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This is an attempt to update the work of Steve Hiscocks.   It attempts give an idea of values. It is not a pricelist of stamps for sale.   I have re-number most of them with 'RH' numbers (for Revised Hiscocks).   I anticipate having to add more items, and perhaps re-number again as new information becomes available. The currency is selectable. CheckList         Setup

United States of America

Telephone Stamps

Steve Hiscocks wrote in 1982:
As with the Telegraph stamps of the USA, all telephone stamps were issued by private companies — mainly the Bell Telephone Company and its
licencees and subsidiaries. No earlier listing of USA telephone stamps and franks apparently exists and it has , in fact, proved very difficult, operating
from the UK, to obtain information on them. Appeals through philatelic journals in both the UK and in the USA have brought virtually no response.
Such, very incomplete, data as has come to light has been through the good offices of AT & T in the USA, the Bell Telephone Co. of Canada and two
private collectors with whom Pacific T and T Company kindly put me in touch with and whose assistance is acknowledged elsewhere.

In general it seems that American Telephone and Telegraph (AT & T) operated long distance (trunk) lines throughout the USA from the 1880s
while a large number (there are currently 24) of "Bell" companies together with many smaller independent companies operated in various parts of the
country. In many cases the independent companies were subsequently absorbed by Bell Telephone which was itself, together with Western Union
on the telegraph side, part of AT & T.

The majority of telephone stamps and franks were issued by companies connected with AT & T and the reason for this seems to lie in part with
AT & T's policy, in the 1897—1907 period, of reaching reciprocal franking agreements with as many regional telephone companies as possible, and
of encouraging those companies to issue franks at a standard discount ranging from 25% on $100 books to 10% on $10 books. This was partly to
'lock customers in' and encourage the habit of using that particular company and partly to increase telephone usage since, as an AT & T official
of that time put it, "it is the universal experience that coupons or any other substitute for real cash conduces to a more profligate use of the same."

Franks are currently known to have been issued by some 30 companies although in some cases the only evidence lies in references to them in AT & T
files, and it is possible that no actual franks have survived.

All companies known to have issued franks are listed below. Information is reasonably complete for the Pacific Telegraph and Telephone Company,
but very patchy in most other cases. Unlike the Telegraph stamps of the USA the telephone stamps usually have the date printed on the reverse so
that in many cases it has not been possible to date stamps for which illustrations are available. Much more data will be required before it is
possible to ascribe realistic prices, and prices have therefore been omitted in this edition.

Needless to say, information to allow a more complete listing to be made in a †future edition of this catalogue, will be most welcome.

My note:
† Sadly Steve did not live to publish an update to his book. The internet has made new information
and images available with which I hope to continue his efforts. I have tentatively added prices where I can.

I am now replacing old images (2/3 scale B/W) with new ones when I can. I have been shown a lot of new ones so I ultimately had to completely re-number,
and will certainly need to re-number some more, so consider this list to be subject to change without notice. There is more yet to be discovered.

In the early days of the telephone, companies invested heavily in equipment and the laying of lines.
To protect their investment, they required subscribers to sign contracts preventing them from
'subcontracting' their phone to the whole neighbourhood.

An  1897 Official Directory  of the Delaware & Atlantic Telegraph and Telephone Company states:
"All persons, whether subscribers or not, must pay for the use of telephone at public stations.
The use of the telephone is limited to the subscriber, his family, or employee in his interest.
Subscribers have not the right to allow its use by other parties.
Instruments may be removed if this condition of the lease is disregarded.
Patrons who apply for telephone service at subscriber's stations should be directed to the telephone exchange or pay stations."

Directory:

I have added many new company names to the original 29, and could not preserved Hiscocks numbering. I have had to re-number them.

1. American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT & T Co.) Established 1885

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The AT & T Co. comprises Bell Telephone and Western Union, and it seems that the company ran the long distance (toll) lines which connected the
separate regional Bell companies. So called 'Message coupons' were issued to officials of AT & T and of associated companies and to others from
around 1895 until some date after 1945. Most Bell organisations in the USA and Canada seem to have discontinued the issuing of franks around 1960
and the issue of AT & T franks may have ceased then, but this is not certain. The term 'Message coupon' seems to have been used by the Company for
a variety of stamps, franks and small forms and something of this sort was still in use very recently (1977) according to company documents. One
suspects however that these last were small forms beyond the *scope of this catalogue.

It appears from such records as I have seen that AT & T franks were valid over all AT & T interstate lines throughout the USA but were not valid for
calls within the confines of any regional subsidiary. They could be used for calls to Canada but not to Mexico or other countries.

A page of sample franks, including those of AT & T with whom reciprocal arrangements existed, issued to staff of the Central Union Telephone Co. (q.v.)
in 1905 shows a 'one complimentary message pass', a one message coupon, a message coupon issued in connection with a pass, and two
different types of frank (or stamps as I would call them since they bear values.) The two franks are clearly within the *remit of this catalogue and the
small message coupon has been included subject to further information, although it is perhaps marginal. The two types of franks presumably served
different functions, but these are not known. It seems probable however that the small type, which apparently continued from some unknown date
around 1900 or earlier until some time after 1945, were those sold to the public at a discount. With no exact knowledge of when the series started or
finished, and details of only isolated issues, numbered lists have not been attempted. It is hoped that information brought to my attention following
the publication of this book will make this possible at a later date†.

My notes:
* A web-page has less constraints than publishing a book. It is now possible to extend the scope,
though it is of course up to the collector to decide what to collect.
† Sadly Steve did not live to publish an update to his book. The internet has made new information
and images available with which I hope to continue his efforts.

