Looking For A Reference

Does anyone know of a reference book, article(s), or online listings of New Orleans fancy cancels on the Banknotes or earlier?

Cole has 5 pages of geometrics, and gives a scale of relative scarcity, but does not give details on period of use. I'm looking for something a bit more comprehensive.

Anything?

You may find the imformation you're looking for through the U.S. Cancellation Club. An email to Roger Rhoads ( you can find his email on the club's website, don't want to post it here) who has volunteered to field any and all questions about cancellations.

http://www.oocities.org/athens/2088/uscchome.htm

Thanks Phil, but tracking down the USCC online is neither as easy nor intuitive as you might like to believe. The link you gave above, which is what comes up in a web search, is part of the geocities online archive and was current in 2009 just before Geocities shut down. Oocities keeps up some of the old site for nostalgia buffs, but the links and contact info are at least 5 years old and not reliable.

I had joined the USCC in 2011, and Roger Rhoads was still the Secretary-Treasurer. Roger Curran was their journal editor (the USCC News) and the guy to see about journal questions, but I understand via the grapevine that there has been some change at the top with one of the two Rogers having announced retirement from office. In my latest issue of the News, February 2012, they gave a website address at bob.trachimowicz.org, but that was apparently a temporary fix for them, donated by a member no doubt, since they don't come up their either.

Maybe someone here can come up with more current info. In the meantime I will get in touch (again) with Matt Kewriga, who is kind of a go-to guy for matters USCC.

Meanwhile, I look elsewhere; wherever I can for whatever I can.

Skinner lists some interesting fancy cancels including: figures, geometrics, patriotics, masonics, initials and monograms, varios postal markings (resistered, carriers, etc) - but no detailed information on scarcity or period of use. Check out the index on page 352 for a quick guide to New Orleans.

Book available for download here: http://www.uspcs.org/resource-cente...nic-library/

Simpson's postal marking (1851-1861) has articles about Steamboat route agents and Way markings from New Orleans. Very detailed information if it's not too early for your needs ...

Brian

Thanks, Brian. I checked Skinner on all the pages where he had a listing for New Orleans. No luck, but your suggestion prompts me to give a bit more about what I am after, with apologies for not having done so in the first place.

I am trying to track down New Orleans geometric cancels as used in the Banknote period. Some of the forerunners from the 1860s may have carried over into the Banknote period, especially the later ones, but most of the Skinner listings were either too early or not geometric killer marks. Simpson details postal markings which are a higher order of mark than the kind of killer I am after.

I have the Skinner, Herst-Sampson, and Cole books (and a Billig v33 I cannot locate) for some, but I sometimes see attributions to New Orleans for items at auction that I cannot account for. I do not have the Whitfield book, and that may be part of the problem. That is a USCC product, I believe, but you know the problem there.

Anyway, now I am beating the bushes hoping to scare up something from anyone else's experience, especially articles you may have run across. So keep offering suggestions. And Thank You!

essayk,
There has been some changes to the officers of The USCC. Besides takeing care of back issues for about twenty years and held other offices in The USCC I was "elected" president. Both Rogers are still supporting our club but have cut back their time available to the club.
We are aware of the wbsite problem and are working on putting together a new site. Bob Trachimowicz put our old site together for us but we need to work on a new site. Bob did a great job for us but we ned to get up to date. I am open to suggestions.
For New Orleans postmarks I use "The Great Mail' by Uber and Wagner published by the APS in 1949 so there will be more up to date information out there. I also am looking for a more detailed list especially of the fancy geometrics from new Orleans. That may be an idea for another club project. I and another member have been working on the Large Boston Negative Cancels and have a list of earlest and latest days of use for these cancels.

If you have any other quesions or suggestions you can email me vinman 2119 at aol . com.

Vince

I am not sure about your comment "That is a USCC product, I believe, but you know the problem there."

