One Little Question

I dont collect precancels, but find them from time to time.
which ones are the rare ones to look for.

Like all else in Philately, it takes time and investment in study to be able to get to correctly identify certain types of stamps. There is no substitute for study to really understanding the stamps you have. This is why, though I do not have any intention to collect precancels myself, I have much respect for those on this board who are precancel experts.

If I might add...You could also check out various auction sites and see what certain precanceled stamps are going for. As a precancel collector, I use 4 different catalogs to help identify my collection. It's a complex subject that really can't be explained in a summary statement. Hope this helps.

As for US precancels, with virtually millions of precancels out there and only a select few worth anything more than a few cents, it is a challenge unless you have the myriad of catalogs needed for the different types of precancels.

One alternative may be to download the US Precancel Album Pages available for free at this site. Of course, it does take up a bit of HDD space and can be a bit cumbersome to use, but the PDF pages are searchable by State:

http://www.precancels.com/albums.htm

The borders used on the above album pages are progressively darker if the particular stamp is considered more valuable, based on this scale:



Of course, as with all stamps, "value" is very subjective thing and precancel values don't usually get updated every year as do traditional stamp values.

Most precancel collectors are not that concerned with value; the interest lies in the challenge of acquiring the various types of precancels used within one particular City or State.

Gentlemen,
I have been a philatelist for some time and.....this will amuse you I am sure, do not know what a precancel is? Can someone enlighten me?

Rather than trying to explain it, I suggest you look at the document at the link entitled "An ABC of Precancel Collecting". A very basic explanation of precancels and their usage through the years:

http://www.precancels.com/beginner/...lArticle.pdf

I could do that, but as a new user of the Community I was giving my fellow members a chance to help me, on other topics I have found them to be both informative and friendly in equal measure. I am not precious, just wishing to cement some friendly relationships.

Hello In the myth, welcome!

I do not collect precancels yet myself. I say yet because the more time you spend on Stamp Community and get exposed to all the other forms of stamp collecting there are, the more you become interested in them and sometimes (me included) end of collecting some of them. Sometimes.

As time permits.

WT1 posted a pretty good link there actually.

Precancels are just stamps that have been cancelled to save time so they don't have to be hand cancelled. If you were sending out 100's and 1000's of letters you would want to save time I am sure. Advertisers and governments are the main users, or were.

They were is large use years ago, now they have presorted mail stamps that I don't think need to be cancelled but I may be wrong.

The problem with these cancels is that there are so many different ways to make them so the width of a line or bar is the difference between 20c and $100, also the rarity of some cancels from certain areas or towns on certain stamps.

Since there are so many of them and four catalogues (I didn't know that) that makes it hard to narrow down and say these ten or so are the best ones to look out for. I am guessing but that makes sense.

There are thousands of these little guys.

I thought he said a little question. Mrmagic there are books and books on the subject and there are hundreds (if not thousands) that are world some money and "rare" there are still quite a few. Great question, lots of answers.

Dear puzzler,
Thank you for the reply and the welcome. What I find so gratifying about joining this Community is the personal touch, when other members take time to give you an answer and advice. You have done that. I am now wondering if pre cancels are a regional thing because in England I have never heard them mentioned and never seen them in catologues? Maybe it is unique to a certain country, or certain regions within a country? Love canada by the way, great stamps from there, regards.

Ha, yes, I am responsible for all the nice stamps from Canada. lol I wish. I have made some personalized ones like my avatar cat one but other than that, hey, I like Great Britain stamps too. I used to buy (read have plastic tubs full of) lots of Great Britain stamps, hoping to sell some here in the colonies, lol.

Wish I had the money to but more.

Precancels are big now in the USA and Canada has had some also. Belgium and France have them, more as a half circle cancel on France and a whole rectangle covering the stamp on Belgium.

Great Britain I can't think of any. Oh no. I will have to go search ebay to see what comes up. . .

