Canada 1898 Covers Advice Needed

Hi There, I have found a bunch of old "covers" (see some examples in photo) in my inherited stamp collection. Except that I don't know if they really qualify as "covers" per se as it seems they have been cut out of an envelope rather that having the whole envelope (although I have some of those too.)

How should I categorize these? And is there a resource where I can research some of the cancellations?

Many thanks for your advice.

I believe these would be called cover fronts. Some collectors in the past felt it was ok to detach the front of the envelope from the back, which is too bad because often (though not always) the back had further postal markings would could be crucial to studying the covers postal history.
All of your cancels are called flag cancels and you can read about them in a book called The Early Rapid Cancelling Machines of Canada by David Sessions or The Canadian Flag Cancellation Handbook 1896 - 1973 by Ed Richardson.
Your cancels were made by Bickerdike Obliterating machines and are typed F7 (without the two black lines) and F8 (with the black lines) in the David Sessions book.

Thanks for your info about "cover fronts" and the stamp cancellation book. Much appreciated.

great photos of some very interesting cancels - thank you!

Just to tease you,
copy of a page sent to me in 2011
Perhaps from the catalogue James suggested.
Note: Your Barred Flag Cancellation Cover, went through the machine canceller Upside Down, during the first pass, it was then put through again, stamp side up.



Auxilliary Markings : NOT CALLED FOR
http://bnaps.org/hhl/Topics/BNA%20T...o.%20435.pdf

Your page, Rod, is actually from Holmes' Specialized Philatelic Catalogue of Canada and British North America (Ryerson Press, 1963). I may have even sent it to you, I have the scan in my files.

Aha! Thanks James, I have saved the image with due accreditation.
Muchas Gracias.