ELIZABETHTOWN STAMPLESS POSTMARK ALTERED TO READ “ELIZABETH”

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.