Strange San Martin, Calif Postmark

The lettering looks OK but the circle almost looks hand drawn. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

There are a couple of reasons why the cancel is misshapen. It could be that the envelope got stuck in the machine and the impression got smudged. It could be the metal die of the cancel got deformed over time due to metal stress through long use.

Perhaps the paper was wet by rain, and dried out, and so was wrinkled, all before the cancellation was applied? Cheers,

The misshaped cancel could also be caused by bulky contents.

These cancels are discussed in Morris, Payne & Holmes' "The Columbia Story" volume IV, pages 125-132, about the Baby Columbia machine cancels and which ones are likely to have been produced by the Baby machines and which are handstamp mimics. They conclude that all these impressions are made of rubber dies/devices (which can absorb solvents from sitting on the inkpad and distort as your shows) and that the those with slogans are likely handstamp impressions. Most of these cancels are uncommon.

Wow John. Thanks. I have learned something else new today. So... uncommon is good . Right? LOL.

A good find. I have usually seen these "pseudo machine cancels" in the $10-25 range for full mail pieces - depending on condition, franking, popularity of the state, ego of the dealer, etc.

Thanks, from me, too, John. You contribute a lot of valuable knowledge to the forum. I look forward to your postings.

Basil