28-09-2025, 12:16 PM
From Roy's 50 cent box ... always fun. Especially the various postmarks on this otherwise unassuming picture postcard. A delightful mess.
Here is my reconstruction. Feel free to provide your own interpretation.
Based on the receiving cancel and the dateline, it was mailed at Gilroy, California on Saturday, January 18, 1910. It sent by L. Serles to his brother Geo. [George] at 1900 Alameda in San Jose, CA. His rather terse message is, "Dear Brother, I was glad to hear from you." That's it.
There is an arrival cancel from San Jose dated January 20. George is, however, hard to find. The address is crossed out and a General Delivery stamp, dated January 20th is hand-stamped in red ink. Someone must have suggested to try Fresno - which is added in green crayon which is also used to cross out San Jose. On arrival in Fresno a faint CDS is applied, with black ink, as well as another General Delivery stamp in red ink both with a date of January 21. George doesn't show.
Then, someone writes a new address, in pencil, 'General Delivery Los Angeles'. The card must have been duly forwarded since there is a new purple General Delivery stamp for LA dated January 22. And, when George does not claim it, another one is added on January 23.
At that point the card must have been put in abeyance. Almost a month later, someone writes in pencil 'Feb 20' and two single-line dated handstamps, one in purple and one in red, are added and dated February 21, 1910.
Was that the day that George finally picked up his mail? Or the day it was sent back to his brother in Gilroy? Don't know. Was George travelling around looking for work? Again, we'll never know.
What I do know is that postmarks are fun.
PS - The illustration on the postcard is by a well-known artist who did a lot of postcard art - Fred L Clavally. His 'Glad Hand' image dates to 1908.
Here is my reconstruction. Feel free to provide your own interpretation.
Based on the receiving cancel and the dateline, it was mailed at Gilroy, California on Saturday, January 18, 1910. It sent by L. Serles to his brother Geo. [George] at 1900 Alameda in San Jose, CA. His rather terse message is, "Dear Brother, I was glad to hear from you." That's it.
There is an arrival cancel from San Jose dated January 20. George is, however, hard to find. The address is crossed out and a General Delivery stamp, dated January 20th is hand-stamped in red ink. Someone must have suggested to try Fresno - which is added in green crayon which is also used to cross out San Jose. On arrival in Fresno a faint CDS is applied, with black ink, as well as another General Delivery stamp in red ink both with a date of January 21. George doesn't show.
Then, someone writes a new address, in pencil, 'General Delivery Los Angeles'. The card must have been duly forwarded since there is a new purple General Delivery stamp for LA dated January 22. And, when George does not claim it, another one is added on January 23.
At that point the card must have been put in abeyance. Almost a month later, someone writes in pencil 'Feb 20' and two single-line dated handstamps, one in purple and one in red, are added and dated February 21, 1910.
Was that the day that George finally picked up his mail? Or the day it was sent back to his brother in Gilroy? Don't know. Was George travelling around looking for work? Again, we'll never know.
What I do know is that postmarks are fun.
PS - The illustration on the postcard is by a well-known artist who did a lot of postcard art - Fred L Clavally. His 'Glad Hand' image dates to 1908.
Hugh MacDonald, Wolfe Island
Member: BNAPS. PHSC, Auxiliary Markings Club, Postal Stationary Society, British Postmark Society,
AMG Collectors Club, China Stamp Society, France and Colonies Philatelic Society
ArGe Deutsche Feldpost: 1914-1918 e.V.
Cal. The stamp would be a Scott 331 Green yellow color, Scott 374 was not released until November 23 1910. Nice buy!