These stamps are easily recognized by any US collector and attracted the attention of several forgers of the 15 or so genuine listed in the Scott Specialized, there are upwards of 100 different forgeries so, caveat emptor.
This was the largest city delivery company in Philadelphia, and from its litigation with the U. S. Government, it became one of the best known in the United States.
The suit brought by the Government against Blood's was for violation of the Act of Congress which forbade the transportation of mail matter on post roads except by the USPO Department; which Act further declared that all public highways were post roads within the meaning of the law.
This construction was sustained by the Federal Courts, and the blow was thus struck at the local despatch posts throughout the country.
The Striding Messenger
The first striding messenger stamp was issued by Robertson & Co. who initialed the stamps "R&CO." shown right with a Red 3 typical cancel.
The first striding messenger stamp was issued by Robertson & Co. who initialed the stamps "R&CO." shown right with a Red 3 typical cancel.
The general design is supposed to represent Blood & Co's messenger stepping over the Philadelphia Merchants Exchange (the large building in the centre with a cupola) in the basement of which Blood's office was located at that time.
The building was apparently also the location of the Government Post Office.
The company was formed by Daniel Otis Blood and Walter H. Blood in 1845.
The Striding Messenger was not unique to Blood's
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| Hardens Express used the messenger for envelopes & ads |
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| Hartford mail 80L1 stamp from auction (rare) |
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| Harden Label |
Striding Messenger Types
There are 3 types Sc 15L4-6
There are 3 types Sc 15L4-6
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| 15L4 Initialed Dob & Cos" or "D.O.B. & Co." |
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| 15L5 |
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| 15L6 |
Forgeries
All the US locals abound with forgeries and bogus issues probably more than any other country. This is in part due to the Federal Government having little interest in regulating locals. The following examples are the more commons, many varieties and rare forgeries exist.
15L4 Forgeries
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| Type A |
- The word "DESPATCH" is spelled with an "I".
- There are three oblique lines above the "CI" of "CITY".
- The right upper serif on the right arm of the "Y" in "CITY" touches the tip of the messenger's nose.
- There are two birds to the right of the weather vane that look like an "L" and a "V".
- The "TC" in "DISPATCH" is joined at the top.
- The letters of "PAID" are filled solid black.
- The letters "LEDO" are missing at the top of the lightly shaded background building.
- The word "SUN" is missing below the lower windows on the building located in the lower right corner.
- The inscription on the building at the left is illegible
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| Type C - "Moens" |
- The right upper serif of the "Y" in "CITY" is detached from the arm and is touching the tip of the messenger's nose.
- "DESPATCH" is spelled with an "I".
- There are large white open space above the messenger.
- The "H" in "DISPATCH" resembles an "A".
- The foot of the "T" of "POST" is curves downwards.
- The inscription on the building at the left has the first line illegible.
- There is a shadow of the messenger's foot on the roof.
- The background buildings are very faint
- The word "SUN" is missing below the lower windows on the building located in the lower right corner
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| Type D |
- There are three oblique lines and a dot to the left of the "CIT" of "CITY".
- The right upper serif on the right arm of the "Y" of "CITY" touches the tip of the messenger's nose.
- "DESPATCH" is spelled with an "I".
- There are three horizontal lines and a dot above the "SPA" of "DISPATCH" of which the top line is broken.
- There are five short oblique lines below the "SPA" of "DISPATCH".
- There is a shadow of the messenger's foot on the roof.
- There is one line inside the upper part of the "D" of "PAID".
- There is one line between the "ID" of "PAID".
- There are two birds to the right of the weather vane that are look like an "L" and a slightly wavy line.
- The word "SUN" appears below the lower windows on the building located in the lower right corner unlike Type A & C.
- The letters "LEDG" are visible at the top of the building under the messenger's knee.
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| Type E |
- The right arm of the "Y" of "CITY" is bent and its end touches the tip of the messenger's nose.
- There are two lines inside the top of the "D" of "PAID".
- The "S" in "DISPATCH" is too big at the bottom.
- There is an illegible inscription below the bottom border
- There is a shadow of the messenger's foot on the roof.
- There are two bird's to the right of the weather vane that are represented by a short wavy line and an "L" with a dash.
- The word "SUN" is missing below the lower windows on the building located in the lower right corner.
- The letters "LEDG" are missing at the top of the building under the messenger's knee.
15L5 Forgeries
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| Type A |
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| Type B |
- There are two slightly curving dotted lines to the left of the "C" in "CITY".
- The right upper serif on the right arm of the "Y" in "CITY" touches the bridge of the messenger's nose.
- "DESPATCH" is spelled with an "I" instead of an "E".
- There are no shade lines on the "PAID" card.
