By Richard C. Frajola & Frederick R. Mayer, 2005, 165p, HB. A full color presentation of the design, development and postal history of this beautiful imperf stamp. The postal history section is superb in detailing rates, routes, conventions and includes census data. Some of the most extraordinary usages of the period include ones bearing this stamp.

This book sets a new standard for single issue monographs. The colored photographs throughout add up to a wonderful census of the great single stamps and covers that exist for this issue. Frajola's explanation of rates and routes serves as a template for the study of postal history to foreign destinations during the late 1850s. The Stamp Die and Plate Production chapter does shed some new light of the development of the issue. $45.00

By James E. Graue and Dieter Leder, 2004, 206p, Spiral Bound. An outstanding work. Covers all flights for the period by sailings. Illustrates cancels, prices covers. There is also a chapter on "Factors Effecting Valuation" and a "Concordance" to cross reference their work with previous works. This is far and away one of the best airmail catalogs ever written. $30.00

Compiled by William Hagen, 2004, 150p, Spiral Bound. The information found here is basically previously unpublished. It took Hagan several years of research to unearth these documents and transcribe them. They precede the reprint work done in the 1970's by Theron Wierenga. These reports provide a record of the early developmental stages of the post office and the mails in the United States. In addition, Hagen has written an insightful introduction about the relationship between the Post Office, its contractors and the railroads during this period of westward expansion. $35.00

USSS, 2005, 480p, SB. Published ever five years by the United States Stamp Society (formerly the BIA). Each edition improves over the last with the addition of new sections and new information. There is a new section listing plate numbers of Taxpaid Revenues. In addition, there are scores of previously unreported numbers for pre-Bureau and back of the book issues. Plate numbers for issues of the past five years are also included. $22.00

By Robert P. Palazzo, 2005, 54p, Card cover. A well illustrated history of post offices by location, years of operation, postmasters', and historical tidbits. The author includes a combination of historical and contemporary photos of the various towns which are woven around photos of covers and postmarks. Also includes listings for express lines, railroads and highway post offices and a useful bibliography. $8.95