Matthew E. Liebson

Cincinnati Stampless Postal Markings

Cincinnati, as the largest post office in Ohio throughout the stampless era, used a wide variety of handstamp markings between 1817 and the 1850s. Phillips' American Stampless Cover Catalog does a fairly good job in detailing out the different markings though it doesn't provide very good dates of use, doesn't illustrate everything, and doesn't generally comment on the relative scarcity of markings in different colors.

Much of the information within these pages comes from a series of articles published by Mark Swetland in the Ohio Postal History Journal during the mid-to-late 1980s. Images of markings come from my collection wherever possible; the black and white images come from Swetland's articles. Please be patient--there are many images here and it will take a while to download.

Eventually, you will be able to click on the images below for more detailed information, such as ink colors and periods of use. I also hope to add images and data about the various auxiliary markings found on Cincinnati stampless covers (rate numerals, PAID, STEAM, FREE, etc.) If you have any covers that can add to the information presented here, please E-mail me! I am also trying to census the various markings, in at least a general sense. Even if what you have seems mundane, I'd like to hear about it.


Swetland Type 1
Swetland Type 1a

Swetland Type 2

Swetland Type 3

Swetland Type 4

Swetland Type 5
Swetland Type 6

Swetland Type 7

Swetland Type 7a

Swetland Type 8



Swetland Type PD1

Swetland Type PD1a

Swetland Type PD2

Swetland Type PD3

Swetland Type PD4

Swetland Type PD5

Swetland Type PD6

Swetland Type PD7

Swetland Type PD8

Swetland Type PD9
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