It felt like only yesterday that I was despairing that I might not be able to get to Postal History Sunday #100. Yes, that was 100 PHS articles ago and there was some doubt in my mind then that I could get there. The idea of eventually getting to number 200 wasn’t really on the table. And yet, here we are.
In fact, I’ll be celebrating the four-year anniversary of this series in just eight more weeks. In some ways, that doesn’t seem quite as impressive. So, I’ll just let myself enjoy this milestone and probably toast myself with a tall glass of iced tea for the 4 year mark.
So, to celebrate, let me encourage you to bury your troubles in a deep hole and then put something heavy - like a piano or a steam roller - over that hole so they can’t get back out. Then, get yourself an extra large glass or mug of a favorite beverage. You can even indulge in a snack while you’re at it.
It’s time for Postal History Sunday #200!
A Peak Behind the Curtain
I am guilty, just like most everyone else, of making the assumption that people know more than they do. This is especially true when the subject happens to relate to things I am very involved in or for which I hold significant knowledge. Sometimes I forget that not everyone entered the virtual room that is Postal History Sunday at the same time. There might be a few new people this week along with others who have been reading on and off since 2020. I don’t remember that, unlike me, not everyone reads every single article. And, if they do, they likely don’t remember many details a week later. It’s only natural, as the author, that this stuff is more familiar to me. It better be, I spend enough time with it!
So, as a writer, I often find myself making assumptions on behalf of the reader that might not be good ones. For example, I figure you all know who I am and that you understand my motivations for Postal History Sunday. And, every so often, someone asks a question that reminds me this isn’t true!
Well, I think I’ve got you covered on both of these topics. First, you might notice the “About” tab at the top of the page - which I will also link to here. This will take you to an introductory article that will fill you in on the history and purpose of Postal History Sunday. If you are more curious about Rob Faux, the person, you will find more biographical content at the Genuine Faux Farm About page.
Postal History Sundays in the Pipeline
I often celebrate in milestone blogs by looking at what has gone before. But, this time, I thought I’d start by looking ahead! I also thought I’d see if I could get some participation and see if some of you might give feedback!
You may have noticed (but most probably have not) that several recent posts are reworkings of posts from the early days of PHS. For example, Remembrance and a Merry Chase, the Memorial Day Weekend post, was a significant rewrite of a May 2021 effort. Over the past three years I’ve picked up more information and insight that I was able to integrate with the original. I was also able to give the writing another edit, which almost always leads to a better read.
Later on, in this PHS, I’ll give you another example of something I recently discovered that expands on a prior article.
I think that illustrates one of the joys I have with postal history and writing. Once I spend some time researching something and I bother to write about it, much more information seems to appear after I’ve published the article. While I feel a sense of accomplishment with the original attempt, it’s these second attempts that stand out for me. I’ve given myself more time to consider angles and re-assess how well I understand everything. I can integrate new knowledge. Decent articles become good articles. And the changes I make help to inform how I can make my “first efforts” better quality too.
By relieving some of the pressure of coming up with an “all new” post every week the past couple of months, I’ve opened up some brain space to consider new writing ideas. And that list is long! Good news for you and mildly alarming news (but still good) for me.
The first cover you see in this post will be a new “Merry Chase” offering in the not too distant future. And the second cover will be featured in a post that will reveal who that logo belongs to. As a hint, that Postal History Sunday will land as close to July 4 as I can get it.
Here’s where you come in! Give me, in the comments, your votes for which of these titles most make you want to read that article next!
Rate Puzzles - Who paid what to get a letter to New South Wales and maybe other interesting puzzles.
A Hot Cross Merry Chase - featuring the first cover in this blog
Waves of Technology - covers that help illustrate advances in steamship travel
County Fair - a mash-up of farm and postal history, for those who like that sort of thing
Falling Out - what happens when two countries (in this case Italy and Austria) no longer have a postal agreement after a conflict?
French Connection - how mail from the Italian States got to England and elsewhere.
Much Ado About Adea - C.F. Adea was the German Consulate in Cincinnati in the 1860s. I wonder what I will do to make an ado about it?
Pick the three that sound the most fun to you and put them in your comment for this blog. The subject with most votes will become the June 30th Postal History Sunday entry. The runner-up will run July 14.
Postal History Sundays I like most
I’ve been asked, every so often, what sorts of things in my Postal History Sunday writings make me happiest. Or that I am most pleased with. Of course, my answer is “it depends on when you ask me.” If it is Sunday, then I am usually most pleased that I’ve published another article and whatever it is about is great because it’s DONE! On Saturday, before I’ve completed that week’s entry, I’ll pick ALL of the prior articles because they are published and the new one is not even fully written.
So, I’ll give you the answer I typically give for any other day of the week.
One of my all-time favorite Postal History Sunday’s is Quarantine! I like it so much that I actually selected it to be shared this coming week as one of the mid-week bonus posts to celebrate number 200. But, another that ranks right up there with it for similar reasons is The Mystery of Joseph Cooper.
In both cases, the story that came with the addressee or as a result of reading the contents of the letter was compelling. It’s one thing to take note that the item was sent to So-and-so who was a High Muckitymuck for Thisaplacehere and visited Thataplacethere. It’s quite another to tie an item to specific events involving So-and-so.
So what did happen to Joseph Cooper?