- There is no shadow of the messenger's foot on the roof.
- The letters "LEDG" are missing at the top of the building under the messenger's knee.
- There are three short dotted lines above the "SP" of "DISPATCH".
- There are 4-5 angled lines above "POST" with two of the lines crossing onto the "T" of "POST".
- There are two birds to the right of the weather vane made like "V"s.
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| Type D |
- The top serif of the right arm of the "Y" in "CITY" touches the messenger's nose.
- There is a piece broken out of the right arm of the "Y" and there is a black dot below the tip of the nose.
- The "OD" of "BLOOD" is resting on the mail bag.
- There are five short oblique lines below "DISPATCH".
- There is a period under the "S" in "COS".
- The background shading consists of horizontal lines without cross hatching
- There is only one bird to the right of the weather vane
- The letters "LEDG" are visible at the top of the building under the messenger's knee.
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| Type E |
- The "P" in "DISPATCH" is joined to the "A" by a long foot stroke.
- There are 5-6 dotted slightly curved lines below the chin. There are patches of heavy dark shading on the collar and lapels.
- There are three lines in the loop of the "D" of "PAID".
- There is oblique cross hatching below the "D" of "PAID".
- There are two birds to the right of the weather vane that look like an "L" and a "V".
- There is a shadow of the messenger's foot on the roof.
- The word "SUN" is missing below the lower windows on the building in the lower right corner.
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| Type H |
- The top letters are very thin
- The ampersand looks like an 8
- There are 7 dots below the "PATCH" of "DISPATCH".
- The "Y" in "CITY" is far away from the messenger's nose.
- There are no lines inside the "D" of "PAID" and under "POST".
- The cross bar of the "A" in "PAID" is not connected to the uprights.
- The "S" in "COS." has a large bottom serif that points up.
- The house under the messenger's knee of the rear leg has only one chimney.
- There is no inscription on the building at the left side.
- "D.O. BLOOD & COS." is on an unshaded background.
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| Type F Taylor Forgery |
- There is a bird touching the lower coat tails
- The shaft of the weather vane does not extend above the vane
- There is no inscription on the building at the left.
- The periods after "D" and "O" in "D.O. BLOOD" are square.
- The house under the messenger's rear leg is unshaded in the chimney and the upper right side of the house.
- The background shading is heavy
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| Taylor Bogus Color Varieties |
15L6 Forgeries
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| Type A |
- There is no period below the "S" of "COS".
- The small letters SP in "DISPATCH" are taller than the others
- The "D" in "DESPATCH" does not touch the corner of "PAID"
- Part of the "A" in "DESPATCH" is behind the messenger's leg.
- The messenger's right arm does not appear over the top of the card.
- The toe of the front foot is upturned There is no ball on the shaft of the weather vane.
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| Type C |
- There is no period under the "S" in "COS".
- Most of the "A" in "DESPATCH" is behind the messenger's leg.
- Overall the printing is very coarse and heavily shaded
- The small letters in "DISPATCH" are uneven
- The letters in "DESPATCH" are larger than the original
- There is no ball on the shaft of the weather vane.
- There is heavy, almost solid, shading on the roof of the building at the upper right of the Merchant's Exchange Building.
- The toe of the front foot points toward the bottom of the "I" in "CITY"
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| Type D |
- There is no period under the "S" in "COS".
- The "S" of "DESPATCH" is much wider than the original
- There is a long serif on the foot of the small "P" in "DISPATCH".
- The shading below the messenger consists of horizontal dotted lines.
- The branches of the "Y" in the large "CITY" extend out further
- There is no ball on the shaft of the weather vane.
- There is no shadow of the rear foot on the roof
- Part of the "A" in "DESPATCH" lies behind the messenger's leg.
- The "D" in "DESPATCH" does not touch the lower corner of "PAID".
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| Type E |
- There are three short lines below the "SP" in "DISPATCH".
- There is no period under the "S" in "COS".
- There is no ball on the shaft of the weather vane.
- The roofs of the buildings are cross-hatched.
- Part of the "A" in "DESPATCH" lies behind the messenger's leg.
- The "D" in "DESPATCH" does not touch the lower corner of "PAID".
- The toe of the front foot points toward the bottom of the "T" in "CITY".
- The "P" in "DESPATCH" touches the knee
- There are lines of shading under the front leg
- There is a narrow shadow of the rear foot on the roof.
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| Type F |
- This forgery has the same features as Type E except for :
- Under the front leg there are no lines of shading.
- Left of the weather vane there are no lines of shading.
- Overall the shading lines are heavier
Overall very well executed but none match any forgeries or originals.
Reprints
Except for a few mid 1950's philatelic events there are no reprints
The other Blood issues will be covered in a later update
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