Recalling pleasant things and taking the time to dwell on them.
The Jim Petersen Postal Cover Collection.
My good buddy, fellow Iowa historian, and postal cover collector – Jim Petersen is president of the Iowa Postal History Society (IPHS). He grew up in the Waterloo & Cedar Falls area, is a 1976 graduate from the UI School of Pharmacy, and is a retired pharmacist – now living in Santa Fe, NM. Jim has a large collection of postal covers from across Iowa, and he has graciously agreed to share a few that have historical significance to Iowa City and Johnson County. Below – you will find those covers that we have included on our pages of Our Iowa Heritage. Thanks Jim!
(JP-001)1853 stamp-less cover – Iowa City to Lancaster (Keokuk County), IA – Read more here.(JP-002)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III Earliest KnownUse: September 14, 1857 – postmarked May 1, 1861 –Read more here.(JP-003)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III Earliest KnownUse: September 14, 1857 – Postmarked May 13, 1861 – Read more here.(JP-004)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III Earliest KnownUse: September 14, 1857 – Postmarked July 27, 1861 – Read more here.(JP-005) U.S. #63 Series of 1861-62 1¢ Franklin Earliest Known Use: August 17, 1861–Postmarked Feb 15 1860? – yet the stamp wasn’t released until 1861? – Read more here.(JP-006) U.S. #68 Series of 1861-6210¢ Washington – Earliest Known Use: August 20, 1861 – Postmarked August 28, 1861.Read more here.
(JP-007) U.S. #213 – Series of 1887 2¢ Washington First Day of Issue: September 10, 1887 Postmarked – April 8, 1889 in Iowa City. (JP-008) U.S. #212 Series of 1887 1¢ Franklin. Issued: June, 1887 Postmarked May 24, 1890 in Iowa City.Read more here.
(JP-008) U.S. #65 Series of 1861-62 3¢ Washington – Earliest Known Use: August 18, 1861 –Postmarked November 2, between 1868-1870 – when President Black was in office – in Iowa City, Iowa.Read more here.(JP-009)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III Earliest KnownUse: September 14, 1857 – Postmarked November 5, 1860’s – Read more here.(JP-010) U.S. #65 Series of 1861-62 3¢ Washington – Earliest Known Use: May 20, 1861 –Postmarked January 21, 1865 in Iowa City, Iowa.Read more here.
(JP-011a-d)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III Earliest KnownUse: September 14, 1857 – Postmarked June/July 1861 in Iowa City & Johnson County, Iowa – Read more here.
(JP-012a-c) U.S. #65 Series of 1861-62 3¢ Washington – Earliest Known Use: August 18, 1861 –Postmarked May/Sept 1861 in Iowa City, Iowa.Read more here.
(JP-012d-i) More Civil War covers postmarked between 1862 – 1865 in Iowa City, Iowa.Read more here.
(JP-012j-k) Two additional Civil War covers postmarked 1863/1865 in Sioux City, Iowa & Nashville, Tennessee.Read more here.
(JP-013a-013b)Two rare CDV cards – circa 1865 – that come from the studios of Iowa City photographers Isaac Wetherby and John (J.T.) Calkin, and include U.S. Revenue stamps –U.S. #R5 and U.S. #R15 – issued during the 1860’s to help raise funds for the Civil War.Read more here.
(JP-014a) U.S. #65 Series of 1861-62 3¢ Washington – Earliest Known Use: August 18, 1861 – Postmarked July 9, 1866 in Des Moines.Read more here.(JP-014b) 1884 Postal Cover U.S. #U231 Embossed Envelope 2¢ Washington Postmarked July 30, 1884 in Iowa City.Read more here.
(JP-015)1900 Postal Cover & LetterU.S. #267 1895 2¢ Washington Type IIIEarliest Known Use: May, 1895. Postmarked November 12, 1900 in Iowa City.Read more here.
(JP-016)1843 stamp-less cover & letter – Iowa City to Salisbury (Merrimack County), NH – Read more here.(JP-017)1923 Postal Cover U.S. #U429 Embossed Envelope 2¢ Washington Postmarked August 2, 1923 in Iowa City.Read more here.(JP-018a)1846 stamp-less cover & letter – Iowa City to Parkhurst – Scott County – Iowa – April 13, 1846 – Read more here.(JP-018b)1846 stamp-less cover & letter – Knoxville, Iowa to Iowa City – Postmarked October 31, 1846 – Read more here.
