Fancy Cancels

I don't know anything about U.S. fancy cancels, but those of you who do might want to check out this ebay seller: http://stamps.shop.ebay.com/merchan...0.m14&_pgn=1

I really like this skull fancy cancel on (Scott #78b) that he is selling.

That is about as cool as it gets. Is that a common type of cancel Tom?

Unfortunately they are not common and command high prices.

He has also just listed this nice beer mug too. BIN $450.



His high-end fancy cancels all have PF certificates, which is a must for these.

Fancy cancels began when the USPS told postmasters to cancel stamps by marking them with a distinctive marking so everyone would know they are used. Unfortunately, they did not supply any kind of canceling device. So postmasters, crafty as were, began carving distinctive cancels out of wood or cork and used them similarly to hand stamps we use today.

Has anyone ever heard of any of these cancels surviving through the ages?

Does anyone know of literature or a catalogue regarding these fancy cancels ?

Books:

Herst and Sampson, 19th Century Fancy Cancels (1963, 1972)
James Cole, Cancellations of the Banknote Era 1870-1894
Skinner and Eno, United States Cancellations 1845-1869

Web Links:

http://www.jameslee.com/news3.htm

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2088/fancy.htm

http://uweb.superlink.net/~frank/

I have seen a few in auction catalogs over the years. I'll post a link here if I come across another.

There is a long list of fancy cancel reference books on Mr. Fancy Cancel's web site.

I like fancy cancels, because of the sheer fact that someone took some skill & time to carve a canceling device. I think some postmasters even used potatoes. Some collectors shun fancy cancels as being obliterators of the stamp itself. Everyone knows that you can't please everyone all the time. Isn't our hobby interesting?

I started by picking up a few here and there. Then when I began posting them in this thread, I realized that I had a fair number already. Now I'm looking for some of the more unusual ones.