A. Message Coupon (Official Business Frank)

Though it seems very likely that Message Coupons were issued for all years from 1887(or before) until 1953(or later), a number of different types
were used over this period and examples are patchy. Scans of more examples are needed to determine the dates of change-over and colours used.
It is also likely that there are new types to be discovered. More scans welcome.

1887 ? Printed in black on green security background. 2.7mm Control number in red. Date printed on front. Rouletted 13.
"1887" printed bottom-left, with specific annual expiry dates hand-stamped beneath.

Type 1, RH1a courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com
Nothing on the back.

1894 ? Similar to last. 4.2mm Control number in red. Date hand-stamped (or not) on the front at bottom-left.
Nothing on the back.

Type 2

1904 Printed in black on tinted paper. Control number in red. Date on reverse.

Type 3 , taken from Hiscocks Book, page 337.

Hiscocks added the following note:

1918 ? Similar to last, but with security markings like Type 5 below. No 'Tolls' line on form.
This is marked "Frank No." in place of "Pass No." as previously.

Type 4
The back is now marked "Good only for messages sent between" and the date range beneath.

1938 Printed in black on green security background. 3.5mm Control number in red. Date on back. Perf. 12

These have on the back "Good only for messages and report charges in connection with the business of this Company, sent on or before" and the date.
Type 5, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

1953 ? Similar to last, but with 'OFFICIAL BUSINESS FRANK COUPON'. Perf. 12½
Issued in booklets having 25 panes with two per pane.
The back had simply "EXPIRES / Dec. 31st / " and a year

Type 6

B. Franks

1895 Small format, red controls, as Type 7 below.

5c To end of October 1894 - RH8	5c To end of January 1895 - RH9	5c To end of February 1895 - RH10
Image courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com	One of mine	Images courtesy of Eric Jackson

5c To end of February 1895 - RH11	5c To end of January 1902 - RH12	50c To end of July 1900 - RH13
Image courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com	A couple of mine

These appear to be monthly. The colours of the 5c at least appear to indicate the month.
The 1899 green frank has a letter 'D' in the control number. This might have been used to stop franks that had expired
being used in a subsequent year, starting with 'A' in 1896.

1901 Similar design but larger format as below. Rouletted 7 between franks, blue controls.

Type 8 - Blue SAMPLE - 5	Type 9 - Blue SAMPLE - 50	Type 10 - Blue SAMPLE - 100
Images courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

Type 8 - Black SAMPLE - 5	Type 8 - Light green SAMPLE - 5	Type 9 - Light green SAMPLE - 50
Images courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

A range of Type 8 from 1901 to 1905 courtesy of Eric Jackson. The perforations seem to be about roulette 7 or very rough.

1906 As above but roulette 6.5

 
Type 8-1906 courtesy of Eric Jackson.

A (half-size) booklet pane of 1906, courtesy of Eric Jackson.

1907? Similar design but different bottom panel
missing scrolls in top corners.

Type 11 courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

Hiscocks added the following two notes:

1900 New design as Types 12 and 13 below. Rouletted. Expiring January 31st in stated year.

Type 12 used on 5c (600dpi)	Type 13 used on 25c (600dpi, 1911)

Types 8 and 9, the first types, were engraved.
Note: It has become clear (see 1917, 1918 and 1944) that the security pattern was, in the early years, different for each position in the pane, and possibly for the different denominations.
From 1922 (possibly earlier) a standard was adopted that was the same on all stamps). This may have coincided with the switch to offset printing, see below.

William Rink has pointed out that there are different plates used to produce these.
He has kindly supplied these images and supporting information:

Type 12 Type 14 Type 16 Type 13 Type 15 Type 17

4 x 5 booklet pane.

The first issue of reds and the first column on left, were intaglio printed. The second type, second column were similar, probably a transfer, but offset printed, Offset Plate 1,
The difference mostly noticeable by touch and the lines behind the words MESSAGE COUPON. The third type was Offset Plate 2,
which has different denomination numbers and no lines behind the words MESSAGE COUPON.

Type 14	Type 16
Type 15	Type 17

The greens had two types, Offset Plate 1 and Offset Plate 2.
Images and information courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com
Unfortunately these do not show the security background.

My note: All of the intaglio printings appear to be rouletted 11, and all of the offset printings appear to be Perforated.
I have a page explaining the differences of the printing techniques.

RH#	Type.	1900 Description	Mint	Used
22	12	5c red on yellow	-	-
23	13	25c red	-	-

1901 as above

RH#	Type.	Description	Mint	Used
24	12	5c red on yellow	6.00	-
25	13	25c red	-	-

1902 as above

RH#	Type.	Description	Mint	Used
26	12	5c red on yellow	2.60	-
27	13	25c red	3.50	-

 

1903 Rouletted.

This has "Expires Jan 31st 1903 on the back." (600dpi)
Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1903 Description	Mint	Used
28	12	5c red on yellow	4.50	-
29	13	25c red	3.00	-

1904 as above

RH#	Type.	Description	Mint	Used
30	12	5c red on yellow	-	-
31	13	25c red	-	-

 

1905 As above. Rouletted.

This is still Intaglio printed, but the security design behind the ticket number was position-dependent.
Illustrations of 1917 show that each stamp in the pane had a slightly different pattern.

RH#	Type.	1905 Description	Mint	Used
32	12	5c red on yellow	2.00	-
33	13	25c carmine?	3.00	-

 

Half-size 1906 Booklet courtesy of Eric Jackson, Originally with 5 panes of 20 x 5c stamps.