(JP-019-A, JP-019-B)Two 1849 stamp-less covers & letters – Iowa City to Dubuque, Iowa – Letter A: dated June 14, 1849, postmarked June 15, 1849 & Letter B: dated September 18, 1849, postmarked September 19, 1849 – Read more here.
(JP-020) U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III Earliest KnownUse: September 14, 1857 – Postmarked on the Dubuque & Pacific Railroad in July/August between 1858 -1861 – mailed in Waterloo – headed for Dubuque & Fort Madison – Read more here.
(JP-021)U.S. #319 1903 2¢ George Washington Issue Date: November 12, 1903 Postmarked November 8, 1907. Read more here.
(JP-022)1887 Postal Cover U.S. #206 1¢ Franklin. Issued: November 2, 1881 Postmarked March 31, 1887 in Iowa City. Read more here.
(JP-023)U.S. #210 1883 2¢ Washington Earliest Known Use: October 1, 1883 – Postmarked April 2, 1884 in Iowa City. Read more here.
(JP-024)U.S. #210 1883 2¢ Washington Earliest Known Use: October 1, 1883 – Postmarked December 28, 1885 in Iowa City. Read more here.
(JP-025)U.S. #U73 1880’s 4¢ Jackson – Embossed & U.S. #235 – 6¢Columbian Expedition 1893 – Postmarked October 6, 1897 in Iowa City. Read more here.
(JP-026)U.S. #71 Series of 1861-62 30c Franklin – Earliest known use – August 20, 1861 –Postmarked June 7, 1862 in Iowa City. Read more here.
(JP-027)U.S. #3001903 1¢ Franklin – Postmarked September 28, 1908. Read more here.
(JP-028)U.S. #3001903 1¢ Franklin – Postmarked May 26, 1908.Read more here.
(JP-029)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III Earliest KnownUse: September 14, 1857 – Both letters are postmarked in Iowa City – Circa 1857 – Read more here.
(JP-030a & JP-030b)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III Earliest KnownUse: September 14, 1857 – Both letters are postmarked in Iowa City – Circa 1857 – Read more here.
(JP-031)1855 stamp-less cover & circular letter – Iowa City to Hastings (Barry County), Michigan – Read more here.
(JP-032a & b)1842 stamp-less covers & letters – Postmarked in Iowa City on January 2, 1842 to Beverly, Mass – Read more here.
(JP-033) U.S. #406 2¢ Washington – Postmarked in Iowa City, Iowa – June 9, 1915– Read more here.(JP-034a)1851 stamp-less cover – Iowa City to Washington, Iowa – Postmarked in Iowa City on March 5, 1851– Read more here.(JP-034b)U.S. #11ASeries of 1851-57 3¢ WashingtonType IIEarliest Known Use: October 6, 1851 Postmarked in Iowa City on July 20, 1853– Read more here.(JP-034c)1862 stamp-less cover – Washington DC to Algona, Iowa – Postmarked on April 8, 1862– Read more here.
(JP-035)1843 stamp-less cover – Iowa City to Waynesburg (Greene County), PA – Read more here.
(JP-036a & JP-036b) 1898 Postal Cover – U.S. #267 1895 2¢ Washington Type III and 1899 Postal Cover – U.S. #286 1898 2¢ Trans-Mississippi Exposition: Farming in the West – both postmarked in Kalona, IowaRead more here.
(JP-037a)1845 stamp-less cover – Iowa City to Defiance (Defiance County), Ohio – Read more here.
(JP-037b)1846 stamp-less cover – Iowa City to Defiance, Ohio – Read more here.
(JP-038)1900 Postal Cover & Letter – U.S. #267 1895 2¢ Washington Type III Earliest Known Use: May, 1895. Postmarked October 5, 1900 in Iowa City. – Read more here.
(JP-039) Two Civil War-era Letters – March 21 & April 5, 1865 from Captain A.B. Cree – stationed in Morehead City, NC to his wife in Iowa City. – Read more here.
(JP-040)1850 stamp-less cover – Iowa City to Hartford, Connecticut – Read more here.
(JP-041)1847 stamp-less cover – Iowa City to New York City – Read more here.
(JP-042)1885 Postal Cover U.S. #U279 Embossed Envelope 2¢ Washington Postmarked August 28, 1885 in Iowa City– Read more here.(JP-043)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III – Postmarked September 19, 1857 in Iowa City –Read more here.(JP-044)U.S. #210 1883 2¢ Washington Earliest Known Use: October 1, 1883 – Postmarked October 3, 1884 in Iowa City. Read more here.
(JP-045)1883 Postal Cover w/ U.S. #U84 3¢Washington Embossed & U.S. #206 1¢ Franklin.Postmarked January 20, 1883 in Amish, Iowa. Read more here.
