Existing comment:
Envelope postmarked as "Rock & Roll Station," a special USPS cancellation designed to complement the Elvis stamp.
The creator of this souvenir cleverly planned its "Return to sender" by addressing it to Elvis Presley in Las Vegas. Collectors use the term "philatically contrived" to describe mail intentionally prepared as a special souvenir.
Elvis Presley 45 record sleeve. The title refrain from his hit, Return to Sender, is far more familiar to listeners than the handstamps that inspired it.
Many collectors enjoy researching the rates and routes that were in effect when a particular envelope or card was posted. Handstamps are key to restracing a piece of mail's journey to its ultimate destination. Prior to the introduction of postage stamps in 1840, a postal clerk would indicate the amount of postage paid, either using a hand-stamping device and an ink pad or writing the number by hand.
Until well into the 20th century, clerks continued to hand-stamp or hand-write fees due, special service requirements, clerk and carrier handling instructions, and other notices. Today, integrated mail processing, standardized rates, forwarding labels, and other automation innovations have significantly reduced the need for handstamps. |