MGJ Postal History

Clean stock certificate.  Has two vertical folds. Tax stamps on back have June 2, 1916 unusual cancellations. See copy of incorporation document below --

An Act to incorporate the Jamaica plain trust company, Be it enacted, etc., as follows: Section 1. Joseph Stedman,. George Faulkner, Mark R. Wendell, John R. Alley, Henry R. Reed, Thomas P Proctor, Thomas L. Livermore, Charles B. Cummings, .John M. Call and E. Peabody Gerry, their associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation by the name of the Jamaica Plain Trust Company, with authority to establish and maintain a safe deposit, loan and trust company, in that part of the city of Boston called Jamaica Plain ; with all the powers and privileges and subject to 874 Acts, 1893. — Chaps. 230, 231, 232. all the duties, liabilities and restrictions set forth in all general laws which now are or may hereafter be in force relating to such corporations. Section 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. Approved April 20, 1893.

Neat cover and letter from Amos Wells to his hunting friend John Vernon. Excerpts from his missive are below. Stamp is Scott 11A.

Dear John,

I shouldered my musket yesterday for the first time since I returned home for a sally among the quail and found them contrary to my expectations after what I had heard in Prov quite plenty. If our old friend Sport had been with me, I should have brought home quite a bunch of birds. As it was, with the assistance of old “buck” I bagged three quail and one woodcock in about two hours and knocked down two more quail which I could not find for want of a decent dog. Besides missing a very respectable number of fair shots and had also marked down a fine bevy of quail before me when on accidently shoving my hand into my pocket I discovered the bank keys which I had by mistake carried with me and was in consequence obliged to hasten home with all due speed.

You may wonder what my long prelude is driving at. It is simply that I am very anxious for your company next week and hope to see you here armed and equipped for a renewal of your acquaintance with our No. Kingston quail on Monday next…bring Sport or his substitute if possible and I think I can promise you a good time…

Yours Truly, Amos Wells

There is more content in the letter regarding the usual welfare of family and friends.

Records show that Amos Wells was cashier at the Landholders’ Bank, Kingston.

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.