Took The Plunge Into The World Of US Precancels

This is one of those problems wt1, that always happens sadly when
a hobby involves the collecting of rare and even semi-rare items.

I also collect cigarette cards and whilst fakes are not always
that prolific in this area, it does still happen now and again.
There will always be those that are unsruplous, trying to con
the collector. So sad but very true.

[ typing from my table at the annual Precancel Stamp Society annual convention ]... WT1 basically all precancels up until they were discontinued about 2008 were sanctioned and recognized by the PSS. At various times in the past, the POD was lax or strict about precancel collectors asking for or making precancels. During the lax periods, many different precancels stamps were created. Most precancel collectors consider them fun and collectible.

Welcome to the world of Precancels! It can be as extensive as you want it to be or as limited as you decide to make it. I've did some rough calculating and it would appear that a complete collection of precancels - one of each type on each Scott numbered issue - could range into the millions, when you consider how many cities/types and definitives have been issued.

What does that mean? It means I'm never going to run out of stamps to collect! Here are a few pieces from my collection to whet your appetite!

Enjoy!

I can definitely echo the feeling that precancel collecting can be overwhelming at times if you think of the mass of material out there.

Catalogs are essential to organize a collection. The local PSS types
are listed by town, but do not give a detailed list of stamps known for each type. I group stamps by state, town, type and then keep on the lookout for individual examples that I don't have. The problem is in most cases, I don't know what exists and what doesn't, but that's part of the fun -- the hunt with surprises.

The last few months I have had a blast concentrating on bureaus.
Initially I thought bureaus to be boring and common, however, I recently broke bad and got a bureau catalog. It lists every individual bureau stamp issued by state, town, Scott # and PSS type.

At last a list! It is amazing how many mysteries are now cleared up.
I had left spaces in sets (like PSS-61 Prexies) for stamps that were never issued.

I am currently separating all the bureaus from the T&T's into a separate sub-collection based on the catalog info for each state.
I've started a few master sets with California, Massachusetts and Missouri allowing a space for each listed stamp on Vario stock pages.

This has provided a sense of accomplishment that all collectors need.
Now I can see what I need to go after. It makes things more manageable psychologically.

I have some pages full of completed groups and they are beautiful. (like the first San Francisco perf. 10's up to the 1932 purple Washington) (I might load a picture once I learn how.)

Anyway... It's all fun however it's done.....

begoniabo - in case you are interested, I think PSS has Bureau pages you can download (or maybe buy), that have all the spaces so you can see at a glance what you are missing. I have them but I can't recall how I got them. I don't think I downloaded them, but that was a few years ago.

Jan,

Thanks. I know PSS has pages for the grand T&T collection with a space for each type from every state and town. It's huge. I've seen older bureau album pages here and there with small lots on ebay. I just haven't located what I want yet. Another factor keeping me with good old Vario pages is no need for hinges. I'll keep looking about. Maybe I'll find something I can't resist. Nice album pages full of nice stamps are beautiful at several levels. To me that's fundamental to enjoying the art of design that stamps give us.

Later....