Antique postcard mailed from Bennington, Nebraska, bearing a collectible early Doane cancel dated December 22, 1908.
The card carries a green 1-cent Benjamin Franklin stamp, with the Bennington, Nebraska circular postmark and barred killer applied across the stamp.
This is an especially appealing piece for the Nebraska postal-history or Doane cancel collector, as the postal marking itself is considerably more interesting than an ordinary early-1900s town cancellation.
Bennington is located in Douglas County, Nebraska, northwest of Omaha.
Postal-history records identify the:
Bennington Post Office — 1888 to Date
The office therefore had been operating for only about 20 years when this postcard was mailed in December 1908.
Bennington's post office remains in operation today, so this is not a DPO cancel. The modern USPS office is located on S. Stark Street in Bennington.
Interestingly, Bennington was also an early participant in Rural Free Delivery. USPS historical records show that rural delivery from Bennington was established on September 1, 1902, just six years before this postcard was mailed.
The standout feature is the Doane cancellation.
Doane cancels were standardized hand-cancel devices supplied to many smaller American post offices during the early 20th century. They are named today for postal historian Edith R. Doane, who extensively studied and classified them.
Unlike a simple circular town postmark, a Doane device combined the circular town/date portion with a barred killer containing a number. That number reflected the postmaster's compensation classification associated with the office.
These cancels have become a recognized collecting specialty, and Nebraska postal-history dealers specifically categorize Nebraska Doane cancels separately from ordinary town postmarks.
On this card, the Bennington circular date stamp is somewhat light but identifiable, while portions of the barred killer remain visible on and below the stamp.
Origin: Bennington, Nebraska
County: Douglas County
Postmark: Bennington, Neb.
Date: December 22, 1908
Cancel Type: Doane cancel
Post Office: Bennington
Post Office Dates: 1888–Date
DPO: No
Rural Free Delivery established: September 1, 1902
Stamp: 1¢ Benjamin Franklin
Postal Use: Genuine period use
Destination: Burlington, Nebraska
The front is a humorous verse card copyrighted 1907 by D. Hillson and printed in red and green Gothic-style lettering.
The verse reads:
“O many Gods, so many Creeds,
So many ways that wind and wind
While just the Art of being kind
Is all this sad world needs.”
The reverse contains a handwritten message discussing meeting the recipient at a train and is signed Charlie.
It is addressed to Miss Minnie Anderson, Burlington, Neb.
Type: Printed Postcard
Year: 1908
Era: Divided Back (1907–1915)
City: Bennington
County: Douglas County
State: Nebraska
Country: United States
Postmark: Bennington, Nebraska
Postmark Date: December 22, 1908
Cancel Type: Doane
Post Office Established: 1888
Post Office Status: Active
DPO: No
Theme: Postal History / Poetry / Friendship
Subject: Verse / Quotation
Stamp: 1¢ Benjamin Franklin
Postage Condition: Posted
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Number of Items: 1
Antique postcard in good used condition for its age with expected signs of handling and postal use.
There is visible corner and edge wear, including some rounding and minor surface wear. A noticeable diagonal crease runs through the upper portion of the reverse/card.
The card contains original handwritten correspondence.
The December 22, 1908 Bennington, Nebraska postmark is somewhat light but identifiable, and the barred portion of the Doane cancellation is visible across and immediately below the original 1-cent Franklin stamp.
Please examine the photographs carefully for exact condition.
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