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Approximately 5.25" by 5.25" cover see pics for condition.

Antique 1883 postal cover addressed to Mrs. George Pridgeon, Watson Corners, Allegan County, Michigan.

Front: 3¢ green Washington Bank Note issue, tied by a bar/grid killer cancel. Partial circular date stamp at left reads “…EASANT” with a day of 5, 1883. The address is in a nice period hand in brown ink, and “Allegan” is spelled “Allgan” by the writer.

Back: Clear MARTIN, MICH. receiving backstamp dated MAR 6, 1883. Martin is the post office that served the Watson Township area of Allegan County, so this cover documents the letter’s full route to a small rural crossroads community.

This cover was mailed in the last months of the 3¢ first-class rate, which dropped to 2¢ on October 1, 1883.

Condition: Overall toning consistent with age. There is light foxing and a few small brown stains on the reverse, including one touching the backstamp. Some minor edge wear and a small corner nick are visible at the lower right of the back. The stamp is intact with good color. There is no letter enclosed. Please see the scans, which are part of the description.

This is a good piece for Michigan postal history, Allegan County, or small-town and DPO-area collectors, or for genealogy research on the Pridgeon family.

Ships flat in a protective sleeve with a rigid backer.

Item specifics:

Type: Cover

Era: 1880s

Origin: United States

Topic: Postal History / Michigan

Year: 1883

Postmark: Cancelled