Unused?

So would you call this example (the uncancelled one) unused?





Now then, the stamp in question does not have right and proper gum, but if it did, would it qualify as an unused stamp? I've left this pair in this orientation so that the cancel could be read.

Cheers

David (Stampmaster)

These as they are are both used. with gum it would be a mint stamp, but for a 25 cent certificate that is not that much of a big deal.
Documentary revenues do not exist "unused". They are either mint with OG or used. There are always revenues that wound up on documents but were not cancelled for some reason. Perhaps the stamps were applied in an overlapping format and most of the uncancelled stamp was covered by another stamp which was cancelled. Perhaps they were in a hurry and just banged only one. There are also cancelled revenues with gum around because of pre-cancelling before they were applied to a document.

I consider a first issue revenue stamp without a cancellation and without gum as simply "uncancelled." It's impossible to tell if a user forgot or neglected to cancel a stamp that was in fact used. Of course, in your case it's obvious that the stamp was used but only the other half of the pair was cancelled.

Interesting guesses as to how this pair came to be one cancelled and one not cancelled.

Cheers

David (Stampmaster)

I forgot to mention in my original posting, a right and proper Pacific Mail Steam Ship Company cancel was on the other stamp! Sorry.

Cheers

David (Stampmaster)

Unfranked or Mint No Gum.

But definitely not unused.