Bloods's Penny Post cover

Blood's Anonymous Poet

Students of philatelic matters delight in delving
into the past and working out problems, but who
has ever given any thought toward identifying the
Poet Laureate of Blood's Despatch Post, that
enterprising private mail firm that operated so
successfully in Philadelphia, and its environs,
during the 1840's and 1850's?

Many collectors have seen those little additional
labels, attached while the letters transited Blood's
postal system, little labels on colored paper,
printed in small type, usually running to four or
five lines, sometimes in prose, sometimes in poetry,
and carrying a plug for Blood's fine service.

Many of you, of course, have seen letters with a
backstamp, or a postmark, "Have your letters directed
to street and number," but when Blood's wanted to say
the same thing their unsung poetical genius put it in
rhyme, thus:

"If you would by Despatch have
Your letter speed attain
You should have them directed
Both definite and plain."

This little jingle appeared on a cover with a Blood's
stamp, in 1846. Blood's post was always miles ahead
of Uncle Sam's postal organization, even with these
innovations and instructions to the public. Uncle
later used a handstamp, in his own, matter-of-fact way.

But Blood's had a poet whose name was never perpetuated
or memorialized since he failed to sign his rhymes.
Perhaps he doubled in brass when February 14th annually
rolled around and assisted bewildered swains in the
composition of sweet Valentine expressions.

Doubtless that was one of the reasons the volume of mail
at Blood's swelled to large proportions on that day.
Yes, Blood's was enterprising with a poet on the staff.


- George B. Sloane
Sloane's Column
Stamps
June 21, 1941

Not mine. Owner unknown.