1906 as above This has "Expires Jan 31st 1906 on the back." (600dpi) Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing. RH# Type. 1906 Description Mint Used 34 12 5c red on yellow 2.60 - 35 13 25c red 3.75 - 1907 as above RH# Type. 1907 Description Mint Used 36 12 5c red on yellow 3.75 - 37 13 25c red 7.50 -

1908 as above

Type 12 on 5c red on pale yellow	Type 13 on 25c red

RH#	Type.	1908 Description	Mint	Used
38	12	5c red on yellow	3.75	-
39	13	25c red	7.50	-

1909 as above

RH#	Type.	1909 Description	Mint	Used
40	12	5c red on yellow	-	-
41	13	25c red	-	-

1910 as above

RH#	Type.	1910 Description	Mint	Used
42	12	5c red on yellow	-	-
43	13	25c red	4.10	-

 

1911 Rouletted 11 (Intaglio)

Type 12 on 5c red on yellow, courtesy of Everett Ramsey	Type 13 on 25c red

RH#	Type.	1911 Description	Mint	Used
44	12	5c red on yellow	2.00	-
45	13	25c vermilion	2.60	-

1912 as above

RH#	Type.	1912 Description	Mint	Used
46	12	5c red on yellow	2.00	-
47	13	25c red	2.60	-

1913 some rouletted (intaglio), some perforated(offset Plate 1).

RH#	Type.	1913 Description	Mint	Used
48	12	5c red on yellow, rouletted	3.75	-
49	14	5c red on yellow, Perf. 14	-	-
50	13	25c red, rouletted	7.50	-
51	15	25c red. Perf. 14	-	-

1914 as 1912

RH#	Type.	1914 Description	Mint	Used
52	12	5c red on yellow, rouletted	2.60	-
53	13	25c red, rouletted	-	-

1915 another mixture

RH#	Type.	1915 Description	Mint	Used
54	12	5c red on yellow, rouletted	3.00	-
55	14	5c red on yellow. Perf. 14	3.75	-
56	15	25c red	-	-

1916 Perf. 14

RH#	Type.	1916 Description	Mint	Used
57	14	5c red on yellow	-	-
58	15	25c red	-	-

1917 as above but in green (Offset Plate 1)


This is cancelled "APR 12 1917". (600dpi). The ticket No. background is different on each of these.
Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing.


This has "Expires Jan 31st 1917 on the back." (600dpi) The ticket No. background matches the corner stamp above.
Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1917 Description	Mint	Used
59	14	5c green	-	-
60	15	25c green on pale blue	4.50	-

 

1918 another mixture, including colours.

These all have "Expires Jan. 31st 1918" on the back. (600dpi) The Ticket Number background is different on all of them, though the top two are both bottom-row and the right two are the both the right-edge. Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click images to see listing.

 

RH#	Type.	1918 Description	Mint	Used
61	12	5c red on yellow rouletted	-	-
62	14	5c red on yellow. Perf. 14	1.50	-
63	14	5c green	-	-
64	15	25c red, perf. 14	2.60	-
65	15	25c green on pale blue	3.75	-

1919 perf. 14

RH#	Type.	1919 Description	Mint	Used
66	14	5c green	3.75	-

1920 as above

RH#	Type.	1920 Description	Mint	Used
67	14	5c red on yellow	-	-
68	15	25c red	-	-
69	15	25c green on pale blue, offset Plate 2	4.50	-

1921 rouletted

RH#	Type.	1921 Description	Mint	Used
70	12	5c red on yellow	2.25	-

Offset Plate 2

Type 16 used on 5c red	Type 17 used on 25c green

These are both perforated and have the same security background, which is also on stamps from 1922 to 1946.

1922 perf. 14. Offset Plate 2.

5c Type 12 undated (RH68a)

RH#	Type.	1922 Description	Mint	Used
71	16	5c red on yellow	-	-
71a		Undated, no control	-	-
72	17	25c red	3.00	-
72a		Undated, no control	-	-

 

1923 Rouletted 10¾, perf. 11¾ or perf.14


Type 12, Intaglio. Image courtesy of Eric Jackson.


Type 17, this is imperf. between pair.
Image courtesy of Eric Jackson.
The red and green colours were both used from 1917 to 1931.

RH#	Type.	1923 Description	Mint	Used
73	12	5c red on yellow rouletted. 10¾	-	-
74	14	5c red on yellow. Perf. 14	-	-
75	16	5c red on yellow. Perf. 14	2.25	-
76	16	5c green, Perf. 11¾	-	-
76a		Perf. 13	-	-
77	15	25c red	3.00	-
78	17	25c green on pale blue, Perf. 11¾	-	-
78a		imperf. between pair.	-	-

1924 perf. 14

RH#	Type.	1924 Description	Mint	Used
79	16	5c red on yellow	-	-
80	17	25c red	-	-

1925 as above

RH#	Type.	1925 Description	Mint	Used
81	16	5c red on yellow	1.50	-
82	16	5c green	2.00	-
83	17	25c red	2.25	-
84	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

1926 As above.


These are stated to have "Expires 3 Jan 1926" on back of stamps. These have the same ticket background as the 1923 25c
It also has the same ticket background of all the green ones I have seen from 1927 to 1946. Type 16.
Image courtesy of Dick Keiser. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1926 Description	Mint	Used
85	16	5c red on yellow Plate 2	1.50	-
86	16	5c green	-	-
87	17	25c red	2.25	-
88	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

 

1927 as above


This has "Expires Jan. 31st 1927" on the back. (600dpi)
Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1927 Description	Mint	Used
89	16	5c red on yellow	-	-
90	16	5c green	5.00	-
91	17	25c red	-	-

 

1928 as above

RH#	Type.	1928 Description	Mint	Used
92	16	5c red on yellow	2.00	-
93	16	5c green	-	-
94	17	25c red	-	-
95	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

1929 as above

RH#	Type.	1929 Description	Mint	Used
96	16	5c red on yellow	3.00	-
97	17	25c red	-	-

1930 as above

RH#	Type.	1930 Description	Mint	Used
98	16	5c red on yellow	3.00	-
99	16	5c green. Perf. 12½	3.75	-
99a		Perf. 14	6.75	-
100	17	25c red	-	-
101	17	25c green on pale blue. Perf. 12½	4.50	-

1931 as above

RH#	Type.	1931 Description	Mint	Used
102	16	5c red on yellow	3.00	-
103	16	5c green. Perf. 12½	-	-
104	17	25c red	-	-
105	17	25c green on pale blue. Perf. 12½	-	-

 

1932 Perf. 12½


This has "Expires Jan. 31st 1932" on the back. (600dpi)
Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing.

