Postage rates were written or ink-stamped on the folded paper or envelope before the creation and use of the postage stamps. The American Stampless Cover Catalog lists the known types and varieties found by specialists for fellow collectors. It has been nearly 20 years since the catalog's last update, but an online effort has started that process. Click the list at the right or the Word icon to see Rochester's marking entries that will appear in the next catalog. Red numbers below refer to the ASCC listing ID.

1976 stampless cover article

09-16-1816 manuscript mark	10 cts to Batavia, NY 30-80 miles
05-29-1815 1	Free to Albany, NY
07-11-1816 2	37 cts to Albany 2x 150-400 mile rate
11-21-1816 green 4	6 cts to Canandaigua, NY < 30 mile rate
04-25-1817 blue 6	18 3/4 cts to Albany 150-400 mile rate
09-01-1818 ?	50 cts to Philadelphia 2x over 400 mile rate
10-24-1818 ?	12 1/2 cts to New York City --incorrectly rated-- correct should have been 18 3/4 cts 150-400 mile rate
06-12-1820 Rochesterville V1	18 1/2 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
03-19-1822 7	18 1/2 cts to North Blenheim, NY 150-400 mile rate	[cover ex-Mayflower]
05-05-1922 7	6 cts to Canandaigua, NY < 30 mile rate
09-09-1822 7	10 cts to Batavia, NY 30-80 mile rate
11-01-1822 7	10 cts to Auburn, NY 30-80 mile rate	[cover ex-Hahn]
12-26-1822 7	10 cts to Lockport, NY 30-80 mile rate	To Oliver Culver, Esq., Lock Port Rochester 25 Decem 1822 ... I go to Utica I must go soon as my business will be dead shortly that it will be impossible for me to have. Can you as will me from going if not when will you be here ready for extent. So that I may make my calculations accordingly. Thm Lev Young     Roswell Hart     Oliver Culver
03-18-1823 8	12 1/2 cts to Skaneateles, NY 80-150 mile rate
03-xx-1824 9	12 1/2 cts to Clinton, NY 80-150 mile rate
08-25-1825 11	18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
11-05-1825 13	18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate	[cover ex-Hahn]
04-25-1826 12	18 3/4 cts to New York City, NY 150-400 mile rate
07-08-1826 15	18 3/4 cts to Norwich, CT 150-400 mile rate
09-21-1826 16	18 3/4 cts to Albany 150-400 mile rate
09-29-1827 20	12 cts to Kirkland, Canada
No Postmark 10-08-1827	18 3/4 cts to West Point, NY 150-400 mile rate	[cover ex-Hahn]
1828 Postmaster A Reynolds Free Frank	Free to Newtown, NY
04-21-1828 19	6 cts to Wheatland, NY < 30 mile rate	To: Mr P Gambus, Wheatland Rochester April the 20th 1828 Sir, I write this letter to let you know that I want some plaster and wish you to send me a load as soon as possible. Sir your compliance will much oblige me Yours & & William Curry
06-11-1828 19	18 3/4 cts to New York City, NY 150-400 mile rate
06-12-1828 19	6 cts to Caledonia, NY < 30 mile rate
09-12-1828 19	20 cts to Utica, NY 2x 30-80 mile rate
12-16-1828 17	37 cts to Albany, NY 2x 150-400 mile rate	To: Mr L Marcy Esq, Comptroller, Albany Bank of Rochester Dec 13, 1828 I now endorse you a statement of the Tolls recd by us of the month of November last past. I am very respectfully yours sir your mobb-- Jon Shumakom, Cash. [same sender as on the Bank of Monroe letter of 04/19/1833 below]
04-04-1829 23 reversed "NY"	18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
04-09-1829 23 reversed "NY"	18 3/4 cts to Berlin, CT 150-400 mile rate
04-24-1829 24 inverted "Y"	18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
06-18-1829 14? late usage	6 cts to Scottsville, NY < 30 mile rate	To Mr Phillip Gorbet, Scottsville, NY Rochester June 17, 1829 Mr Gorbet, Sir, we want one tun (sic) of Black Plaster to send to Buffalo as soon as it is benevenant as we have some Bays from Buffalo which we want your Load yet when when you send the first Load when should Like soon. (unreadable salutation) T M Mead
06-24-1829 14? late use	20 cts to Oriskany, NY 2x 30-80 mile rate
07-31-1829 20	20 cts to Mt Morris, NY 2x 30-80 mile rate	To: Colo. Wm S Sleeper, Mount Morris, Livingston County, NY Rochester July 28 1829 Colo. W. S. Sleeper Dear Sir, Colo. Jewett informs me that he has succeeded by petition in obtaining an order from the Commander in Chief for a new Division which takes part of the 23rd Division and that the order has been for.d. by the Adjt Genl to Genl Mills, will you do me the favor to send me a copy of the same and verry (sic) much oblige. Your Most Obt. Sevt H Kennedy [Research confirms Colonel Reuben Sleeper was on General Mill's staff in Mt Morris at the time.]
08-07-1829 25 "New-York"	free to Washington, DC
11-03-1829 25 "New-York"	25 cts to Canada
