USA STAMPS, Precancel

Item Specifics

Country

United States

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Unused

Centering

XF/Superb

Stamp Format

Miniature Sheet

Topic

People - Politicians

Year of Issue

1903

Item Description

Precancel
A precanceled stamp, or precancel for short, is a postage stamp that has been legitimately cancelled before being affixed to mail. A number of nations of the world use precancels, typically in the form of an overprint on definitive series stamps.
Use
Precanceled stamps are typically used by mass mailers, who can save the postal system time and effort by prearranging to use the precancels, and delivering the stamped mail ready for sorting. The postal administration will typically offer an incentive in the form of a reduced price for precanceled stamps in volume. Precancels cannot normally be purchased by the general public, although they are often seen in one's daily mail.
United States
The 1903 standardised design with the city and state between two horizontal lines.
The first use of precancels (both in the US and globally) was by Hale & Co., an independent mail company in the United States in the 1840s which undercut the expensive United States Post Office Department (POD). The first precancels were created in 1843 or early 1844 and their complexity varies; most were "crude straight lines" across the stamps, but examples from Portsmouth, New Hampshire were precanceled with "P / N.H." in block letters. Hale & Co., along with all other independent mail carriers, was shut down by an 1845 act of Congress.

The POD authorised precanceling of stamps in 1887, and produced standardised guidelines on their design in May 1903. US precancels are generally divided into two groups: Bureaus and Locals. Locals, used unofficially since the 1840s, were prepared by postmasters using stamps and equipment they had on hand. Bureaus are those manufactured by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which came into use in the 1910s.

Precancels are known from over 20,000 towns across all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and American Samoa.

Seller Information

Seller

SLAVRU (115)

Registered Since

08/12/2021

Feedback

94.6%

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Item Location

Czech Republic, Czech Republic

Ships To

Worldwide

Shipping Instructions

Thank you for your interest in our stamps. We are based in Europe, which means that transport abroad is more expensive. The price of transport is standard 15, -usd. All marketplaces and auction houses require a so-called tracking number, legislation requires a customs declaration and all this requires air and recommended transport. We are aware of this, which is why orders over $ 1,000 are free and through DHL. If you purchase more than one item, you will not be charged any additional fees.

Returns Accepted

No