Ah, Mr. C. Thank you for dropping by, Vince. The "problem" I was referring to is the present difficulty tracking down current info on the USCC online. Ordering a copy of the Whitfield book is hampered by that. No slight against the USCC, its importance, or its contributions to philately was implied or intended on my end. But I will say that in terms of new memberships, the gap is costing the society more than it may realize. There are people here who I am sure could help with the problem if they were brought up to speed on what you are doing, trying to do, and want to do, online. [I'm not one of them, but I am a guy who wants to renew my membership and get back issues for all that I have missed. But I am held back by lack of info on who to contact online. That's just one example.]

At $60 the Uber and Wagner volume is a bit pricey to try to land unless it is loaded with what I am looking for. However, your comment that you too are looking for the same thing I am leads me to think that it may not add enough to what I am after to justify the expense. Should I think that?

It looks like we have another common interest in the Boston negatives, but I am merely a babe in the woods with what I have on that. Mostly off cover. Dabbling really. Nothing like a REAL study.

Vince, let me encourage you to stay with us on this list. A few of us are looking at getting into more focused discussion on Fancy Cancels, and you could be a valued resource and guide for us if you are willing. I understand that on top of what you already do the last thing you need is to take on another group. But it doesn't have to be like that. Just comment when something moves you and enjoy the company without need for formality. It's a good bunch.

Essayk,

I understand your frustration with getting information about the club and how to order our books. I have seen reference to the books the club has published before but if you are not a member and get the News Letter it can be difficult to access us. Our web presents is basically zero. At our last board meeting a few weeks ago designing a new web site was the main topic. I will put up a new topic on this site looking for help with designing our site.

You are correct about the Uber and Wagner book. Interesting reading but not a lot about the "Fancy geometrics" that you are looking for. Save your money. There are about five pages of this type of cancel I will be glad to send you as a scan. I also wonder where to auction describers get their information. I am in the process of scanning my collection and will send you the file of New Orleans Fancy Geometrics. I notice they are on more of my covers to foreign destinations than domestic use. I don't know of anyone doing a study of these cancels but I will put mention in the next USCC News to see if I can get a study group together. I am not sure if there is a Louisiana postal history society but will check into that. If there is not I'm sure the club's previous president, John Donnes can help me because he is active in the New Orleans collecting group.

On the web site that is still online the email addresses are still correct. If you need any help let me know and I will be glad to assist.

We will have our annual meeting at Stamp Show in August and will have a table and Roger Rhoads will give a presentation on his Chicago Blues on US UX1 and UX3.If you plan on attending the show stop by and say hello.

For anyone wanting a copy of a recent USCC News Letter send me an email at my address in my previous post and I will send it to you.
I recently retired and have time available to devote to work on a new project. My wife was worried about me being board at home. It won't be anytime soon.

Vince

I believe the author is Huber, not Uber. The online union philatelic catalogues of the Royal Philatelic Society London and the Northwest Philatelic Library (www.nwpl.org) list several other works by Huber on New Orleans postal markings, and members can borrow them.

You are correct it's Huber.

Vince

Vinman maybe your group could utilize this free web hosting offered by Heritage http://thecollectingcommunity.com/ I don't know how it all works but might be something you can look into.

Thanks MeadowviewCollector,
I will check it out. I think I will start a new thread on building a web site.

Vince

While my aging memory may be failing me, I seem to recall that the definitive article on New Orleans fancies of the Bank Note era was written by Hubert Skinner and was published in one of the Philatelic Foundation's "Opinions" books. Essayk; I would recommend asking Jim Lee about this article and my bet is that he will immediately steer you to the right book - or tell you that I am goofy!

God willing, I plan to work at Jim's table at the BIG International show in NYC next year. I worked with him at the big 2006 Intl. in DC and at many APS StampShows over the years. We go way back.

I expect to see Jim at Club next Thursday and we can check through the CCC Library together. We just did a deal on a couple of lots from a couple of houses. He and I go way back too (to the 70s anyway when he was satcheleering E-P stuff in Chicago and Milwaukee and still had a day job). I'll tell him you said, "Hi."

Your mention of the "Opinions" series reminded me to check the Congress Books. Skinner did four articles for that, all relating to New Orleans, but all too early and none on the geometrics.

Vince, do you ever get to the Midwest?