03-29-1830 28	6 cts to Canandaigua, NY < 30 mile rate	[no enclosure writing]
04-02-1830 28	12 cts to Ancaster, (Ontario) Upper Canada
09-20-1832 28 smaller 3.5 mm NY	18 3/4 cts to Hartford, CT 150-400 mile rate
04-19-1833 28	6 cts to Wheatland, NY < 30 mile rate	To Mr P Garball, Wheatland Bank of Monroe Rochester Apl 19 1833 Dear Sir, A note of your made payable at the Bank for $541.10 Dollars was yesterday for payment. Presuming that you had made some error in your calculating + that you did not with it pro-tected. We paid it and the above amount now stands on our Books against you. Jon Shumakom, [same sender as the cashier at the Bank of Rochester letter of 12/15/28 above]
11-29-1833 28 smaller 3.5 mm NY no rim and no date	18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate
01-21-1834 28? blue unreported	cover image unavailable
03-06-1834 31	37 1/2 cts to New York City, NY 2x 150-400 mile rate
04-05-1834 28? no N.Y. gap	18 3/4 cts to Hamilton, NY undercharged 1/4 ct 150-400 mile rate redirected to Oxford, NY
02-27-1836 28? no N.Y. gap	10 cts to Rushford, NY 30-80 mile rate	To Mr Charles Gilmane, Rushford, NY Summary of merchandise orders, oats, butter, etc.
05-11-1838 20	12 cts to Canandaigua, NY 2x < 30 mile rate	To Sheriff of the County of Ontario, Canandaigua, NY Rochester, May 11, 1836 Dear Sir, Enclosed I send Ex. Mr. Humphreys of Victor [unreadable] 19th inst., we expect they will pay at once. Yours, Isaac Mills
05-20-1838 28? no N.Y. gap	37 1/2 cts to Rensselaerville, NY 2x 150-400 mile rate
12-04-1841 28? no N.Y. gap	18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate	To: John A Collier, Esq., Comptroller, Bank Department, Albany Commercial Bank Rochester, December 3 1841 John A Collier, Esq, Comptroller Dr sir, Your circular in relation to the burning of circulating notes returned, has been received. It is my intention to visit Albany in a few weeks, at which time. I intended to see about destroying our notes. If you can defer it until I go down, it would probably be more satisfactory to our board of Directors. If however you cannot defer burning them until that time, If you will write me by return mail. Our board will appoint some person to be present, to whitnefs [sic] their destruction, agreeable to your wishes. Very respectfully your obt servant Thomas H. Rochester Cashier [Thomas Hart Rochester was the son of city namesake Nethaniel Rochester]
10-15-1842 28? no N.Y. gap	18 3/4 cts to Albany, NY 150-400 mile rate	no message on reverse
04-11-1843 28? narrow city/st gap	Free Frank to Albany, NY Samuel George Andrews, Postmaster
09-21-1848 32	35 cts to Utica, NY 7x < 300 mile rate "10" crossed out of cancel
12-06-1848 32	10 cts to New York, NY > 300 mile rate
08-27-1849 32	5 cts to Sarasota Springs, NY < 300 mile prepaid rate 10 cts crossed out on cancel
07-05-1850s 1ct drop rate 37?	1 ct to Rochester, NY drop rate
09-19-1850 32 (round, image distorted)	10 cts to Detroit, MI > 300 miles
01-24-1851 32	5 cts to Lyons, NY < 300 miles
05-20-1851 36	3 cts to Cooperstown, NY circular rate
05-31-1851 32	5 cts to Tonawanda, NY < 300 mile rate	To: Mr A G Kent, Tonawanda, NY Rochester May 31, 1851 Mr A. G. Kent Dear Sir, Your letters of the 24th and 29th have been received. Enclosed you will find fifty dollars ($50), the amount you wrote that you should want for getting up the rafts, etc you are engaged on. We will communicate with you in relation to the Hemlock in a few days. What will probably be the expense for 1000 on Hemlock from Buffalo here. Send a raft of the Canada logs as soon as you possibly can. We hope you will have started one tow before you receive this. We shall, we think, be out of logs today or Monday. Please acknowledge the receipt of this, by return mail and inform us when you can probably get a tow here. Warren and Co.
08-04-1851 34 earlier use than listed	3 cts to Cooperstown, NY circular rate	[ex-Dorr]
09-03-1851 34 earlier use than listed	3 cts to York, NY < 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
04-07-1850s 32	10 cts to Sharon, CT > 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
04-19-1850s 36,"3 above PAID"	3 cts to Philadelphia, PA < 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
09-23-1850s 36,"3 below PAID"	3 cts to Albion, NY < 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
11-04-1851 32	5 cts to New London, CT < 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
01-26-1852 32 month, date reversed	5 cts to York, NY < 300 mile prepaid rate post June 30, 1851
1855 38	1 ct to Newburgh, VT printed circular rate
05-08-1855	10 cts to Canada

