The Winton M. Blount Postal History Symposia: Select Papers, 2006–2009

177 Pages·2010·9.21 MB·English

by  Thomas Lera

Smithsonian Institution
Scholarly Press
smithsonian contributions to history and technology • number 55
Smithsonian Institution
Scholarly Press
A Chronology of
The Winton M. Blount
Middle Missouri Plains
Postal History Symposia
Village Sites
Select Papers, 2006–2009
By CTrhaoigm Mas. LJoehran son
Editor

with contributions by
Stanley A. Ahler, Herbert Haas, and Georges Bonani
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smithsonian contributions to history and technology • number 55
The Winton M. Blount
Postal History Symposia
Select Papers, 2006–2009
Thomas Lera
Editor
washington d.c.
2010
Cover images are objects from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum Collection. From left to right:
envelope with ten-cent black Washington stamp (Scott 2) mailed from Doakesville, Ark, 1850 (NPM
2003.2019.7); Leather satchel for letter carriers, ca. 1920–1950 (NPM 1992.2002.70) Parcel Airlift Issue
(Scott 1341) used for parcels being mailed to servicemen in Vietnam 1968 (NPM 1980.2493.571).
Published by SMITHSoNIAN INSTITuTIoN SCHoLArLy PrESS
P.o. Box 37012
MrC 957
Washington, D.C. 20013- 7012
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Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Winton M. Blount Postal History Symposia.
The Winton M. Blount Postal History Symposia : select papers, 2006-2009 / Thomas Lera, editor.
p. cm. — (Smithsonian contributions to history and technology ; no. 55)
Includes bibliographical references.
1. Postal service—History—Congresses. 2. Postage stamps—History—Congresses. I. Lera, Thomas M. II. Title.
HE6041.W56 2010
383’.49--dc22
2010016338
ISSN (print): 1948-5999
ISSN (online): 1948-6006
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for
Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48–1992.
Contents
LETTEr FroM THE DIrECTor oF THE NATIoNAL
PoSTAL MuSEuM v
ACKNoWLEDGMENTS vii
INTroDuCTIoN 1
The Political Economy of Postal reform in the Victorian Age 3
Richard R. John
FIrST SyMPoSIuM—WHAT IS PoSTAL HISTory?
(NoVEMBEr 3–4, 2006)
Introduction 13
Thomas Lera
“Little Colored Bits of Paper” Collected in the Progressive Era 15
Sheila A. Brennan
WWI Philatelic Censuses of East Africa 23
John Kevin Doyle
Explorations in the official register: Statistical Analysis
of Postmaster Compensation Data from 19th Century
New Hampshire 29
Terence Hines and Thomas Velk
SECoND SyMPoSIuM—FurTHEr, FArTHEr, FASTEr:
TrANSPorTATIoN TECHNoLoGy AND THE MAIL
(oCToBEr 20–21, 2007)
Introduction 37
Thomas Lera
Zeppelin Posts at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair: Integrating
Collector and Historian Methodologies 39
Cheryl R. Ganz
THIrD SyMPoSIuM—WHEN THE MAIL GoES To WAr
(SEPTEMBEr 26–27, 2008)
Introduction 47
Thomas Lera
“Food Will Win the War”: Motor Trucks and the Farm-To-Table
Postal Delivery Program, 1917–1918 49
Robert G. Cullen
Philatelic Propaganda: A Case Study—Border Changes in
Eastern Europe, 1938–1941 59
Robin Gates Elliott
Picking up the Pieces: The Aftermath of Hiroshima 71
Janet Klug
Postal Censorship and Military Intelligence during World War II 81
Ann Elizabeth Pfau
FourTH SyMPoSIuM—PoSTAL rEForM
(oCToBEr 30–NoVEMBEr 1, 2009)
Introduction 91
Thomas Lera
The 1895 Provisional and Bisect Postage Due Stamps:
A result of the Transfer of Stamp Production to the BEP? 93
Harry K. Charles, Jr.
Sunday Mail Controversy, Postal reform, and Mail
Transportation 105
Diane DeBlois and Robert Dalton Harris
“Why Is a raven Like a Writing Desk?” Post office reform,
Collectible Commodities, and Victorian Culture 121
Catherine J. Golden
America’s First Carrier Service: The u.S. City Despatch Post 131
Larry Lyons
The u.S. 1847 Issue: Stamps That Changed the System 141
Harvey Mirsky
From the Pulpit to the Post: Anti-Clericalism and
Communication in orizaba, 1857–1867 147
Rachel A. Moore
Cheap Postage: A Tool for Social reform 155
David L. Straight
ABouT THE CoNTrIBuTorS 165
Letter from the Director
July 1, 2010
It is my great pleasure to introduce the Selected Proceedings of the Postal History Symposia. The first of these symposia
was named after Winton M. Blount, the first Postmaster General of the united States Postal Service. Through his generous
endowment to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum (NPM), the Center for Postal Studies and the Chair-in-research
was created in his name in 2006.
The success of the Postal History Symposia was due in large part to the support and assistance of our partners: the
American Philatelic Society (APS), American Philatelic research Library (APrL), NPM Council of Philatelists and the
NPM Museum Advisory Council.
I would like to thank all of the philatelists, scholars, and industry leaders who presented at the first four symposia.
Their research and presentations created an environment in which everyone enjoyed participating in each panel.
Special thanks are due to the symposium co-chairs Thomas Lera (NPM), David Straight (APS), and Virginia Horn
(APrL). Without their efforts, the symposia would not have been the great success they were.
If you enjoy these papers, as much as I hope you will, please consider participating in, or at least attending, the future
postal history symposia. Check our website for the dates and location of future symposia.
Allan Kane
Director, Smithsonian National Postal Museum

Acknowledgments
The symposium would not be a success without the help and encouragement from many people. At the top of the
list is Allen Kane, Director of the National Postal Museum (NPM), who provided support and persuaded industry
leaders to be plenary keynote speakers. Next I would like to thank the NPM Council of Philatelists and the NPM
Museum Advisory Council for their assistance, and all of the staff at NPM who helped at the symposium over the past
years.
The symposia could not have happened without the help and co-sponsorship of Ken Martin, executive director, David
Straight, vice-president, and the staff of the American Philatelic Society and Gini Horn and the staff at the American Phila-
telic research Library.
I would also like to thank the scholars who completed peer reviews. Their knowledge of philately and postal opera-
tions along with their suggestions and comments greatly improved the papers.
Finally, I thank Ginger Strader, scholarly publications manager, and Deborah Stultz, publications specialist, both of the
Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, whose guidance, support, and review is much appreciated.