M W Dated Precancels

Does anyone know anything about an Albany, N. Y. dated pc with a control "M W JUL 38" is 16.5 mm long with a 1.5 mm space between the M & W? All printing of the control is 2.5 mm high. There are no dashes
or periods. It is not listed in the Dated cat. nor in the t/t cat. Albany, New York's section for locals. All of the control is 2.5. mm high. I have 2 of them on the 1926 Bureau type 61 pc 1cent & 3 cent.

M W usually stands for Montgomery & Ward.

We will need a picture to figure it out.

Here are the pics guys.

Yes, Montgomery Ward

My understanding of the dated precancels is that these were done in two parts. You have Bureau precancels on these stamps, which were done by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The dated controls came into being because of the change to the PL&R which required that all stamps above 6 cents be dated to further indicate who was using it and when. These dated controls were added by the company after the precanceled stamps were obtained and were dated in the month they were used.

There are also another type of dated control which is called an integral precancel where the company itself was applying a precancel which had a date included as part of the process, making it a one step procedure.

Hope this helps a bit.

Thanks, but the problem I have with this dated is that it doesn't match the dated cat. MW types listed for Albany, N. Y. or any of the other MW types listed for other cities; even searching the varieties and repairs does reveal anything. The gap between the M and W is the problem. What is the explanation? Is it an unknown type, or error variety? Or what.