First Airmail Flight

Prudhoe Bay, AK

Cowpens National Battlefield

I don't know if any of you are familiar with the National Parks Passport....but at most National Parks, you can get a stamp that resembles a postmark as a small souvenir. When I worked at Congaree National Park, I found a way to combine postmark collecting with National Park stamp collecting. I stamped a card with the park's stamp, and then had it sent to me from the post office that delivered the park's mail. I found this postcard at a coin and stamp shop. It was too perfect that I couldn't resist doing the same thing for Cowpens National Battlefield. Only this time, I had to mail the card first to Cowpens and ask them to then forward it to the post office. This was my first time attempting this and I'm happy to report that Cowpens graciously complied with my odd request. Here is the result.

Angle Inlet, MN

Angle Inlet is one of two communities located in the Northwest Angle of Minnesota. It is the only place in the lower 48 states to be north of the 49th parallel. Due to a mapping error, the Angle is actually not attached to the rest of the lower 48 states. It has to be reached by boat across the Lake of the Woods or by road, passing through Canada. The postal worker was kind enough to include a message, generic though it is. 

2012 Republican National Convention

Pictoral postmark from the recent Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL with a short message that I found unintentionally humorous.

Oak Island, MN

Oak Island is an island in the northeast corner of Lake of the Woods in Minnesota.

Hinsdale, NH

Postmark from the oldest, continually run post office in the country with a note from the Postmaster.

Truth or Consequences, NM

Truth or Consequences has to be one of the most unique town names. And the story of how it got it's name is equally unique and intriguing. This story was shared by a postal worker there.

Springdale, PA

I sent for this postmark because I heard it was renamed after the environmentalist Rachel Carson. I was hoping the postmark might reflect that fact, which it unfortunately doesn't. I did get a nice, simple message from the Postmaster about the town.

Bridal Veil, OR 125th Anniversary

I'm relatively new to the world of postmark collecting, but the possibilities of the hobby and the successes I've had thus far have inspired me to continue collecting full force. Postmark collecting, in a way, allows me to visit new places without having to go there. I'm constantly learning about new and interesting communities all around the United States. I tend to ask postal workers to include a note on the back of the cards I send with any "thoughts or feelings you have on the town or the people there." Those are the most exciting to receive. It adds a personal, human touch to the postmark. At it's best, it gives a little more background on the town, the post office, or the people as filtered through the perspective of a key element of the community - the postal worker. Also, collecting postmarks is a cheap and easy hobby. To acquire a postmark, all you need is a self-addressed stamped postcard and an envelope stamped and addressed to the post office you are interested in. And of course, a short note explaining why you are sending them that card.

Below is a postmark from the 125th Anniversary celebration for the Bridal Veil, OR post office. The town used to be a logging and mill town but has since become a ghost town save their post office and cemetery. The post office seems to remain open mainly for its postmark. Brides will send wedding invitations to be postmarked by the town. The postmaster included a nice, brief message on this card.