From stampless covers to handcancels, machine cancels, trolley cancels, sprayed markings and beyond Rochester related philately offers a diverse and extensive assortment of material to collect and specialize in. This page is a way to introduce them to you! Click on any boxed area to enlarge it. Note that all markings are not to scale with one another.
Postage rates were written or ink-stamped on the folded paper or envelope before the creation and use of the postage stamps. The American Stampless Cover Catalog lists the known types and varieties found by specialists for fellow collectors. It has been nearly 20 years since the catalog's last update, but an online effort has started that process. Click the list at the right or the Word icon to see Rochester's marking entries that will appear in the next catalog. Red
numbers below refer to the ASCC listing ID.
1976 stampless cover article
09-16-1816 manuscript mark
10 cts to Batavia, NY 30-80 miles
05-29-1815 1
Free to Albany, NY
07-11-1816 2
37 cts to Albany 2x 150-400 mile rate
11-21-1816 green 4
6 cts to Canandaigua, NY < 30 mile rate
04-25-1817 blue 6
18 3/4 cts to Albany 150-400 mile rate
09-01-1818 ?
50 cts to Philadelphia 2x over 400 mile rate
10-24-1818 ?
12 1/2 cts to New York City --incorrectly rated-- correct should have been 18 3/4 cts 150-400 mile rate
06-12-1820 Rochesterville V1
18 1/2 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
03-19-1822 7
18 1/2 cts to North Blenheim, NY 150-400 mile rate
[cover ex-Mayflower]
05-05-1922 7
6 cts to Canandaigua, NY < 30 mile rate
09-09-1822 7
10 cts to Batavia, NY 30-80 mile rate
11-01-1822 7
10 cts to Auburn, NY 30-80 mile rate
[cover ex-Hahn]
12-26-1822 7
10 cts to Lockport, NY 30-80 mile rate
To Oliver Culver, Esq., Lock Port
Rochester 25 Decem 1822
... I go to Utica I must go soon as my business will be dead shortly that it will be impossible for me to have. Can you as will me from going if not when will you be here ready for extent. So that I may make my calculations accordingly.
Thm Lev Young Roswell Hart Oliver Culver
03-18-1823 8
12 1/2 cts to Skaneateles, NY 80-150 mile rate
03-xx-1824 9
12 1/2 cts to Clinton, NY 80-150 mile rate
08-25-1825 11
18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
11-05-1825 15 (earlier than listed)
18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
[cover ex-Hahn]
04-25-1826 15
18 3/4 cts to New York City, NY 150-400 mile rate
09-21-1826 14
18 3/4 cts to Albany 150-400 mile rate
09-29-1827 20
12 cts to Kirkland, Canada
No Postmark 10-08-1827
18 3/4 cts to West Point, NY 150-400 mile rate
[cover ex-Hahn]
1828 Postmaster A Reynolds Free Frank
Free to Newtown, NY
04-21-1828 19
6 cts to Wheatland, NY < 30 mile rate
To: Mr P Gambus, Wheatland
Rochester April the 20th 1828
Sir, I write this letter to let you know that I want some plaster and wish you to send me a load as soon as possible. Sir your compliance will much oblige me
Yours & &
William Curry
06-11-1828 19
18 3/4 cts to New York City, NY 150-400 mile rate
06-12-1828 19
6 cts to Caledonia, NY < 30 mile rate
09-12-1828 19
20 cts to Utica, NY 2x 30-80 mile rate
12-16-1828 17
37 cts to Albany, NY 2x 150-400 mile rate
To: Mr L Marcy Esq, Comptroller, Albany
Bank of Rochester
Dec 13, 1828
I now endorse you a statement of the Tolls recd by us of the month of November last past.
I am very respectfully yours sir
your mobb--
Jon Shumakom, Cash.
