Cancellations

Typically a CTO has a light corner cancel; not socked on the nose like your Netherlands stamp. Someone with more experience with the Netherlands will have to tell you.

If you look at enough stamps of the same issue and they all have the same or nearly the same cancellation it's most likely a CTO.

Dan

CTOs are often really difficult to tell apart from legitimate cancellations in some countries. The Germans have the ability to produce and use some really beautiful cancels that are used in the course of everyday business. They look as good as, or better than, some CTO cancels.

Here's a page / article I wrote few weeks back regarding CTO: http://www.stampcollectingblog.com/...o-stamps.php

SCB:

Nice CTO article -- I hadn't seen your blog before. I think I'll go do some more exploring now

Thanks,
Kirk

I am sure getting an education by joining this forum.
There is a lot of great and to me valuable information here.
Thanks to all of who have been of help.
Conn

scb,

Interesting articles on your blog! They are concise and informative.

I especially enjoyed the article on the Five-Year-Plan stamps from the DDR. I usually end up pulling up what hair I have left when sorting those issues!

I'm also impressed with the organization of your collection. IMHO that's how it is supposed to be done.

You have a new subscriber to your blog.

Thanks for sharing!

Dan

Hello Kirk.....


A CTO that has had it's gum soaked off is still recognizable as a CTO by comparing it to others of the same set and/or time period.


Quanah.....Your Netherlands stamp is recognizable as a CTO by the date, as stated in Scott.....not the style/type or placement of cancel.


Generally speaking, CTO cancels do not match postally used cancels.......there are some from the Caribbean that do but they are almost always neat corner cancels from capital cities.

Thanks Tom:

My question was part genuine and part hypothetical; either way, I think I get it now

KirkS

Are we not a peculiar lot of hobbyists. Most collectors see CTO's as not collectible or they will value them at a fraction of a mint or used copy.

Now here is the fun part-

Many collectors pay high premiums and search to high heaven for pristine original gum.
CTO's 9 out of 10 times have flawless gum. Hmmmm.

Some collectors are always searching for the perfect centered cancel or very clear cancel on a stamp.
CTO's almost always have a very sharp cancel or in some cases a great centering. Hmmmm.

Some US precancels were made for a purpose to generate income and get great premiums when purchased now.
CTO's many times were put out there to generate income but demand little value today. Hmmm.

Maybe the last one is a little out in left field but aren't we a funny lot.

Mac:

You raise good issues -- as my Dad likes to say, "People are funnier than anybody!"

The way I understand it is stamp collectors collect MINT or USED. CTOs are neither; therefore some collectors turn up their noses.

I'm not saying I agree, by the way, just the way I interpreted the negative sentiments.

KirkS

Kirk.....


I personally dislike CTO's.....I much prefer postally used.....but if I looked carefully through my collection I'd bet I'd find some.

How about this:

Conn-

Didn't I see that one on ebay, with a "rare cancel" item title?

Cjd

Pretty bad. A good graphic artist could make it work'
Although I don't know why I wold want it after all the trouble
Conn

cjd I sure haven't seen anything like i, and I hope I don''t.
Conn