Paquebots   RPOs   HPOs

by Jay L. Rogers

Copyright © 2010-2021 by Scouts on Stamps Society International, Inc.  All rights reserved.

This is a work in progress.  Please email the author with additions and corrections at




Paquebots are covers posted on merchant ships while on the high seas.   Universal Postal Union


mail is accepted with franking from the ship's Flag of Registry, port of origin, port of call,


or any combination of the three.   One result is that a cover franked with an American


stamp can be properly cancelled from most any port on earth.



RPOs, or Railway Post Offices, were fully functioning post offices in a railroad car


They have a 113 year long history starting in 1864 and formally ending in 1977.


At their zenith there were 9,000 routes in service.



HPOs, or Highway Post Offices, were fully functioning post offices in a long, bus like truck.


They were in service from 1941 thru 1974 & in 1955 there were 130 routes.



Covers in this section feature the 1948 Girl Scout stamp and the 1950 & 1960 Boy Scout stamps


used contemporaneously.




O-6

HPO     1948 Girl Scout stamp


11/29/48   Rubber stamped

Red

Wanaque & Newark, NJ   First Trip




O-8

HPO     1948 Girl Scout stamp


11/29/48   Rubber stamped

Green

Middletown, NY & Newark, NJ   First Trip




O-7

RPO     1948 Girl Scout stamp


10/5/49   Chicago & St Louis RR   TR 8




O-5

HPO     1950 Boy Scout stamp


08/14/50   Fayetteville, NC & Florence, SC   First Trip   W.M. Comehour, Pekin. IL




O-1

Paquebot     1950 Boy Scout stamp


05/30/51

Port Elizabeth, South Africa

S.S. African Moon   Farrell Lines

Arlington, VA address




O-2

Paquebot     1950 Boy Scout stamp


03/29/51

Port de France, Martinique

S.S. Fort Amherst  Furness Red Cross Line

Arlington, VA address




O-3

Paquebot     1950 Boy Scout stamp


08/03/51

Paquebot Sydney, Australia

Steamer Sonoma No. 245016

Arlington, VA address




O-4

Paquebot     1950 Boy Scout stamp


10/04/51

Kristiansands, Norway

M/S Oslofjord

Arlington, VA address




O-9

RPO     1960 Boy Scout stamp


03/20,21/60

Kansas City, MO & Carthage, MO RPO·HPO

Newport, AR & Carthage, MO RPO


Last Run Train 221

Mimeographed

Black & hand colored Green, blue & red.







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