Odd Cancel On Postal Stationery

Received this item from the USPS many years ago. It is an invitation to join their commemorative stamp club. The colorful advertising enclosure shows through the window.

I had assumed that the "barred" cancel on this cover was applied at the same time as the other offset printing was done...as a halftone black, because it appears as a very even gray tone. Under 10x magnification, it proves to be a typeset application.

Would this be considered a precancel, or is it simply a mute cancel?

It's a precancel.

From the UPSS catalog:


Robert

Thanks Robert!

Interesting,
any idea what the "Readers Digest cc" refers to? (the "cc" part )

The precancel is part of the envelope printing process - NOTE that the 3 lines go around the edge-fold onto the back of the envelope.

cc = corner card = return address. Here is one:


Here is another version of the Postal Service's ad mailing:


Lastly, the example I have of the Postal Service ad envelope illustrated in the first post contains the yellow flier and a cover letter dated February 1987.

Right. Thank you John.

Looking through my collection, I can add a brace of Pre-cancels to Bob's example.

Caveat: Newbie regarding ID. (Scott numbers)

Sc# U420


Sc#U532

cc is the abbreviation for Corner Card aka return address.