5 Cent Postage Due Strip Of 3, Cancelled June 6th 1941 But Never Used???

They appear to be mint, never hinged, and original gum. Thoughts?

Back in the 1960s I made a small purchase at the local Post Office, and the clerk gave me a few cancelled postage dues as a receipt. On another occasion he did the same with a pair of 30c Prexies. I'm not sure what became of the dues, but I think I still have the Prexies - cancelled but m nh. {John is right. I slipped here. But when the gum is pristine I do tend to think of it as mint. Later we get into Bureau prepared precancels with gum as issued, and there are also early precancels, that still had franking power when used by the company who prepared them/ or for whom they were prepared.}

I don't know what the rules said, but I know first hand that that sort of thing was done.

Interesting, thanks.

Canceled is not mint, regardless of the gum.
Your stamps are used.

John you're popping all my balloons lol. But I'm learning quite a bit in the process.

Dangit, I find something really cool just wait. Still have lots more envelopes. To go through.

I would handle that strip with care until you have established why its gum is still pristine despite the straight line dated cancellation. Its history could be interesting.

I read somewhere that clerks used to precancel sheets of postage due stamps in advance to save time. Many unused stamps made it to collectors. This also explains why you see postage due stamps on cover that are cancelled and not tied to the cover.

Here is a full sheet on ebay with original gum.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/PRECANCEL-S...AOSwux5YNzOn

Many businesses would get canceled due stamps as receipts for their due bills - they were not necessarily affixed to a mail piece or a due bill form. They are still "used" despite the undisturbed gum - thus there are LOTS of canceled due stamps with full gum in collector hands.