Question About A Cancel

I was looking at the cancel on this stamp and at first glance I thought it was Oct 23 but when I took a second look I noticed it was OF.C 23. Is it just a mess up on the postal stamping device or does the OF.C stand for something else? It's from Ashley Ill.
Thanks for looking
Newby

try DEC...December

Kevin504 by George that is it. Awesome and thanks.

Interesting to find a 1940 date on the scarlet shade which did not come out until c1943. In fact this looks more like the dry-print version which did not come out until 1958. So perhaps a favor cancel from a retired cancel device. Do you know if this Ashley handstamp device exists in collector hands?

John 99% of my stamps have been handed down from Great Grand Dad,and Great Uncle. When the uncle died in the war the books set unopened from 1965 until I received them in 2000 believe it or not. I guess it was too much to bear for the family. Before the death of GrGdad he gave them to me and told me a little about them. When I'm bored I will flip them open and take a peak. I'm trying to log them and put them in better books and better holders which is a major task. That is why I am here asking sometimes stupid questions. He did state that some had value to them. I did post one last year that was a vertical coil pair maybe 404 or 454 can't remember. Can't remember what it was except they had small hole perfs.
Now if a collector had a device it would of had to be before 1965. I know that they are/were from Ashley Ill. and a lot of stamps in the books have Ashley stamped on them as the two send mail to each when the uncle was over seas. Thats all I know.

Thanks again

I've also posted some postage due, parcel post and a RB

Q/ Isn't it more likely that there has been a color shift, or that the scarlet shade is an artifact of the scan, the mount, your monitor ...

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Ikeypickey no idea. I'm a Newby to this. I have no idea what a shift is but I'll be glad to re-scan the stamp if this would help anyone make a better decision.As always I'm thankful for the input from everyone.

Newby

ikeyPikey, It is more than the shade, which is really different between the dull carmine and the scarlet. The dry-print has a bubbly, mottled appearance in the area around the lower 1's and whiter paper, which the scan shows.

So, John you mean that the cancel on the stamp is a forged one or put on the stamp in 1958 and not 1940 because that is when the stamp was issued? Wow; if so that is very interesting. Hmmm, would that make it worth collecting for someone who collects that kind of stuff? I sure wouldn't of thought that about GrGdad if so.

Not forged, just a good chance someone used a retired device containing an old year date to cancel a stamp printed many years afterward. The 1931-59 dues look enough alike that it would make little difference to most. A lot of old cancel devices exist in collector hands.

So, John it amazes me how you and others on this forum know so dang much about stamps just viewing them. I was thumbing back thru the Scott book and noticed it said that they were many different shades for the 1894 up but it doesn't elaborate about them. Were there just too many to list. Also in my book there isn't any mention of 1958. It stops at 1956 for the D3&D4 style then goes to 1959 with the D5 style. I guess the book doesn't break down all the dates

I tell you me this stamp stuff is just so confusing and frustrating on one hand but on the other hand is exciting as well. Maybe I'll stay with just viewing these little pieces of art. Well, at least I have a scarlet color template to go by. Forum get ready for some more stupid questions as I hope y'all don't mind.

John, thanks just not just you but for everyone with the time and knowledge y'all give to myself and other Newbies here on the forum. I'm sure y'all don't get thanked enough for what is did here.
Newby

Without seeing your stamp directly, it is still much a guessing game, and I could easily be incorrect.

That said, there is a lot of specialty literature beyond the Scott US Specialized catalog. A lot of it published by the US Philatelic Classics Society and the United States Stamp Society. For your stamp, generally called J80: the dull carmine (wet print) came out in 1931, the scarlet (also a wet-print) came out in about 1943, and the scarlet (dry-print) came out in 1958, but Scott does not say all that. The press-runs for the dry-print postage dues are quite short. The best way to figure out shades and printings is to have multiple copies for cross comparison. Covers are especially useful in providing use dates.

Definitely do not think a old canceller
device was used.

What does the stamp perf??

Thanks for dropping in Kevin504. I will need to perf it. I'm at work but will do it when I arrive home today. I was quick to say 12 as I was thinking about another post

Uh, perf choices are 11 or 11x10.5

Newby, Did you get my email last night?

Yes John I did and will reply to you when I get home. I'm at work right this minute.