An original gas usage bill for the year 1901, Portsmouth, VA, January 1st, 1902 on the pre-printed US Postal Card, 1897 issue [UX14 PC8], postal flag cancellation of January 2, 1902, two corners are bend,a little soiling, very good condition. See photos

Before electricity was installed in houses, lighting was by gas. The gas for the lamps in most rooms of the house came in through a pipe from the center of the ceiling, some had the pipe in the wall. Gas lamps worked by heating something called a 'mantle' with a gas flame. The mantle then became white hot and could illuminate a room. Lamps had two chains: one to turn the gas on and the other to turn it off. These chains could also adjust the flow of the gas and hence the brightness of the mantle. Gas mantles were made from a material that looked like a fine honeycombed silk. When the gas was turned on and lit, it was contained by the mantle bag. Then, at the multitude of holes in the mesh, it met the air and burning took place and the mantle became white hot, so giving out light.

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