Swarts' Branch Post Office, Chatham Square. Ornately-framed Eagle handstamp with "BRANCH POST OFFICE" straightline and manuscript "Chatham Square" in magenta ink, matching "2 Paid" on folded Valentine poem to local street address, pencil "near William" street location probably written by Swarts, docketed "Jan. 1847" -- the month Swarts opened his Chatham Square Branch Post Office -- waterstain affects magenta ink very slightly

FINE. ONLY TWO EXAMPLES OF THE SWARTS "BRANCH POST OFFICE" HANDSTAMP ARE REPORTED TO EXIST -- THE EARLIEST MARKING USED BY ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NEW YORK CITY LOCAL POSTS.

Aaron Swarts' was employed by the Post Office Department at Chatham Square in 1845 and 1846. On January 5, 1847, the Chatham Square branch was discontinued, leaving area residents and businesses without a convenient nearby post office. Aaron Swarts saw his opportunity and on January 15th announced the opening of his local post at 6 Chatham Square, advertising it as the Branch Post Office, although there was no official connection at all to the government Post Office. The cover offered here is a folded Valentine poem, undated by the sender but docketed "Jan. 1847" upon receipt. The marking was made from a standard metal device with space at center for the insertion of type. The words "Branch Post Office" are set in type, and the "Chatham Square" notation is written in magenta ink, along with the rate "2 Paid". One other example is recorded, also with staining (Siegel 2005 Rarities sale, lot 546).

Ex Mason, Abt and Golden.

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