Cemetarian, did you know you're my hero? Your pattern dating guide is amazing. That must have taken you positively ages to put together and I've gotten tons of help from it! Welcome to the team, we're very glad to have you!
I have used your site a lot of times and I think its absolutely the greatest. There are always those few envelopes that I just can never figure out and I look at your site and it always works.
what a fabulous resource! I have a lot of mailorder patterns in their original mailing envelope. Is there a way to date the pattern from the postmark? Often the postage will be listed, but I don't know if it was the first class rate or a special rate. . .I usually go by the style of the dress, but I have a lot to learn from your careful analysis!
One way to help date Mail Order Patterns is the post mark on the original envelope. Metered mail should be stamped. Undated Meters are as follows: "SEC 564 PL&R" , 1 or 1 1/2 cent or similar = early 1930's to early 1950's "SEC 34.66 PL&R" , 1 1/2 cent meter = 1950's "BULK RATE" the postage helps narrow down the range: 2 1/2 cent = July 1960 to Dec 1962 2 5/8 cent meter = 1963 2 3/4 cent meter = 1964 2 7/8 cent meter = Jan 1965 to Dec 1967 3 6/10 cent meter = Jan 1968 to Jun 1969 3 8/10 cent meter = Jul 1969 to May 1971 If the meter has a serial number the number might give a clue to the date: PB with 4 digit numbers are usually 1945 or earlier PB with 5 digit numbers 01000 to 01549 or PB 55000 to 56999 are usually 1933-1940 PB with 5 digit numbers 01550 to 01999 are late 1930s to 1950's PB with 5 digit numbers 05000 to 05499 or PB 5400 to 54999 are usually 1960s or 1970's PB with 5 digit numbers 57000 to 59999 cane be anywhere from 1930 to 1970 PB with 6 digit numbers are usually 1980 and later.
cemetarian, I just used your site last night and it is fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing. I was recently lucky enough to come across a whole box of vintage patterns and they are gorgeous, from 50s-80s! You have been a big help, so thank you!