Joseph Cooper was the veterinary surgeon for Company F in the 7th Iowa Cavalry in Fort Laramie on Christmas Day after having served nearly two years. There had likely been a Christmas celebration as there was in 1866. He had been away from his family for a long time, may not have volunteered for the job in the first place, and dealt with difficult conditions regularly as part of the 7th. And... he was looking at just over one more year before he could go home.
Orville Buck saw Cooper leave Fort Laramie in an "excited state." And Orville Buck did not report to Mrs. Cooper that he witnessed Joseph's return.
Did Joseph Cooper desert his post? Records suggest that he did so. What is still not clear at this point is whether or not Joseph Cooper was captured, returned or died of exposure not long after leaving Fort Laramie. It is hard to imagine a situation where he could have survived alone in the elements for long.
My reason for appreciating this post is because this piece of postal history hinted at a story and I invested the time and effort required to uncover a significant portion of it. This wasn’t just writing a short bio about a person because their name was on the envelope. Instead, the letter in that envelope asked the question “What DID happen to Joseph Cooper?” Since I don’t also have the correspondence that I assume was given in reply, I HAD to figure out what the answer must have been!
An Example of Continued Exploration
The 1863 folded letter shown above just might provide the eventual impetus to rewrite the 2023 PHS titled “Timing Is Everything” because it provides a nice illustration of the concept I was discussing in that article.
This item was mailed in Boston on December 12 and went to New York to get on the HAPAG line’s Saxonia to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The Saxonia dropped the mail off for the London exchange office at Cowes (Southampton) where it was processed as mail bound for China.
This is where it gets interesting. There were two postage rates to get to China via British Mail. The less expensive, but slower route, was for 45 cents via Southampton. The more expensive, faster route, was for 53 cents via Marseilles (France).
The bottom left of the folded letter shows a docket that directs the letter to go via Marseilles and there happens to be 53 cents of postage on the cover. That makes it pretty clear that this is how the letter was intended to go to its eventual destination in Shanghai. In fact, that IS the route this letter took.
But, that’s not the reason I’m calling your attention to this docket and this cover. You see, most letters to China during this time period have either “via Southamption” or “via Marseilles” on them as a docket. What they don’t usually have is a date that goes along with the docket.
So, why would they bother putting “Decem 26th” on this letter in the first place?
The person who wrote this letter was not only aware that there were two routes and rates for British Mail to China, they also knew when the British Post Office “closed” the mail for China.
“Closing the mail” for a particular destination was the point that the post office would no longer accept more items to put in the mailbag for a particular destination. If you look at the table above, you can see that British mail to China via Southampton closed on the 4th and the 20th of each month. Mail via Marseilles closed on the 10th and 26th. This letter illustrates to me (and now you) that this person was aware of the mail closing times for the British Post Office for mail to China. The letter writer intended for the letter to get to London by the 26th for the China mail via Marseilles.
Let me put this in perspective. When does the mail get picked up at your local post office? Do you know? Now, when does the post office in the next town, or city, send out their mail? How about the London main post office?
What? You don’t know?!? Shocked I am!
Well, no, not really.
I suppose you could look all of these things up with some internet searching. But, you probably don’t have a good reason care that much. You just send things on their way and trust they’ll get there in a timely fashion - probably a few days. US mail patrons in the 1860s knew their letter could take forty or more days to get to China. Which meant they would have to wait almost three months for a response if their correspondent replied immediately.
Paying attention to the mechanics of both the US and British postal systems actually could be quite important. If this letter got to London on the 27th, instead of the 26th, it would delay delivery of this letter by almost two weeks!
What does the future hold for Postal History Sunday?
Unlike PHS #100, the tone for this entry - number 200 - is one of confidence that it’s going to be around for a while. There are plenty of new article ideas (at last count I’ve got 150 of them) and many opportunities to rewrite prior entries and add new knowledge, insights or examples.
This is a good balance to help me achieve my weekly production goal. During times where the job and the farm take most of my energy, I find that I can produce an excellent rewrite or reimagining of a prior topic in a reasonable amount of time. The multitude of ideas means I can have several new articles in the pipeline at various stages of development too.
I am looking at a few changes to Postal History Sunday as well. Look for a survey in July that will ask your opinion about some of those ideas. Rest assured that none of the changes will move me away from producing articles that are as accessible as possible to all readers, regardless of the postal history knowledge level.
As of this writing, Postal History Sunday has 182 subscribers - and I thank all of you for joining us. I will always maintain a free subscription option to keep PHS accessible to all interested persons. I am also considering turning on the “paid subscription” option in the coming months. Those of you who are interested, willing, and able to support my work can do so, with my thanks. I am also considering adding a few resources over time for paid subscribers that would be in addition to the Sunday articles.
Next goal? Truthfully? It’s getting PHS #201 done. It’s always about getting the next one done. But, since that is unexciting - I am shooting for reaching the five year anniversary. So, mark your calendars for August of 2025!
Thank you for joining me today. Have a fine remainder of your day and an excellent week to come!
Postal History Sunday is featured weekly on this Substack publication. If you take this link, you can view every edition of Postal History Sunday, starting with the most recent publication. If you think you might enjoy my writing on other topics, I can also be found at the Genuine Faux Farm substack. And, some publications may also be found under my profile at Medium, if you have interest
6, 5, 3 for me.
5 - Falling Out - pre-GPU mail between Italy and Austria was already very complicated even when a mutual postal agreement existed. Imagine without one after a conflict?
3 - Waves of Technology - if not for advances in steamship travel, would transatlantic mail service develop and grow the way it did?
6 - French Connection - you mean my mail to England went through the French?