HI I Have 2 covers not sure what the D.P.O. stands for Diplomatic Post Office? The dates are different so i don't think it is dead Post Office. They were in with my HPO RPO STEAMSHIP Cancels i don't remember what D.P.O cancel was. Thanks for any Information.
What is the significance of the number in the killer area? Note that both cancels are a few days apart, one has a 4 and the other a 30. Also notice that the arrangement in the circular cancel is different on both. Interesting.
Astrophilatelist- Space Cover Collector 01 Jan 2016 06:50:27am
re: D.P.O. Diplomatic Post Office?
This is a diplomatic post office in the Netherlands. I do not know what the above could be but I thought I'd show one I know to be a diplomatic post office.
the numbers in the killer (the football) refer to the station (or clerk) in that facility. likely one person saw several stamps uncancelled after others had been by a different clerk
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Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 01 Jan 2016 10:06:45am
re: D.P.O. Diplomatic Post Office?
The DPO almost certainly indicates "Distributing Post Office." Due to much travel yet, I am likely not able to post specific references until in three weeks. But this is the direction in which research on this postmark probably should be going.
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re: D.P.O. Diplomatic Post Office?
After a cursory search, I found this on the USPS website:
"Network Distribution Center (NDC) - The NDC network consists of strategically located automated facilities that serve as centralized mail processing and transfer points for designated geographic areas, including Area Distribution Centers (ADCs), Sectional Center Facilities (SCFs), and auxiliary service facilities (ASFs)."
My guess would be that the ADCs may stamp mail with a "Distributing Post Office" cancel, or at least they may have done this back in 1945 when the cover was mailed. Feel free to correct me if I'm barking up the wrong tree.
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Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 26 Jan 2016 06:51:24pm
re: D.P.O. Diplomatic Post Office?
Following up on my January 1 posting: The answer is documented in the May 2015 edition of the PMCC Bulletin. I know that because I have the annual index, but I cannot locate this edition. I probably gave it away at a stamp club meeting. This is not a journal I typically keep for reference.
In any event, distributing pot offices are part of the RPO system. A friend could actually share the exact location. The Cleveland DPO was at the railroad immediately by the Terminal Tower.
The city PO delivered mail and cancelled out going mail.
The Cleveland DPO cancelled mail received at the station with the unique DPO marking. The Cleveland postmarks used at the DPO are distinct with the large circular dial. There are many different numbers in the barrel cancel documented. I am not sure all state "DPO" in the cancel, however. Perhaps, if someone has access to the May PMCC Bulletin there will be additional information.
"In any event, distributing pot offices are part of the RPO system. A friend could actually share the exact location. The Cleveland DPO was at the railroad immediately by the Terminal Tower. "
A Distributing Pot Office - now there's a thought!
That USPS pdf reports a system introduced only in 2003, so can't apply to these postmarks. A discussion on another stamp forum concerning Cleveland DPO in the 1940s concluded that it was the Cleveland Depot Office, a depot at the railroad station. This agrees with an earlier suggestion above.