I’ve come into possession of an old envelope. There was no letter in the envelope, but I’m mildly curious because it’s very old. It was sent from NYC to Elyria, Ohio 11x. Metered postage, which doesn’t have a date on it, but apparently cost 1 cent.
All I’ve been able find with Google is a history of how much it would cost, per ounce, to send stamped mail. Any help from any postal-history buffs?
What do you mean by “metered postage?” Also, what is the “11x” you mention?
Looks like metered mail has been around for a while. Maybe you can tell the age of your envelope just by that. The 11 inch is probably the width of the envelope to hold a standard 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper in use today.
The one-cent price seems to put it very early. What shape is the envelope in? Is it faded or yellow?
Apparently, the postage meter dates to 1920 in the US.
But mailing a regular letter cost about 3 cents back then.
Canadian, perhaps?
Hmm, the plot thickens. Here’s a scan of the envelope.
The 11x is written as part of the address, I guess as a primitive zip code. Also, it’s not Canadian, as it was mailed from New York, says so, sand says “US Postage” on the meter print.
The envelope is in remarkably good condition, though it was found tucked in a book that apparently has been sitting in a box in an attic for about twenty years at least.
You might call Pitney Bowes on Monday and ask when meter number 57473 went into service.
When was the Macmillon Company at 60 5th Avenue?
It’s almost certainly from the 1920’s-1930’s. Addressed to Sidney H. Boynton.
Ok, according to this chronology of postal regulations
Section 562 P.L. & R. went into effect in 1932 and was replaced in 1948.
So I’m gonna guess that your letter was sent between 1932 and 1948. Probably on the early side, since the return address contains no postal code.
Macmillan moved to 60 5th Avenue in or about 1926. They remained there until they moved again in 1966. So all we know from that is that it was sent after 1926.
Could “11x” be an antiquated abbreviation for “apartment”, “suite”, or “office”?
It would not likely refer to Mr. Boynton as he lived at an “R.F.D.” address.
That was my guess, too.
According to this, pre-zip postal codes date from 1943.
from the above site
that is incorrect - there were staamp vending machines in supermarkets in the late 60s/early 70s. I know this because when I went grocery shopping with mom, we always picked up a book frm these machines
So, 43 to 48 as the date?
Say, are the materials or inks unusual?
Maybe wartime erzats substitutes?
(Not actual erzats–that was German. But we did some subbing in the 40’s, too.)
Perhaps the 1¢ price on that envelope was for bulk mail at the time of mailing.
The “11x” almost certainly has nothing to do with the addressee. Just my informed opinion.
The Post Office’s “city codes” of the 1940s to 1960s were just that: for cities. I’ve never seen a city code for an R.F.D. address.
