Providence, Rhode Island "Prov. R.i." Postmark

Does anyone have information on this type of postmark that was apparently used in Providence, RI during the latter part of the 19th century?



I don't recall ever seeing one like it before and although it may not be valuable it certainly looks different from most I've seen from that period.

I did a bit more research and given that the denomination of the stamp on the above scan is only 1-cent and the domestic rate was 2-cents at the time, I'm wondering if this could be an early example of a precancel?

Does anyone know?

It's not a precancel. There are a lot of oddball markings used in the 1880s and 1890s on circular/printed rate mail that didn't require a datestamp.

Actually that's what I was thinking. If domestic rate was 2¢ but this cover is (obviously) 1¢, I would have thought that it was third class or bulk rate or printed matter.

Found this thread, after starting another, that I posted a couple of these in it. I'm wondering, was there any more information found about these cancels?

wt1, you have the left side, I have a bit of the right, in mine. Does anyone have a full example?

not a precancel

Thanks, chasa. I knew they were not precancels, as the one I have, with the two stamps, I can see the ink runs off the stamp onto the paper. The two I posted off paper, came to my possession that way. Kinda wished they hadn't been soaked off and the first one wasn't torn off the envelope the way it appears to have been.

I'm guessing my great-great grandfolks didn't think about it, when they gave them to their son, for collecting.

I actually catch myself, now, eyeballing any piece of mail I get, before opening it. Which I never did, before I received the collection. Now, an envelope opener is my friend.