Georgia Postal History Society
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History of the Society
The Georgia Postal History Society began as a suggestion by Ervin Underwood to form a society to study the postal history of Georgia. Four collectors, McCary Ballard, Frank Crown, Tom Kingsley, and William McDougall responded to the suggestion and met with Underwood on 15 April 1984 to discuss the idea. At that time is was agreed to proceed with the formation of a society and Underwood volunteered to act as Secretary pro tem until a formal structure was established.
By the end of the year the structure of the society was agreed upon and the first elections conducted. The officers selected for the first three year term were Ervin Underwood, President; Francis J. Crown, Jr., Vice- President; Douglas N. Clark, Secretary; and Ernest C. Owens, Treasurer.
In short order a newsletter was published and in May 1985 the first issue of the G. P. H. S. Bulletin was published under the editorship of Douglas N. Clark. The Bulletin continued through July 1991. It was followed in September 1991 by Georgia Post Roads, the current publication of the Society.
The society which numbers about 35 members, meets once a year at what is now called the Southeastern Stamp Expo (formerly Peach State Stamp Show). The annual meeting always includes an informative seminar by a GPHS member that is open to all members of the public.
Benefits of Membership
The Georgia Postal History Society is devoted to the study of all aspects of Georgia postal history. This includes the pre-stamp or stampless period that goes back to the late 1700s, the Confederate period, fancy cancels, machine postmarks, RFD markings, railroad markings, flight covers, first days, last days, use of a particular stamp on covers from Georgia and just about anything else you can think of that mixes stamp collecting and Georgia. Basically there is something for everyone.
Benefits of membership include a quarterly journal, Georgia Post Roads. There is an annual meeting held each year at the Southeastern Stamp Expo in Atlanta. You also have the benefit of meeting and corresponding with other members of the society, many of whom are recognized experts in their Georgia postal history specialty.
Are you interested in becoming a member? The best way to join is to come to the Southeastern Stamp Expo and meet current members, where you can obtain a membership application. Or, download and complete the membership application and send to the Society's Secretary, Steve Swain (at the address below).
The Georgia Postal History Society began as a suggestion by Ervin Underwood to form a society to study the postal history of Georgia. Four collectors, McCary Ballard, Frank Crown, Tom Kingsley, and William McDougall responded to the suggestion and met with Underwood on 15 April 1984 to discuss the idea. At that time is was agreed to proceed with the formation of a society and Underwood volunteered to act as Secretary pro tem until a formal structure was established.
By the end of the year the structure of the society was agreed upon and the first elections conducted. The officers selected for the first three year term were Ervin Underwood, President; Francis J. Crown, Jr., Vice- President; Douglas N. Clark, Secretary; and Ernest C. Owens, Treasurer.
In short order a newsletter was published and in May 1985 the first issue of the G. P. H. S. Bulletin was published under the editorship of Douglas N. Clark. The Bulletin continued through July 1991. It was followed in September 1991 by Georgia Post Roads, the current publication of the Society.
The society which numbers about 35 members, meets once a year at what is now called the Southeastern Stamp Expo (formerly Peach State Stamp Show). The annual meeting always includes an informative seminar by a GPHS member that is open to all members of the public.
Benefits of Membership
The Georgia Postal History Society is devoted to the study of all aspects of Georgia postal history. This includes the pre-stamp or stampless period that goes back to the late 1700s, the Confederate period, fancy cancels, machine postmarks, RFD markings, railroad markings, flight covers, first days, last days, use of a particular stamp on covers from Georgia and just about anything else you can think of that mixes stamp collecting and Georgia. Basically there is something for everyone.
Benefits of membership include a quarterly journal, Georgia Post Roads. There is an annual meeting held each year at the Southeastern Stamp Expo in Atlanta. You also have the benefit of meeting and corresponding with other members of the society, many of whom are recognized experts in their Georgia postal history specialty.
Are you interested in becoming a member? The best way to join is to come to the Southeastern Stamp Expo and meet current members, where you can obtain a membership application. Or, download and complete the membership application and send to the Society's Secretary, Steve Swain (at the address below).
| Georgia Postal History Society - Membership Application.doc |
Officers Contact
Our current slate of elected officers is: Steve Swain, President
5 Meeting Street
President: Steve Swain Roswell, GA 30075
Vice-President: Ed Jackson swain.steve9@gmail.com
Secretary-Treasurer: Nancy Clark and Steve Swain
President Emeritus: Douglas N. Clark
Our current slate of elected officers is: Steve Swain, President
5 Meeting Street
President: Steve Swain Roswell, GA 30075
Vice-President: Ed Jackson swain.steve9@gmail.com
Secretary-Treasurer: Nancy Clark and Steve Swain
President Emeritus: Douglas N. Clark
Georgia Post Roads
The official Journal of the Georgia Postal History Society, Georgia Post Roads, is published quarterly featuring articles on various aspects of Georgia postal history. Articles for publication may be submitted in the form of typed manuscript or, preferably, via email.
