"California's Newest Postal Address: Portuguese Bend" envelope

Abstract/Description: Envelope image shows cover stamp with an outline drawing of the Palos Verdes Peninsula coastline from Redondo to San Pedro with a ship, whale and seahorse. Envelope printed with first day cover stamp: "CALIFORNIA'S NEWEST POSTAL ADDRESS: PORTUGUESE BEND FIRST DAY COVER - JAN. 2, 1952." Address on letter is to "Terry L. Davis / 137 Santa Rita Pl / Banning California." The opening of the Portuguese Bend rural station marked the third official post office on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The station was located at the Portuguese Bend Club gatehouse and served the population on the western and southern ends of the Peninsula. All outgoing mail on January 2, 1952, the first day the new station opened, was stamped with the cover stamp announcing its opening. Until the opening of the new station, mail to the area was addressed "Portuguese Bend via Palos Verdes Estates." The first postmark used on the Peninsula was "Palos Verdes Estates" with the office located in Palos Verdes Estates. As the population on the Peninsula increased, a second station and postmark "Rolling Hills" was created in 1942. With WWII, it closed down for several years and reopened officially 1949. The postmark "Palos Verdes Peninsula" started in 1962 with the opening of the post office in Rolling Hills Estates.
Subject(s): First day covers (Philately)
1951-1960
Stamped envelopes
Ships on postage stamps
Signs and symbols on postage stamps
Postmarks