	1932 half-size images courtesy of Phil (rebenic25 on eBay) click on image for listing.

 

RH#	Type.	1932 Description	Mint	Used
106	16	5c green	3.40	-
107	17	25c green on pale blue	4.50	-

1933 As above.

RH#	Type.	1933 Description	Mint	Used
108	16	5c green	-	-
109	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

1934 As above.

RH#	Type.	1934 Description	Mint	Used
110	16	5c green	4.50	-
111	17	25c green on pale blue	5.50	-

1935 As above.

RH#	Type.	1935 Description	Mint	Used
112	16	5c green	-	-
113	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

1936 As above.

RH#	Type.	1936 Description	Mint	Used
114	16	5c green	-	-
115	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

1937 As above.

RH#	Type.	1937 Description	Mint	Used
116	16	5c green	6.00	-
117	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

 

1938 as above


This has "Expires Jan. 31st 1938" on the back. (600dpi)
Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1938 Description	Mint	Used
118	16	5c green	3.75	-
119	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

1939 As above.

RH#	Type.	1939 Description	Mint	Used
120	16	5c green	3.75	-
121	17	25c green on pale blue	5.50	-

 

1940 As above.

Type 11  -  5c 1940, "Expires Jan. 31st 1940" on the back (one of mine)	25c, This has "Expires Jan. 31st 1940" on the back. (600dpi). Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1940 Description	Mint	Used
122	16	5c green	3.75	-
123	17	25c green on pale blue	5.50	-

1941 As above.

RH#	Type.	1941 Description	Mint	Used
124	16	5c green	3.00	-
124a		Stamped 'AUDITED'	2.25	-
125	17	25c green on pale blue	3.75	-
125a		Stamped 'AUDITED'	3.00	-

 

1942 as above, but two types, expiring either JAN 31st. or DEC 31st.


This has "Expires Dec. 31st 1942" on the back. (600dpi)
Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1942 Description	Mint	Used
126	16	5c green (JAN 31st)	-	-
126a		Expiring DEC 31st.	-	-
127	17	25c green on pale blue (JAN 31st)	-	-
127a		Expiring DEC 31st.	-	-

The December ones would have been in use for a shorter period.

 

1943 as above, but only expiring DEC 31st.


This has "Expires Dec. 31st 1943" on the back. (600dpi)
Image courtesy of treasurings-jewelry. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1943 Description	Mint	Used
128	16	5c green	6.00	-
129	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

 

1944 As above.

 
Images of 5c and 25c 1944 'AUDITED'.


Bottom two rows from a 25c showing the same ticket-number background on all of them.

RH#	Type.	1944 Description	Mint	Used
130	16	5c green	3.00	-
130a		Stamped 'AUDITED'	2.60	-
131	17	25c green on pale blue	3.75	-
131a		Stamped 'AUDITED'	3.00	-

 

1945 As above.

 
Images of type 7, 5c and 25c 1945 'AUDITED'.
The broken "5"on the 25c is interesting in that another pane of the same has the same break on
all stamps in the second column. An indication of how the controls were added.

RH#	Type.	1945 Description	Mint	Used
132	16	5c green	4.90	-
132a		Stamped 'AUDITED'	4.50	-
133	17	25c green on pale blue	4.50	-
133a		Stamped 'AUDITED'	3.50	-

 

1946 as above


This has "Expires Dec. 31st 1946 on the back."
Image courtesy of RareRevenues on eBay. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1946 Description	Mint	Used
134	16	5c green	4.90	-
135	17	25c green on pale blue	-	-

 

1945 New design as Type 18 below. Perf.12½.

This has "Expires Dec. 31st 1946 on the back."
Image courtesy of RareRevenues on eBay. Click image to see listing.

RH#	Type.	1945 Description	Mint	Used
136	18	5c blue	3.00	-
137	18	25c blue / pale blue	4.90	-

1946 As above.

RH#	Type.	1946 Description	Mint	Used
138	18	5c blue	-	-
139	18	25c blue / pale blue	12.00	-

1947 As above.

RH#	Type.	1947 Description	Mint	Used
140	18	5c blue	9.40	-
141	18	25c blue / pale blue	-	-

1949 As above.

Type 13, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

RH#	Type.	1949 Description	Mint	Used
142	18	5c blue	5.25	-
143	18	25c blue / pale blue	7.10	-

1950 As above.

RH#	Type.	1950 Description	Mint	Used
144	18	5c blue	-	-
145	18	25c blue / pale blue	-	-

1951 As above.

RH#	Type.	1951 Description	Mint	Used
146	18	5c blue	4.10	-
147	18	25c blue / pale blue	6.00	-

1955 As above.

RH#	Type.	1955 Description	Mint	Used
148	18	25c blue / pale blue	-	-

1957 As above.

RH#	Type.	1957 Description	Mint	Used
149	18	5c blue	5.25	-
150	18	25c blue / pale blue	6.75	-

The missing years may also (still) exist.

 

My note: More images showing front and back would be most welcome.

