Philosateleian Post LPCS FDC postmarked, but on reverse
Last Monday, I began using my new Philosateleian Post Local Post Collectors Society stamp, putting approximately 20 pieces of mail in the mailbox. When I went to the post office on Friday to check my PO box, my first day cover was there, and at first glance, I thought the USPS failed to postmark it.
Philosateleian Post Local Post Collectors Society FDC
But flip it over and hey! There’s the January 24 San Antonio postmark, on the back and upside down.
Philosateleian Post Local Post Collectors Society FDC (reverse)
I would have preferred the postmark on the front of the cover, but at least the postmark is there, evidence that the envelope was in the mail on January 24.
As you can see, my stamp did sustain some surface damage near its right edge, as did the 22¢ Bison stamp. This seems to be very common these days whenever a stamp with water-activated gum is used; in contrast, self-adhesive stamps don’t generally seem to suffer that sort of damage. I’m not quite sure why that is.
As I’ve mentioned previously, the Local Post Collectors Society this year is celebrating its golden jubilee. New Hampshire-based Purgatory Post on January 4 issued a pair of stamps celebrating that 50th anniversary.
Purgatory Post Local Post Collectors Society 50th Anniversary stamps
Purgatory Post has been issuing stamps since 2001, making it one of the longest-running extant private local posts that I’m aware of in the United States. I’m looking forward to seeing other local posts’ stamps issued to commemorate the LPCS anniversary.
The first fundraising mailing of 2022 from Boys Town contained another item of note if you’re interested in business reply envelopes bearing faux postage.
A light blue envelope in the packet that I received in the mail late last week bears four instances of a stamp-sized design picturing a cardinal.
Boys Town cardinal business reply envelope
Near the left edge of the envelope is an inscription reading, “Postage has been paid for you!” This vaguely implies but does not explicitly state that the cardinal designs are that postage even though they obviously are not.
From a philatelic perspective, actual cinderella labels such as the ones first seen on the business reply envelope included in a 2019 Boys Town mailing are of far greater interest than preprinted designs like the one used on the new BRE, but this latest item is still attractive and might serve to boost donations, which is of course the sender’s hope.
New private local post in Italy releases first stamp
It’s not often that I get to mention a stamp from a brand new local post, but we’re getting 2022 off to a good start with this new issue from Ankon Local Post. The private local post operating in Castelfidardo, Italy, on November 4, 2021, released a commemorative stamp commemorating the 700th anniversary of the death of the poet Dante Alighieri.
Ankon Local Post Dante Alighieri stamp
The stamp has a face value of 1.40, though I have to admit the currency indicator is not one that’s familiar to me.
I’m quite pleased to welcome Ankon Local Post operator Rosalba P. to the local posting community, and look forward to seeing additional creations from her as we move forward.
Update (2022-02-11)
Rosalba commented below that her local post stamps are denominated in fiorino Ankonitano.
Philosateleian Post smashes single-year mail volume record
Taking one final look back at 2021, Philosateleian Post last year set a new record for mail volume, processing 524 pieces of outgoing mail and surpassing the previous record of 485 set in 2019. 13 pieces of mail carried by Philosateleian Post last year received local service only, while the remainder were transferred to the United States Postal Service for dispatch to their final destinations.
As in years past, non-letter business mail (bills, stamps and covers, etc.) comprised the majority of my household’s outgoing mail with more than 320 pieces sent, smashing that category’s previous record of 281 set in 2019. 30 postcards were processed, which was a new record for that category as well.
Also of note is that Philosateleian Post transported 15 packages last year, which is the highest number of parcels carried in a single calendar year since 2015.
Finally, the domestic letter category, which includes both personal cards and letters and those that I sent on behalf of the Local Post Collectors Society, added nearly 120 more pieces to the total. That was almost exactly the same total as in 2020, but fell short of 2019’s all-time high for the category.
And yes, I realize that tracking how many pieces of mail my family and I send is a little weird, but it’s kind of fun in a way, too!
