Philosateleian Post stamp commemorating her birth. Here’s one of the first day covers mailed on October 22.
H.R.H. Princess Hadassah FDC
If you have children, you no doubt understand that the past few weeks have been absolutely packed for us as we’ve begun adjusting to having a little one to take care of. We’re still alive and well, though, and I plan to add some new material to Philosateleia as time permits.
