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Northern Liberties News
Rooms, Sub Post Office. Type I circular mark impressed at lower left on
folded cover to Miss Mary Evans at Kimberton Boarding School in Chester Co.
Pa., faint red "Phila. 4 Jan.(?)" in octagonal frame, ms. "6" due rate,
professionally cleaned and repaired along edges and file fold (minor
cosmetic improvements with nothing added) FINE. ONE OF 12-14 RECORDED
EXAMPLES OF THE NORTHERN LIBERTIES NEWS ROOMS MARKING, WHICH WAS APPLIED TO
MAIL HANDLED BY THE SUB POST OFFICE OPERATED BY ANDREW McMAKIN. Prior
to 1854, the Northern Liberties area (north of Vine Street) was outside
Philadelphia's city limits. Carriers were used to transport mail between
outlying areas and the main post office in Philadelphia. The term Sub
Post Office refers to a location where letters could be deposited for
delivery to the main post office. The Northern Liberties News Rooms, which
advertised its services as early as 1833, established a Sub Post Office in
1835. The proprietor at this time was Andrew McMakin. A news item appearing
in the October 10, 1835, edition of the Philadelphia Saturday
Courier states: "The enterprising, attentive and indefatigable
proprietor of that popular establishment, the Northern Liberties Free
Admission News Room, has found the business of his Sub Post Office so much
on the increase, as to induce him to prepare a new and appropriate stamp,
which we perceive is now imprinted upon all letters deposited at his
office." (from research by Elliott Perry and J. William Middendorf). Later
advertisements link the Sub Post Office in Northern Liberties with the main
Philadelphia post office, which reinforces its status as an authorized drop
point for mail. Calvet M. Hahn recorded between 12 and 14 examples of Type
I (some duplication of items is possible).
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E. 5,000-7,500
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Will close during Public Auction |