Well, no Great Britain precancels. Just a guy mis-describing perfins as precancels. Have to send a note off to him so he can change that.

here are 3 samples I have...

USA


Belgium


and France.


It is a big topic to collect....

Here is the answer.... these are the most valuable US 'local' precancels. There are about a dozen other 'bureau' precancels worth equivalent amounts. This list was prepared by querying the PSS database for all items that are AA-valued, nominally $1000 and up, actually those precancels that are ONE-ONLY known. Additional copies of some of these are been located so the AA list can shrink, although additional items are added over time also.
State Town Type Value DPO Have Footnotes
AL MILLBROOK 704 $1,000.00 No No
AL PRATTVILLE 482 $1,000.00 No No
AR HAMBURG 492 $1,000.00 No No
CA ARVIN 477 $1,000.00 No No 95
CA EXETER 631 $1,000.00 No No
CA FELLOWS 631 $1,000.00 No No
CA TAFT 476 $1,000.00 No No
CO LIMON 476 $1,000.00 No No
CT STONINGTON 633 $1,000.00 No No
CT WOODBURY 608 $1,000.00 No No
DE BRIDGEVILLE 259 $1,000.00 No No 95
DE FRANKFORD 633 $1,000.00 No No
DE LEWES 631 $1,000.00 No No
FL NEW SMYRNA 471 $1,000.00 Yes No
GA FAIRBURN 492 $1,000.00 No No 95
GA PERRY 631 $1,000.00 No No
IA ALTOONA 492 $1,000.00 No No
IA ASHTON L-1 TS $1,000.00 No No
IA BANCROFT 631 $1,000.00 No No
IA ELDORA 701 $1,000.00 No No
IA GILBERT 455 $1,000.00 No No 95
IA GRANDMOUND 471 $1,000.00 Yes No 2 WDS
IA HEDRICK 492 $1,000.00 No No
IA KNOXVILLE 622 $1,000.00 No No
IA LAURENS L-1 TS $1,000.00 No No
IA NASHUA 621 $1,000.00 No No HAU
IA NEW ALBIN 632 $1,000.00 No No
IA OLLIE 631 $1,000.00 No No
IA ONTARIO 621 $1,000.00 Yes No
IA PERSIA 479 $1,000.00 No No
IA POLK CITY 466 $1,000.00 No No 95
IA ROCK VALLEY 471 $1,000.00 No No
IA ROWLEY 492 $1,000.00 No No
IA WALKER 621 $1,000.00 No No
IA WEST POINT 704 $1,000.00 No No 95
ID CASCADE 492 $1,000.00 No No
IL APPLE RIVER 471 $1,000.00 No No
IL BEARDSTOWN 471 $1,000.00 No No
IL COULTERVILLE 471 $1,000.00 No No 95
IL COWDEN 479 $1,000.00 No No
IL ELMWOOD 494 $1,000.00 No No
IL EUREKA 490 $1,000.00 No No
IL FINDLAY 631 $1,000.00 No No
IL LUDLOW 621 $1,000.00 No No
IL MOUNT CARMEL 486 $1,000.00 No No
IL SAUNEMIN 703 $1,000.00 No No
IL TEUTOPOLIS 482 $1,000.00 No No
IL VALMEYER 632 $1,000.00 No No
IL WASHBURN 632 $1,000.00 No No
IN ATTICA L-4 HS $1,000.00 No No
IN CHESTERTON 704 $1,000.00 No No
IN GLENWOOD 631 $1,000.00 No No
IN MONROEVILLE 471 $1,000.00 No No
IN NEW SALISBURY L-1 HS $1,000.00 No No