08-14-1847
11-28-1850 to Canada
10-29-1850s experimental hand cancel
08-05-1864 patent punch hand cancel
01-09-1860s crown? hand cancel
11-06-1861 scarab hand cancel
06-16-1860s target hand cancel
11-30-1860s target hand cancel over FREE cancel
01-31-1860s wedge wings hand cancel
06-24-1860s leaf hand cancel	4x rate to England
08-03-1860s wedge bloom hand cancel
08-12-1870s half circles hand cancel
04-21-1866 rimmed 4 wedge hand cancel
07-28-1866 4 wedge hand cancel
03-25-1868 6 wedge hand cancel
1860s 8 wedge hand cancel
1860s 8 wedge hand cancel
1870s 8 wedge (thin) hand cancel
10-04-1870s 8 wedge hand cancel
01-06-1869 small date cancel
09-29-1870s R hand cancel	cover to Haiti
11-03-1870s R hand cancel
12-01-1870s R hand cancel
1870s non-dated cancel	wrapper to Baden (Germany)
07-09-1870s star hand cancel
01-18-1875 star hand cancel
07-27-1882 star variety hand cancel
02-24-1880 solid circle with core hand cancel
02-08-1880s clover hand cancel
10-24-1870s? tree hand cancel
10-05-1870s cross hand cancel
10-05-1870s cross hand cancel
05-11-1880s negative X hand cancel
12-20-1882 Leavitt duplex 1 hand cancel
05-03-1887 duplex 1 hand cancel
12-06-1883 Leavitt duplex 2 hand cancel
10-03-1885 duplex 2 hand cancel
05-21-1889 duplex 2 hand cancel
09-18-1880 duplex 35 (inverted) hand cancel
09-19-1952 duplex K hand cancel
05-30-1870s duplex O hand cancel
04-15-1879 duplex R hand cancel
07-31-1870s duplex R sideways hand cancel mixed fonts in the dial
05-23-1879 duplex + hand cancel
07-20-1882 International Machine cancel-small dial
12-11-1894 International Machine cancel
08-31-1896 Barry machine cancel
12-28-1897 Barry machine cancel
02-09-1899 Barry machine cancel
05-00-1901 Barry machine cancel
06-25-1898 American machine flag cancel w/1
10-05-1899 American machine flag cancel
11-28-1900 American machine flag cancel w/2
07-19-1902 International Machine cancel
11-15-1915 Columbia Machine cancel
03-27-2002 Rochester PMPC cancel Priority Mail Processing Center

