US Locals - American Letter Mail

Lysander Spooner

 The American Letter Mail Company was started by Lysander Spooner in 1844. He did so to combat the excessive prices of the USPS. 

It cost 18 3/4 cents to send a letter from Boston to New York and 25 cents to send one from Boston to Washington, DC.

This competition dropped prices dramatically with postage of 6 1/4 cents per each half-ounce and stamps 20 for a dollar. Deliveries were made twice daily between New York City and Philadelphia. 

He was challenged by the government but the U.S. Circuit Court expressed doubt that the U.S. had the right to monopolize the transportation of mail.

Congress eventually forced him to cease operations in 1851 by legislating mail delivery as a US monopoly.

Genuine issues

1844 SL1 in sheets of 20

Only on the genuine is the tail squared off  with about 4 distinct feathers

The top of the 2 curls completely into a loop

The top inscription is in serified capitals with extended serif

Trial die proof on India paper 5L1TC

Note, the same scratch through the E as the original

Another trial die proof

Forgeries

Forgery Type A - Hussey

Forgery type B- Scott
Round O's

Forgery Type C - Scott with common cancel

Forgery Type C - Scott 

Forgery Type C - Scott 

Forgery D

Forgery G

Forgery H Moens

Reprints

This issue has a lot of reprints that often show up as being trial colors or originals.

These are reprints from 1933

They can be distinguished by the "rust" spots from the original dies

A full sheet of 1895 reprints

Red color of 1933 reprint

1974 reprints

They are indicated as facsimiles on the reverse side

5L2 & 3 Originals

Forgeries

It appears this issue was not extensively forged or reprinted

Both the above are Scott forgeries

They do not have the names of the designer and engraver at the bottom

Note also the dangling "worm" from the beak

Sources

Scotts US specialized 2014

Moens 1894 Catalog

The Identifier for Locals Fakes and Forgeries Vol 1 - Larry Lyons

Private Local Postage Stamps - Mitchell 1887

Collector's Club online

US Locals - Penny Post various editions

Klaseboer Forgeries Vol 2 CD

Several auction sites