(JP-045a) This rare postal cover comes from Jim Petersen’s friend – Bill Dall in Dubuque –1881 Postal Cover w/ U.S. #U163 3¢Washington Embossed & U.S. #187 10¢ Jefferson.Postmarked April 23, 1881 in Amish, Iowa. Read more here.(JP-046) 1842 stamp-less cover & letter – Iowa City to Berlin – Scott County – Iowa – January 30, 1842 –Read more here.(JP-047) 1848 stamp-less cover & letter – Iowa City to Defiance, Ohio – Postmarked January 1, 1849 –Read more here.(JP-048a) 1839 stamp-less cover & letter – Burlington, Iowa to Pompey (Watervale Post Office) in Onandaga County, New York – Postmarked October 24, 1839 –Read more here.(JP-048b) 1850 stamp-less cover & letter – Iowa City to Burlington, Iowa – Postmarked October 2, 1850 –Read more here.(JP-048c) 1849 stamp-less cover & letter – Ottumwa, Iowa to Iowa City – Postmarked May 28, 1849 –Read more here.
(JP-049a/b) U.S. #65 Series of 1861-62 3¢ Washington – Earliest Known Use: August 18, 1861 –Postmarked (dates uncertain) in Amish, Iowa Johnson County.Read more here.
(JP-049c) U.S. #65 Series of 1861-62 3¢ Washington – Earliest Known Use: August 18, 1861 – Postmarked (February 11 – year uncertain) in Bon Accord, Iowa – Johnson County.Read more here.(JP-049d)Circa 1860’s stamp-less cover & letter – Johnson County, Iowa to Grantsville Pennsylvania – Read more here.(JP-050) U.S. #65 Series of 1861-62 3¢ Washington – Earliest Known Use: August 18, 1861 –Postmarked on May 4, 1864 in Iowa City.Read more here.(JP-051a) 1842 stamp-less cover & letter – Iowa City to Lockport, Illinois – Postmarked February 16, 1842 –Read more here.(JP-051b) #U2 – Series of 1853-55 3¢ Washington. Postmarked March 16, 1861 in Montgomery, Alabama to Davenport, Iowa –Read more here.(JP-052a) 1847 stamp-less cover & letter – Marion, Iowa to Jackson County – Postmarked April 27, 1847 –Read more here.(JP-052b) 1847 stamp-less cover & letter – Andrew, Iowa to Iowa City – Postmarked July 20, 1847 –Read more here.
(JP-053) 1840 stamp-less cover & letter – mailed from along the existing Bloomington/Napoleon Trail to Iowa City with no postmark but marked ‘Free’ –Read more here.
(JP-054) 1841 stamp-less cover & letter – Bloomington to Dubuque – Postmarked February 19, 1841 –Read more here.
(JP-055) 1849 stamp-less cover & letter – Red Rock, Marion County, Iowa to Iowa City – “Free” government-related – mailed December 29, 1849 –Read more here.
(JP-056) 1839 stamp-less cover & letter – West Point, Lee County, Iowa to Burlington, Iowa – “Free” government-related with no postage markings – probably hand-delivered to the Governor in September 1839 –Read more here.
(JP-057) 1840 stamp-less cover & letter – Montrose, Lee County, Iowa to Burlington, Iowa – Marked February 12, 1840 –Read more here.
(JP-058) 1851 stamp-less cover & letter – postmarked on July 29, 1851 in Garnavello in Clayton County, Iowa to Honorable G. Folsom, Iowa City, Iowa. Read more here. (JP-059) 1839 stamp-less cover & letter – Lafayette, Indiana to Burlington, Iowa – Postmarked January 12, 1839 –Read more here.
(JP-060) 1833 stamp-less cover & letter – Piketon, Ohio to Columbus, Ohio – Postmarked in Portsmouth, Ohio on August 23, 1833 –Read more here.
(JP-061)#300 1¢ Washington Postmarked May 6, 1905 in Iowa City, IA. – Read more here.
(JP-062)#406 2¢ Washington Postmarked December 9, 1915 in Iowa City, IA. –Read more here.
(JP-063a)Circa 1850’s – stamp-less cover & letter – Iowa City to Winchendon – Worcester County, Massachusetts – Postmarked on January 16 –Read more here.(JP-063b)1852 stamp-less cover & letter – Iowa City to South Berrick – York County, Maine – Postmarked on March 16, 1852 –Read more here.
