#114.....one More, Please

Again...any help is appreciated.

Probably from around 1869 because of both the issue and frequency in which these was used. Although I don't see this particular one listed in the Skinner-Eno identification book it would have a prefix of LS-R [#] then a number where the brackets are.

I hope someone knows where this "R" is from as well, I have one too. I checked Skinner/Eno and Whitfield with no examples found.

Didn't find this one, but Cole lists a ligatured "AB" in the same lettering style and negative inside a lozenge/truncated square from Alexandria Bay, NY. used 1870-73. May have started use during the period of the pictorials.

Cole ML-154 (p. 217)

There's also a negative capital "R" in a box listed from Rome, NY, but it's slanting to the left and not nearly as fancy, listed as seen on postal cards in 1875, which is later (Cole Lr-17). Maybe Rome, NY had a different negative "R" earlier - any sightings?

Kevin.... try here...

https://archive.org/stream/Cancella...307/mode/2up

Or the page I referenced?

https://archive.org/stream/Cancella...228/mode/1up

I can't find anything on that cancellation in either Skinner's book on 1861-1869 cancellations or Coles book on "Cancellations of the Banknote era - 1870-1894".

I could be looking in the wrong place, however. I am looking in the single-letter cancels. Perhaps it could be classified as something else?

Brian

I just went through both references and couldn't find that one. There ones that are close but no cigar.

Always bear in mind that not every fancy cancel can be found recorded in the definitive books on the subject. Skinner-Eno is, of course, considered the best work for the period it generally covers. Ditto for the Cole book. Specialized areas, such as the Waterbury fancies, New York Foreign Mail cancels, etc require their own books. But none are "complete", so do not beat your head against the wall if you come across an unlisted cancel. Many exist.

Well said Bill.

There are some fancy cancels from large cities where only a handful exist. It's possible that cancel came from a very small town, was used for a short period of time and perhaps that's the only survivor.

There is one post office, for example, that I have been searching for since the late 90s. I have yet to see a surviving cover or cancel from there. (North Englewood, NJ which was the precursor to Tenafly, NJ).