The Private Local Posts of the United States (Volume 1: New York State): A Study of the History of Adhesive Stamps with Their Reprints and Forgeries.

Good+ to Very Good in Good DJ: The Book shows indications of careful use: light wear to extremities; slight cock to the spine; the binding remains secure; the text is clean, but there is a former owner's name at the upper corner of the front free endpaper. Free of any creased or dog-eared pages in the text. Free of any underlining, hi-lighting or marginalia or marks in the text. A moderately used copy, structurally sound and tightly bound, showing some wear and minor, unobtrusive flaws.The DJ shows fairly heavy wear; scant loss to chipping; rubbing at the extremities; just a touch of soiling; the price is intact. Shows some flaws, but remains serviceable. NOT a Remainder, Book-Club, or Ex-Library. 4to. (10 x 8 x 1 inches). xv, 350 pages. Color frontispiece with black & white illustrations throughout. A high-quality slick-paper production. Language: English. Weight: 37.4 ounces. Hardback with DJ. The story of the local posts which operated in New York City at various dates over a period of nearly forty years may be viewed as a struggle between Private Enterprise and Government Monopoly. Finally in 1861, an Act of Congress was required permanently to retire most of the local posts which were then operating. For peculiar reasons two of them survived more than twenty years longer. Occasionally a sporadic post started up and was quickly suppressed. During forty years, 1842 to 1883, over fifty private posts were in operation for longer or shorter period. These posts, and the tangible examples of private enterprise which they issued, have been a source of interest to collectors since the early days of philately. The different shapes and sizes, the wide variety of designs, and the story so many of them tell, or could tell, have fascinated lovers of stamps, and particularly those who enjoy intellectual pursuits and are intrigued by the unusual. The list of designs-some almost whimsical-is long. To gather into one volume so many facts about so many authentic stamps of such peculiar interest has been no small task. And to add detailed descriptions and illustrations of the genuine varieties and also of the forgeries which so often were collected unknowingly in days long gone, has required much patience by a student of unusual ability.…