Busted Up 10c Combo Pair--> 74l1 & 84l1

The pair is rather skinny, faulty, & pen canceled; but I still like it! The duo is a combo pair of #16 Type IV (top, Pos. 74L1) & #15 Type III (bottom, Pos. 84L1).

I often wonder what type of instrument people used to cut stamps so poorly. Maybe this damage was done opening the letter. But then again you would have to be drunk the have cut the top that bad. I personally don't mind a pen cancel after all it is part of the history. It's light too.

Not the best but I would take it. The stamp paper looks real clean.

There is a nice, unusual CDS in there as well, with the first word probably being "Pleasant".
Maybe Pleasant Valley, or Grove, or something like that.

mkfarm I agree! I always wonder what method/instruments were used for separating the stamps. To me the right suggests the stamp was just torn apart. The rest of the edges look like someone was attempting to clean up the rough edges; making the pair puny. I still enjoy the pair; neat combo!

txstamp, forgive me for being a little slow; I'm learning new stuff everyday! I now see the beginning of "Pleasant". I agree that "balloon" CDS is unusual! Looks like it has no outside circle (rimless?) either. It's one of the biggest CDS cancels I've seen (in my ~5 years of collecting ). Maybe someday I'll be able to specifically pinpoint the cancel.

I would start by assuming that it is an Ohio town but not rimless.

Thanks sinclair2010! Again I'm a bit slow here & am always learning new info. I see now above the "PL" there is definitely an outer circle. Thanks again!