Is This A Precancel Gone Awry?

I've been looking at US stamps that have hidden away for a while.
Is this a precancel or some other type of cancel?

I used to think these were precancels but I have since found one on an envelope with the cancel running onto the paper of the envelope, so not a precancel bue I don't know if they have a special name for this cancel.

Richard

It's a repeating roller cancel. A roller cancel is a hand operated device with a "wheel" on the end of it; on this wheel is the impression you see. Typically, in the Post Office, they are used for cancelling parcels on which there are a lot of stamps. While they are efficient, they often utilize a killer bar or bars in the design, and ensure that the cancel can in no way be removed.

Luckily, the U.S. version of the roller cancel does not utilize a killer bar, but here are examples of that used in Canada:

We'll take it one step further that is a 'box roller' cancel.

Mike

Ziggy9, Thank you.

WpgLwr, I know of the Canada roller cancels, I just didn't transfer that knowledge to this. I think I was excited to think I had a precancel mistake.

Warrehouse, Good terminology, Thank you.

Has the roller cancel been used as a "local precancel" in some cases?

Why do I ask? I have the major part of a sheet of 10c postage due (J65) that has every stamp canceled with a hand held Pittsburgh, PA roller. It has no gum and has not been handled with care but it seems to me that it is too large to have been used on an envelope. The haphazard manner in which stamps have been separated, and many now missing, causes me to believe it was a full sheet. It may have been used on a large package however.

Marty

You ask a good question, Marty.

Note, though, that Postage Dues have also been used to pay Business Reply Mail fees, and perhaps this may account for the partial sheet you have. The roller cancel may have been used simply because there were so many to cancel.

I know this, because I've heard of it being done, but can't swear that happened in this case.

Yes, Marty,
They could have been if they are they are referred to a "provisional" precancel.
These tend to be in smaller town PO's and would have been authorized by the Postmaster because the earlier precancel device was lost, stolen and broken;
assigned device had not arrived in time for large mailing; or a sudden large mailing with a PO without any authorized devices for precanceling.

Minneapolis was not one of them. Sorry!
Mike