2. Bell Telephone (Combination Coupons)

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks, these were valid in a number of counties in the states of New York and Pennsylvania operated by:

A characteristic is that all (currently) known ones have the number '3' on the back, but it is not known what the significance of this is.
Other numbers may exist.

$25 Combination Booklet courtesy of Eric Jackson.

1907 Combination Coupons as below. Rouletted 10¾

Type 1 "Combination Coupon".

 
Type 1 Front and back of two stamps, courtesy of Eric Jackson.

A (half-size) booklet pane courtesy of Eric Jackson.

RH# Type. Description Mint Used 1 1 5c red, blue control - - 2 1 5c blue, red control - -   Type 2 "Subject to Ticket Number". Type 2 Front and back courtesy of Eric Jackson.   RH# Type. Description Mint Used 3 2 5c blue, red control - -

3. Bell Telephone Company of Buffalo

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The only known frank of this company dates from 1907. By 1910 "Employee Franks" were being issued by the New York Telephone Co.
(Buffalo Division) which suggests that the BTCB had been absorbed by the NYTC in 1908 or 1909. Franks may therefore have been issued
only for a few years, perhaps as a result of a reciprocal franking agreement with AT & T. One might expect at least one higher value also to exist.

My note:
More material has come to light since then, spanning from the 1890s to 1910 at least.

a. Stamps.

1902 Design as Type 1 below. Perf. 12

Type 1 courtesy of Eric Jackson.

1903 Design as above but without date on bell . Perf. 12, red controls.

 

Type 2 courtesy of Eric Jackson.

b. Franks.

1893? Design as Type 3 below. Rouletted 6¾

Type 3 courtesy of Eric Jackson. (Nothing on the back)

1905? Design as Type 4 below.

Type 4 courtesy of Eric Jackson. (Nothing on the back)
Someone has written 1905 - 1908 on this (pencil ?), it may be the date range.

1903? Design as Type 4 below. Red controls. Perf. 10¾

Type 5 courtesy of Eric Jackson. (Front and back)

4. Bell Telephone Company of Missouri

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
A single "Employee's Message Coupon" is known. The date on the reverse is in general form — '189  ' — and '8' has been written in on the one known copy.

The company later became part of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.

1898 Design as Type 1 below.

Hiscocks Book, page 340 showed the front of this in monochrome without the stub.
Here is a better image, including the stub and the back courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center.

Hiscocks added the following two notes:

5. Bell Telephone Company of Philadelphia

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
A very poor copy of one frank exists in the AT & T archives. Its date is not known but the design suggests the early 1880s. The illustration
below is poor because the original is stuck down with very old adhesive tape: It appears to be of two different designs, se-tenant, but, bearing
in mind the records of other franks, etc in that file, it is probably the two sides of the same frank. The wording on the upper reads
"The Bell/Telephone Co./Philadelphia." and on the other "Good for/one city message/at any/pay station."

Date ? Design as Type 1 below. Perf.12.

As Hiscocks Book, page 340, but now in colour courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center.

6. Central District & Printing Telegraph Company

This company was not listed by Steve Hiscocks, it was organized as the first telephone company in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and existed from May 27, 1874 to at least 1903.
The design of the 'Message Coupon' resembles that of the AT & T Co. Telephone Franks of the time and according to Hiscocks (Pg.343) a letter of October 1897
from the Central Union Telephone Company (Indianapolis) tried to persuade them to join the AT & T 'Consortium'. They declined.


These two (printers ?) samples in the Central Union style, may reflect negotiations of the time.
Images courtesy of Eric Jackson.

1897?   Design as below, Rouletted 16½.

 
 
Type 1 front and back of 4 examples, courtesy of Eric Jackson.

7. Central New York Telephone and Telegraph Company

This company was not listed by Steve Hiscocks. This Utica based company bought the local Syracuse Telephonic Exchange on 1st June 1887.
The company built a new office and moved back to the Wieting Block in 1887 when there were 250 telephones connected.

189?   Design as below. Rouletted 7 at side.

Type 1   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

Date ?   Design as below, for Utica. Rouletted 8 between.

Type 2   courtesy of Eric Jackson. (nothing on the back)

1903 ?   New Design with year in red across face and red controls. Perf. 12

Type 3

8. Central New York Telephone and Telegraph Company and The Empire State Telephone and Telegraph Company

This combination was not listed by Steve Hiscocks. The Central New York Telephone and Telegraph Company is described in an earlier section.
The Empire State Telephone and Telegraph Company had been one of their rivals, serving seven counties in Syracuse.
The Ontario and Steuben Telephone Company merged with the Empire State T&TC in 1907.

1905?   Design as below. Rouletted.

Type 1 (RH1a)  courtesy of Eric Jackson.

A promotional Frank good only for the month of April 1909 in selected Counties.

Type 2

1911?   Complementary Frank. Rouletted 14 between

 
Type 3   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

9. Central Pennsylvania Telephone and Supply Company

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
A single employee's frank with the manuscript date 1893 exists in the AT & T records. The wording is the same as that on later AT & T
equivalents, so this probably was another Bell company, although this is not implicit in the name. A virtually identical frank was issued by the
Pennsylvania Telephone Company (q.v.) bearing, in the only illustration available, an almost illegible date which could be 1898. These may be
different stages of the same Company.

My note:
Hiscocks illustrated an unused example with a hand written '1893' at top right. The used one below has a printed 1897 at bottom left.
Despite the '(q.v.)', Hiscocks did not list a 'Pennsylvania Telephone Company' and the examples I have seen for that company do not include anything like this.

(1893) Design as Type 1 below. Perf.11 on the sides.