(JP-064)1875 – #UX1 Postal Card – Iowa City to Des Moines, Iowa – Postmarked November 13, 1875Read more here.
(JP-065)1845 stamp-less cover & letter – Bloomington, Iowa to Iowa City – Postmarked on December 8, 1845 –Read more here.(JP-066)1849 stamp-less cover & letter – Birmingham – Van Buren County, Iowa to Iowa City – written on February 7, 1849 – Read more here.(JP-067)1841 stamp-less cover & letter – Dubuque to Burlington – postmarked January 23, 1841 – Read more here.(JP-068)1844 stamp-less cover & letter – Fort Madison to Iowa City – postmarked January 20, 1844 – Read more here.(JP-069)1846 stamp-less cover & letter – Bloomfield (Davis County) to Iowa City – postmarked January 4, 1846 – Read more here.(JP-070a)1854 stamp-less cover & letter – Washington D.C. to Iowa City – Free U.S. Mail – written December 30, 1854, hand-delivered January 1855. (JP-070b)1858 stamp-less cover & letter – Dubuque to Iowa City – Free U.S. Mail – postmarked July 21, 1858 – Read more here.(JP-071) U.S. #UX4 1875 1¢ Liberty Postal card – Postmarked January 13, 1876 in Iowa City.Read more here.(JP-072a) 1839 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked June 27, 1839 in Burlington.Read more here.(JP-072b) 1840 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked June 2, 1840 in Bloomington.Read more here.(JP-072c) 1850 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked July 18, 1850 in Burlington.Read more here.(JP-072d) 1853 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked July 17, 1853 in Burlington.Read more here.(JP-073)U.S. #11ASeries of 1851-57 3¢ WashingtonType IIEarliest Known Use: October 6, 1851 Postmarked in Oskaloosa, Iowa on August 8, 1853 – using “Free” governmental postage, and then forwarded from Iowa City to Dubuque on August 12, 1853 using U.S. #11A stamp– Read more here.
(JP-074a & JP-074b)Two 1862 letters – no postal covers – from Iowa Civil War soldiers to Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood (June 23, 1862) & U.S. Senator James Harlan (July 26, 1862). Read more here.
(JP-075)U.S. #11ASeries of 1851-57 3¢ WashingtonType IIEarliest Known Use: October 6, 1851 Postmarked in Iowa City, Iowa on June 16, 1856– Read more here.(JP-076) 1849 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked March 23, 1849 in Iowa City.Read more here.(JP-077) 1841 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked May 8, 1841 in Burlington.Read more here.(JP-078) 1846 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked September 29, 1846 in Bloomington, Iowa.Read more here.(JP-079) 1848 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked January 10, 1848 in Iowa City, Iowa.Read more here.(JP-080) 1849 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked December 14, 1849 in Lancaster in Keokuk County, Iowa.Read more here.(JP-081) 1848 stamp-less cover & letter – Postmarked November 22, 1848 in Ft. Madison in Lee County, Iowa.Read more here.
(JP-082) 1856 stamp-less cover & letter – No postage paid from Tama, Iowa since the letter was governmental business, but postmarked when received in Iowa City on May 21, 1856.Read more here.
(JP-083)1878 Postal Cover U.S. #147 3¢ Washington. Issued: March 1, 1870 Postmarked November 16, 1878 in Coralville, Iowa. Read more here.(JP-084)1942 Postal Cover U.S. #899 1¢ Statue of Liberty National Defense Series– postmarked in Iowa City on December 10, 1942 at the Navy Pre-Flight School Postal Station. Read more here.(JP-085)1841 stamp-less cover & letter – postmarked in Dubuque, Iowa on November 28, 1841.Read more here.(JP-086)1842 stamp-less cover & letter – postmarked in Burlington, Iowa on January 28, 1842. Read more here.(JP-087) 1941 Postal Cover U.S. #C24 1939 30¢ Trans-Atlantic Airmail and U.S. #8201938 Presidential Series – 15¢ Buchananpostmarked in Iowa City on May 31, 1941 – held during WWII since addressed to Berlin, Germany, and returned to sender in 1946.Read more here.(JP-088a)1860 stamp-less cover – Postmarked May 24 – Circa 1860 in Hopkinton, Iowa.Read more here.(JP-089) 1838 stamp-less cover & letter postmarked in Burlington, Wisconsin Territory on February 23, 1838. Read more here.
(JP-090) Civil War re-enlistment papers for Corporal Richard L. Hoxie, December 4, 1863.Read more here.
