philatelia
Member 
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,404
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Jan 25, 2023 14:27:46 GMT
Moderator Note: This thread was originally titled: A question - should I buy this cover? (Just for fun). As responses have accumulated on DWI postal history and covers with bisected stamps, the thread has been moved to the DWI sub-board and re-titled.
Ok, now what do you think of this cover? Weird addressing, eh? Just a rubber stamp? What, did everyone in the company get one? Some stains, too, but dang the Scotch Whiskey company cachet is kinda cool. But what's up with that squiggly line - was the artist indulging in the company's product? And, holy half stamps, Batman, BISECT! Is it purely philatelic, a treat for coworkers? I'm vacillating and would love to hear your first thoughts upon seeing this weird, quirky cover. Buy or fly? 
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,015 
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Jan 25, 2023 14:50:48 GMT
I love it. Buy it, Terri! My quick Google search says St. Thomas W.I. is the Virgin islands. Is that correct?
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Post by daniel on Jan 25, 2023 14:51:27 GMT
philatelia Looks genuine. St Thomas, West Indies was Danish now part of the US Virgin Islands. Buy! Daniel
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JeffS
Member
Posts: 2,602
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on Jan 25, 2023 14:57:19 GMT
These bisects are relatively common even with the advertising. You might search ST THOMAS BISECT on eBay, then search SOLD items for the real world. The majority are philatelically inspired. Depends on the price to answer your question.
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,706
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Jan 25, 2023 17:01:20 GMT
Nice cover/history, a bit weird (no real address except W.I.) BUT POSTMARK is Danish - US bought the Islands in 1917 - Have been to St. Thomas 3 times - superb beaches ! Too many Cruise Ships  René |
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Post by dgdecker on Jan 25, 2023 19:42:40 GMT
Terri,
This falls into three of my collecting interests,
1. Postal Authority no longs exist….Danish West Indies
2. Whiskey
3. Bisect
There deciding factor would be price.
David
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,264
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Jan 25, 2023 19:53:11 GMT
I just did as JeffS suggested ……..There is another almost identical with the same handstamp addresses on eBay at $299.99 ………..that I’d say is way too pricy . There are similar stains but the wiggly line is more horizontal, and I see a third one at $80 which is more reasonable . Both are a wee bit cleaner than the one you show. As a footnote will you folks all please note ( as it is Burns Nicht here in Scotland 25 January) While there may be a wee drop of water added , THERE IS NO “E” IN WHISKY |
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator 
Posts: 5,654
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Jan 25, 2023 19:58:31 GMT
Terri ( philatelia), thanks for posting about this cover. It is an interesting item! I also actively collect DWI, but I don't have any covers. If I were going to go after one, I think that a bisect would be nice. I agree that the whiskey motif is also nice, but the rubber-stamped name and address detract from the cover, in my opinion. Some flowing, handwritten script in sepia-toned ink would have appealed to me more. The rubber-stamped name and address give me the impression that a bunch of these were done, to spare someone the effort of hand-writing each individual envelope. But that is pure speculation on my part. I also note that the stamp seems rather sloppily applied, with a big smear stain below it and to the right. I am not sure if that adds character or simply detracts from the appearance. I think that in the end, Jeff's ( JeffS) comment is spot on: it would depend on the price. If it's relatively inexpensive compared to similar items, then maybe go for it, but if not, perhaps let it go. |
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Jan 25, 2023 20:58:16 GMT
... While there may be a wee drop of water added , THERE IS NO “E” IN WHISKY That is, unless it is produced in the U.S. It is correctly spelled on the cover. philatelia , like others have said, if you like it and the price is reasonable, go for it. |
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,404
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Jan 25, 2023 22:22:56 GMT
Oh this was fun! Great comments, everyone. It's interesting to read which aspects were most of interest to each of you. I was pretty much sold on this piece as I love quirky covers, DWI and bisects. So - just hit the "buy" button. Purchase price ... €30 Not a bad price to pay to add a "wee drop" of fun to my DWI collection! Hmmm now I'm craving Irish coffee... Beryllium Guy - I know what you mean about gorgeous script - I snagged this lovely in the same purchase. The addressee being the Austro-Hungarian Counsel ties in with my Austria collection.  |
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,264
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Jan 25, 2023 22:55:06 GMT
Now that second one is a nice purchase
( the first at $30 probably about right given the condition) But this is so much prettier,however the pencil comment “ earliest date “ 21/1/1903 cannot be correct as your 1st cover is dated the 20th !
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,654
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Jan 26, 2023 3:53:29 GMT
Very nice, Terri ( philatelia), and congratulations on both purchases!  I am with Alex ( vikingeck) on this one, as the 2nd cover is much more "my cup of tea" as the saying goes, but I will certainly grant you high marks on the quirkiness scale for the first one, regardless of how the word for potable, distilled spirits is spelled. |
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,404
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Jan 26, 2023 12:08:51 GMT
We are of like minds Beryllium Guy vikingeck . The second cover is quite lovely - that calligraphy or script (whatever) is gorgeous and almost legible lol! And it was actually less expensive believe it or not. It doesn't feel as philatelic as my other DWI bisect covers, either. I've been learning quite a bit about this issue and, as the population of the islands wasn't that large, there weren't too many philatelists. Another collector was telling me that certain names are more common, and that helps to identify the genuine Postal usage covers from the purely philatelic. The prices for these are within my reach, so I've started watching the auctions to find examples from different mailers representing commercial, governmental, and personal correspondence. In any case, I'm enjoying hunting for these covers. Cover collecting and postal history adds an immensely huge expansion beyond single stamp philately and I'm starting to get hooked! YES the earliest known use doesn't jibe with that pencil comment, eh? |
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salentin
Member
collecting Germany,where I live and about 20 more countries,half of them in Asia east of the Indus
Posts: 5,616
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Post by salentin on Jan 26, 2023 14:02:46 GMT
Is it possible that the upper cover is franked with (a bi-sected) stamp of the 1873-issue ? Just a feeling: the perforation looks smaller,than that of the second cover,likely a bi-sected 1901-stamp.
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