[same sender as on the Bank of Monroe letter of 04/19/1833 below]
04-04-1829 23 reversed "NY"
18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
04-24-1829 24 inverted "Y"
18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
06-18-1829 14? late usage
6 cts to Scottsville, NY < 30 mile rate
To Mr Phillip Gorbet, Scottsville, NY
Rochester June 17, 1829
Mr Gorbet, Sir, we want one tun (sic) of Black Plaster to send to Buffalo as soon as it is benevenant as we have some Bays from Buffalo which we want your Load yet when when you send the first Load when should Like soon.
(unreadable salutation)
T M Mead
06-24-1829 14? late use
20 cts to Oriskany, NY 2x 30-80 mile rate
07-31-1829 20
20 cts to Mt Morris, NY 2x 30-80 mile rate
To: Colo. Wm S Sleeper, Mount Morris, Livingston County, NY
Rochester July 28 1829
Colo. W. S. Sleeper
Dear Sir,
Colo. Jewett informs me that he has succeeded by petition in obtaining an order from the Commander in Chief for a new Division which takes part of the 23rd Division and that the order has been for.d. by the Adjt Genl to Genl Mills, will you do me the favor to send me a copy of the same and verry (sic) much oblige. Your Most Obt. Sevt
H Kennedy
[Research confirms Colonel Reuben Sleeper was on General Mill's staff in Mt Morris at the time.]
08-07-1829 25 "New-York"
free to Washington, DC
11-03-1829 25 "New-York"
25 cts to Canada
03-29-1830 28
6 cts to Canandaigua, NY < 30 mile rate
[no enclosure writing]
04-02-1830 28
12 cts to Ancaster, (Ontario) Upper Canada
09-20-1832 28 smaller 3.5 mm NY
18 3/4 cts to Hartford, CT 150-400 mile rate
04-19-1833 28
6 cts to Wheatland, NY < 30 mile rate
To Mr P Garball, Wheatland
Bank of Monroe
Rochester Apl 19 1833
Dear Sir,
A note of your made payable at the Bank for $541.10 Dollars was yesterday for payment. Presuming that you had made some error in your calculating + that you did not with it pro-tected. We paid it and the above amount now stands on our Books against you.
Jon Shumakom,
[same sender as the cashier at the Bank of Rochester letter of 12/15/28 above]
11-29-1833 28 smaller 3.5 mm NY no rim and no date
18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
01-21-1834 28? blue unreported
cover image unavailable
03-06-1834 31
37 1/2 cts to New York City, NY 2x 150-400 mile rate
04-05-1834 28? no N.Y. gap
18 3/4 cts to Hamilton, NY undercharged 1/4 ct 150-400 mile rate redirected to Oxford, NY
02-27-1836 28? no N.Y. gap
10 cts to Rushford, NY 30-80 mile rate
To Mr Charles Gilmane, Rushford, NY
Summary of merchandise orders, oats, butter, etc.
05-11-1838 20
12 cts to Canandaigua, NY 2x < 30 mile rate
To Sheriff of the County of Ontario, Canandaigua, NY
Rochester, May 11, 1836
Dear Sir,
Enclosed I send Ex. Mr. Humphreys of Victor [unreadable] 19th inst., we expect they will pay at once.
Yours, Isaac Mills
05-20-1838 28? no N.Y. gap
37 1/2 cts to Rensselaerville, NY 2x 150-400 mile rate
12-04-1841 28? no N.Y. gap
18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
To: John A Collier, Esq., Comptroller, Bank Department, Albany
Commercial Bank
Rochester, December 3 1841
John A Collier, Esq, Comptroller
Dr sir,
Your circular in relation to the burning of circulating notes returned, has been received. It is my intention to visit Albany in a few weeks, at which time. I intended to see about destroying our notes. If you can defer it until I go down, it would probably be more satisfactory to our board of Directors. If however you cannot defer burning them until that time, If you will write me by return mail. Our board will appoint some person to be present, to whitnefs [sic] their destruction, agreeable to your wishes.
