Essays on Sussex County and New Jersey Postal History

Len Peck ~ RURAL FREE DELIVERYWe have illustrated a few such cancellations. It should be noted that not all RFDmail carried cancels of this type. Some carriers purchased or created their own. By July1903, cancellers for new routes were discontinued, although those still in existence wereused for several years thereafter. When cancellers were no longer supplied, an indelibleblue pencil – carried easily in the pocket – was also used into the 1920s. Eventually, nospecial cancels existed or were required for rural free delivery, as the service became anintegral part of almost every post office.In 1913, with the official inauguration of Parcel Post, the Post Office providedservice to the door of packages, while other express companies stopped at the local traindepot. Amongst the Parcel Post stamps issued that year, one (the 4¢) featured the ruralcarrier with his runner, or wagon.Fig. 3: US Parcel post stamp depicting anRFD runner, issued Dec. 12, 1912.Fig. 4: RFD cancel from Lafayette, NJ August 31, 1905.Vol. 36/No. 289NJPHWhole No. 170 May 200869