IN REYNOLDS 622 $1,000.00 No No
IN ROACHDALE 622 $1,000.00 No No
KS BAXTER SPRINGS 487 $1,000.00 No No
KS COLBY 477 $1,000.00 No No 1
KS GENESEO 548 $1,000.00 No No
KS NORCATUR 633 $1,000.00 No No
KS WATERVILLE 622 $1,000.00 No No 95
KY AUGUSTA 717 $1,000.00 No No
KY MAYS LICK 632 $1,000.00 Yes No
KY MUNFORDVILLE 623 $1,000.00 No No
LA RAYVILLE 479 $1,000.00 No No
MA FALMOUTH 734 $1,000.00 No No
MA HAVERHILL 455.5 $1,000.00 No No
MA HINGHAM 631 $1,000.00 No No 95
MA NORTH BROOKFIELD 624 $1,000.00 No No
MD TRAPPE 701 $1,000.00 No No
ME DAMARISCOTTA 633 $1,000.00 No No
ME FREEDOM 632 $1,000.00 No No
ME MILLINOCKET 415 $1,000.00 No No
ME SOLON 602 $1,000.00 No No
MI BREEDSVILLE 632 $1,000.00 No No
MI BROOKLYN 632 $1,000.00 No No
MI CLIMAX 602 $1,000.00 No No
MI ERIE 476 $1,000.00 Yes No
MI GAYLORD 631 $1,000.00 No No
MI HAMILTON 466 $1,000.00 No No
MI INKSTER 493 $1,000.00 No No
MI LOWELL 631 $1,000.00 No No
MI NUNICA 604 $1,000.00 No No
MI PORT HOPE 466 $1,000.00 No No
MI PORT HURON 704 $1,000.00 No No
MN BARNUM 701 $1,000.00 No No 95
MN BRONSON 492 $1,000.00 Yes No
MN CANNON FALLS 471 $1,000.00 No No
MN COHASSET 466 $1,000.00 No No
MN COMFREY 492 $1,000.00 No No
MN DONNELLY 468 $1,000.00 No No
MN DUMONT 631 $1,000.00 No No
MN DUNNELL 621 $1,000.00 No No 95
MN EDGERTON 466 $1,000.00 No No 95
MN HACKENSACK L-4 M $1,000.00 No No
MN INTERNATIONAL FALLS 542 $1,000.00 No No
MN ISANTI 490 $1,000.00 No No
MN ISLE 491 $1,000.00 No No
MN JANESVILLE 632 $1,000.00 No No
MN LAKEFIELD 608 $1,000.00 No No
MN MAYER 477 $1,000.00 No No 95
MN MILAN 490 $1,000.00 No No
MN MONTICELLO 632 $1,000.00 No No
MN MOTLEY 716.5 $1,000.00 No No
MN OKABENA 492 $1,000.00 No No
MN PARKERS PRAIRIE 473 $1,000.00 No No
MN SAINT CLAIR 608 $1,000.00 No No 95
MN SHELLY 631 $1,000.00 No No 95
MN SUNBURG 479 $1,000.00 No No
MN ULEN 478 $1,000.00 No No
MN VERNDALE 466 $1,000.00 No No 95
MN WESTBURY 734 $1,000.00 Yes No
MO FORDLAND 466 $1,000.00 No No 95
MO FREDERICKTOWN 467 $1,000.00 No No
MO HARRIS 490 $1,000.00 Yes No
MO WAYLAND 631 $1,000.00 No No 95
MS LOUISVILLE 482 $1,000.00 No No
MS LUCEDALE 608 $1,000.00 No No
NC LEXINGTON 466 $1,000.00 No No
NC MOORESVILLE 632 $1,000.00 No No
NC TARBORO 492 $1,000.00 No No
ND BERTHOLD 608 $1,000.00 No No
ND CORINTH 492 $1,000.00 Yes No
ND HAYNES 621 $1,000.00 Yes No 95
ND POWERS LAKE 623 $1,000.00 No No
ND SHERWOOD 482 $1,000.00 No No
ND SOLEN 631 $1,000.00 No No 95
NE ALDA 621 $1,000.00 No No 1
