German Valley, NJ, postmark handstamp

c. 1860-1870

This circular town-date handstamp is typical of a steel-head postmarker made during the mid-nineteenth century. The solid steel die has a mortise in the center with a socket key and is marked 'German Valley, New Jersey'. The mortise only accommodates month and date type, typical of the 1860s and 1870s. The ornate set-screw head and the small-diameter dial are characteristic of pre-Civil War steel handstamps. Larger diameter devices during the mid-nineteenth Century were ordinarily made of wood.