1857 2c Bluish Green, Wharton's U.S.P.O. Despatch, Louisville, KY

Own a Genuine "Wharton's U.S.P.O Despatch" City Carrier Department Stamp – Fresh From the Sheet!

This is your chance to own the only City Carrier Department stamp design ever issued by David B. Wharton.  It's unused and fresh from the sheet – you won't find a nicer looking stamp than one that's just been separated from its original sheet.

David B. Wharton was a...  more

Own a Genuine "Wharton's U.S.P.O Despatch" City Carrier Department Stamp – Fresh From the Sheet!

This is your chance to own the only City Carrier Department stamp design ever issued by David B. Wharton.  It's unused and fresh from the sheet – you won't find a nicer looking stamp than one that's just been separated from its original sheet.

David B. Wharton was assigned to the Louisville Post Office in 1856.  He issued this adhesive stamp the following year, but was soon replaced in his duties.  Wharton's successors (Brown and McGill) issued their own stamps in April 1858, meaning few of Wharton's designs were ever used.  But today you can get one in unused condition (with or without small money-saving imperfections).

What are Carrier stamps?

According to the Scott Specialized Catalogue, Carrier stamps are "applied to certain stamps of the United States used to defray delivery to a post office on letters going to another post office, and for the collection and delivery in the same city (local letters handled only by the carrier department)... The 'City Carrier Department' [stamps] were valid in the city in which they were issued either directly by or sanctioned by the local postmaster under authority derived from the [US] postmaster general."

With their many different designs and stories behind them, Carrier stamps are fun to collect.  This one is no exception.  Add it to your current collection or start a new one now.