Int REV Stamp With A Grill?

I received really fast help yesterday on the modern stamp forum. Well, here is one for this forum. I have searched the Specialized Catalogue of US Stamps & Covers without success. I have here, what appears to be the Liberty - R14, Scott No. R152. Disregard the overall condition, please, I'm keeping it for personal reasons. However, nowhere can I find anything on this stamp that talks about a grill on it.At least I believe that to be a grill. (see scans). Any help from the experta out there would be really appreciated.
hawkstamp

That's not a grill. It's a type of cancellation device that was commonly used on Revenue stamps of the period.

Thanks for that information. Do you know of a source where I could read up on this and learn more about it? Thanks again, hawkstamp

It's actually a roller cancel that was used on the signatures and written values of many checks. Some banks used them and some did not. It was designed to help prevent fraud. If the stamp happened to be placed in close proximity to either of those locations it got roller cancelled as well. It was NOT specifically a stamp cancelling device.
There were specific cancelling devices that cut the stamp paper or punched holes in the stamp, but this was not one of them.

Wish "real" grills were that easy to see and count!

A quick not to revollector :
Hi, I'm writing in reference to my recent question on the revenue stamp with a possible grill. It seemed to me that you knew the most about it, hence, I'd like to ask you, does this type of cancellation add anything to the stamp. I'm not sure the stamp is even worth keeping, but I'd like your opinion since I am new to this. My second question is: where would be the best place to read up and learn on this,i.e. the info you had. In advance I'd like to thank you for your time. As I said before, I am a beginner and need a lot of help. Thanks....Pete

Some of us would tell you that ALL stamps are worth keeping.

Any cancellation or device that destroys or mutilates the stamp paper, detracts from the valuation 99% of the time, compared to a standard (revenue) cancellation. Notice how the Scott catalog slashes prices for "cut" or "herringbone" cancels; see #R103-R150 for examples.

What's the 1% remaining? There are some trial and experimental cancelling devices that left very distinctive patterns or mutilations. I suppose they could be counterfeited, just like anything else, but in general, once authenticated, selected copies might be worth more than neatly datestamped copies. That's on a case-by-case basis.

The stamp shows the roller cancel, that is it's only interest. It does not add anything and indeed does detract quite a bit because it is such a common stamp. There are some documentary revenue stamps that are only known with a cut cancel of some kind so there is somewhat more leeway on condition. A heavy cancel or destroying the stamp by cutting or punching holes was always part of the wording of any stamp law to prevent reuse.
Some non-Scott listed taxpaid revenues were severely mistreated. Denatured alcohol stamps had to be nailed to the packages, then cancelled with a black ink roller, and then either varnished or shellacked on top of that. Needless to say they would not do well on a graded cert.

Thanks to both of you for the additional information. That sure is a lot of material and shows the vast knowledge that you all possess. I suppose the bottom line at this point is that I will certainly keep the stamp out of personal interest. It makes it a lot more interesting though having a little back ground information. Thanks again.
hawkstamp