Silly Question? What Are These Referred To As?

Hey guys - Haven't been around for a while - still recovering from a bout of stamp burnout.

Picked this box of stuff up at a yard sale Saturday and it appears as if it's someone's life long collection of cut covers with cancellations on them. I think it's pretty neat and noticed the same guy's name on covers from the 40s through the 90s and I haven't looked that closely yet.

Just wondering what these are actually called - this type of collection?

thanks

Clippings. But not mission mixture or kiloware, which are generally accumulated from a variety of sources, not one single individual.

The postal stationery corners might, in a stretch, be called "cut squares," but they are way too small for collectible purposes.

A great find for collecting postmarks, duplex cancels, machine cancels, hand cancels, slogan cancels and the like.

Don't overlook studying the postmarks! I found at least one in your scan is from a discontinued post office (DPO) at Ink, Arkansas. Postmarks from DPO's are particularly collectible.

Here's more on how Ink, Arkansas got its name. It's quite a humorous story:

http://arkansasroadstories.com/ink.html

The stamps can be called "on piece".

Unless the stamps are on a full envelope or document, I personally have a problem referring to these as "on piece". I also like to use the term "clipping".

???

What is shown above is the very definition of "on piece". If they were complete envelopes or documentts, they would be "on cover" or "on document".

On piece is exactly what they are...

It seems that "on cover" would address the stamp on a full envelope. When I see "on piece" in an auction listing description, I assume the stamp is still on a scrap of paper, but something less than complete.

You also see the term "on paper" used.

Mike,

It looks like you have the remnants of a postmark collection. It's a niche market, but they are very collectible.

www.postmarks.org

Many postmark collectors cut the envelope to a "2 X 4" inch square to include the postmark and save mounting space. In postmark terminology they are called 2X4's. It is a common size for many old collections.

Dan

I still call them cut squares myself but have not talked to many postmark collectors so haven't picked up other varieties of naming. They are not truly cut square but it's an easy term to remember and apply to all cancel pieces, whether they are really cit square or cut rectangular or something.

The ripped off pieces of envelopes are collectible for cancels (or stamps) of course but don't look as nice when placed next to others that are cut sqaurely.

Ah, cut squarely is perhaps how I arrived at using the cut square term for all these.

Hard to get everything cut to teh same size when you have extra stamps stuck on as well as the embossed endicia (indicia).

Puzzler,

As a stamp collector, I generally think of a "cut square" with reference to stamped envelopes and wrappers. That was the common way to collect them for a long time. If it's an "irregular" size, I refer to it as "on piece."

The 2X4 size isn't written in stone for a postmark collector. It varies somewhat if the postmark is larger. (by "postmark" I am referring to the postmark itself and the cancel). If there are other postal markings or some tie to the postmark, you generally try to find them on cover.

To display better, some older collectors would *cringe* paste an irregular or smaller postmark onto a 2X4 card. For even older collections you might find only the postmark neatly cut out and pasted to a card.

Since most collectors look only at the stamp and rip it off to soak, some old postmarks can be a challenge to find in a decent condition.

Dan

It is also possible that someone was trying to form a postmark collection too??

I have a shoebox loaded with stamps on piece with different postmarks that I am thinking of putting up for trade some day. I might go to our local club and see if anyone is interested there??

Chimo

Bujutsu

Thanks for the replies and info guys - I like the "on piece" designation. Maybe COP (Cancelation On Piece) LOL

Mike and Bujutsu,

If you are planning to sell or trade these items, like everything else, marketing matters.

I've bought and sold postmarks on Ebay and in PMCC auctions. Generally they are sold in lots sorted by state. If there are DPO's and RPO's it should be noted if possible. For US postmarks, pre-zip code (1963) postmarks usually do better too. Some collectors collect only slogan cancels so that's another way to consider sorting. It depends on what you have for sale and how much effort you want to put into it.

Like I said in an earlier post, it's a niche market so you have to make sure your offering is seen. Mike, you can call them anything you want, *LOL* but make sure you include the word "postmark" somewhere in the title or most searches by postmark collectors will miss it.

Dan

Dan and All

I agree with you 100%. This shoebox I was referring to has been accumulating for a number of years now. They date back from the early 1900s to present day. A lot of these are stamps I really didn't have room to keep on cover for a number of reasons, so, decided to leave them on piece because they are not in my specialty areas.

One day, I will aproach the club to give them a first chance and take it from there.

Chimo

Bujutsu