Not sure, but the existing 2 digit code was incorporated into the 5 digit code, as the last two numbers.
For example Pacific Heights was Zone 15 until the mid-1960’s — and then it became Zip Code 94115.
<And it is definitely 89 the top half of the 8 is a lot smaller that the bottom.>
Still hard to know. If it was hand-stamped, the depiction may have been affected by the angle of the hand-stamp being applied. We’ll get to the bottom of it!
Not sure, but the existing 2 digit code was incorporated into the 5 digit code, as the last two numbers.
For example Pacific Heights was Zone 15 until the mid-1960’s — and then it became Zip Code 94115.
Then why also use the number-letter combination for neighborhoods? Seems very convoluted.
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The number-letter combinations are not matches for the zip codes. They apparently represent more specific designations that USPS uses for pick-ups and deliveries. Yes, it is convoluted.
Does the top of the 6/bottom of the 9 match? It looks like more curl to the top of the 6.
I have a USPS person apparently telling me that if it is an 89, the number references a die that is used to cancel the stamps — that the # would be used by maintenance to identify a machine when it was out of ink or misaligned.
Not an 89 though, upon further review. The 9 and 6 don’t match.
The 9 in 1970 looks exactly like the 9 in 89 on the perimeter. Look especially at the point where the looped line joins together. There is a darker spot in precisely the same location for each 9.
The bottom of the 9 in 89 doesn’t extend further than the bottom of the 9 in 1970?
Here is a (non-Zodiac) postmark from 1969. The top of the 6 appears to extend farther then the bottom of the 9 — as in our example.
I know he isn’t well liked around here for whatever reason, but on Tom’s site I read that Michael Butterfield claimed that police know the locations of all the drops. Is this accurate?
“Murder will out, this my conclusion.”
– Geoffrey Chaucer
That’s a good question. It’s hard to see SFPD being able to pin down the specific mailboxes.
EDIT: General info;
http://www.texascovers.org/featured-art … -USPOD.pdf
If you want to check Zipcodes then look here;
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000530066
You make several good points – again though, Graysmith has both letters in question as 6B. He made a lot of errors but my guess is that info is direct from SFPD, and what they worked the case off of.
Something else too — apparently the Oct 27 postmark is from a hi-res reproduction made as a promo piece for the Fincher movie.
1 340 Ciphers 7-31-69
