4¢ FIRST AUTOMATED POST OFFICE - October 20, 1960
Sc. 1164 - issued 10/20/60
|
This stamp advertised the completion of the first fully automated postal facility of the U.S. Post Office Department (it
became the USPS in 1971), set up in Providence, R.I. on an experimental basis in 1960. Built at a cost of nearly $16
million, the plant was the first step in a major program to automate and modernize the postal service in this country.
A single-story structure with only two internal supporting columns, so that the work area was obstructed as little as
possible, it was capable of processing up to 2 million pieces of mail per day.
Sc. 1164 fdc - issued 10/20/60
|
Trains were still a significant tool for moving the mail in 1960 (they play little part today), so it is logical to
include one in the stamp's image, but you may need a microscope to make it out. The ATA Handbook simply says "freight
train at first automated post office, Providence, RI." I was somewhat dubious that there really was a train for many
years, until recently, when I acquired the First Day Ceremony Program for this stamp. Its cover has an enlarged version
of the original artwork for the stamp, and while the details are still a bit vague, I'm willing to agree there really is
a train. It's behind the building, on the left, and looks like a series of dashes on the stamp. Below are scans of
that FDCP cover and a detail of the image:
Sc. 1164 First Day Ceremony Program
|
Sc. 1164 First Day Ceremony Program image
|
The train is still not all that clear, and one can't even distinguish the
locomotive(s) from the
cars - so to me this is a pretty lame entry in our listing. Perhaps one could learn more
from the source artwork - the description of this stamp in the (now defunct) USPS
publication United States Postage Stamps, says the design "features an architect's
sketch", so that may still be available somewhere.
The stamp was designed by Arnold Copeland and Victor S. McCloskey, Jr., with engraving by
C. A. Brooks, and lettering by R. J. Jones. Nearly 128 million copies were printed,
making it still relatively plentiful today, and worth essentially its face value. There
are no known errors or significant varieties.
Most of the first day covers for this stamp simply reproduce the stamp's design in even
less detail, so they add nothing to the train theme. I do have this one, however, made by
Kolor Kraft, that features a modern streamlined diesel.
Sc. 1164 fdc - issued 10/20/60
|
|
August, 2003 -
A friend who shares my enjoyment of stamps had the opportunity to visit the main PO in Providence, RI, and recognized it
as the facility shown on Scott 1164. From a poster on the wall, she learned that it is the
home of "Philatelic Phinds", the invaluable service of the USPS Southeast New England District, whose email
representative is Donna Rajotte - and Donna was the postal clerk assisting my friend, who then mailed me the cover shown
above, to share this information! I emailed Donna as follows:
Dear Donna Rajotte - A friend of mine had you hand-cancel and mail to me a letter, and I was delighted to receive it
- thanks for the beautiful cancels. She tells me that you work in the building pictured on one of the stamps on that
envelope, the 1960 "FIRST AUTOMATED POST OFFICE" issue. That stamp has a train, though it is very small - above the
building on the left. I run an organization for collectors of Trains on Stamps, and wondered Are there still train
tracks there? Do trains still service your building? I assume not - isn't all mail carried by trucks and planes these
days? We stamp collectors all appreciate the great job you are doing there of finding and selling the unusual
varieties no one else knows about - many thanks. Regards, Bill Senkus
She replied -
Hi Bill, I am so glad you liked the cancels! There are train tracks behind the building, but they are not used to
carry mail anymore. Thanks, Donna, Philatelic Phinds
If you collect modern US stamps, and do not know about the SENE District's service to collectors, you can email Donna for information about their stock at
RIStamps@email.usps.gov - OR write them at Internet Sales Office, 24 Corliss Street, Providence RI 02904-9713.
Telephone: (401) 276-3900 Extension 4049.
|
|
