Slogan Cancel Question

Is there someone with a copy of Moe Luff's slogan cancel catalog willing to check the date and place of the first appearance of Remember Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires? 1948 maybe?

The slogan was the product of the National Ad Council in 1947, but I would like to know when it first hit the post office cancelers.

Many thanks.

Don

I don't have the reference catalog you refer to, but I did find this image on ebay suggesting that the "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires" slogan cancel was in use in Washington, DC at least as early as October 23, 1948:



In fact, as far as Washington, DC's use of that slogan cancel, I refer to the online reference "Washington, DC Rapid Cancelling Machine Slogan Cancellations through October 2011" where it is documented that the image shown above had an EKU of 09/05/1948 and extended to a LKU of 11/18/1955.

There was a revised slogan cancel featuring Smokey the Bear's head and hat that was in use thereafter, with an EKU of 09/15/1956 through a LKU of 05/13/1985 (29+ years!).

Thanks w1t

My reason for asking is the somewhat strange cover illustrated below. I collect cinderellas on cover in a small way and this one caught my attention. It was more intriguing when I tried to figure the motive for preparing the cover. Given the lack of address, tt is obviously a "hand back favor cancel," but what was the preparer trying to accomplish?

The stamp, while recent usage has its first day in August 1948. Probably, it was a desire for the slogan cancel paired with the cinderella. It also looks like he/she may have tried to get a cancel tying the cinderella to the envelope and the cancelling clerk missed it.

Anyway, these are assumptions I will use for my write up of this cover, unless someone comes forward with a more compelling theory. Still would like to know when and where that slogan cancel first appeared. The info you sent, however, clearly shows this is not the first post office using this slogan cancel, but is an early one.

Don

Do keep in mind that the EKU and LKU dates recited above refer to the Washington, DC usage of the slogan cancel ONLY. Other cities (such as Omaha) may have implemented use of that slogan cancel on different dates.

On another matter, while I don't mean to hijack this thread, I thought I would post this long forgotten thread about a circular "mute" cancel that appeared on an FDR stamp from 1945 (Scott 930). It appears quite similar to the "mute" cancel that is on your cover. It seems to me the post office may have had a means to cancel stamps with this sort of circular "mute" cancel, although I haven't seen it used very often.

https://goscf.com/t/10886

wtl:

Another interesting aspect of the cover. Your speculation about the post office having a specific mute canceller for philatelic items is probably correct. I worked in the main Omaha Post Office for a short while in 1959/1960 as a substitute distribution clerk. Occasionally, I would be assigned to the Nixie case which would also get the philatelic mail for cancellation. Then (1959/1960) we did not have a circular mute cancel but an oval one and I think we have all seen those oval very thin oval cancels on stamps.

I haven't thought about that aspect of my work for a long time! Glad you brought the subject up.

Don

As a speculative follow-up, note that the diameter of the mute cancel is about 23mm, almost exactly the same as the machine cancel dial. Maybe just a coincidence.

Don

This may be of use here.

http://www.dcstampclub.org/pdfs/DC_..._Cancels.pdf

EKU 1948 September 5
LKU 1955 November 18

I have a copy of the Postmark Collectors Club Slogan Database. There are several Post Offices that used that slogan in1948. The database only lists years, not days and months, so I can't tell what is the earliest one without checking the PMCC Museum in Ohio. I will be going the the first part of April if you are still interested, I can look them up. You can contact me through this forum or at rsmall003@comcast.net.
Rich Small

P.S. I have a copy of Moe Luff Slogan book, but it lists slogans like these as "various cities" and only the year date.
The PMCC calls these "NATIONAL" slogans.

Thanks for the offer, Rich, but I'm not sure what can be learned at this point. Obviously, the Omaha usage is not the EKU. Perhaps, the Museum has an example that would give the EKU at Omaha, but of what value is that? I greatly appreciate your offer, but I doubt that the result would be worth your time.

Don