Our annual foray into postal history shows an interesting Selma cover postmarked 26 March. Although the year that the cover was mailed is not evident, the ungrilled 3 cent stamp places this in the 1866 to 1868 period, just after the Civil War. The 3 cent stamp paid the standard first class mail rate in effect at that time.

This cover is enhanced by two features. The negative “US” killer used by the Selma Postmaster during the immediate postwar period is a really clear strike of the postmark. This postal marking is only found used after the Civil War. This marking is listed as catalog number PT-US 37 in the Skinner-Eno United States Cancellations 1845-1869.

Secondly, the cover has a corner card of the Lundie & Co. A “Cotton Factor” was the middleman, so this company engaged in the buying and selling of cotton. With the destruction caused by the Civil War, post war southern covers showing corner cards like this can be difficult to find.