99 - New Jersey Postal History Society

In July 1875 the rate to Africa's west coast, via England, was reduced to 15t. Thisis seen on the second cover which was mailed at Trentop, now the residence of thecleric's family, 1 February 1878. According to the docketing on the reverse it wasreceived 21 May. The good doctor must have been inland to account for the almostfour months between sending and receiving. The Paris and Gabon markings indicate theusual timing. The docketing also notes "from Father & Willy," again two letters inone envelope for single postage. The father writes of his mother's death, of copyinghis son's "History of the Benita Church" and depositing "the document next week inthe keeping of the Pres. Hist. Soc.", followed by some of the legal actions taken concerningthe disposition of properties and income after his mother's death."Willy's" letter is from Willie Latta Nassau one of the Rev. Nassau's sons. Heopens his letter writing of his Great-Grandma's funeral. This must have just beforeChristmas since he, and his brother Charlie, went to Cousin Kate in Philadelphia fora week. On Christmas Eve Kate took them to look at the "holiday dress of the windows"of the stores on Chestnut Street. Later in the evening she took Willie to "Wanamakerslarge store...just to see the crowd." Illumination was from "hundreds of little gasjets." His Christmas gift was a "Bracket Saw" turned by a treadle along with a drillattachment; all to be used on wood 1/16 to 1/4 inch thick. They went to the Centennialgrounds where the main building was now a permanent exhibition. They came home on a"dummy" (cable car) now running on Market Street. He returned to Wanamakers to buygifts for his grandparents, aunt and cousins. Grandpa got a Harpers Half Hour Seriesentitled, "Peter the Great." He and Charlie went to the docks to watch a steamer unload.Just after New Years it got cold enough to go ice skating. This is a very interestingletter describing some holiday season activities in the Trenton-Philadelphiaarea over one hundred years ago.The next cover is only paid 13t. No effort was made to collect the 2' deficit andthe United States absorbed the loss. It credited England with 50 centimes (10t) andonly retained 3t instead of 5t. It is postmarked 27 June (1878) at Trenton, early Julyin London and 11 September in Gabon but docketed as being received 27 October; exactlyfour months after being sent. It, too, is docketed as having contained a letter from"Willy" but unfortunately the enclosure is no longer there.This article has shown only three representative covers from the New Jersey-CoriscoNJPHSeptember 1992 117