Today in Postal History

  

German See Post to United States
May 5, 1909

This cover was posted at sea aboard a Hamburg American Line
steamship using the ship's cabin stationery.

It was postmarked by the German post office on board.
This was different than the usual practice of the mail
being held by the purser for posting on arrival and
receiving paquebot treatment and a postmark where the letter entered the mail.

Under the treaty in effect at the time, the rate between
United States and Germany was the 2¢ first class rate.
The stamp is the 2¢ shield of 1903 (Scott 319).

The addressee was at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Vassar was an excellent women's college and
remains an excellent coeducational institution.
.Poughkeepsie is on the Hudson River about 110 km north of New York  City.

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Pastnotes Index - The First 300 and the Next 208
provides more tidbits about stamps and collectors.

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