Paquebots RPOs HPOs
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Paquebots are covers posted on merchant ships while on the high seas. Universal Postal Union
mail is accepted with franking from the ship's Flag of Registry, port of origin, port of call,
or any combination of the three. One result is that a cover franked with an American
stamp can be properly cancelled from most any port on earth.
RPOs, or Railway Post Offices, were fully functioning post offices in a railroad car
They have a 113 year long history starting in 1864 and formally ending in 1977.
At their zenith there were 9,000 routes in service.
HPOs, or Highway Post Offices, were fully functioning post offices in a long, bus like truck.
They were in service from 1941 thru 1974 & in 1955 there were 130 routes.
Covers in this section feature the 1948 Girl Scout stamp and the 1950 & 1960 Boy Scout stamps
used contemporaneously.
HPO 1948 Girl Scout stamp
11/29/48 Rubber stamped
Red
Wanaque & Newark, NJ First Trip
HPO 1948 Girl Scout stamp
11/29/48 Rubber stamped
Green
Middletown, NY & Newark, NJ First Trip
RPO 1948 Girl Scout stamp
10/5/49 Chicago & St Louis RR TR 8
HPO 1950 Boy Scout stamp
08/14/50 Fayetteville, NC & Florence, SC First Trip W.M. Comehour, Pekin. IL
Paquebot 1950 Boy Scout stamp
05/30/51
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
S.S. African Moon Farrell Lines
Arlington, VA address
Paquebot 1950 Boy Scout stamp
03/29/51
Port de France, Martinique
S.S. Fort Amherst Furness Red Cross Line
Arlington, VA address
Paquebot 1950 Boy Scout stamp
08/03/51
Paquebot Sydney, Australia
Steamer Sonoma No. 245016
Arlington, VA address
Paquebot 1950 Boy Scout stamp
10/04/51
Kristiansands, Norway
M/S Oslofjord
Arlington, VA address
RPO 1960 Boy Scout stamp
03/20,21/60
Kansas City, MO & Carthage, MO RPO·HPO
Newport, AR & Carthage, MO RPO
Last Run Train 221
Mimeographed
Black & hand colored Green, blue & red.