Introduction Of New (Historical) Precancel Procedures In 1903

Most of the posts in this Precancel stamp thread are directed to identification of precancel types and cities were used.

I recently came across the displayed Post Office Instructional form, dated May 26, 1903, which appears to be the description of the new precancel stamp format, with the two horizontal lines and post ofice name mandated, and usage procedures. I thought it might be interesting to show here from a historical perspective.

I hope it will be legible. You may have to download and zoom the image.



MikeL

Edited for spelling

This is interesting infomation. Thank you for sharing it.

MikeL, did you notice the last line of the document?

It would be interesting to see a previous version of the procedures. These orders were also incorporated in respective following PL&R or Postal Bulletin editions.

stampsOnMail wrote:



That was a good question, and if I had been a precancel collector, I might have thought of it myself. Actually, I had not looked at the time of the original post.

I looked this morning in the issues of the Postal Bulletin and monthly Official Postal Guides for both 1902 and 1903 to see if there were previos notices or instructions provided there, but did not find anything. It is possible they were dated earlier, but my searches did not even discover the information in this circular.

Perhaps someone in the precancel collecting community can step up with more information.

Some background...

I acquired the document ( ebay naturally) in the original post as part of a sideline project I have had for a number of years, which is to develope a file of these instructional circulars which were sent to all post offices and postmasters to guide their operation of these offices and to maintain uniformity of operation.

Between 1776 and 1874, these types of instructional circulars were the primary method used by the USPOD to inform postmasters about new instructions and regulations. There were no Official Postal Guides prior to April 1874, and no Postal Bulletins before 1880. The Postal Laws & Regulations were revised and distributed irregularly, but the average length of time between them was 8-10 years, and postal operations changed with a much greater frequency.

I've never encountered a physical source with a complete collection of these instructional circulars. Over the years, I have acquired a number of these, and obtained images of many others from online sources, but doubt I have even 5% or 10% of those issued. It's a community project without a community.

If you read this note, and own any documents of this type, please contact me through the forum, and share your document.

MikeL