08-15-1860s CARRIER
02-09-1860 DROP 1 ct
07-21-1860 DROP 1 ct
05-16-1833 FREE		mailed by Frederick Whittlesey, Member of Congress (details)
11-24-1863 FREE		mailed by Freeman Clark, Member of Congress (details)
1860s? POST OFFICE BUSINESS/FREE
09-01-1860s HELD FOR POSTAGE
05-21-1889 MISSENT
07-19-1902 Missent to Rochester, N.Y.
09-17-1903 Missent to ROCHESTER, N.Y.
undated 1920s Received at Rochester, N. Y. P. O. Stuck to another letter.		Received at Rochester, N. Y.                 stamp uncancelled.
06-12-1882 REC'D
02-24-1880 REGISTERED
09-20-01 Registered No......
06-15-05 REGISTERED / STATION A		Rochester registration number 4163, red "R" exchange label applied in New York City. Receiving marks 27602 and 11873 applied in NYC and Munich.
12-14-1907 REGISTERED
08-09-1893 Not in City Directory
01-13-1910 Returned for better address
12-23-1935 RETURN TO WRITER UNCLAIMED
07-09-1870s UNCLAIMED

1860s 2c Blackjack precancel	second cover in the auction listing	auction    description
1870 Type E precancel	1870 Type E precancel	precancel bars in this configuration are unique to Rochester
1910s 1 cent precancel cancelled
1966 4c Lincoln coil precancel Bureau issue, PSS #1303-71	rare precancel

American Express 06-12-1858
American Express 06-05-1865
American Express Mosher AWBX-L15
American Express Mosher AWBX-L20a
American Express 05-03-1852 Mosher AWBX-L20a
1844 Boyd's and Pomeroy's Express Service	Boyd and Pomeroy's Express Service	Redirected from Rochester to New York City by Boyd's and Pomeroy 2x5 cent Pomeroy rate for a double weight letter
Brennan Hand Delivery Service undated cancel using USPS postage
Brennan Hand Delivery Service 05-26-1978
Brennan Hand Delivery Service 06-08-1978
Butterfield, Wasson and Company's Express 03-27-1850
Hoyt's Letter Express 1844 single	stamp details    counterfeits
Hoyt's Letter Express 1844	on piece (note-color may be off, as found on original publication)	piece details
Hoyt's Letter Express 1844 pair with spelling error "Lettcs" on top stamp	usage with Pomeroy and Boyd delivery services	cover details    background
Livingston Wells and Pomeroy's Express 12-31-1844 Mosher LWPX-L unlisted
Rochester Delivery Company

Buell & Brewster insurance company 05-27-1867 2 cent Bank Check
Flour City National Bank 1877 check 2 cent preprinted revenue
Rochester Brewing Company 04-01-1887 50 cent Beer half barrel
Miller and Sons 25 cent Certificate
Raymond's Insurance Office 08-15-1863 5 cent Certificate pair
Rochester Optical Company 04-10-1899 2 cent Documentary
Charles J. Powers Monroe County Clerk 08-17-1869 5 cent Inland Exchange
Rochester Water Works Company 05-01-1869 $1 and 10 cents Inland Exchange
Borst Chemical Manufacturing Company January 1868 proprietary overprint	for Trix Breath perfume
C B Woodworth & Son 1872 private proprietary	description
Dr Craig S M Company 05-29-1882 proprietary overprint
Warner's Safe Cure & Company 1898 3 1/8 cent private proprietary
B H Bacon 10-08-1899 proprietary overprint drug tonics (LeRoy, NY headquarters)
T B Dunn Company 01-03-1899 proprietary overprint breath perfume (mints) click for company details	use on Sen-Sen breath freshener packet
Trix Company 09-24-1898 proprietary overprint breath perfume (mints)
Youthful Tint Manufacturing Company 1899 proprietary overprint
Postal Note

