Jackson Mich Fancy

Quote:
EXCERPT FROM MEEKEL'S WEEKLY STAMP NEWS (SEPTEMBER 11, 1915)

According to the accepted meaning of the word "precancelled" a stamp to belong in this class does not necessarily have to bear the state and post office name. In several barrels of old papers were found a few years ago precanceled stamps of the issues of 1894 and 1895 on original covers, state and post office name not appearing on the stamps. Unfortunately, the owner clipped the stamps without endeavoring to determine their point of origin. However, he thinks they came from either Chicago or Cleveland.

The postal regulations are now very specific as to the style of the precancellation, which must contain the state and post office name on two lines between horizontal parallel bars. Some of the old precancellations stand out in a collection because of their originality.

** Take the 1898, 1902, and 1903, Jackson, Mich., which consist of a two-line horizontal inscription in capitals with line above, below and between, all enclosed in a double-lined oval.

** Then there are the 1902 and 1903 issues of Lansing, Michigan, which show a fancy design representing nine railroad tracks converging to a center, where a star is placed enclosed in a circle, Lansing above, Michigan below, both in capitals.

** Sherman. N. Y., gives us a design with the word "Sherman" in curve with an ornament above representing two leaves, N. Y. below with a short bar above, all enclosed in a line circle measuring 16 millimeters in diameter appearing on the issues of 1902 and 1903. Business at Sherman evidently dropped off, for we find no issues catalogued since the one of 1903. Possibly the postmaster was discouraged by a lack of appreciation of his artistic ability.

** Akron, Ohio, probably induced the rubber industry to locate there and furnish the postmaster with better rubber rollers. His grace, the postmaster, struggled along with unsatisfactory rubber equipment starting with the year 1890. In 1902 his patience with rubber must have become exhausted, for the issue of that year was overprinted from a stereotype plate, though the under rollers were used as late as the year 1909.