By Robert G. Rose

On May 23, 1855, the name of the post office in what was then Elizabethtown, was shortened to “Elizabeth.” Prior to that date, and throughout the stampless period, the Elizabethtown post office used a variety of handstamped postmarks, including a large circle with the shortened “Elizabeth” town name which the Coles Book records with an 1853-55 period of use.

by Richard Micchelli & Robert G. Rose

Celebration of the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War is the theme of NOJEX 2011 that will be held at the Crown Plaza Meadowlands Hotel in Secaucus, New Jersey on May 27-29, 2011. The Court of Honor at the Show will feature six frames of Civil War patriotic covers postmarked from a wide variety of New Jersey towns. Several are shown on the pages that follow. This Court of Honor exhibit is part of an extensive collection owned by Richard Micchelli. In 1992, his collection was featured in NJPH as the Society’s 100th issue of its journal.

By Jean Walton

Bordentown, a stop on the stage route between Philadelphia and New York, is wellknown to philatelists for the very rare stage markings which graced its covers in the early days of stage mail. The town, north of Philadelphia and south of Trenton, marked the point at which travelers from New York exchanged their bumpy ride in Jersey stage coaches for steamers which continued down the Delaware to Philadelphia. But is has another claim to fame: in 1817, it became the home to the former King of Naples and King of Spain, Joseph Bonaparte.

By Donald A. Chafetz

This exhibit traces the development of a mail system in Morris County. During the Revolutionary War, General George Washington encamped three times for various lengths of time in the Morristown area. During these encampments, a “temporary” civil post office was established in Morristown and the military postmaster was also present.

Edited by Jean Walton

Attractive illustrated letter sheets from the 1800s are highly collectable and not often seen. Some of the most well-known depicted California mining scenes during the Gold Rush days, or were illustrated sheets used during the Civil War. The earliest, before the use of envelopes, were used as folded letter sheets, and would normally have an attached blank sheet for additional writing space.