10-21-1911		First experimental airmail in Rochester - Crittenden Park Station cancel
10-21-1911		First experimental airmail in Rochester - Crittenden Park Station cancel
06-01-1928		CAM 20 first flight, Cleveland to Albany, Colonial Western Airways read details here
10-27/28-1928		Outbound zeppelin letter
05-01-1929		CAM 20 first afternoon-evening flight
01-27-1930		CAM 20 first all-night flight, Roessler cover
05-19-1938		for National Air Mail Week, signed by Rochester Postmaster William J. Hunt and U.S. Postmaster General James A. Farley, travelling by pony express and plane read National Air Mail Week details here
05-20-1938
09-19-1948		AM 94 first flight, Robinson Airlines read details here
07-15-1965		first AM 94 jet airmail service, Mohawk Airlines BAC 111 jet
12-01-1966		first flight Rocheter-Toronto, Mohawk Airlines, BAC 111 jet
12-12-1969		first AM 1 flight Rochester-Miami, United Airlines

(Towle reference numbers given when known for trolley/streetcar cancels)

10-28-1896 East Side Trip 10 Towle RO-1-b, RF VI
10-28-1896 West Side Trip 12 Towle RO-2-b, RF VI
10-30-1896 West Side Trip 14 Towle RO-2-b, RF VI
??-09-1897 West Side Trip 3 RO-2-a2
04-06-1897 East Side Trip 8
05-13-1897 West Side Trip 4
06-01-1897 East Side Trip 13
07-30-1897 B RO-4-c, RF III
08-30-1897 East Side Trip 15 RO-1-c, flag B38
11-15-1897 West Side Trip 12 RO-2-a2
03-26-1898 East Side Trip 10 RO-1-c
04-05-1898 West Side Trip 15
04-17-1898 East Side Trip 3
06-27-1898 West Side Trip 4
04-13-1899 B RO-4-a2
04-18-1899 B
07-18-1899 B RO-4-a2
05-01-1900 C
05-29-1900 C
06-12-1900 B RO-4-a1
05-31-1901 C-RO-3-b Inverted C
06-25-1901 C
09-14-1901 B
10-07-1901 C
05-19-1906 B
07-02-1906 B
04-10-1907 B RO-4-c
08-07-1907 B
12-26-1899 Transfer Clerk
12-11-1906 Transfer Clerk
03-16-1908 Transfer Clerk
06-14-1909 Transfer Clerk
10-06-1942 Transfer Office R M S...
09-26-1953 Transfer Office P T S N Y C Sta.
05-09-1899 "Due At" westward train from New York City
10-11-1899 "Due At" westward train from New York City
09-16-1870s "Fast Mail" departed eastward from Rochester
07-11-1870s "Fast Mail" patent cancel departed westward from Rochester
11-23-1949	HPO Trip 1 Syracuse, Oswego, Rochester, signed Syracuse Postmaster
11-23-1949	HPO Trip 1 Syracuse, Oswego, Rochester, signed Oswego Postmaster
11-23-1949	HPO Trip 2 Syracuse, Oswego, Rochester, signed Rochester Postmaster
07-09-1955	HPO Trip 1 Rochester, Williamsport, signed Rochester Postmaster
07-09-1955	HPO Trip 2 Rochester, Williamsport

 

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Event Covers    (back to top)

