Arago: Handstamps

The Baumgarten Company of Washington, D.C., manufactured this town-date postmark for New Haven, Connecticut. Although it is often referred to as a 'rubber' stamp, this marking die is actually an acrylic plastic.

The Baumgarten Company has provided rubber stamps and other marking devices under contract to the U.S. Post Office Department and Postal Service for approximately one hundred years, making it one of the Department's longest continuous suppliers. The Baumgarten Company was originally located at 811 10th Street, NW, in the District of Columbia. It was at this address when it produced this New Haven circular date stamp. The company is now located at 325 Washington Boulevard, Laurel, Maryland.