NE ARNOLD 602 $1,000.00 No No 1
NE HARDY 631 $1,000.00 No No
NE HAZARD 490 $1,000.00 Yes No
NE INAVALE 703 $1,000.00 Yes No
NE PICKRELL 602 $1,000.00 No No
NE SCHUYLER 633 $1,000.00 No No 1,95
NE STAPLEHURST 633 $1,000.00 No No
NE YUTAN 621 $1,000.00 No No 1
NJ NEW GRETNA 713 $1,000.00 No No 95
NM CAPITAN 631 $1,000.00 No No
NM ROSWELL 479 $1,000.00 No No 95
NY ALDEN 490 $1,000.00 No No
NY ANDES 490 $1,000.00 No No
NY BRIDGEHAMPTON L-1 TS $1,000.00 No No
NY CINCINNATUS 622 $1,000.00 No No 2
NY CLIFTON 631 $1,000.00 Yes No 95
NY DRYDEN 631 $1,000.00 No No
NY EARLVILLE 632 $1,000.00 No No
NY FULTON 631 $1,000.00 No No
NY GLEN AUBREY 608 $1,000.00 No No 95
NY GORHAM 602 $1,000.00 No No
NY HARTSDALE 632 $1,000.00 No No
NY HONEOYE 717 $1,000.00 No No
NY KENNEDY 631 $1,000.00 No No
NY LOOMIS 729 $1,000.00 Yes No
NY MCLEAN 631 $1,000.00 No No MC L
NY MIDDLEPORT 454 $1,000.00 No No
NY MOIRA 728 $1,000.00 No No
NY NELSON 631 $1,000.00 Yes No
NY PRATTSBURG 632 $1,000.00 Yes No
NY RED HOOK 632 $1,000.00 No No
NY SHORTSVILLE 471 $1,000.00 No No
NY VALATIE 558 $1,000.00 No No
NY WEST AMBOY 723 $1,000.00 No No 2,95
NY WORCESTER 466 $1,000.00 No No
OH AKRON L-6 M $1,000.00 No No 1
OH CECIL 621 $1,000.00 No No
OH CHESAPEAKE 622 $1,000.00 No No
OH DAYTON L-2 TS $1,000.00 No No
OH DEFIANCE L-2 TS $1,000.00 No No
OH GLOUSTER 466 $1,000.00 No No
OH LEWISBURG 608 $1,000.00 No No
OH MARIETTA L-5 M $1,000.00 No No 95
OH NEW HOLLAND 606 $1,000.00 No No
OH OLMSTED FALLS 578 $1,000.00 Yes No
OH SOLON 490 $1,000.00 Yes No
OH STEUBENVILLE 454 $1,000.00 No No
OH SYLVANIA 492 $1,000.00 No No
OH WEST SALEM 471 $1,000.00 No No
OH WOODSFIELD 471 $1,000.00 No No
OH WORTHINGTON 633 $1,000.00 Yes No
OK BALKO 490 $1,000.00 No No
OK PERRY 604 $1,000.00 No No 1
OR COQUILLE 492 $1,000.00 No No 95
OR FOREST GROVE 486 $1,000.00 No No 95
OR MYRTLE CREEK 633 $1,000.00 No No
PA AVONDALE 622 $1,000.00 No No
PA BAKERSTOWN 632 $1,000.00 No No
PA CENTRE HALL 471 $1,000.00 No No
PA COVERDALE 704 $1,000.00 Yes No
PA DALTON 712 $1,000.00 No No
PA FAIRFIELD 734 $1,000.00 No No
PA FINLEYVILLE 633 $1,000.00 No No
PA GLADE 701 $1,000.00 Yes No
PA GLENLYON 466 $1,000.00 Yes No 2 WDS
PA GREENCASTLE 622 $1,000.00 No No
PA INDIANA 492 $1,000.00 No No 95
PA LANSFORD 466 $1,000.00 No No 95
PA MAYTOWN 466 $1,000.00 No No
PA MERCER 631 $1,000.00 No No
PA MEYERSDALE 622 $1,000.00 No No 95
PA MINERSVILLE 704 $1,000.00 No No 95
PA MORWOOD 703 $1,000.00 Yes No 95
PA MOUNT JOY 729 $1,000.00 No No
