Initials On Civil War Stamps.

I have encountered over the years stamps of the 1861-1868 period with initials in black ink on their face, usually in Spencerian script.

These do not look like cancellations and some of the stamps have most of their original gum. Are these precursors of Perfins (Perforated Initials - let's call them "InkIns" Inked Initials) or Private proprietary Revenues?

Either way is there a place where I can identify these Inked Initials,
in particular D.W.W?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.

mainframe,

The only initials I see on this stamp is R W H & E which stands for the producers of the stamp; Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson.

The Scott #1 (1847) you have shown is a super looking stamp!

Art

BTW, to SCF and we love and thanks for sharing.

Thanks Art. The image I posted was of the trial color proof (Atlanta 1881) or the 1876 reprint of US #1 (formerly Scott #28). I was trying to make it my Avatar. Didn't work.

The stamp in question is the 10 cent E-grill number 89.

I'm having trouble uploading it.

Likely a postmaster intials local cancel, some like this are early pen precancels. This one is not!

Love the essay in the first post! Welcome even if it is a bit late!