| Georgia Post Roads Winter 2019 |
Articles by Society members and non-members are welcomed. Contact:
Steve Swain, Editor
swain.steve9@gmail.com
Steve Swain, Editor
swain.steve9@gmail.com
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Literature Competition Awards Sarasota National Stamp Expo, January 22-24, 2021 Francis J. Crown, Jr. Reserve Grand Award: “The 10¢ Red ‘Southern Confederacy’ Danville, Va., Provisional Envelope Large Gold: “The 10¢ Red ‘Southern Confederacy’ Danville, Va., Provisional Envelope Gold: “Athens, Georgia, Provisional Gutter Pairs” Southern California SESCAL, October 3, 2020 Francis J. Crown, Jr. Gold: “The 10¢ Red ‘Southern Confederacy’ Danville, Va., Provisional Envelope Gold: “Dr. H. H. Green: An Early ‘Junk Mailer’ Steve Swain Large Vermeil: “Thrilling Adventures in Stamp Comics” Large Vermeil: “Fake Town Spanish-American War Postal History” |
Francis J. Crown, Jr.
Steve Swain
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Georgia Post Roads Honored With Silver Award
Georgia Post Roads was honored with a Silver award in the literature competition at the August 3-6, 2017, American Philatelic Society’s annual show in Richmond, VA. A sincere “Thank You” is extended to all Society members for their contributions to and support of our journal.
Awards given to other state postal history journals were a Large Vermeil for the North Carolina Postal History Journal and a Vermeil for the Florida Postal History Journal. Other journals honored at the competition included First Days (Gold), India Post Vol. 50 (Gold), Japanese Philately (Vermeil), The Czechoslovak Specialist (Vermeil) and the Europa Study Unit Bulletin (Siver).
Georgia Post Roads was honored with a Silver award in the literature competition at the August 3-6, 2017, American Philatelic Society’s annual show in Richmond, VA. A sincere “Thank You” is extended to all Society members for their contributions to and support of our journal.
Awards given to other state postal history journals were a Large Vermeil for the North Carolina Postal History Journal and a Vermeil for the Florida Postal History Journal. Other journals honored at the competition included First Days (Gold), India Post Vol. 50 (Gold), Japanese Philately (Vermeil), The Czechoslovak Specialist (Vermeil) and the Europa Study Unit Bulletin (Siver).
1863 Confederate Election Return Cover with "Roving" Postmark
by Jim Cate
Chattanooga, Tennessee was first occupied by Confederate military forces on March 6, 1862. They continued the occupation of Chattanooga until Union military forces applied pressure forcing their withdrawal. On the morning of September 9, 1863, the Confederate army withdrew from Chattanooga to North Georgia. Harvey T. Phillips, the Chattanooga Confederate postmaster, took the postal cancellation devices with him.
Phillips received official temporary appointment from the Confederate Post Office Department in Richmond, Virginia to act as the Postmaster of the Army of Tennessee (Confederate) until such time as he returned to his former location in Chattanooga. Phillips operated from a railroad car behind Confederate lines in North Georgia and continued in his capacity until officially relieved of his position on January 23, 1864.
Phillips used the CDS postmark “CHATTANOOGA - Ten.” without a year date from September 1863 to January 23, 1864, with all postmarks applied in North Georgia. These are more commonly known as the Chattanooga “rover” (or “roving”) cancellations since the datestamp device was taken from the city post office after evacuation and used as an army field office device.
During the Civil War, very few of the Confederate states held elections with Georgia being an exception. In 1857, prior to the Civil War, Joseph E. Brown, seen below, was elected as Governor of Georgia. Brown was an exceedingly popular governor and was reelected serving four successive two-year terms, the only governor of Georgia ever to serve four terms of office.
by Jim Cate
Chattanooga, Tennessee was first occupied by Confederate military forces on March 6, 1862. They continued the occupation of Chattanooga until Union military forces applied pressure forcing their withdrawal. On the morning of September 9, 1863, the Confederate army withdrew from Chattanooga to North Georgia. Harvey T. Phillips, the Chattanooga Confederate postmaster, took the postal cancellation devices with him.
Phillips received official temporary appointment from the Confederate Post Office Department in Richmond, Virginia to act as the Postmaster of the Army of Tennessee (Confederate) until such time as he returned to his former location in Chattanooga. Phillips operated from a railroad car behind Confederate lines in North Georgia and continued in his capacity until officially relieved of his position on January 23, 1864.
Phillips used the CDS postmark “CHATTANOOGA - Ten.” without a year date from September 1863 to January 23, 1864, with all postmarks applied in North Georgia. These are more commonly known as the Chattanooga “rover” (or “roving”) cancellations since the datestamp device was taken from the city post office after evacuation and used as an army field office device.
