Oxford to host next Civil War Pictorial Postmark on Wednesday
By Vicky House
Correspondent
OXFORD – With seven successful pictorial postmarks already held, Oxford is hoping to make it number eight. On Wednesday, the Oxford Post Office is next on the long list of post offices to participate in this event.
This project is part of the Chenango County Civil War Commemoration Project to remember the service and sacrifice of thousands of men from the area who fought in the Civil War. Each post office has set aside a date where they will hand-cancel envelopes or post cards with a special design. All envelopes and/or post cards must have first class postage in order to be stamped.
A pictorial postmark features words and graphics related to an event and is applied with a hand canceling device. Pictorial Postmarks are one way the U.S. Post Office can help commemorate any special event.
The event began when the Oxford Town and Village historian researched the role of the U.S. Post Office during the Civil War. It was found that the Post Office held special fairs called “Sanitary Fairs” in 1863 and 1864. These events were organized on behalf of the United States Sanitary Commission and other similar organizations that raised funds to provide much needed assistance to soldiers during the Civil War. Several of the Sanitary Fairs had Post Office booths that sold specially printed (non-postal) stamps for use on all letters. These non-postal stamps are similar to the Easter Seals and other stamps that were often placed on envelopes to show support for a particular project or organization.
For those who cannot attend the pictorial postmark on Wednesday, the post office will provide mail-back service. Customers can mail pre-stamped envelopes and cards to the designated Post Office to receive the postmark.
A special part of the event includes images of soldiers, from the host town, on the envelopes. These envelopes will be available the day of the event and for, at least, 30 days after. For those who have an image of an ancestor who served in the Civil War, the image may be printed on envelopes and then hand cancelled. Each envelope has a Civil War related image, a U.S. Post Office Civil War Commemorative Forever Stamp and the pictorial postmark. Contact the Oxford Town/Village Historian at 843-9531 for more information.
Each postmark has been an experience for everyone involved. One postal patron in Bainbridge attended the event and found her ancestor’s image on several envelopes. A soldier stationed in Germany, who read about the postmarks online, sent along his request for two envelopes from each post office. And, recently, two people have requested that their living relative, who is currently serving his country, have his image on several envelopes. That request comes about because they don’t have an image of their ancestors who served in the Revolutionary & Civil Wars and thought his image would be representing several generations.
Pictorial postmarks are just one many events the U.S. Post Office sponsors. The postmarks are advertised in the Postal Bulletin and, because of that, the requests come in from all over this country and around the world. Stamp collectors, Civil War enthusiasts and host communities are all a big part of this commemoration.
Norwich hosted the event on Sept. 19. Participants can still take or mail in your envelopes or post cards to have them stamped. After Oxford’s Pictorial Postmark, South Otselic is on Oct. 24 followed by the Smithville Flats P.O. on Nov. 14. Following a short break for the holidays, the postmarks start up again in January with North Norwich on Jan. 9, 2013.
Correspondent
OXFORD – With seven successful pictorial postmarks already held, Oxford is hoping to make it number eight. On Wednesday, the Oxford Post Office is next on the long list of post offices to participate in this event.
This project is part of the Chenango County Civil War Commemoration Project to remember the service and sacrifice of thousands of men from the area who fought in the Civil War. Each post office has set aside a date where they will hand-cancel envelopes or post cards with a special design. All envelopes and/or post cards must have first class postage in order to be stamped.
A pictorial postmark features words and graphics related to an event and is applied with a hand canceling device. Pictorial Postmarks are one way the U.S. Post Office can help commemorate any special event.
The event began when the Oxford Town and Village historian researched the role of the U.S. Post Office during the Civil War. It was found that the Post Office held special fairs called “Sanitary Fairs” in 1863 and 1864. These events were organized on behalf of the United States Sanitary Commission and other similar organizations that raised funds to provide much needed assistance to soldiers during the Civil War. Several of the Sanitary Fairs had Post Office booths that sold specially printed (non-postal) stamps for use on all letters. These non-postal stamps are similar to the Easter Seals and other stamps that were often placed on envelopes to show support for a particular project or organization.
For those who cannot attend the pictorial postmark on Wednesday, the post office will provide mail-back service. Customers can mail pre-stamped envelopes and cards to the designated Post Office to receive the postmark.
A special part of the event includes images of soldiers, from the host town, on the envelopes. These envelopes will be available the day of the event and for, at least, 30 days after. For those who have an image of an ancestor who served in the Civil War, the image may be printed on envelopes and then hand cancelled. Each envelope has a Civil War related image, a U.S. Post Office Civil War Commemorative Forever Stamp and the pictorial postmark. Contact the Oxford Town/Village Historian at 843-9531 for more information.
Each postmark has been an experience for everyone involved. One postal patron in Bainbridge attended the event and found her ancestor’s image on several envelopes. A soldier stationed in Germany, who read about the postmarks online, sent along his request for two envelopes from each post office. And, recently, two people have requested that their living relative, who is currently serving his country, have his image on several envelopes. That request comes about because they don’t have an image of their ancestors who served in the Revolutionary & Civil Wars and thought his image would be representing several generations.
Pictorial postmarks are just one many events the U.S. Post Office sponsors. The postmarks are advertised in the Postal Bulletin and, because of that, the requests come in from all over this country and around the world. Stamp collectors, Civil War enthusiasts and host communities are all a big part of this commemoration.
Norwich hosted the event on Sept. 19. Participants can still take or mail in your envelopes or post cards to have them stamped. After Oxford’s Pictorial Postmark, South Otselic is on Oct. 24 followed by the Smithville Flats P.O. on Nov. 14. Following a short break for the holidays, the postmarks start up again in January with North Norwich on Jan. 9, 2013.
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