Lifelong philatelist, postal historian, award-winning author and Philatelic Society of Lancaster County (PA) President Dr. Charles J. DiComo shares his original research project “A Brief History of T. Kensett & Co., Food Packers & the U.S. Private Die Proprietary Canned Fruit Revenue Stamp#RP1a they Briefly Issued in 1867.” He also features his 2022 census of known #RP1a stamps, updating the 1994 Census.
The Kensett Canned Fruit stamp #RP1a has been one of the more popular U.S. Private Die Proprietary Revenue stamps due to its design, the limited quantity issued (528,000) and its narrow use over a two month period in early 1867 before the tax on meats, shellfish, fruits and vegetables was repealed on March 1, 1867. Dr. DiComo discovered and acquired a choice Kensett & Co. Canned Fruit stamp which sparked his interest in exploring the history of the Company as well as to revisit the 1994 Aldrich Census of existing RP1a copies available to collectors.
Presented here is the initiation of that investigation. Twelve additional copies have been identified thus far, bringing the new 2022 Census to 39. He believes more may exist in other collector’s hands yet to be shared. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that this first attempt at a digital image census puts a “face” on the phrase “most are faulty”, so often attached to many Private Die Proprietary stamps. In effect, most of the 39 copies illustrated are faulty to some extent, less his most recent find.