Postal Covers

Florida’s history may be divided into the pre-Spanish period, up to 1513, the first Spanish Period, 1513-1763, the British Period, 1763-1784, the Second Spanish Period, 1784-1819, the American Government (pre-territorial) Period, July 10, 1821, to March 29, 1822, the Territorial Period, March 30, 1822, to March 2, 1845, and the Statehood Period from March 3, 1845, to the present. Very little postal history has come to light from the periods prior to 1821.

The Act of March 3, 1855, required that from and after January 1, 1856, all United States mail have postage stamps fixed by the writer or by the postmaster to reflect the pre-payment of postage. This date of January 1, 1856, marks the “official philatelic” end of U.S. “Stampless” markings are known well after this cut off date.

Dozens of named forts and camps were established in Florida (particularly during the Second Seminole War), but most of these were not designated as U.S. Post Offices. Mail from these camps and forts was usually carried to the nearest Post Office, and much of such mail bears the postmarks of Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Tampa, and Savannah, Ga. Some of the forts which were Post Offices during the war were discontinued after troops were withdrawn, and some which were not post offices were established as such after the war.

Excerpt from “Florida Stampless Postal History 1763-1861”

Stampless Covers: Florida Territorial

1835 Apalachicola
.25 Paid Postage

Apalachicola
.03 Paid Postage

1835 Apalachicola
.25 Paid Postage

1833 Jacksonville
.18 3/4 Paid Postage

Ocala
.05 Paid Postage

1839 Tallahassee
.06 Paid Postage

1831 Pensacola
.18 3/4 Paid Postage Addressed to Col. Robert Butler Surveyor Genral. Robert Butler (1786-1860) was appointed Florida’s first Surveyor General in 1825, he had a plantation of 900 acreas around Lake Jackson.

1839 Pensacola U.S. Sailor’s Letter

Pensacola
Free Postage

1841 Quincy
.10 Paid Postage

1835 St. Mark
Free Postage

1835 St. Mark
.12 Paid Postage Addressed to His Excellency John H. Eaton Governor of the Territorry of Florida

1834 Tallahassee
Paid Postage to Col. H. (Henry) Yonge, one of the commissioners appointed to establish the town of Quincy Florida in 1825

May 10, 1825 This day the County Court for the County of Gadsden has met agreeable to its appointment for the purpose of receiving of the report of the commissioners appointed for the purpose of selecting the county sight for the County of Gadsden. Present his Honor David L. White, Presiding Judge, Collin Wooten and Jason Gregory, Associate judges. Henry Yonge, M. Nicholson and Hezekiah Wilder the three commissioners appointed on notice of an Act of the Legislative Council passed the 29th day of December, A. D. 1824 having this day reported to us as directed by said Act that they have selected the Northwest quarter of Section number seven township No. Two and 3rd range N&W, It is therefore received and acknowledged by this Court to be in conformity with the said Act passed 29th day of December A. D. 1824 and shall be considered as constituting hereafter the seat of Justice for the County aforesaid until otherwise provided for by law. It is ordered by the Court that the county surveyor proceed without delay to lay off a town on said quarter section under the direction of the Court and that he meet the Court on the site on Thursday the 26th instant for said purpose.

It is ordered by the Court that the clerk shall have printed one quire of advertisements of sale of lots which sale shall commence on Thursday the 7th day of July next at ten o’clock A.M. of said day and continue for three days if necessary and proposals will be received at any time during the sale for erecting a Court House and Goal and plans of which will be exhibited by the Court. The town at the County shall shall be called and known under the name of Quincy. Ordered that the County Treasurer pay unto David L. White, Jason Gregory and Collin Wooten the sum of four dollars and fifty cents each for three days service each to this. May 10th 1825 David L. White, Presiding Judge Jason Gregory, As. Judge, Collin Wooten, As. Judge Test: E. A. Robinson, Clk

Ordered by the Court that Dr. M. Nicholson be paid by the County Treasurer three dollars and Col. H. Yonge and Cap. H. Wilder two dollars each. May 10th 1825 David l. White, Pres. Judge Jason Gregory, As. Judge, Collin Wooten, As. Judge