Very respectfully
your obt servant
Thomas H. Rochester
Cashier
[Thomas Hart Rochester was the son of city namesake Nethaniel Rochester]
10-15-1842 28? no N.Y. gap
18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
no message on reverse
04-11-1843 28? narrow city/st gap
Free Frank to Albany, NY Samuel George Andrews, Postmaster
09-21-1848 32
35 cts to Utica, NY 7x < 300 mile rate "10" crossed out of cancel
12-06-1848 32
10 cts to New York, NY > 300 mile rate
08-27-1849 32
5 cts to Sarasota Springs, NY < 300 mile prepaid rate 10 cts crossed out on cancel
07-05-1850s 1ct drop rate 37?
1 ct to Rochester, NY drop rate
09-19-1850 32 (round, image distorted)
10 cts to Detroit, MI > 300 miles
01-24-1851 32
5 cts to Lyons, NY < 300 miles
05-20-1851 36
3 cts to Cooperstown, NY circular rate
05-31-1851 32
5 cts to Tonawanda, NY < 300 mile rate
To: Mr A G Kent, Tonawanda, NY
Rochester May 31, 1851
Mr A. G. Kent
Dear Sir,
Your letters of the 24th and 29th have been received. Enclosed you will find fifty dollars ($50), the amount you wrote that you should want for getting up the rafts, etc you are engaged on. We will communicate with you in relation to the Hemlock in a few days. What will probably be the expense for 1000 on Hemlock from Buffalo here. Send a raft of the Canada logs as soon as you possibly can. We hope you will have started one tow before you receive this. We shall, we think, be out of logs today or Monday. Please acknowledge the receipt of this, by return mail and inform us when you can probably get a tow here.
Warren and Co.
08-04-1851 34 earlier use than listed
3 cts to Cooperstown, NY circular rate
[ex-Dorr]
09-03-1851 34 earlier use than listed
3 cts to York, NY < 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
04-07-1850s 32
10 cts to Sharon, CT > 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
04-19-1850s 36,"3 above PAID"
3 cts to Philadelphia, PA < 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
09-23-1850s 36,"3 below PAID"
3 cts to Albion, NY < 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
01-26-1852 32
5 cts to York, NY < 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
First experimental airmail in Rochester - Crittenden Park Station cancel
10-21-1911
First experimental airmail in Rochester - Crittenden Park Station cancel
06-01-1928
CAM 20 first flight, Cleveland to Albany, Colonial Western Airways read details here
10-27/28-1928
Outbound zeppelin letter
05-01-1929
CAM 20 first afternoon-evening flight
01-27-1930
CAM 20 first all-night flight, Roessler cover
05-19-1938
for National Air Mail Week, signed by Rochester Postmaster William J. Hunt
and U.S. Postmaster General James A. Farley, travelling by pony express
and plane read National Air Mail Week details here
Triple half-ounce rate using both 5 ct and 10 ct U.S. first issues. Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegler Auction Galleries.
05-04-1851
Auction Lot Write-up
Combined use of first issues of both the U.S. (5 cents Franklin) and Canada (3 pence Beaver). Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegler Auction Galleries.
07-16-1864
One of 5 recorded strips of 4 of the 24 cent Washington issue, paying 4x the standard rate
US-Scotland, docketed "Per Steamer Boston to Liverpool 20 July 1864"
Perf 10 horizontal, Perf 11 vertical block. Found by workers at Andy Hale Stamp & Coin on Monroe Avenue.
Scott 2483 bluebird early release
cover
EKU released 2 days early at a Fairport, NY post office.
Scott 4267 missing color error
normal stamp
APEX certificate and Linn's articles. Found by George Mathis of Greece, NY.
Scott 5207-5310
Misperf "There be Dragons" sheets bought by member Larry Rausch at the Post Office booth while attending StampShow in Columbus, OH in 2018. He removed one stamp to mail a postcard home when he realized what he had.
RPA main screen
