Manuscript Cancel On A Scott #121.

I generally stay away from manuscript cancels, but the stamp below was offered at a nice price, and I thought it was just too exceptional to turn down. The colors are vivid, the margins are wide, and the centering looks to me to be XF-S. It doesn't have a certificate, but I saw no faults after dipping it; hopefully the PF will agree.

My question is about the manuscript cancel. Was this still a common practice in 1869? I couldn't find very many on Pictorials with manuscript cancels in auction records, but maybe that is just because they are viewed so negatively.

Is the cancel on this stamp distinctive enough that someone can tell me where it might have come from? Also, the cancel leaked through to the reverse side through the grill points. Will this be considered a fault?

That is a beautiful stamp. I'm not an expert, but I think the cancel does not detract in any way. If anything, it makes the stamp more interesting. I have a couple of pictorials with ink cancels. I'm curious what the experts think about your question. Thanks for sharing it!

From the 1866 Postal Laws and Regulations, note the end of section 176:



At this time, the postmasters at smaller offices had to purchase their own canceling devices or use manuscript cancels. Nothing unusual about finding pen strokes in this era. There is no way to ID the office of origin for this.

Very nice! I hate the usual nasty blob cancels you usually see on the pictorals. I'd take a pen cancel over an ugly blob cancel any day!

Nice stamp. While the ink bleeding through to the back is not that attractive, nobody should consider it a fault. I doubt any collector willing to accept the pen cancel on the front would be all that concerned about the cancel bleeding through on the back.

In fact the ink bleed pattern on the back shows clearly how grills actually worked by weakening paper to promote soak.

That is a horrible, terrible, faulty example of a stamp with an improper canx that doesn't belong in anyone's collection.

You should sell it to me.



Great stamp!!!!

StateRevs - You had me going for a second as I read the first sentence of your post!

I'm glad you think it is nice, too, and thanks to everyone for the feedback and info.