Allen’s City Dispatch Local Stamp

Allen’s City Dispatch was created in 1882 for the delivery of letters and circulars in Chicago, Illinois.  However, in February 1883, Edwin Allen, founder of the dispatch, was arrested by postal authorities for establishing a private mail service. 

Local Stamps Make a Neat Addition to Your Collection

Local stamps include stamps issued by Local Posts (city delivery), Independent Mail Routes and Services, Express Companies and other private posts that competed with or supplemented official services. Because only a few local posts used hand stamps for cancelling, most local stamps were left uncancelled. Cancelling, if any, was often done by pen, pencil, or government hand stamp.