Marker Monkeys And Other Stamp Crimes.

Johnstamp
I think to a degree that it is not as attractive as light circle cancel,
as opposed to the dreaded pen marker.
it is a legitimate cancel.
This is reason I position my stamps a little lower and to the left a bit more,I try to catch the circle or slogan rather than the bars.
David

Thank you for the advice!! I will do that in my next mail

What really is bad on this one other than the nice older copies now shot.
Is that the stamps were all hand cancelled to begin with.
Then some monkey comes along and does this.

I missed this thread before starting my own about Pen Cancels, but these examples are horrendous. I don't know the post office regs, but I understand the clerks have a job to do and that they need to be sure that stamps get canceled.

For example, if a carrier were about to put a letter in my box and noticed there was no machine cancellation, he might scribble it with his pen. I have (almost) no problem with that. But if I take it to the counter and they scribble it there instead of picking up the rubber stamp, it makes me want to scream!

No problem Kirk, this is just one of my pet peaves whith the Post Office.
Some not all mind you, just do not have any care for the collectors.

Oh, 1775mac, that latest one just hurts!

No doubt about it Mac - you are the first place winner (or looser) in this post. That is just horrendous!

For you APS members, the Marker Monkey is featured on page 212 of the March 2009 issue of American Philatelist.

Does anyone have a scan of the article for us to read? thanks

1775mac.... That is outrageous! Especially since they were already hand cancelled. Why would someone do that? I realize that many postal workers don't know or care squat about collecting, but someone had to go out of their way to do that. And considering the stamps were already cancelled they weren't worried about job security. The head clerk at our post office is a collector and he'll go out of his way to hand cancel a cover if asked. To think that some yahoo down the line might trash his thoughfulness for no good reason really makes my blood pressure rise (even with my meds)!

Because they are malicious, envious, small. They are people who try to steal your enjoyment and pleasure. People who think that if they can't have or enjoy something, you shouldn't either. People who try to keep you in your place lest you surpass them or find some happiness or pleasure or independence apart from their lack of self-esteem or their misery. You'll find them everywhere. From bullies to bosses to bureaucrats, I have seen them all my life.

Take them to your local Postmaster and complain. Maybe it happened in his office. He could probably put a directive on the bulletin board about this kind of behaviour, and keep an eye out for it.

Doesn't hurt to try.

I guess I'm lucky that this hasn't happened to me yet. It had to have been done on purpose I agree that you should registar a complaint, I see no need to deface stamps this way.

Dianne

John:

It wasn't really and "article" -- just a letter to the editor...

Thanks for the Post!