The 1860s provide a diverse and interesting backdrop that includes changes in transportation technologies, political conflict, and a consistent trend towards increasing use of the mails by the general populace. Mix in a few isolated incidents – a shipwreck, a tropical storm, and some human error – and you have an interesting mix of postal history to explore. While the exchange of mail between nations prior to the General Postal Union can be a complex topic, we’ll tackle an introduction to the postal treaties held by the United States using the history and related stories of some postal artefacts to keep it engaging.
Rob Faux has been collecting postal history featuring the 24 cent denomination of the 1861 issue since the late 1990s. His competitive exhibit makes an appearance once or twice a year when there is no pandemic disrupting that schedule. In addition to this specialty, Rob collects postal history in the decades just prior to the General Postal Union (1875). In his life outside of postal history, Rob is a vegetable and poultry farmer in rural Iowa. In addition to this, Rob works as a Communications Associate for the Pesticide Action Network. In a prior life, Rob earned a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Adult Education, teaching for a time in post-secondary education.
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