Type 1   courtesy of Eric Jackson. (Nothing on the back)

10. Central Union Telephone Company

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
This company was based in Indianapolis, Indiana, but also apparently operated from Cleveland, Ohio and from Chicago, Illinois. It seems to have
initiated, in 1897, the move towards reciprocal franking which finally evolved into a set of uniform agreements between AT & T and several
companies in 1904. Indeed the hope was that a "universal coupon" would "inevitably follow" but this ambition was never realised.

The CUTC issued no less than five different types of "message coupons" or franks in 1905 according to a set of specimen franks circulated to managers
and toll agents on 1 March 1905. All were in booklets and numbered to correspond to the booklet number. They were valid for a year to the expiry
date stamped on the reverse over Company lines only.

I. Limited Coupons

1905 Design as Types 1 and 2 below.

Taken from Hiscocks Book, page 341 (2/3 scale - 200 dpi).

II. Trunk Line Toll Coupons

1905 Design as Type 3 below.

Taken from Hiscocks Book, page 342 (2/3 scale - 200 dpi).

Hiscocks added the following note:

III. Message Coupons of type 1

1905 Design as Types 4 and 5 as below. Controls in red unless otherwise stated. Rouletted 6.4

Type 4 from Hiscocks Book, page 342

 
 
Type 5   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

Hiscocks added the following 3 notes:

IV. Message Coupons of type 2

1905 Design as Type 6 as below.

Taken from Hiscocks Book, page 342 (2/3 scale - 200 dpi).

Hiscocks added the following note:

V. Message Coupon of type 3

1905 Design as Type 7 as below. Control in red. Rouletted.

Taken from Hiscocks Book, page 343 (2/3 scale - 200 dpi).

Hiscocks added the following 2 notes:

11. 'Chicago Telephone Company' ?

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The true name of this company is not known and no details of its franks (if any) are known. It is referred to in a letter of October 1897 from the
Central Union Company to the Central District & Printing Telephone Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. trying to persuade the latter to join the 'consortium',
offering toll line franks at a discount, which then consisted of "the Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland and Central Union Companies" although others were
expected to join and did so later on. The Pittsburg Company, after much dithering, decided not to join. Presumably this company covered only part of
Chicago since the Central Union also operated in Chicago.

12. 'Cleveland Telephone Company' ?

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The case of this Company, of which the correct name is again not known, is exactly that of Chicago above. The existence of franks is inferred but no
details are known. It seems that the Cleveland Company also shared its territory with the Central Union Company.

This could have been the International Independent Telephone Accounting Company which was based in Cleveland from 1909 to at least 1932.

13. Colorado Telephone Company

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The Company was based in Denver and in the mid-1890s issued coupons, referred to as 'scrip', which must be considered marginal to this catalogue.
This scrip was effectively company money with which calls, but not rentals, could be paid for. In fact the Company maintained a small army of
messenger boys to collect payment for calls by business and domestic users the day following the calls (while the details were still fresh in
everyone's memory) and within half an hour in the case of calls from saloon bars! The scrip was sold in imperforate sheets at no discount, would not be
cashed by the Company, was transferrable and was reused until it wore out. One value of the scrip is illustrated below, but the collector must decide
what status he or she affords it. At some unknown but considerably later date ordinary toll franks were issued. These are very similar in type to the
Mountain States T & T Co. (q.v.) franks of 1957.

The company became part of the Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company in 1911.

A. Franks

1906 ? As shown below. Control number in red. Perforated 11¾

Type 1   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

1907 As shown below. Control number in red. Rouletted 12.

1908 As shown below. Control number in red. Rouletted 12.

Type 1   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

B. 'Scrip' Issue

1894 (and earlier). As shown below. Imperf.

Taken from Hiscocks Book, page 344 (2/3 scale - 200 dpi).

14. Cumberland Telephone and Telegraph Company

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The Company, based in Nashville, Tenn., apparently joined the AT & T reciprocal franking consortium in 1903. The illustration below, taken from a
photocopy of a specimen in the AT & T files, has again suffered from the injudicious use of adhesive tape. As with those of the Bell Telephone
Company of Philadelphia it is not clear whether the illustration shows a se-tenant pair or the two sides of the same frank: the latter seems more likely.

Date ? Rouletted.

Front and back, as Hiscocks Book, page 344, but now in colour courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center.

15. Delaware & Atlantic Telegraph and Telephone Company

This was not listed by Steve Hiscocks. The frank below is signed by W. T. Westbrook who according to their
1897 Official Directory was at the time Superintendent at the company's office at 406 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
The book also says "During thunder showers calls will not be answered."

Date ? Rouletted.

Type 1   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

16. Evansville Telephone Exchange

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The Evansville (Indiana) Company was a subsidiary of the Bell Telephone Co. and it sought permission in May 1882 to sell the franks illustrated below
at the same set of discounts later agreed by the Central Union / AT & T group: 10% on $10, 15% on $25, 20% on $50 and 25% on $100.

According to a clipping from a local newspaper of the time, the franks were transferrable and valid for all Company lines until used: that is, they were
not, it appears, dated.

1882 Rouletted.

Taken from Hiscocks Book, page 345 (2/3 scale - 200 dpi).

17. Gordon Telephone Company

This was not known to Steve Hiscocks. It was incorporated in Charleston as a local telephone exchange and grew to
encompass South Carolina and West Virginia as an Independent Telephone Company.

Type 1

18. Hudson River Telephone Company

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The Company, based in Albany, N.Y. entered a reciprocal franking agreement with AT & T in 1903. As always with these agreements the
franks were actually produced by AT & T at the expense of the Hudson River Company.

