What Type Of Cancel On This ½c. Nathan Hale Block Of 50 & 10

Hi folks,

I am wondering if I can get some information on the type of cancel on this piece. Is this a pre-cancel, a parcel cancel, postal? I would appreciate any and all information as I would like to add to the note I have on this humungo block!

The cancel reads :

MADRID
N.Y.

Here is the piece:



Thanks for popping in and having a look!

Have a good one,

Skilo54

No it's not a pre-cancel but a very neatly done hand cancel,yes very nice .
regards Harry

Those are also referred to as "Box Cancels". Some do mistake them for precancels, but they are not. Here's another example from the same period from Ridley Park, PA:

Thanks for the 'thumbs-ups' and the information wt1 and nuggethill, appreciate it! Hand applied Box Cancel it is! These are super rare and extra valuable.... right guys?

I think I remember seeing an ad for a dealer in the Scott catalogue I received from KirkS showing cancels that were mistaken for precancels and sold/valued for huge $coots. Those are probably not the same as the ones I have on the stamps above, but might be something to familiarize myself with!

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge,

Skilo54

Box cancel and seems to read "MADRID NY" here is some info on Madrid NY for you if your interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid,_New_York

That's the largest postally-used block I've ever seen!

Thanks for the wiki-link I_L_S, real small town, wonder if this huge block being mailed was headline news!?! (Kidding)


Me too KirkS!

One heck of a way to get to 30c. that's for sure! I have a couple other large postally-used blocks, but nothing nearly this big!

I send a huge thank-you into the cosmos to the previous caretaker for not soaking this one!

Is there a stamp dealer who chooses to specialize in used US blocks? If so I would love a link or a referral so I could look at their holdings, if not, no worries!

Thanks again everyone,

Skilo54

I don't actively collect them, but on the occasion when I do find used blocks in multiples, I do put them away. Here's a few examples from my accumulation:

And for a modern coil strip, this has got to be one of the bigger ones (13 stamps in all) for a total postage amount of $3.77:

Great Blocks! I absolutely love used multiples.... amongst a few other things!

Thought you might like to see these ones wt1, the longest used KGV I have to date!

Nice ones!

Just found another mulitiple. A rather common stamp, but a postally used block of 16 is a bit unusual:

Hi there,

Wow, some really nice blocks folks! Love'em!

I have a few more to share myself, as I have spent the evening scanning the rest of my US collection in preparation for listing hopefully tomorrow! Included will be the large Nathan Hale block above, and some other goodies! I'll fire a link or two on a thread in the appropriate forum when the time is right.

In the meantime, please have a look at some of the more interesting used blocks I have come across while doing the big round-up:

Another couple of pretty crazy cancels on some parcel pieces:







And this delivery tag, with a nice large block of stamps on the reverse:

What a way to get to $1.25 (block of 100 x 1 1/4 c stamps, postally used). Genuine postally used -- I know because it was mailed to me. I had to re-scan this at 150dpi just to get it to load into the Optimizer here! And as you can see, it was a bit too big for my scanner.

You have a lot of nice stuff there Skilo54!

Holy Moly that is a humungo block you have there JanS! I could almost wallpaper my bathroom with that one! Very cool!

Thanks for the compliments on the gear ILS, appreciate it! All this has, or will be within the next hour or two listed on ebay. My username is Skilo2009. There are some other things listed too, all just as interesting if you ask me!

I have no idea on values, just know that this stuff should no longer be cooped up here. It deserves a collectors interest!

Things like these below will also be added today, along with all my Washington/Franklins, Columbian Exposition... everything is on the move!







I hope your well my friend & take care all of you!

Skilo54