Kellogg's Penny Post & City Despatch, Cleveland O., (1c) Vermilion (92L1). Four margins, light crease and small scuff at bottom right, vivid color, tied by "24" in circle debit handstamp, "Cleveland O. Jul. 11" circular datestamp and "5" in circle rate handstamp on folded letter with about half of back intact, to Sherborne, England, "1/-" Shilling due handstamp, backflap with green Liverpool transit datestamp of Jul. 24, 1853, edges refolded

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY SIX RECORDED COVERS WITH THE KELLOGG'S PENNY POST STAMP, AND THE ONLY ONE ADDRESSED TO A FOREIGN DESTINATION.

Kellogg's Penny Post & City Despatch was a relatively short-lived local post in Cleveland. It is believed that the post existed in 1853 and 1854. A cover dated June 28 (1853) and a piece dated April 7 (1854) are the earliest and latest recorded dates of use for the 92L1 stamp. Carrier service in Cleveland began in December 1853, which probably forced Kellogg's out of business by mid-1854.

Our records contain the following six Kellogg's covers, arranged by date (including assumed year dates)

1) Jun. 28 (ca. 1853) Cleveland datestamp ties 3c 1851, 92L1 cancelled by pencil on New England Hotel corner card cover to West Fairlee Vt., ex Caspary, Schenck, Skove, Golden (sold after the auction)

2) Jul. 11 (1853) Cleveland datestamp with "24" in circle tying 92L1 on folded cover to Mrs. Cowell, Sherborne, England, offered here

3) Jul. 29 (1853 contents) Cleveland datestamp, tied by ms. cancel on folded letter originating in Cincinnati to New Orleans, carried to Cleveland and given to Kellogg's, ex Boker

4) Sep. 1 (ca. 1853) Cleveland datestamp on cover to Newark O., one 92L1 remains from strip of three (other two torn off), ms. "Charge Johnson House" hotel notation, ex Knapp, Middendorf

5) Sep. 27 (ca. 1853) Cleveland datestamp and grid tie 92L1 and 3c 1851 on Waverly House corner card cover to Canton O., discovered in 1997, Siegel 1997 Rarities sale

6) Jan. 21 (ca. 1854) Cleveland datestamp with black grid tying 92L1 to Painesville O., ex Hall, D.K. Collection and Geisler (Siegel Sale 965, lot 1219).

In addition to the six covers, there are at least six 92L1 stamps known off cover. All of the surviving Kellogg's covers were delivered to the post office (three from hotels); no city-delivery covers are known. We wonder if it is possible that Kellogg's post was incorporated into the Cleveland carrier department started by Henry S. Bishop on December 21, 1853. Bishop left the carrier department on July 1, 1854, to become an employee of the Cleveland post office (source: Elliott Perry). Bishop's move roughly coincides with the end of Kellogg's post; however, no official records are known to us that confirm Kellogg's involvement as a carrier.

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