1839 Tallahassee
Paid Postage

1843 Tallahassee
Paid Postage

1841 Tallahassee
Paid Postage

Pensacola
.10 3/4 Paid Postage

Tallahassee
.25 Paid Postage

Stampless Covers: Florida as a State

1851 Ocala
.05 Paid Postage

1849 Pensacola
.05 Paid Postage

1851 Pensacola
.05 Paid Postage

1850 Quincy
.05 Paid Postage

1847 St. Augustine
.10 Paid Postage

1850 St. Augustine
.10 Paid Postage

1848 Tallahassee
.05 Paid Postage

1847 Tallahassee
.10 Paid Postage

1845 Monticello, FL. Mailed First Year Florida as a State

1845 Monticello
Mailed First Year Florida as a State

Jasper
.03 Manuscript Cancelled Envelope

1848 Key West
.10 Paid Postage

Advertising Covers

1933 Daytona Beach
Seaside Inn Peninsula Station

1933 Daytona Beach
International Speed Trials

1895 Daytona Beach
Fountain City Hotel

1905 De Funiak Springs
Hotel Chautauqua

1947 Florida City, FL Everglades National Park

1947 Florida City
Everglades National Park

1947 Florida City
Everglades National Park Dedication

1901 Gainesville
Bingham & Thompson Ins.

1976 Gainesville
American Freedom Train

1940 Green Acres
Town of Green Acres

Greenwood
W.H. Kimbell & Co.

1894 Hernando, FL. Florida Phosphate Co. Ad

1894 Hernando
Florida Phosphate Co. Ad

1938 Hollywood
Breeding’s Drug Store

1894 Indian Springs
Sunset Hill Nursery

1890 Interlachen
Hotel Lagonda

1893 Jacksonville
J.S. Bell Real Estate and Notary

1884 Jacksonville
Stimpson & Devnell, Proprietors

1901 Jacksonville
Hamburg-Bremen Fire Insurance Co.

1901 Jacksonville
The Cable Company

1894 Jacksonville
The New Duval Hotel

1897 Jacksonville
New Duval Hotel Opening

1887 Jacksonville
Hotel Togni

1897 Jacksonville
New Duval Hotel

1921 Jacksonville
Rogers & Jones
Dyers & Cleaners

1886 Jacksonville
Tremont House

1893 Jacksonville
Thomas Nooney & Sons

1922 Jacksonville
J. Nooney & Co.

1901 Jacksonville
C.B. Rogers Co.

1909 Jacksonville
The Manufactures Association

FL East Coast Railway

1901 Mcalpin
W.H. Starling

1915 Miami
First National Bank

1960 Miami
First Day of Issue

1949 Miami
Chamber of Commerce

1894 Monticello, FL. Water-Melon Seed Ad

1894 Monticello
Water-Melon Seed

1894 Ormond
J.A. Bostrom

1894 Oxford
C.C. Hall

1886 Palatka
Gem City Gallery

1893 Payne
Gen’l Merchandise Ad

1892 Plant City
W. N. Young & Co.

1938 Pompano
Farmers Bank Of Pompano

1893 Providence, FL. General Merchandise Ad

1893 Providence
General Merchandise Ad

1893 Punta Gorda, FL. Punta Gorda Ice Co. Ad

1893 Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda Ice Co. Ad

1892 Rockledge
Hotel Indian River

1902 Sanford
Geo. H. Fernald
Wholesale & Retail

1899 Saint Augustine
Palmetto House

1886 Saint Augustine
Hotel San Marco

Saint Augustine
St. Augustine Hotel

188? Saint Augustine
Cleveland House, Island Home

1911 St. Augustine
Chas. D. Segui

1909 Sanford
A.L. Betts

1938 St. Petersburg
George Patterson Inc.

1932 Saint Petersburg
Coast Guard Section-Base

1913 Tampa
Board of Trade

1904 Tampa
M. Stachelberg & Co.

1894 Tampa
Binkley & Co.

1894 West Palm Beach
Gem Bazaar Ad

1902 White Springs
White Spring Street ad

1898 Winter park
The Seminole

Railroad Post Offices

Rare wood 1906 Florida Souvenir Post Card R.P.O.

1824 Ft. Pierce
Ft. Pierce & Key West R.P.O.

1936 Jacksonville
Term, R.P.O.

1912 Bahamas
Hamlet & Jacksonville R.P.O.

1906 Jacksonville
Jacksonville & Tampa R.P.O.

1905 Jacksonville
Jacksonville & Miami R.P.O.

1909 Jacksonville
Jacksonville & Tampa R.P.O.

1897 Jacksonville
Jacksonville & Miami R.P.O.

1911 Jacksonville
Jacksonville & Cedar Keys R.P.O.

1915 Jacksonville
Jacksonville & Tampa R.P.O.

1903 Jacksonville
Jacksonville & Tampa R.P.O.

1910 Jacksonville
Jacksonville & St. Petersburg R.P.O.

1894 Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Tampa, & Key West Railway

