New Britain herald., 1928-03-10
PROSAIC ENVELOPE
 CONSIDERED RARITY
Stamped by Woodstock Post master, May Have High Value

M0ol0l, M0J H0l1 ul6u laluV
 What is believed to be one of the rarest postage stamps ever issued emanated from the little town of Woodstock, in the summer of 1851, and then passed from memory un- iii the only known copy was discov- cred in recent months. This stamp, which is looked upon favorably by the leading philatelic experts in the country and may soon be listed among the worlds rarlties. is not properly a stamp" at all but rath- CT stamped envelope" IL con- sists merely of circle enclosing the words PAID" and '3 Cts" hand stamped in black in the corner of the envelope, and this simple device IS now engaging the attention and knowledge of expert examiners.
 The evidence i'll favor Of accepting the stamp into g class which will make 1t worth several thousand dol lars is interesting to stamp collector and to ordinary rational citizen as well. In the first place, the lmpres- sion has to be distinguished from a postmark. The envelope which has recently come to light bears a dated postmark in addition, and there IS no outstanding feature about It oth- CT than that 1t reads "Woodstock Ct. 10 July" The supposed stamp however. shows through on the back Of the envelope, leading to the bellef that 1t was struck before the letter was inserted and that 1t therefore is one of a. number prepared In ad- vance by the Woodstock postmaster of the period.
 Postmaster Uses Own Method
 On July 1, 1851. the postage charge on an ordinary letter had been reduced from five to three cents. but three cent stamps were slow in undertaking. II is therefore believed that the Woodstock post master received none of the He" labels and that he met the de1lclehcS by overprinting envelopes ana sell ing them to his patrons m the saiiie manner that stamped envelopes are now retailed by post offices lha' the stamp is dated at this crl'ical neriod is considered another ana practically clinching argument Ill it's favor
 Woodstock is a small town lylng in the extreme northeastern part ot the state. The letter in question ls addressed to Quinebaug, 'o"h about five miles north Of It. lhert may be other letters with the same marking lying in Connecticut cellars or attics, and if another should De found it would confirm and enhance the value of the present copy.
 One Stamp Valued At S32.ooo
 What is the value of the stamp! That is difficult to determine, pn' the famous British Guiana l cent error of 1856 is priced at s32,5oo. Another "postmaster's proVlslonal' inc class into which the WOODSTOCK stamp would fall, is listed at s12,ooo. In each case only one copy IS kho"h' These are adhesive stamps, however, which are more sought after than envelopes, but the Woodstock pro yisional should be worth fully So,ooo if it's authenticity is verified.
 New Haven issued provisional en- yelopes in 1S45 before the govern ment adopted the use of postage stamps, and copies of the Elm tlty emissions are valued at s3,a99 to s7,5OO. They are slightly more elab- crate than the Woodstock affair, be- ing rectangles enclosing the words, POST OFFICE NEW HAVEN CT, PAID. Ed Mitchell P. NJ. The name of the postmaster IS Tn his own handwriting.
 These old postmasters' proVlsioh- als are among the most interesting and sought for stamps ever pro duced, They were issued by several cities and towns. including Alex andria, Va, Annapolis, Md. Raiu- more, Boscawen, x. H., Bra ytirboro' Nt,.Lockport. \. Y., Millbury. Mass, New York city, Providence. St, Louis and Tuscumbia, Ala. Worcester Mass. and Washington. ll C., are also known to have issued similar stamps but not q copy Of either one has ever been discovered. 1T one Is found it will repay the search o1 ,he finder, as did inc locating Of the Woodstock stamp.