(JP-091)U.S. #11ASeries of 1851-57 3¢ WashingtonType IIEarliest Known Use: October 6, 1851 Postmarked in Muscatine, Iowa on November 10, 1851.Read more here.
(JP-092) U.S. #U311 1890’s 2¢ WashingtonEmbossed Envelope (White)postmarked on July 10, 1892 in Columbus, Texas & on July 14, 1892 in Masonville, Iowa. Read more here.(JP-093) A World War II “free” postal cover for servicemen, postmarked at APO in New York City on December 5, 1944. Note that the writer – Corporal Raymond Barrier – is writing from the battlefront in Europe and, as it was during the war, letters were “censored” meaning they were opened and read, making certain no valuable, war-related information was being passed on – in this case to Professor A. Craig Baird in Iowa City.Read more here.(JP-094) U.S. #65 Series of 1861-62 3¢ Washington – Earliest Known Use: August 18, 1861 –Postmarked August 4, 1865 when George W. McCleary was mayor of Iowa City, Iowa.Read more here.
(JP-095)1839 stamp-less cover & letter – Burlington to St. Louis, Missouri – Letter dated January 12, 1839 – Read more here.
(JP-96a)1845 stamp-less cover & letter postmarked in Crooked Creek (Henry County) Iowa Territory on February 26, 1845. Read more here.(JP-096b)1854 stamp-less cover & letter – Marshall, Iowa (Henry County) to Iowa City – Letter dated December 30, 1854 – Read more here.(JP-097)U.S. #331 1908 1¢ Franklin – Morse – Graham Township – A rare postal card postmarked in Morse on November 18, 1905.Read more here.(JP-098)U.S. #300 1903 1¢ Franklin – Oasis – Graham Township – A rare postal card postmarked in Oasis on May 22, 1908.Read more here.(JP-099)U.S. #Q1 1913 Parcel Post – Shueyville – Jefferson Township – A rare postal card postmarked in Shueyville on October 12, 1914.Read more here.(JP-100)U.S. #266 1895 2¢ Washington –Gregg – Monroe Township – A rare postal cover postmarked in Gregg on November 9, 1898.Read more here.(JP-101)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III – A rare postal cover postmarked in Oxford, Iowa in the early 1860’s.Read more here.
(JP-101a & JP-101b)U.S. #65 Series of 1861-62 3¢ Washington – Nemora – Oxford Township – Two rare postal covers postmarked in Nemora, Iowa in the mid-late 1860’s.Read more here.
(JP-102)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III – Carthage – Scott Township – A rare postal cover postmarked in Carthage, Iowa in the late 1850’s or early 1860’s.Read more here.
(JP-103a & JP-103b)U.S. #184 Series of 1879 3¢ Washington and U.S. #UX8 1885 1¢ Jefferson – Postal CardSharon Center – Sharon Township – Two rare postal items – a postal cover and a postcard postmarked in Sharon Center, Iowa in the 1880’s.Read more here.
(JP-104a)1852 stamp-less cover & letter – postmarked in Canton, Iowa on January 7, 1852– Read more here.(JP-104b)U.S. #11ASeries of 1851-57 3¢ WashingtonType IIEarliest Known Use: October 6, 1851 Postmarked in Iowa City, Iowa on April 18, 1854– Read more here.(JP-0105) Emil L. Boerner’s first Pharmacy license issued on July 7, 1887.Read more here.
(JP-0106) A one-page postal letter – dated September 25, 1843, and hand-delivered that same day to the Iowa City office of Johnson County Clerk Stephen B. Gardner.Read more here.
(JP-0107)U.S. #26 Series of 1857-61 3¢ Washington Type III Earliest KnownUse: September 14, 1857 – Postmarked in Iowa City – January 26, 1858 – Read more here.
(JP-0108)U.S. #554 1922-25 Regular Issue Series2¢ Washington, Postmarked in Iowa City – December 19, 1923 – Read more here.(JP-0109)Letter from U.S. 4th Congressional District Provost Marshal’s Office in Iowa City, datedJune 1, 1863 – Read more here.(JP-0110) 1838 stamp-less cover & letter – Dubuque to Carrollton, Illinois – Letter dated July 2, 1838, postmarked July 4, 1838 – Read more here.
(JP-0111) 1846 stamp-less cover & letter – Garnavillo to Clinton County, NY – Letter dated December 27, 1846, postmarked December 31, 1846 – Read more here.
(JP-0112) 1840 stamp-less cover & letter – Fairfield, Iowa Territory to Burlington, Iowa Territory– Letter dated & Postmarked August 4, 1840 and received August 8, 1840 – Read more here.
