1 CENT PRINTED MATTER RATE PER 50 GRAM

St.Thomas April 21, 1903 to Denmark. Photo postcard without message. Printed Matter -
overpaid with 1 cent. Arrival postmark Hellerup May 12,

St.Thomas April 21, 1903 to Denmark. Photo postcard without message. Printed Matter -
overpaid with 1 cent. Arrival postmark Hellerup May 12,

Most DWI postcards mailed in the early 1900´s foreign destinations were from tourists and were mailed to Europa or the USA. 

The UPU had 2 cents foreign mail rate for postcards, and most foreign postcards with a bisected stamp had no massage and was philatelic. The printed matter rate was 1 cent for the first 50 gram and 2 cents for 51-100 gram. A postcard with no massage mailed overseas - was overpaid by 1 cent since it qualified as printet matter which only required 1 cent postage.

During the 1 cent stamp depletion period, senders had no choice - but to overpay with a bisected stamp or pay 8 cents first class postage.

St.Thomas February 3, 1903 to Denmark. Photo postcard without message. Printed Matter -
overpaid with 1 cent. Arrival postmark København February 22, 1903.

St.Thomas February 3, 1903 to Denmark. Photo postcard without message. Printed Matter -
overpaid with 1 cent. Arrival postmark København February 22, 1903.

 This envelope to Germany was posted on the mail boat between St.Thomas and Christiansted. At St.Thomas it received a backstamp and a

This envelope to Germany was posted on the mail boat between St.Thomas and Christiansted. At St.Thomas it received a backstamp and a "C" indicating departure from Christiansted.

Arrival backstamped St.Thomas April 21 1903 and

Arrival backstamped St.Thomas April 21 1903 and "C". The envelope was unsealed and contained “printed matter”. The actual printed matter consisted of a reprint of the newspaper authorization for use of the bisected 4 cents postage. Please refer to the page "BISECT USAGE IN 1903".

Please also see the page 4 RINGS/LETTER BOX

PRINTED MATTER - UNSEALED ENVELOPE TO KØBENHAVN - 1 CENT 0-50 GRAM RATE

Unsealed envolope sent as printed matter from St.Thomas on 23 March. Printed matter mail usually did not receive arrival cancels, whereas most regular letter costing 8 cents did.

Unsealed envolope sent as printed matter from St.Thomas on 23 March. Printed matter mail usually did not receive arrival cancels, whereas most regular letter costing 8 cents did.

The printed rate could only be used if the envelope was unsealed and did contain printed matter. Printed matter could be something as simple as a wedding announcement. It is not likely that the post office would have allowed empty envelopes to be mailed with only a bisected stamp. Overpaid with 1 cent.

Backstamped København April 11. Note: unsealed envelope.

Backstamped København April 11. Note: unsealed envelope.

NEWSPAPER WRAPPER - 2 CENTS RATE FOR 51-100 GRAM

A newspaper wrapper containing a double rate printed matter sent from St.Thomas Maj 19 to Hobro. The stamp shows oval flaw - scrath over TIN in Vestindien. 
There are only 2 newspaper wrappers recorded with a bisected stamp and backstamped. It was mailed 4 days before the bisect usage ceased in St.Thomas.

A newspaper wrapper containing a double rate printed matter sent from St.Thomas Maj 19 to Hobro. The stamp shows oval flaw - scrath over TIN in Vestindien.
There are only 2 newspaper wrappers recorded with a bisected stamp and backstamped. It was mailed 4 days before the bisect usage ceased in St.Thomas.

Backstamped Hobro June 5,  Mailings frequently contained more than one newspaper, hence the 2 cents rate is appropriate.

Backstamped Hobro June 5, Mailings frequently contained more than one newspaper, hence the 2 cents rate is appropriate.

Bisected stamp on a piece used for 2 Cents newspaper  - postmark St.Thomas, January 26, print 4 - probably sent to foreign address..
I have only seen one bisected on a whole (complete) newspaper in Engstrom “Danish West Indies Mails”  - it was sent from Frederiksted to New York.

Bisected stamp on a piece used for 2 Cents newspaper - postmark St.Thomas, January 26, print 4 - probably sent to foreign address..
I have only seen one bisected on a whole (complete) newspaper in Engstrom “Danish West Indies Mails” - it was sent from Frederiksted to New York.

Wrapper from St.Thomas February 9, to London (the address is unique) - The wrapper has been reduced - Printing 4.

Wrapper from St.Thomas February 9, to London (the address is unique) - The wrapper has been reduced - Printing 4.

Printed Matter sent from St.Thomas, February 6  to Baltimore, USA - A scarce usage on wrapper band.
(FRANK BANKE)

Printed Matter sent from St.Thomas, February 6 to Baltimore, USA - A scarce usage on wrapper band.
(FRANK BANKE)

A newspaper wrapper containing a double rate printed matter sent from Frederiksted April 4, 1903 to Copenhagen.

A newspaper wrapper containing a double rate printed matter sent from Frederiksted April 4, 1903 to Copenhagen.

PRINTED MATTER - UNSEALED ENVELOPE TO TORTOLA - 1 CENTS RATE

St. Thomas February 20 1903 to British Virgin Islands. Unsealed envelope with Tortola FE 21 03 arrival cancel. It is sent in  the 1 cent stamp depletion periods 10.2 to 1.3 1903 (St.Thomas)

St. Thomas February 20 1903 to British Virgin Islands. Unsealed envelope with Tortola FE 21 03 arrival cancel. It is sent in the 1 cent stamp depletion periods 10.2 to 1.3 1903 (St.Thomas)

St.Thomas March 3, 1903 to New York. No arrival cancel cancel. Flap is missing - the cover has never been closed. Print 3.
The printed matter rate was 1 cent for the first 50 gram and 2 cents for 51-100 gram. The cover is probably overpaid with one cent since it was qualified as printet matter  0- 51 gram and the only required 1 cent postage.

St.Thomas March 3, 1903 to New York. No arrival cancel cancel. Flap is missing - the cover has never been closed. Print 3.
The printed matter rate was 1 cent for the first 50 gram and 2 cents for 51-100 gram. The cover is probably overpaid with one cent since it was qualified as printet matter 0- 51 gram and the only required 1 cent postage.

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