I imagine AM is Am Main, but I can't read the next line on this scan
The next line is as I typed it into the post.
The "Am Main" refers to the river where Frankfurt is located.
"Frankfurt on the Main River" is a literal translation.
I saw what you typed, but it doesn't look like POSTEXPR to my eye, more POSTENPER
I wonder if "POSTENPER" stands for "POSTENPERSONEN", which would basically mean "Postal Clerk" Number 4.
Dave and Michael,
I believe you are correct. Thanks for your help.
Hi BWSchulz,
I read this as:
FRANKFURT A.M.
POSTEXPED No. 4
where "POSTEXPED" is an abbreviation for "Postexpedition".
In many German states a postexpedition was a smaller post office or postal agency subordinate to a regular post office.
Nigel,
Excellent!
We're going to have to call Nigel, "Eagle Eye"!
I have a specialized collection of Frankfurt am Main as a City State. Frankfurt did not issue its own stamps,and its mail was handled by Thurn and Taxis. So before T and T issued its own stamps, all Frankfurt postage is noted by cancellation and transit stamps. The postal clerks noted amount paid and other information by pen marks on the front of the cover. These evolved over time. My earliest example is from 1793. The cancellation is a straight-line stamp. A circular date stamp was introduced in the early 19th Century. There are several designs. When T and T stamps and pre-stamped stationary was introduced Frankfort mail was cancelled with a 'target' cancel and the number 220.
The example below is T and T stationary, mailed in 1866. It has the 200 cancel. It is intra-city mail. It has a rubber stamped notation, and it is this that is puzzling me. Do any of you know what the notation means? It reads:
Frankfurt A. M.
Postexpr No. 4
This is followed by a date and hour notation.
re: Thurn and Taxis - Frankfurt Cancel Puzzle
I imagine AM is Am Main, but I can't read the next line on this scan
re: Thurn and Taxis - Frankfurt Cancel Puzzle
The next line is as I typed it into the post.
re: Thurn and Taxis - Frankfurt Cancel Puzzle
The "Am Main" refers to the river where Frankfurt is located.
"Frankfurt on the Main River" is a literal translation.
re: Thurn and Taxis - Frankfurt Cancel Puzzle
I saw what you typed, but it doesn't look like POSTEXPR to my eye, more POSTENPER
re: Thurn and Taxis - Frankfurt Cancel Puzzle
I wonder if "POSTENPER" stands for "POSTENPERSONEN", which would basically mean "Postal Clerk" Number 4.
re: Thurn and Taxis - Frankfurt Cancel Puzzle
Dave and Michael,
I believe you are correct. Thanks for your help.
re: Thurn and Taxis - Frankfurt Cancel Puzzle
Hi BWSchulz,
I read this as:
FRANKFURT A.M.
POSTEXPED No. 4
where "POSTEXPED" is an abbreviation for "Postexpedition".
In many German states a postexpedition was a smaller post office or postal agency subordinate to a regular post office.
re: Thurn and Taxis - Frankfurt Cancel Puzzle
Nigel,
Excellent!
re: Thurn and Taxis - Frankfurt Cancel Puzzle
We're going to have to call Nigel, "Eagle Eye"!