How Does This Happen...?

Hi guys
Here is a 1939 first flight letter from Royal Dalton to an address in Ontario...Strange thing is look at both cancellations...The one on the right is stamped normally, but the cancellation on the left is BACKWARDS...?

Could it be the image of the cancellation on the previous letter, just after re-inking?

I am not sure Petert4522, you would think that it would not be as dark as the one on the right...I would think if it was from another letter that it would be fairly faint, don't you agree...?

My guess would be ink transfer from a previously canceled letter and the envelopes were stacked wet. Perhaps it was a particularly wet May day in Stoke-on-Trent and the ink didn't dry fast enough? Moisture in the air and all that.

That would be a reasonable explanation jamesw.
Case closed (I think) ...Thanks guys.
By the way...here is the front of the cover...

In fairness, I think that's what Peter was also saying.
Interesting look at the front of this cover. I'm surprised to see Kings George V and VI together. I was under the impression (something a senior member of my club said) that after the death of a monarch, and a new monarch was in place, it was illegal to use the stamps of the deceased. That they were now no longer valid for postage.
Am I (and he) mistaken?

could it possibly be transfer from a missed strike? envelopes are fed into the striker, where the cancel is stamped onto the cover, with a solid plate behind the envelope to support the pressure of the striker. if there is no envelope, the striker will leave a fully inked impression on the solid plate. with the next envelope, the pressure of the strike will transfer the full inked impression (in negative) to the reverse of the envelope.

just a possibility.

kuhli...That could be a good reason for the darker colour of the cancellation.

jamesw...Are you suggesting I have an illegal envelope (ha,ha)....OR a rare envelope...

Yes you (and he) are. Victoria's stamps were demonetised around 1902 and Edward VII's around 1912. But the stamps of George V, Edward VIII and George VI remained valid until 1971 when along with the early Elizabeth II stamps they went down the Swannee due to decimalization.

A good example of "Clipper" mail too.

As Jamesw pointed out, I too usually I see KG VI in combination to make up the Clipper rate of 1 /- 3 P but seldom have I seen this with two reigns. I think this is the first I have seen with this combination.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Thankyou for the clarification Bamra. Goes to show, don't believe everything you hear.

This is a pretty common phenomenon resulting from over-inking the machine canceller.

Bamra and all

To the best of my knowledge, this was not gospel when a reigning monarch died. If it was, then all I can say was that law has not been policed that well. I have aso seen covers with KG VI and QEII on cover. So, to be honest, I am not sure.

Chimo

Bujutsu

So Bujutsu, bottom line is that this combination exists but not to the extreme of being common place....Correct...??

I would say 'not rare' but not seen often. <G>

That's about the best I can say lol

Chimo

Bujutsu

Your a real diplomat Bujutsu ..a real diplomat...ha,ha