US Postal Stationery - Anything Of Interest Here?

In a lot of stamps that arrived today there were a few interesting-looking pieces of US postal stationery. I liked this one the best on account of the brilliant red colour and the nice bar cancel:



Can anyone tell me if there's anything of interest/value here?

The relevant bits and pieces can be viewed at this URL:

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/ima...66b3a826.jpg

and this one:

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/ima...b831d5b4.jpg

All responses greatly appreciated!

That is the "footprint" side of the duplex canceller,
the footprint is the "killer" part of the duplex
it cancels the stamp, and allows the CDS to be read.

Russ often posts an image of this duplex canceller.

The cut square is rather common (Washington Bicentennial I believe).

Most of what you have posted are relatively common. The latest scan shows an oval cut square with Abraham Lincoln pictured on it. That is Scott U393 or U394. The only difference is U394 is on amber paper (can't tell if it is from your scan), but in any case both varieties reference the same catalog value of $12.50 for that cut square; the others only a few cents.

(Military cover collectors will like the USS New Mexico cancel on that airmail cut square.)

Thanks, wt1!

Re the Lincoln cut square, I'd just call the paper buff or off-white. Amber should be yellowish, right?

Yes, "amber" is described by the catalog as "pale yellow". It's sometimes very hard to discern in older examples because they naturally turn yellow with age. In the case of the item shown, it doesn't make a great deal of difference, as there is no change in catalog value either way.

I should point out that in the old days (i.e. late 1800's to very early 1900's) cut squares were intentionally cut close to fit into album pages. Today, the catalog standard says that 20th century cut squares should have at least 1/4" margins on each side (at least to fit their standard for a "very fine" example upon which catalog values are based.)

wt1, this is the one I thought would most interest people. Can you possibly tell me what it is?

JJ, It is a UX14 issued Dec 1, 1897 with what appears to be a double strike flag cancel.

Russ, the cancel on my item doesn't look anything like that. It's not a bar cancel!

JJ, I just wanted to show you the complete card. Your cancel is an Americam Postal Machine Co. flag cancel similar to below.

Russ, thanks for showing me the card. I did wonder what it looked like.

As for the cancel, the one on my item seems to be a network or mesh.

I can't see an effect like that being created by two flag cancels unless one was at rightangles to the other. Is that what you mean?