The Duplex Hand Stamp
below
is of a similar type to the one
used to make this cancellation.
Collecting the various types of cancellations or
specializing in one particular type of cancel can be an
interesting and rewarding sideline to a stamp collection.
Cancels give us information about the origins of the item the
time frame of when it was sent or used and sometimes are even
used celebrate events or as advertisements. Illustrated
above with links to additional cancel scans are a few of the various types of cancels.
Pre-Cancels: These
are stamps canceled in advance of use, usually with the name of
the town where they are to be used. Pre-Cancels facilitate the
handling of large mailings.
Fancy Cancels: Cancels
usually from the mid-to late 1800s made with various cork stamp
devices by individual postmasters. The designs are many and
varied and some of these command premium prices. Some of the
designs include bulls-eyes, clover designs, and concentric
circles. (Basically any postmaster hand made design of the
period.)
Slogan Cancels: Call
attention to a cause or celebration
Flag Cancels: These
are a type of cancel that were popular around the turn of the
19th and 20th centuries. There are many different types of flag
cancel varieties.
RPO:
Railroad Post Office Cancels
DPO:
Dead Post Offices (Post Office branches that have been closed
down.)
Collecting the various types of cancellations or
specializing in one particular type of cancel can be an
interesting and rewarding sideline to a stamp collection.
Cancels give us information about the origins of the item the
time frame of when it was sent or used and sometimes are even
used celebrate events or as advertisements. Illustrated
above with links to additional cancel scans are a few of the various types of cancels.