Unusual RPO Covers

UNUSUAL CANADIAN RPO COVERS Part 3

This web page contains other examples of unusual RPO covers, not related to postage. Return to the first page; OHMS examples.

Registered aboard the RPO, this was likely mailed at the Woodridge, Man. station. The RPO clerk registered it as #1 and used a straight line "From Ft. Fran. & Wpg. Tr. 20 " hammer. Also used was the normal RPO hammer for this run. The back of the cover also shows the WARROAD & DULUTH R.P.O. (US RPO). [ ex-Harrison ] [ FT. FRANCES & W'PEG R.P.O. / No.3, train 20, SP 13 37 ]

This cover had the correct postage for a registered air mail letter but it is unclear what instructions were given the RPO clerks. Perhaps only the printed "AIR"? It was registered on the RPO car with little fanfair - just the encircled "57". Who applied the boxed "AIR MAIL"? Possibly the RPO clerk but more likely the transit post office, which was Winnipeg (transit marks on the back include Winnipeg and Toronto Reg. Div.); Peterborough receiver. [ WPG. & M. JAW R.P.O. / No.4, train 4, AU 28 43 ]

Special Delivery cover processed aboard the RPO. The commercial company would have known and used the correct label and postage but for some reason it was not handled by the town post office. [ WPG. & DEL. R.P.O. / ., Train 123, 14 III 56 (very scarce RPO) ]

This cover shows that the RPO clerk accepted a 1-cent stamp, probably because the cover showed "For the Press" in script and it was addressed to a cleric. In 1897, the rate for normal letters was 3 cents but the rate for "Printed Matter" was 1 cent. This was probably handled correctly. [ SOURIS & WINNIPEG M.C. / No.2, train 122, SP 16 97 ]

This is an example of an unusual "favour" cover. When actually sent through the mail to an address, they are called "philatelic". There are many examples of philatelic RPO covers, often arranged by a small number of collectors. Although this postmark is on an envelope, it was obviously intended as a favour postmark for a collector. [ EMERSON & WINNIPEG R.P.O. / ., train 7, AU 14 38 ]

A humorous item The writer has evidently just taken a job in the CNR ticket office in Regina - he says he has been "moved around so much lately". He sent this personal post card using a stamp with a CNR perfin - no wonder he gets moved around so much! The card was put on the CPR RPO car and was processed there, probably to the amusement of the clerks. [ WINNIPEG & MOOSE JAW R.P.O. / No.10, train 96, MAY 30 11 ]

The largest single game sporting event in Canada is The Grey Cup, the national pro football championship. This card was sent as an entry in a score contest sponsored by the Winnipeg Tribune. The post card rate was 4 cents, so why did the sender add 2 cents? The sender must have known that a post card with something attached to it, like the glued-on score sheet, cost more. He should have paid an additional 1 cent and he likely would have gotten away with no additional on the RPO car, but he over-paid. Did he win? The final score was Edmonton Eskimos 26, Montreal Alouettes 25. [ BRAN. BUL. & REG. R.P.O. / No.2, train 60, NO 24 54 ]

Using an envelope from the Wascana Hotel, Regina, the sender included a Japanese stamp, even though the 4 cents Canadian stamps over-paid the surface rate of 2 cents, unless it was 2 oz. The RPO clerk did not cancel the Japanese stamp, but the letter carrier did.[ W'P'G & M.JAW R.P.O. / No.2, east-bound, JUN 8 08 ]

Registered aboard the RPO, this was likely mailed at the Woodridge, Man. station. The RPO clerk registered it as #1 and used a straight line "From Ft. Fran. & Wpg. Tr. 20 " hammer. Also used was the normal RPO hammer for this run. The back of the cover also shows the WARROAD & DULUTH R.P.O. (US RPO). [ ex-Harrison ] [ FT. FRANCES & W'PEG R.P.O. / No.3, train 20, SP 13 37 ]
This cover had the correct postage for a registered air mail letter but it is unclear what instructions were given the RPO clerks. Perhaps only the printed "AIR"? It was registered on the RPO car with little fanfair - just the encircled "57". Who applied the boxed "AIR MAIL"? Possibly the RPO clerk but more likely the transit post office, which was Winnipeg (transit marks on the back include Winnipeg and Toronto Reg. Div.); Peterborough receiver. [ WPG. & M. JAW R.P.O. / No.4, train 4, AU 28 43 ]
Special Delivery cover processed aboard the RPO. The commercial company would have known and used the correct label and postage but for some reason it was not handled by the town post office. [ WPG. & DEL. R.P.O. / ., Train 123, 14 III 56 (very scarce RPO) ]
This cover shows that the RPO clerk accepted a 1-cent stamp, probably because the cover showed "For the Press" in script and it was addressed to a cleric. In 1897, the rate for normal letters was 3 cents but the rate for "Printed Matter" was 1 cent. This was probably handled correctly. [ SOURIS & WINNIPEG M.C. / No.2, train 122, SP 16 97 ]
This is an example of an unusual "favour" cover. When actually sent through the mail to an address, they are called "philatelic". There are many examples of philatelic RPO covers, often arranged by a small number of collectors. Although this postmark is on an envelope, it was obviously intended as a favour postmark for a collector. [ EMERSON & WINNIPEG R.P.O. / ., train 7, AU 14 38 ]
A humorous item The writer has evidently just taken a job in the CNR ticket office in Regina - he says he has been "moved around so much lately". He sent this personal post card using a stamp with a CNR perfin - no wonder he gets moved around so much! The card was put on the CPR RPO car and was processed there, probably to the amusement of the clerks. [ WINNIPEG & MOOSE JAW R.P.O. / No.10, train 96, MAY 30 11 ]
The largest single game sporting event in Canada is The Grey Cup, the national pro football championship. This card was sent as an entry in a score contest sponsored by the Winnipeg Tribune. The post card rate was 4 cents, so why did the sender add 2 cents? The sender must have known that a post card with something attached to it, like the glued-on score sheet, cost more. He should have paid an additional 1 cent and he likely would have gotten away with no additional on the RPO car, but he over-paid. Did he win? The final score was Edmonton Eskimos 26, Montreal Alouettes 25. [ BRAN. BUL. & REG. R.P.O. / No.2, train 60, NO 24 54 ]
Using an envelope from the Wascana Hotel, Regina, the sender included a Japanese stamp, even though the 4 cents Canadian stamps over-paid the surface rate of 2 cents, unless it was 2 oz. The RPO clerk did not cancel the Japanese stamp, but the letter carrier did.[ W'P'G & M.JAW R.P.O. / No.2, east-bound, JUN 8 08 ]