HRTC was also, in the same year, involved in an advertising and promotion campaign which resulted in the issue of franks by at least one customer.
The firm concerned was John J. White of Albany which was a large general store. Books of franks, as illustrated below and with a HRTC cover, were
distributed to at least 1000 customers who could order goods by telephone, and charge the cost of the call to the store by attaching the frank, with the
cost of the call written in, to the confirmation of order. A report on these promotion activities suggested that other firms — Henry Russell, E. M.
Carpenter & Co. and possibly S. C. Wooster (Wholesale Fish) — might adopt the same procedure, and also refers to the distribution of 20,000
booklets to Country Merchants by the Wholesale Merchants Association.

A. Company Frank

1901 Roulette 11¾ down side.

Type 1   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

1903 Roulette 14 x 6.3 ?

Type 2   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

Hiscocks added the following note:

Date ? Rouletted.

This is 'corrected' from a photograph.
Image courtesy of Jerry Burkhart. Click to see listing. I will call this Type 3.

Hiscocks added the following note:

Undated horizontally rouletted coupon, imperf. at sides.

Type 4

B. Commercial Frank

1903 Perf.12 between franks.

Type 5 from Hiscocks Book, page 345 (2/3 scale - 200 dpi).

19. International Independent Telephone Accounting Company

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks, a company set up in Cleveland Ohio jointly by a number of independent
telephone companies to enable them to combine efforts in competing with the Bell Company.

Two small Message coupons, perforated or rouletted.


Images Needed

20. Inter Ocean Telephone & Telegraph Company

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks, this independent company formed about 1900 and had an office at 536 Ellicott Square, Buffalo, New York.
It operated in New York and Pennsylvania.

Type 1 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

21. Iowa Telephone Company

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The sale of franks at a discount first took place in 1896 or 1897, and was still current practice in 1905, when the Iowa Company (based in Des Moines)
was approached by AT & T to join the 'consortium'. Franks were valid for one year, but no samples have come to light and no further details can be given.

One is now known.

1900? Rouletted 6.3

Type 1 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

22. Maine State Prison Canteen Telephone Ticket

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks, these were used in making telephone calls at the State Prison in Thomaston about 1987.

Printed by Globe ticket Co., dispensed from a roll, rouletted between, numbered in red.


Image Needed

23. Metropolitan Telephone and Telegraph Co.

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks. The Metropolitan Telephone and Telegraph Co. was formed in 1879
from the merger of the Bell Telephone Co. of New York and the Western Union subsidiary of Gold & Stock Telephone Co.
This then merged in 1896 with the Westchester Telephone Co. to form the New York Telephone Co.
The New York and New Jersey Telephone Company merged with this in 1909.

1895? Perf. 11¾ between.

 
Type 1 front and back courtesy of Eric Jackson.

24. Michigan Bell Telephone Company

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The pair of franks illustrated appear to have been issued for complimentary use. They were issued in books with a common control number,
and further numbered 1 to 4 down each pane.

Chartered on 4 June 1883 in Detroit, Michigan. More information is available at:
Company-Histories.com and DavidsiWik.net.

Date ? Rouletted between.

Taken from Hiscocks Book, page 346 (2/3 scale - 200 dpi).

25. Michigan State Telephone Company

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks, this was Incorporated in 1904 as the successor to the Michigan Bell Telephone Company, with control
over all Bell telephone exchanges in the state of Michigan. The name reverted back in 1924.

Date? Perf. 11¾ between.

Type 1 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

26. Milwaukee Telephone Exchange

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
According to present knowledge the Milwaukee Telephone Exchange issued the first telephone franks or stamps in the USA, and were only a year
after France. There were two types — the ordinary stamps and the same overprinted (or rather handstamped) 'Subscriber'. The 'Subscriber' stamps
were sold to subscribers at face value, and could be used when using telephones other than their own. Those who received them for allowing the
use of their telephone could use them in payment of telephone charges or pass them on to other subscribers. The non-subscriber (i.e. ordinary)
stamps were sold to non-subscribers at 10 cents each to pay for calls at subscribers' telephones. They were redeemable with the Company at
5 cents each so that non-subscribers, in effect, paid double.
The Exchange was opened in 1879 and in 1881 had 656 subscribers. The possibility of purchase by Western Union was already under discussion in 1881.

1881 Perf.11 top and bottom.

Type 1 courtesy of Eric Jackson. (Nothing printed on the back of the first)

.

Date? Perf.12½ top and bottom.

Similar to last, but not a fixed value and different perforation.
The image is from eBay lot 334671772680 offered by LiquidationGirl
I tried to ask permission to use the image, but eBay would not allow me to send a message, saying instead :
"We couldn't find an answer. Unfortunately, this seller isn't able to respond to your question. We suggest reviewing the item again to see if your answer is in the seller's listing."
What do you do ? The image is too important to ignore, so I show it anyway

27. Minnesota Central Telephone Company

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks, this company was formed from the merger of the
Southern Electric Telephone Company, the Northern Electric Telephone Company and the Minnesota Central Telephone Company.
Located originally in Willmar, Minnesota, it moved later to Minneapolis.

Employees Message Ticket .


Image Needed

28. Missouri and Kansas Telephone Company

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks, this was founded in 1882.
It later merged with other companies to become Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1917.

1911

Type 1 courtesy of Eric Jackson.

New design.

Image Needed

29. Monmouth Toll Line Company

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks, this was incorporated August 2, 1902 in Perth, Amboy, New Jersey.

Franks in panes of three rows of two stamps. Perf. 12.


Image Needed

30. Moore's Telephone System

Not listed by Steve Hiscocks, this was established in 1892 at Caro, Tuscola, Michigan.
WorthPoint.com refers to a $5.00 Toll Coupon Booklet (2 1/8" high by 5 1/8" long) issued November 19, 1906 containing coupons for 5, 10 and 25 cents,
each signed W. J. Moore General Manager. The booklet having ten 5 cent pages, five 10 cent pages and one 25 cent page at 4 coupons per page.

