Fancy Cancels Or Killer Cancels?

I have just bought a little lot of US covers. A few have cancellations which I have seen in other articles/posts. My question is: What exactly is the proper name. I have seen the descripton Fancy cancel but also killer cancel. Is there one specific name?

1) Postcard Portland Maine 1880





2) New Brunswick 1865.






3) Bangor Maine 1874





I have already tried to find some information about these specific cancels, but could not find it. Except for the Portland one but that was with a negative 8 and not an F.

Kind regards, Johan.

The postal markings intended to cancel stamps come in two parts: the townmark and the killer. Technically only the killer was to appear on the stamp, but ...

In an effort to dress up the killer, various postal people began to carve designs into the medium used to deliver the killer cancel to the stamp. Some became quite elaborate, hence the term "fancy cancel." All fancy cancels are intended to be killer cancellations.

Others may have more to add, but these are the basic points.

Hi

It is possible that your cancel (beside the regular CDS type) was made of cork(?) The regular cancel was applied and the "F" cork alongside. I am not sure if there is a sire for postal history of US post offices on line or not, but, it might be worthwhile to look up the postmaster for that era. I know that in Canada, the postmasters were allowed to create their own designs in cork (for a period of time and then it ceased) but not sure if this was allowed in the US or not?

Hope this helps?

Chimo

Bujutsu

Johan,
As Bujutsu pointed out, the bottom two cancels are segmented cork cancels. Very common, they don't add value but also don't detract value from your cover and card.

The top cancel from Portland, ME it is a large negative letter cancel. Portland used a variety of these cancels. Boston, MA used an even larger number of these cancels. There are several other US city's that also used this type of cancel. They are not cork but probably rubber. The US Cancellation Club has been doing a study of these cancels used in Boston.
I believe the use in Boston was to identify the clerk that cancelled the cover but did not relate to his name.

There is a US Postmaster site that identifies many postal clerk by name and town and date served. http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/po.../welcome.htm
I have a collection of postmaster's initials used to cancel US stamps.

I am the president of The US Cancellation Club and would be glad to send a recent issue of our Newsletter to any one interested. Just send me an email.

Vince Costello