PA NESCOPECK 466 $1,000.00 No No 95
PA PLUMVILLE 713 $1,000.00 No No
PA RUSH 476 $1,000.00 Yes No 95
PA SHINGLEHOUSE 623 $1,000.00 No No
PA SLATINGTON 482 $1,000.00 No No
PA WATERFORD 482 $1,000.00 No No
PA WEATHERLY 482 $1,000.00 No No
SC TRAVELLERS REST 611 $1,000.00 Yes No
SD ASTORIA 621 $1,000.00 No No 95
SD BUTLER 716 $1,000.00 Yes No
SD FRANKFORT 482 $1,000.00 No No
SD IPSWICH 455 $1,000.00 No No 95
SD ONIDA 621 $1,000.00 No No
SD WESSINGTON SPRINGS 463.5 $1,000.00 No No 95
TN ELORA 490 $1,000.00 No No
TX BASTROP 492 $1,000.00 No No 95
TX BELTON 490 $1,000.00 No No 95
TX CENTER 602 $1,000.00 No No
TX COMANCHE 466 $1,000.00 No No 95
TX EDCOUCH 621 $1,000.00 No No
TX HITCHCOCK 632 $1,000.00 No No
TX HOUSTON L-7 M $1,000.00 No No
TX HOWE 631 $1,000.00 No No
TX LANCASTER 466 $1,000.00 No No
TX LLANO 490 $1,000.00 No No
TX LOMETA 631 $1,000.00 No No
TX NAZARETH 608 $1,000.00 No No
TX NEW WAVERLY 623 $1,000.00 No No
TX PALO PINTO 704 $1,000.00 No No 1
TX SEALY 631 $1,000.00 No No
TX WEIMAR 479 $1,000.00 No No
TX WHITESBORO 471 $1,000.00 No No
VT ISLAND POND 608 $1,000.00 No No
VT PUTNEY 631 $1,000.00 No No
WI ARGYLE 631 $1,000.00 No No
WI BERLIN 490 $1,000.00 No No 95
WI GLEASON 621 $1,000.00 No No
WI GRIMMS 492 $1,000.00 Yes No
WI HORICON 631 $1,000.00 No No
WI LIMERIDGE 466 $1,000.00 Yes No
WI LOMIRA 602 $1,000.00 No No
WI MIDDLETON 466 $1,000.00 Yes No
WI NEW LISBON 471 $1,000.00 No No
WI OAKDALE 455 $1,000.00 No No 95
WI RIO 621 $1,000.00 No No
WI SPRINGBROOK 471 $1,000.00 No No 95
WI STODDARD 608 $1,000.00 No No
WV BUCKHANNON 471 $1,000.00 No No
WV FOLLANSBEE 503 $1,000.00 No No
WV RONCEVERTE 482 $1,000.00 No No
WV SHINNSTON 404 $1,000.00 No No
WY GILLETTE 492 $1,000.00 No No 95

an item from the above list was found in this lot:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...310367295013
sadly, not by me until it was too late

According to the PSSGB (Precancel Society of Great Britain) Web Site, they offer the following quote suggesting that precancel stamps were used on an experimental basis in the UK.




Here's their link:

http://www.pssgb.org.uk/precancel.html

Now you've got me curious. Does anyone on SCF have an example of a UK "experimental" precancel as referred to in the previous quote?

OK now I am totally confused

When I first started I had gotten stamps from Kenmore Stamp Company, I had gotten stamps like this.






I had though these were precanceled, they had no adhesive on them and well for stamp collectors.