I Wonder How This Block Of 11 Of The 1869 1c Franklin Was Used

Whenever I see something that looks like it *might* be a revenue use, my curiosity is piqued, even if we can never truly know the answer.

This irregular block of 11 of Scott #112, the 1-cent Ben Franklin of 1869 has some condition issues, but the sprawling "Nashua N.H. Mar. 4, 1870" manuscript cancel in magenta is quite interesting to me.

This block was sold by Matthew Bennett International in 2008, where it garnered $826 including buyer's premium. It recently resurfaced in a Paradise Valley auction, where I acquired it for less than half that amount all in.

Was this from a parcel front, an oversized cover, or perhaps an improper revenue use? The cancel method is more indicative of the last of the 3 than a postal use. The extra 11th stamp at bottom right conveniently completing the date also leans towards a revenue cancel rather than postal, in my opinion.

In fact it reminds me of the all-over manuscript cancel on a similar improper revenue use of a large multiple that I have (also shown below).

So how do you think this block was used? Unlike the other example shown, there is no document or document residue on the back to provide any context as to its use.

Given that it's a town and date and not a company or just initials, I suspect it was a postal use. And 11 cents would be an unusual rate. Of course we will never know how this was used, or if it had companion stamps as well. And what type of document would have the room required for such a strip?

Yep, an earlier portion of the cancel could be on a separate strip/block(s).




All manner of large format documents, actually: indentures, deeds, inland exchanges of various types, bills of lading...

The other thought I had was: Could this have been some sort of precancel, where a postal clerk precanceled a swath of stamps and then just used and affixed stamps individually after the fact... but the convenient 11th stamp completing the date belies that. The block is a bit too tidily complete for that to have been the case.

Virtually all manuscript postal cancels I've seen have been mute, in that they are simply strokes, X's, etc., not a spelling out of a location and date. It wasn't legally required in order to cancel mail.

My experience is that far more documents have stamps trimmed to fit then have a lot of room for such long strips. Most of the types you mentioned have a lot of words to the page and not a lot of extra room.

there is no way to know for sure, but it looks to me more like something that was used on a large envelope/parcel - maybe legal papers. One more 1¢ stamp would pay the quadruple domestic rate (4 x 3¢)