Toozeday Nooze

Toozeday Nooze
EDITION 603 - 01/13/2026
The library will host the monthly bourse this Saturday.
I hope to post this month's program at the library soon.
I had an interesting conversation with a vendor last week. He does not collect stamps or covers, but I had a few stampless covers on my desk that I had been researching, and he was curious about them. I find the first question from someone that does not collect is, "How much is it worth?". If the person collects something but does not collect covers or postal history, they may ask about its scarcity. If the person collects postal history, they often want to know where I found it or how I researched it. In any event it gets conversations started. This gentleman was looking to bid carpet replacement for me. He was not a collector, and he had never seen a stampless cover. He wanted to first know how old they were, then he asked about the scarcity and of course he eventually got around to value. His curiosity seemed genuine, and I showed him the cover below. I explained that it was sent from Pin Oak, Iowa which had been in Dubuque County. He wanted to know why it did not have a stamp, and I told him that the first general issue stamps in the U.S. were in 1847 and prior to that they were written on just like this one. He then stated, "Wow!, this is over 150 years old!". To which I said, well this is likely 1847 to the early 1850's as the rate was three cents and then I explained stampless covers existed up to ten years into the stamp period for domestic mail, especially from the smallest post offices that had limited supplies and resources. This was sent to the town of Garnavillo in the neighboring county of Clayton. I asked him if he was interested in hearing what I found out about the cover before I proceeded as he may have just been polite and was listening as he wanted my business. I told him that the post office in Pin Oak existed from 1844 to 1899 and that I could not find out much about Pin Oak, Iowa. I did tell him that it is a rare cover as there are no known stampless covers from Pin Oak, so this could be the only one known. He then finally asked what it was worth to which I replied, "Whatever someone is willing to pay". I then explained rarity does not always equal value. There must be demand to go along with it. I told him that I got it in an Ebay auction and that I was the only bidder, so on that given day it was not worth very much at all. He gave me a very competitive bid on the carpet, and I got to share a little postal history with a non-collector. After he left, I continued my research. I found out that the township of Pin Oak changed its name to Georgetown in 1855. The post office continued to operate in the Pin Oak Tavern until 1899. A post office started operation in Georgetown in 1852, which was three years before Pin Oak changed its name. The history on the Georgetown post office is not complete. It had interrupted service from 1852 until 1908. Here is where it gets even more confusing, Georgetown/Pin Oak changed its name to Holy Cross in 1899. At that time the Pin Oak post office ceased operation, but the Georgetown post office did not fully cease operation until 1908. There are cancellations that exist as Georgetown up to nine years after the name was changed to Holy Cross. A post office in Holy Cross exists today. It is a suburb of Dubuque.
To sign up for the Toozeday Nooze go to our website at NORPS.org, there you will find a link for the Toozeday Nooze and on the event page where you can sign up to receive the Nooze every week and keep up on events and programs at the library as well as happenings with the local stamp clubs and shows. I have been told this does not work with some phones but should be accessible from your computer. You do not need to be a member of the library to receive this, but I encourage you to do so. We are run and organized 100% by volunteers and your donations keep the doors open and the lights on.
If you have anything that you want shared let me know at pjflaherty58@gmail.com
Upcoming Events:

Date and Time Fourth Saturday of the Month- January 24, 2026 at 11:00AM
Event Upcoming Library Programs TBD
Location Northern Philatelic Center, 1110 Lowry Ave No. Minneapolis, MN

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Date and Time Sunday 11, January 2026 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Sponsor Minnesota Stamp Events, LLC
Event Second Sunday Show
Location Maplewood Community Center 2100 White Bear Ave. Maplewood, MN 55109
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Date and Time Monday 12, January 2026 at 6:00 PM
Sponsor Lyon County Stamp Club
Event Monthly Meeting
Location Adult Community Center Marshall, Minnesota
Socializing, Trading and Identification
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Date and Time Tuesday 13, January 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Sponsor Lake Minnetonka Stamp Club
Event Monthly Meeting
Location All Saints Lutheran Church 15915 Excelsior Blvd. Minnetonka, MN 55345
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Date and Time Wednesday 14, January 2026 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Event Stamp Academy
Location Northern Philatelic Center, 1110 Lowry Ave No. Minneapolis, MN If you want to know anything about stamps, this is the place. There is an expert on staff every Wednesday between 10:00 a.m. and noon with over 30 years of experience cataloging stamps for some of the largest dealers in the country. For those people that have a collection that was handed down and are looking for what to do with the collection, this is a great opportunity to learn about your options.
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Date and Time Thursday 15, January 2026 at 6:00 PM
Sponsor Twin City Philatelic Society
Event Monthly Second Meeting
Location LaBelle Condominiums II 1011 41st Ave. NE Columbia Heights, MN
Coffee and cookies are available. Circuits books and general meeting and discussion.
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Date and Time Saturday 17, January 2026 at 11:00 a.m.
Event Library Bourse
Location Northern Philatelic Center, 1110 Lowry Ave No. Minneapolis, MN Every stamp club member and all collectors are invited to participate in this free monthly event. We started this as a monthly event, and it has continued to grow and expand. Just bring your stamps, covers, stories and any other philatelic items to sell, trade and buy. There will be refreshments available, so come and participate. It's like a garage sale for stamp collectors. Come a little early to get the best spot and set up your stuff.
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Date and Time Tuesday 20, January 2026 at 7:00 PM
Sponsor Saint Cloud Area Stamp Club
Event Monthly Meeting
Location Atonement Lutheran Church 1144 29th Ave. N St. Cloud Please use South entrance
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Date and Time Wednesday 21, January 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Event Stamp Academy
Location Northern Philatelic Center, 1110 Lowry Ave No. Minneapolis, MN If you want to know anything about stamps, this is the place. There is an expert on staff every Wednesday between 10:00 a.m. and noon with over 30 years of experience cataloging stamps for some of the largest dealers in the country. For those people that have a collection that was handed down and are looking for what to do with the collection, this is a great opportunity to learn about your options.
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Date and Time Wednesday 21, January 2026 at 7:00 PM
Sponsor Golden Valley Internet Stamp Auctions
Event Auction #407
Location http://www.gvstampauctions.com Soft close
2800 lots
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Date and Time Thursday 22, January 2026 at 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Sponsor Maplewood Stamp Club
Location Community of Grace Lutheran Church 4000 Linden St White Bear Lake, MN
Event Monthly Meeting
Holiday Party
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Date and Time Saturday 24, January 2026, 11:00 a.m.
Event Program TBD
Location Northern Philatelic Center, 1110 Lowry Ave. No. Minneapolis, MN
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Date and Time Wednesday 28, January 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to Noon
Event Stamp Academy
Location Northern Philatelic Center, 1110 Lowry Ave No. Minneapolis, MN If you want to know anything about stamps, this is the place. There is an expert on staff every Wednesday between 10:00 a.m. and noon with over 30 years of experience cataloging stamps for some of the largest dealers in the country. For those people that have a collection that was handed down and are looking for what to do with the collection, this is a great opportunity to learn about your options.
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