1894 Jacksonville
The Jacksonville, Mayport, Pablo Railway & Navigation Co.

1896 Jacksonville
Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad Co.

1933 St. Augustine
Florida East Coast Railway

1915 Jacksonville & Ft. Pierce
Florida East Coast Railway Co.

1912 Jacksonville
Georgia Southern & Florida Railway Co.

1916 Palatka
Atlanta & Palatka R.P.O.

1894 Macon & Palatka
The Georgia Southern & Florida R.R.

1893 Sanford
Sanford & St. Peters R.P.O.

1912 Saint Augustine
Florida East Coast Railway

1929 Macon & Tampa
American Trading Corporation

1886 Palatka
St. Johns Railway of Florida

1976 West Palm Beach
American Freedom Train

1937 West Palm Beach
Merchant & Miners Transportation, Co.

1930 Norfolk
Hawkinsville & Florida Southern Railway Co.

Military and Fort Covers

Barrancas, Florida Official Business Office Probost Marshal

1904 Fort Barrancas Postmark

1944 Boca Raton Field Postmark. Postage free

1911 Fort Dade Postmark

1912 Fort Dade Postmark

1908 Fort De Soto Postmark

1861-1862 Fort Pickens

1898 Fernandina Postmark, Spanish American War Cover

1945 Camp Gordon, Johnston, Florida Postage free

1898 Jacksonville Postmark, Spanish American War cover

Fort Jefferson Postmark Civil War cover

Key West Postmark Civil War cover

1894 Fort Meade Postmark

1952 Fort Myers Postmark on advertising cover

1909 Fort Myers Postmark on advertising cover

1947 Fort Myers Postmark

Fort Walton Beach Postmark on advertising coveer

Civil War cover with Confederate stamps Warrington, Florida Postmark RARE

1965 Fort White PostMARK

Hotel Covers

1911 Atlantic Beach
Continental Hotel Postcard

1902 Altamonte Springs
The Altamonte

1913 Apalachicola
The Franklin Hotel

Boca Grande
Gasparilla Inn

1921 Bonifay
Hotel Eureka

Brooksville
Hernando Hotel

1937 Indian River City
Hotel Dixie Grande

1887 Cleveland
San Carlos Hotel

1895 Daytona
Fountain City House

1920 Daytona
Palmetto Hotel

Daytona
The Prince George

1907 Daytona
The Colonades

1902 Daytona
Hotel Despland

1912 Daytona
Daytona Beach Hotel

1896 Deland
Hotel Putnam

1906 De Funiak Springs
Hotel Chautauqua

1926 Fernandina
The Keystone Hotel

1912 Gainesville
The White House

The White House Postcard
Gainesville

1927 Green Cove Springs
Qui-Si-Sana Hotel

1918 Fort Myers
The Windle Hotel

Hotel Windle Postcard
Fort Myers

1919 Jacksonville
Hotel Mason

1930 Jacksonville
Hotel Windsor

1901 Key West
Hotel Key West

1925 Lake City
Hotel Powell

1906 Lakeland
Tremont House

1950 Lakeland
Lakeland Terrace

1918 Live Oak
Suwannee Hotel

1909 Miami
Gralynn Hotel Postcard

1912 Miami
The Fort Dallas Hotel

1914 Mulberry
Juanita Hotel / Excelsior Hotel

1927 Orlando
The Fort Gatlin

1938 Orlando
San Juan Hotel

1922 Palm Beach
The Breakers and list of Flagler Hotels

St. Augustine
St. George Hotel Postcard

Hotel Bennett
St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine
The St. George Hotel

St. Petersburg
The Floronton Hotel

1959 St. Petersburg
The Huntington Hotel

1929 Safety Harbor
St. James Hotel

1926 Sanford
Valdez Hotel

1913 Sea Breeze
Clarendon Hotel

1908 Sea Breeze
The Clarendon Hotel

Tampa
Palmetto Hotel

1884 Tampa
Collins’ Hotel

1895 Tampa
Tampa Bay Hotel

Railroad Covers

1933 Marathon, FL.

First Flight Covers

1929 Daytona Beach, FL.

1926 Jacksonville, FL.

1928 Jacksonville, FL.

1931 Jacksonville, FL.

1934 Lakeland, FL.

1931 Lake Wales, FL.

1929 Miami, FL.

1928 Orlando, FL.

1931 Orlando, FL.

1929 Pensacola, FL.

1930 Vero Beach, FL.

1935 Vero Beach, FL.

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