MGJ Postal History

Clean stampless folded letter in excellent condition. New London postmark with the fancy FIVE rate mark. Interesting lawyer letter regarding collection of a debt in the amount of $49. Letter was handed to Captain Beal of the Steamer Mayflower to deliver to the addressee since Beal's son was of the assignees in the matter. Letter is signed by A. C. Lippitt, attorney.

The steamer Mayflower; Captain Beal; travelling on the South Shore—Hingham, Cohasset, Weymouth, Plymouth; the places passed by the Mayflower, on her trips to Hingham—South Boston, the Houses of Correction, Industry, and Reformation for Juvenile Offenders; the Hospital and Lunatic Asylum; the Farm School; Deacon Grant; the old race course at Neponset; Squantum, Quincy— the manufacturing establishments in that region; hotels, and private boarding-houses. A. C. Lippitt is Andrew C. Lippitt, of A. C. Lippitt & Sons, admitted to the Connecticut bar in 1839.

Nifty cover from the outbreak of World War II. Cover was sent to Rev. Francis Felip, a Salesian missionary priest serving in India.  New York World's Fair postmark.  Most significant is the Not Opened By Censor mark. It is a Morenweiser Type 8 NOT OPENED BY CENSOR oblong censor steel stamp from the Mumbai Censor Station with station code D, struck by the examiner having chop number 2.  The mark when used in Mimbai CS from May 1940 to February 1941, has been recorded with censor numbers ranging 1–17 but all but 10% were marked by censor No. 3, making this mark particularly rare.  The mark, which was applied to mail deemed innocent...bank mail, missionary mail, etc., was in use less than a year. 
 

Absolutely wonderful letter from Sarah, of Taunton, MA, to Miss Emilie Carpenter, Providence RI.  Here's a sample of what it contained: "I was sitting at the window, and as it stormed violently, I was much surprised to have a cab stop at the door and a New Bedford gentleman (a Mr. Parker) was announced.  He is a friend of mine. He brought three letters, all saying I was expected back with him in the next train. The emergency was the great annual ball to be held there that evening..."  It goes on to describe her Cinderella-like evening including: "My dress was a straw colored lace, over a white satin".  Four pages of easy to read writing.  Envelope has an unlisted rimless Taunton postmark (light blue) with manuscript 5.  The back flap of the envelope is missing.

If you look at the manuscript mark on this letter, it is easily read as S Plains, Maine.  The tough part is finding if a South Plains Maine ever existed.  That explains the question mark in the headline.  If anyone can provide more information, please send it along.  Cover is in poor condition with tears around the stamp and through the manuscript mark. Plenty of age wrinkles, too. However, the stamp is fantastic. Right margin copy with all good margins; tending to a little close at top left.  Strong color. Addressed to G. B. Macomber in Rockland Maine.