08-16-1930	Airport Dedication and Air Circus day 1
08-17-1930	Airport Dedication and Air Circus day 2
05-30-1932	Capt. henry Lomb Memorial Dedication
12-31-1932	Postmaster appointment Centennial, new PO construction
04-07-1933	First Beer- Repeal of Prohibition	reverse inscribed Series A1-No. 14
04-22-1933	Progress Exhibition	reverse inscribed A-4
06-05-1933	Post Office dedication
12-31-1932	Wiley Post visit	numbered and stamped James P., Flynn/322 Sawyer St, Rochester, N. Y. on reverse
11-22-1933	Rochester visit of Lowell Thomas.
	Official last day of Central Ave. Post Office	various postmarks and cancels in use last day
01-31-1934	Last day of Central Ave. Post Office
04-02-1934	Post Office dedication (blue cachet)	Rochester Philatelic Association
04-02-1934	Post Office dedication (green cachet)	Rochester Philatelic Association
04-28-1934	Nathaniel Rochester, Centennial Celebration	reverse stamped "Robert Kaplan/Stephen Platania/88 Northland Avenue/Rochester, New York" in large font type
06-09-1934	Centennial of Rochester's first mayoral election, Jonathan Child elected in 1834 R. Geiger, cachet designer	letter about the cover's cachet artist
08-11-1934	Century on Parade Opening Day	reverse stamped "Stephen Platania/88 Northland Avenue/Rochester, New York" in large font type
08-13-1934	Century on Parade official cachet
09-01-1934	Century on Parade tri-colored cachets
09-01-1934	Century on Parade exhibition Rochester Day
09-09-1934	Century on Parade exhibition closing day	numbered and reverse stamped "Stephen Platania/88 Northland Avenue/Rochester, New York" in small font type
09-19-1934	Century on Parade exhibition closing day typo	numbered and reverse stamped "Stephen Platania/88 Northland Avenue/Rochester, New York" in large font type
10-27-1934	Death anniversary of Rochester's first Mayor, Jonathan Child
12-31-1934	Last day of the Rochester centennery celebration	Stephen Platania cachet
12-31-1934	Last day of the Rochester centennery celebration	reverse stamped Robert Kaplan/345 Wilkins Street/Rochester, N. Y.
11-02-1935	Visit of Admiral Byrd to Rochester
02-18-1936	125th Anniversary of Lincoln's stopover
03-21-1938	4th Annual Hobby Show, Rochester Museum, first day	4th Annual Hobby Show, Rochester Museum, first day
03-26-1938	4th Annual Hobby Show, Rochester Museum, last day
05-14-1949	1949 Lilac Festival
07-12-1954		1954 George Eastman First Day Cover with Centennial slogan postmark
05-25-1958	1958 Lilac Festival
05-18-1960	1960 Lilac Festival, RPA stamp exhibition there 05/21-22
08-29-1976	1976 N.Y. Bicentennial Barge visits Rochester 08/27-29

 

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Patriotics    (back to top)

04-22-1857
Rochester city view
Death to Traitors
06-18-1861 to Switzerland
04-30-1862
10-30-1898 Spanish American War depicting the White Squadron

 

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Rarities    (back to top)

08-25-1847	Auction Lot Write-up	Triple half-ounce rate using both 5 ct and 10 ct U.S. first issues. Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegler Auction Galleries.
05-04-1851	Auction Lot Write-up	Combined use of first issues of both the U.S. (5 cents Franklin) and Canada (3 pence Beaver). Image courtesy of Robert A. Siegler Auction Galleries.
07-16-1864		One of 5 recorded strips of 4 of the 24 cent Washington issue, paying 4x the standard rate US-Scotland, docketed "Per Steamer Boston to Liverpool 20 July 1864"

 

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Finds    (back to top)

Scott 498g block	initial 2006 and 2020 auction listings	Perf 10 horizontal, Perf 11 vertical block. Found by workers at Andy Hale Stamp & Coin on Monroe Avenue.
Scott 2483 bluebird early release	cover	EKU released 2 days early at a Fairport, NY post office.
Scott 4267 missing color error	normal stamp	APEX certificate and Linn's articles. Found by George Mathis of Greece, NY.
Scott 5207-5310		Misperf "There be Dragons" sheets bought by member Larry Rausch at the Post Office booth while attending StampShow in Columbus, OH in 2018. He removed one stamp to mail a postcard home when he realized what he had.

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