Question About Pen Cancels

Last week I received a package with two $4.80 Mt. Rushmore stamps on it. Unfortunately, both had been killed with a ball-point pen scribble. I was disappointed to say the least. Two collectible stamps ruined because someone was too lazy to pick up a rubber stamp

On the other hand, one of my favorite stamps is my SC #233 with a pen cancel. I think it could be correctly called an X cancel.



Today I added another to my collection and if I say so myself, I think it's a very attractive example of SC #63



So finally, my question is this... How do you feel about pen cancels? Like them? Hate them?

KirkS

Sorry, but I hate 'em. I'll wouldn't refuse either of the two examples you've posted, though, for the short term until I replaced them with regular cancels.

The way to get around the dreaded pen/marker/roller cancel is to ask a counter clerk to cancel the stamps in your presence when mailing with their circular date stamp, which leads me to a question: Why do American counter clerks consistently use burgundy-coloured ink instead of black?

I understand your position WpgLwr. I think most people agree with you -- it's a given that pen cancels sell for less than properly canceled examples. And I HATE the look of ball point scribbles on stamp. But there's something about these older stamps and "real" ink that I find interesting. In fact, I have another #233 with a "proper" cancel but I have relegated it to a stock book.

By the way, here are the other Columbians that go with the 4c and I'll grant you -- the X stands out in the crowd.

I hate pen cancels. I am just lucky that the stamps cancelled by the pen here are common ones

I hate them also, but on the bright side, its whats inside that counts...Larry, thanks for the covers.

Got two packages in today hit by the marker monkeys.
Posted the other on the marker monkey topic. AARRGGHH!

Oh Lord, that's awful!

I differ from most people and find that pen cancels are part of history and do not distract from the stamp. However in the two above examples I would call them killer pens marks not much different than those killer stamps ink/stamp cancels.
BTW nice jobs on the C's.

Oh man..I will be really mad if I got packages with those kind of cancels

I received an envelope today,my stamp club newsletter, and it wasn't even canceled with a spray on cancel. Unmarked & unblemished, that is also laziness.

Well at least you can use the stamp again :)

Sometimes the fault lies with the cancelling machine. Klussendorfs were notorious for shooting two or three letters through at once, and cancelling only the top one.

But, when you have a &%#&load of mail to sort, and the truck is just pulling up, sometimes you don't bother with making sure every stamp on every letter is cancelled (although you make sure to inflate the figure from the counter on the machine another hundred or so to get those ones that were missed and didn't trigger the counter).

Tricks of the trade, tricks of the trade...

I find pen cancels interesting!

Interesting as in worth collecting? hehe

Hello everyone......

In my opinion.......

Early stamps are more acceptable with pen cancels than modern items, although given a choice I much prefer a CDC.....(circular date cancel) Many early pen cancels have some character....magic marker does not.

I don't much like them. I think anyone can do this, like I could just grab a pen and mark my stamps and that would not in any way be "postal"! It ruins the exclusitivity of cancelled stamps.