1898 Map Stamp - Crowland Post Office - Welland Ontaio

Hi guys...Came across this Crowland post office cancel...

A little history of this post office sub station of Welland, Ontario at the corner of Main St. S. and Sixth St.

Established on October 5th, 1841
Closed May 1st, 1913

Reopened Oct.1st, 1928

Renamed Welland-Crowland Sub Station July 11th, 1947 in a house dwelling

Postmaster,s name was Clark C. Pratt who was postmaster during this 1898 Map stamp cancellation from Aug. 1st, 1899 till his death
Jan. 16th, 1905.



Here is an early 1800 map of Crowland

This cancel has given me a lot of thought, how rare is it..??..Have not seen any stamp in my collection with a Crowland cancellation...Would help if anyone has another or more detailed information on this (maybe) rare cancel..Any assistance would be appreciated.

Lovely presentation.

In the United States we would call that a "dead" post office (one no longer in service).

Wert, here is the info you requested...

The Postal History Society of Canada (PHSC) website has been working on a database for cancels that has been going on for some time.

It lists this particular "split-ring" cancel as having three versions with ONT. at the base. Yours is the 2nd of the 3 based on the date.

I did not screenshot the page as it is not owned by me and you need to be a member to access the info.

I highly recommend a membership if you are interested in Canadian cancels. The database is great and an e-membership is very inexpensive.

The first number is the cancel diameter in mm, then the length of the side arcs, then the proof date, then the ERD and the LRD.

CROWLAND ONT. 20/ 4.0/ 4.0/ JU 9 1886

CROWLAND ONT. 20.5/ 4.5/ 5.5/ FE 26 / 95 JY 30 / 95 MR 15 / 12

CROWLAND ONT. 21/ 9.5/ 9.0/ SP 10 / 28 NO 6 / 28 SP 25 / 45

One more thing. Though there are no "rarity factors" listed, you can interpret a lot from the size of the town and the length of time the cancel was in use (ie. 1895 - 1912). Also, many collectors of map stamps like to collect cancels from different locations.

I personally love the various early Canadian cancels and have a large collection of split-rings, etc.