La Posta Publications

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Step 1: Select a Direct Download subscription to La Posta or any of our available publications from the Direct Download section on our website www.la-posta.com. Then make your payment using Pay Pal or contact lapostagal@hotmail.com and tell Cath what you want and that you will be sending a check.

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*Please Note that all subscribers to our printed version with an email address on file with us will receive a complimentary copy of the Direct Download edition.

La Posta Publications Titles Available for Direct Download

Current Titles Available

Passed by Army Censor

An Illustrated Price Guide to US APO Cancels of the Second World War

The original 1996 Forte-Helbock volume—now out of print—updated with over 400 full-color illustrations of APO covers from the collection of Richard W. Helbock. This on-line only publication numbers 314 pages, and is sure to be an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in US APO covers of the Second World War. The new PDF version is completely searchable, and our.

Oregon Frontier Cavalryman

The Lt. William Carey Brown Correspondence from Fort Klamath, Oregon, 1878-1880. This remarkable series of letters from a young West Point graduate to his family in Denver describes in great detail his observations while engaged in pursuit of Indians in eastern Oregon, the tedious barracks life in Fort Klamath, and journeys north to Fort Vancouver and the Umatilla Indian Reservation and south to Captain Jacks Lava Bed stronghold in northern California. Transcribed by Cath Clark.

Military Postmarks of Territorial Alaska

A photocopy of the original 1977 edition now out of print.  Army Post Offices in Alaska during World War II, 197 pages.

Naval Postmarks of Territorial Alaska

A photocopy of the orginal 1978 edition now out of print. Includes US Navy ships in Alaskan waters, shore bases, Seabees, Lighthouses, Coast Guard units, 262 pages.

United States Doanes

United States Doanes, 2nd Edition, by Richard Helbock & Gary Anderson with full-color illustrations in  PDF format  336 pages.

This 290-page generously illustrated handbook (many in full color) is designed to provide both an introduction to all US postmarks of the 1900-1920 era and a reference for anyone wishing to learn more about postmarks and postmark collecting. The book has been two sections: the first explores all US postmark types found on cards and covers of the Postcard era; and the second provides details of the ways in which US postmarks are collected.

Part I consists of ten chapters featuring Doane cancels; Manuscript & Straight-line markings; Anachronisms & Mimics; and Machine Cancels just to name a few. Each subject is carefully explained and well illustrated, and the discussion includes comments on the market value for each postmark type. The chapter on Machine Cancels includes a simple technique that enables the reader to make a rapid identification of the manufacturer of nearly all machine cancels of the 1900-1920 period. Each chapter concludes with an up-to-date list of references that can lead the reader to more detailed information.

Part II discusses the major ways in which US postmarks are collected. The six chapters in this section include collecting by Geographic Regions, Rural Free Delivery, Railway Post Offices, Naval & Military Specialties and an entirely new chapter on Collecting Ancillary & Auxiliary Markings. Each chapter contains information on collector organizations and references, as well as lots of illustrations and a basic introduction to the specialty.

The book wraps up with a Glossary of Postal History Terms; four Appendices providing specific data on the subjects of US Doane cancels and Military & Naval postal history; and an Index. In addition, this CD-ROM version has been enhanced with a gallery of nearly 1,000 full-color illustrations of the various sorts of early 20th century postmarks described in the text.

San Francisco Postal History Double Feature

San Francisco Postal Markings, 1847-1900 by John M. Mahoney and the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire by Randy Stehle, in all 193 pages of solid San Francisco postal history research.

With a Little Help from Our Friends

United States Post Office Efforts to Accelerate Mail Delivery to Europe and Locations beyond Using Overseas Airmail Services, 1920-1939. Chapters include: Chapter 1 The First Small Steps and London to the Continent, 1924-1927;  Chapter 2 A Second European Gateway Becomes Available 1928; Chapter 3 The European Airmail Gateways Open Up to Asia 1929; Chapter 4 KLM to Batavia 1930; Chapter 5 Imperial Airways to East & South Africa 1931; Chapter 6 The Race to Establish Air Service to China 1932; Chapter 7 Air Service to Australia & New Zealand 1934. 93-pages with full-color illustrations

United States Post Offices, Volumes 1 through 8

United States Post Offices, Volumes 1- 8 in PDF format. Volume 1 - The West; Volume 2- The Great Plains; Volume 3-The Upper Midwest; Volume 4-The Northeast; Volume 5-The Ohio Valley; Volume 6 - The Mid-Atlantic and Volume 7 - The Lower Mississippi Valley and Volume 8 - The Southeast.

Volume I The West

Volume II The Great Plains

Volume III The Upper Midwest

Volume IV The Northeast

Volume V The Ohio Valley

Volume VI The Mid Atlantic

Volume VII The Lower Mississippi Valley

Volume VIII The Southeast

Prexie Postal History

Originally published in 1988 as Volume 2 in the La Posta Monograph Series, Prexie Postal History was the first book devoted entirely to the subject of the 1938 Presidential Series. Five authors discuss their own personal approaches to collecting and exhibiting postal history associated with this popular set of stamps.

Terence Hines examines some of the possibilities available to build a specialized collection of cards and covers demonstrating varying uses of the Prexie low value denominations. Walt Cole demon­strates how he managed to assemble an award-winning collection featuring postal history associated with just one Prexie denomination—the 3e Jefferson. Robert Dalton Harris conducts a fascinating tour behind some of the logic of US domestic first class franking with Prexie denominations. Richard W. Helbock relates the complicated and changing pattern of international air mail usages of Prexies during the turbulent era of World War II. Stephen L. Suffet presents a discussion of several approaches to building award-winning exhibits of the Prexies. The book concludes with a publication of the massive table based on the late Henry Beecher's painstaking research showing international air mail rates from the US to various nations and colonies during the 1938-1946 period. 96 pages.

Early Air Mail & Aviation in Southern California by Don Evans

A Catalogue of Non-standard U.S. Postmarks, 1900-1971 by Randy Stehle and Doug DeRoest

Throughout the 1990s Randy Stehle and Doug DeRoest compiled a listing of over 2,000 US postmarks that violated existing Post Office Department regulations in design characteristics, but were used on 1st class mail between 1900 and 1971. The authors—aided by reports from dozens of La Posta readers—published their findings serially as an illustrated catalogue in 37 instalments between 1990 and 1998. 

Tragically, both of these scholars died at an early age before they were able to achieve their ultimate goal of producing a single, revised volume presenting a comprehensive picture of U.S. non-standard postmarks. La Posta Publications has decided to co­­mplete the non-standard catalogue project as a tribute to Randy and Doug, and has re-organized the La Posta instalments into a 337 page catalogue complete with town index and full-color illustrations of many of the non-standard postmarks on cards and covers.