US Scott 11A Full Red, Is It Uncancelled? Is It Correctly Identified?

Hoping the forum members can give me some clarity.

Labeled as an 11a, dull red, type II, uncancelled.

The photos and close ups below appear to have some dark spots near and around the edges. Is it a cleaned cancellation? Correctly identified?


Thanks.

Is it adhered to a cover piece?

Yes it is on a cut off cover piece

It looks like the sender was chewing tobacco when putting it on the letter.

After 150+ years, one should expect gum and oral bacteria to produce a good growth of mold even in the best of atmospheric conditions. Too bad this one was left on piece.

Hi Phil_Atelic (clever name btw),
Yes, it is an 11A so is correctly identified.
Regarding removed cancel, this is best seen under UV light. There are traces of toning, but I don't believe they are elements of a removed cancel.
I'd have to have it in hand to be able to tell any more about it. If you have a good strong UV (Either 254nm UV-A or a 10BL-B UV-B) it would help to determine if there has been any removed cancel. By my overall thought at this moment is, it has not been.

Thank you Classic Philatelist, I appreciate your advice. The UV lights are definitely next on my list of supplies for the hobby.

I would agree with everything ClassicPhilatelist says. If I HAD to guess whether this is uncancelled or removed-cancel, I would guess uncancelled. It APPEARS to be on a classic-era piece, and a cancel-remover would probably have removed it from the piece to begin with to do his/her work. It APPEARS to be unaltered, but you should still look at it under a UV lamp. BTW, it was not unheard of to have an envelope go through the mails and have the cancel miss the stamp, or be uncancelled.

I thank everyone who responded and added their thoughts. Very much appreciated. Thanks dudley,chasa, bookbndrbob and mootermutt987!