During the Civil War, very few of the Confederate states held elections with Georgia being an exception. In 1857, prior to the Civil War, Joseph E. Brown, seen below, was elected as Governor of Georgia. Brown was an exceedingly popular governor and was reelected serving four successive two-year terms, the only governor of Georgia ever to serve four terms of office.
In 1863, Georgia held a state election with Governor Brown winning his fourth term of office. Georgia Confederate military units were permitted the opportunity to vote. Election participation was held within each Georgia Confederate military unit with duly selected officers conducting. The vote results, or election returns, were then sent to the Georgia county of authority for the election. Displayed below is the only reported Election Returns (1863) of Georgia during the Civil War.
As contained on the Elections Returns envelope, it was for the 46th Georgia Volunteers and was sent to the Clerk Superior Court - Thomaston - Upson County - Georgia. The envelope is docketed in the upper right corner “From Captain John P. Beaty - Company F and Lieutenant M. A. McAfee - Company I - 46th Geo. Vol Superintendents.”
The 46th Georgia Volunteers Infantry Regiment was formed in the spring of 1862 with men from Upson, Schley, Harris Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Webster, Marion and Talbot counties. In 1863, the unit became a part of the Army of Tennessee (Confederate) and fought on many battlefields in and around Chattanooga all the way to Atlanta, Georgia in 1864.
The CDS postmark is “CHATTANOOGA - Ten. - OCT 12 (Inverted)” that was applied in North Georgia. (Note: The “inverted” OCT 12 has been reported on another Confederate military mail item of Chattanooga. In another instance, an item has been reported where the “inversion” was corrected at some point during the day.) There was no postage on the envelope, thus the “DUE 10”.
While this remains as the only reported Elections Returns (1863) of Georgia during the Civil War, election returns material of the United States presidential election of 1864 is very plentiful for numerous Union military units of several states.
The 46th Georgia Volunteers Infantry Regiment was formed in the spring of 1862 with men from Upson, Schley, Harris Muscogee, Chattahoochee, Webster, Marion and Talbot counties. In 1863, the unit became a part of the Army of Tennessee (Confederate) and fought on many battlefields in and around Chattanooga all the way to Atlanta, Georgia in 1864.
The CDS postmark is “CHATTANOOGA - Ten. - OCT 12 (Inverted)” that was applied in North Georgia. (Note: The “inverted” OCT 12 has been reported on another Confederate military mail item of Chattanooga. In another instance, an item has been reported where the “inversion” was corrected at some point during the day.) There was no postage on the envelope, thus the “DUE 10”.
While this remains as the only reported Elections Returns (1863) of Georgia during the Civil War, election returns material of the United States presidential election of 1864 is very plentiful for numerous Union military units of several states.
Patriotic Envelopes of Camp George H. Thomas, Lytle, Georgia, Spanish-American War by James C. Cate
2020 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2020 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on February 1 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. James Cate presented his research and collection related to patriotic covers associated with Camp George H. Thomas and Lytle, Georgia during the brief Spanish-American War. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided on this page to "read the story" and view the covers shown during the presentation.
| Patriotic Envelopes of Camp George H. Thomas |
"Absolutely Fireproof" Postal History
2019 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2019 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on January 26 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. Michael Wing presented his research and collection related to hotel advertising covers announcing "Absolutely Fireproof" buildings. A most notable cover in Michael's collection is for the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta that burned in one of the worst hotel fires in history. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided on this page to "read the story" and view the photos and covers shown during the presentation.
2019 Annual Meeting Presentation
The 2019 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on January 26 at the Peachtree Corners, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. Michael Wing presented his research and collection related to hotel advertising covers announcing "Absolutely Fireproof" buildings. A most notable cover in Michael's collection is for the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta that burned in one of the worst hotel fires in history. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided on this page to "read the story" and view the photos and covers shown during the presentation.
| "Absolutely Fireproof" Hotel Advertising Covers |
Camp Thomas - Chickamauga Park - Lytle Ga: Spanish-American War Postal History
2018 Annual Meeting Presentation and Discussion
The 2018 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on January 27 at the Norcross, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. The presentation and discussion at the meeting explored Spanish-American War postal history related to three closely associated areas in Georgia: Camp Thomas, Chickamauga National Park (Battlefield) and Lytle, Ga. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided on this page to "read the story" and view the photos and covers shown during the presentation.
2018 Annual Meeting Presentation and Discussion
The 2018 annual meeting of the Georgia Postal History Society was held on January 27 at the Norcross, Ga., Southeastern Stamp Expo. The presentation and discussion at the meeting explored Spanish-American War postal history related to three closely associated areas in Georgia: Camp Thomas, Chickamauga National Park (Battlefield) and Lytle, Ga. Please open the PowerPoint presentation provided on this page to "read the story" and view the photos and covers shown during the presentation.
| Camp Thomas-Chickamauga Park-Lytle, Ga: Spanish-American War Postal History |