WW I Late First-Class Use (1917)
Parcel Post Stamp Used in First World War Era
This cover is very interesting to me, because my primary collecting interest these days is First World War postal history.
Parcel Post stamps were legal to use on first class letters, starting July 1, 1913. I’ve noticed that, by 1914, first class usages seem to be fewer. After 1914, Parcel Post usages are quite uncommon. That makes this 1917 usage uncommon indeed.
What may have caused this ‘old’ stamp to be used is that the first class letter rate was raised in early November, 1917, by one cent, as a tax to pay for the United States’ involvement in the First World War. Many people had to scramble to make up the rate, and there was a shortage of 3 cent stamps for a while.
Soldiers in the large Army camps in the US had a more difficult time, since they had little money, and needed to write to their families and sweethearts.
I believe that the postal drawers were combed for applicable postage, and this activity has revealed an interesting variety of ‘old’ stamp usages that show up from time to time in the US camp postal history that I collect.
This cover is cancelled by the Universal machine of the Custer Branch of Battle Creek, Michigan. Camp Custer was one of the large Army training camps open during WW I. It is dated November 25, 1917, about 3 weeks after the new postal rate went into effect.
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