In 1914 during the US occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico, the Scott US Specialized Catalog(2006) states that letters sent from there show Provisional Postmarks.
Does anyone know what these postmarks look like? Does anyone have one they could post a picture of here? Or, do you know of a website with a picture of one of these postmarks?
Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 07 Mar 2009 06:31:53pm
re: Question About Vera Cruz Provisional Markings
Randy, I have a 2004 Scott specialized. Can you give me a specific reference where I can find the note on these provisional postmarks, i.e., end of xxx section? I know that during the occupation an American Postal Machines Co. machine with their trademark flag cancel was used. I collect these machine cancels that is how I know. I can find some more information on this particular cancel if that would be of interest. It is more prevalent on Mexican stamps/covers than on US mail matter. Use of a cancelling machine is, of course, not exactly "provisional", so I don't know what the note in Scott specifically refers to.
Here is a link to an exhibit which has a picture of this particular cancel and a bunch of others -- all don't exactly look provisional to me:
In my catalog, the note is posted under the Franklin issues of the year 1912, immediately after the listing of #'s 422 and 423, directly above a box with the heading "1914 Compound Perforations". Hope this helps.
The link you provided was a very good lead....thanks!
Since the military captured and took over the post office in Vera Cruz (and Scott lists this statement in its US catalogue), I assumed that this was on outgoing mail that used US postage....is my assumption correct, in your opinion?
Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 08 Mar 2009 10:41:34am
re: Question About Vera Cruz Provisional Markings
Ok, found the note in Scott. It really does not give much information and the 'provisional' statement -- suggestive maybe of altered Mexican postmarks or something along those lines -- apparently is misleading. It is certainly an aera of tremendous collector interest. The flag cancel cover shown in the exhibit is a typical philatelically-prepared cover that was sent by a collector for the Vera Cruz flag cancel.
I actually just happened to be looking something up in my catalog that was unrelated to this and ran across it. It piqued my interest, so I did some study on the events related to it.....quite interesting....would be great to find a "legit" cover from that time!
Randy
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