Collection of Howard A. Krumwiede (Coll. 47)

An Inventory of The Collection at the G. W. Blunt White Library, Mystic Seaport

Biography of Howard A. Krumwiede

Mr. Howard A. Krumwiede (d. 1954) was a devoted collector of stamps who eventually developed a scholarly interest in the study of postal markings used on board ships, as well as other aspects of trans-ocean mail. This collection of letter covers (and the research and ships data included with it) was a product of Krumwiede's twenty-six year interest.

Scope and Content

The Howard A. Krumwiede Collection totals nearly 3000 pieces. It is essentially a philatelic collection in the specific area of ship covers and other aspects of 19th century ocean mails.

In boxes 1 through 4 the researcher will find nearly 850 letters, covers, and other papers carried by various ships in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Nearly all the covers have ship stamps, and/or other postal markings. Arrangement for the most part is alphabetical by ship name, an important exception, however, being the opium and China trade letters found in Box 4. These are filed chronologically and together provide and important view of trade with China during the 1840's and 50's.

Box 5 contains 500 pieces of Krumwiede philatelic correspondence, 1943-1953; and letters, covers, and prints of postal markings, etc., primarily during the period 1880-1950. This is followed by Box 6 containing Mr. Krumwiede's typed research relative to the ships represented in the collection, and to postal markings and clippings, and ship lectures. Box 8 contains clippings and articles from "Steamboat Bill", and "Stamps". In Box 9 there are 8 monographs and several clippings relative to ocean mail.

Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.