1900 ? Rouletted 12½.

 

5c, 10c and 25c. the backs are blank.

31. Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company

Steve Hiscocks only knew of a single (1957) frank, he wrote:
The Company is based in Denver, Colorado, and is presumably the successor to the Colorado Telephone Company (q.v.)
which produced very similar franks.

In fact, it was formed in 1911 from the Colorado Telephone Co., together with Tri-State Telephone, and Rocky Mountain Bell.
I have not seen any dated earlier than 1913, although I would have expected 1912 to exist.

Franks in panes of five, rouletted between.
No ring around Bell.

Type 1, image Needed

A (half-size) booklet pane , courtesy of Eric Jackson.

1931 pale buff wove paper. Paper-maker watermark. Booklet panes of 5, rouletted 12½ between stamps. Large value numerals encroaching on "NOT GOOD IF DETACHED" Ring added around Bell. Type2(front and back)   courtesy of Eric Jackson. RH# Type. 1931 Description Mint Used 13 2 5c dark blue 3.50 - 14 2 10c green 3.50 - 15 2 25c red 4.20 - 16 2 50c blue 7.00 - 17 2 100c orange 8.40 - This example shows a paper-makers(?) watermark. (half-size) enhanced image, courtesy of Eric Jackson.

1943 White wove paper. No watermark. Booklet panes of 5, rouletted 6¼ between stamps.
Clearer design with smaller lettering, value numerals clear of "NOT GOOD IF DETACHED"

Type 3, 1943 set(less 5c) courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

 
 
Type 3 (front and back of 1957)   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

 
 
 
 
 
Type 3 (front and back of 1958)   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

 
 
 
 
 
Type 3 (front and back of 1959)   courtesy of Eric Jackson.

32. National Bell Telephone Company of the State of Maine

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
No background information is available on the Company, but two 'trunk line message coupons' are in the AT & T files.

Date ? Rouletted ?

Taken from Hiscocks Book, page 347 (2/3 scale - 200 dpi).

33. New England Telephone and Telegraph Company

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
Three types of frank are known from this company. The best known ran from around 1890 to at least until 1912, and are unusual in USA telephone
stamps in being dated on the face. A single copy of a completely different type with obvious 'Bell' connections and no date (except probably on the reverse)
is very poorly illustrated below after multiple photocopying. The lettering in the circle around the bell reads
"NEW ENGLAND TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH COMPANY : BELL SYSTEM".
It may have replaced the '1890—1912' type. Finally there is a much larger frank open-dated '189 ' and apparently valid in the 'Boston Division' only.

There is in addition an Employee's Frank. The company was founded in 1883.

a. Type I

1887? Rouletted 8½. Control number in manuscript. General Manager Loren N. Downs. Undated.
'Ex-Territorial Lines.'

Type 1 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

1888 Rouletted. Control number in manuscript. General Manager Loren N. Downs. Dated on front.
'In Boston and Suburban Territory.' No value.

Type 2 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

1890? Rouletted 8½. Control number in manuscript. General Manager Loren N. Downs. Dated on Front.
'Ex-Territorial Lines.'

Image of 1890 type (1), courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

1891 New design. Perf.12 on three sides. General Manager Jasper N. Killir.

Type 3-1891 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

1892 As above.

Type 3-1892 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

1893 As above.

Type 3-1893/4 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

1894 As above.

Type 3-1894 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

1895 As above.

10c and 15c courtesy of Fletcherart on eBay.

1896 As above.

Image of 1896 type 3, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

1897 As above.

Images of 1897 types 3, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

1897 New design, date thinner, value taller and without bar through 'c'.

Images of 1897 type 4, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

1898 New design, similar to type 3 but clearer date. Value still without bar through 'c'.

Image of 1898 type 5, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

1899 As above.

Image of 1899 type 5, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

1900 As above.

Image of 1900 type 5, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

A (half-size) booklet pane imperf. between. courtesy of Eric Jackson.

1901 New design. Date in white. Perf.11¾ In panes with 5 stamps vertically or 2 x 5 stamps. Type 6 (1902) courtesy of Eric Jackson. RH# Type. 1901 Description Mint Used 30 6 5c colour unknown - - 31 6 10c colour unknown - -   1902 As above. RH# Type. 1902 Description Mint Used 32 6 5c colour unknown - - 33 6 10c black and brown on buff - - 33a           imperf. between vertical pair - -

1903 As above.

An image of a 10c 1903 is on a $5 AmeriVox phone card.

1904 As above but date in colour. Red controls.

 
Type 7 from Hiscocks Book, page 348

Not seen, but now seems likely.

1906 As above but date in colour.

Type 7 from Hiscocks Book, page 348

1907 New design. Perf.12.

Type 8 - (1908) courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

1908 As above.

1909 As above.

Image of 1909 type 8, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

1910 As above.

1911 As above.

Image of 1911 type 8, courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

1912 As above.

Type 8-1912 courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

1914 to 1918   New type, as above but no mention of a General Manager.

Type 9 images courtesy of Eric Jackson. Nothing printed on the back.

My note: Mention of a General Manager stopped 1913 or 1914.

b. Type II

1920 Red controls expiring on 31st January each year, though not all are known. Perf. 11½.
These were in booklet panes with two rows of five franks. Some were bound at the top and some at the side,
though it is unclear as to why and if there was a specific distinction.

Type 10     5c - Jan. 81st 1987? - I think this is Jan 31st 1937	Type 10     10c and 25c courtesy of William Rink of  www.telephonestamps.com

c. Type III Boston Division

189- Perf.11¾ between franks in panes of three.

Type 11a courtesy of Eric Jackson.

190- Perf.11¾ between franks in panes (of three ?)

Type 12 courtesy of Eric Jackson.