1897 New York Cancel Help??

Anybody have any idea what the top of this cancellation says? The first two letters are definitely N Y, possibly a C after that. Sender is from Corning, NY. This is the best I could clear up the cancel with the photo editing tools I have available

N.Y. & NJ Railroad? Or something along that line?

Art

You may be on to something. That could definitely be an ampersand. But it almost looks to me more like NY & NC NJ.

N.Y. & North Central New Jersey

That would make sense. Thanks for the help! Any kind of value added by it? I have no familiarity with RR cancels. Also, I know I've seen some listed on here, but I can't find them at the moment: what are some good websites to use to edit the photo to bring the cancel out? All I did on this one was play around on photobucket.

I am not saying that it is the n.y. & north central etc, nor am I saying its a railroad cancellation. I'm only suggesting that it could be something along these lines.

Art

Google is always a good place to start

I know that that was merely a suggestion, and I appreciate your time in helping. And I tend to agree with what you think on it

If it's a railroad cancel there is some value added. Nor would I rule out steamboat or other modes of transportation. I have a neat cover marked "by cannel part way". The best part of that cancell is the research you do on it. Suggestion, document what you find and keep it with the cover.

Art

I most definitely will do that. I love the near things you seem to learn everytime you pick up a cover. I picked up a cover tonight that I've had for quite some time and had over looked that was cancelled 100 years to the day before I was born.

It doesn't appear that there are any railroads that would seem to fit this either

From Corning to NYC the most direct route would have been been south east. That's through Penn. and N.J.
It is northern New Jersey. Was there a Northern New Jersey rail road? That might give you an NO N J.....

There are collectors who specialize in railway cancellations and pay more than the value of the individual stamp on cover for them. However, they like most every other kind of cover specialist want clear and readable cancelations unless there are only one or two known examples of the particular cancellation. In this case since the cancelation runs off the edge of the envelope and since the inking was quite poor especially for key parts of the cancellation on the top, right and bottom this particular example might not have much additional value as a railway transported cover. On the other hand it is a fun cover to research which is great.

Kimo, unfortunately I am aware of that. Just curious for documentation purposes.

Anyways, I've played around with the image a bit more. I'm now thinking that it is NY & NC instead of NY & NO. I do feel like the bottom shows the start of an R, and my guess would be that the area above the date is going to be a train number, as these appear to be commonly located here and are formatted as TR ###, so I think we are on the right track with an RPO

I think it reads N.Y. & N.C. Annex term. R.P.O. or G.C. (Grand Central) Annex term.
I believe I actually have an example around here someplace?

I don't think that there is room for an "A" in there, but I look forward to seeing your example if you can find it! Thanks!

Of course I can't find it. I think I gave it away actually but I do remember that it was a receiving mark on the back so maybe I'm just missing it? Of course I may very well just be mistaken. My best guess though is N.Y. & N.C. N.J. sta.{tion} R.P.O.