Stamp glossary
Cancellation
Cancellation vs. postmark
The two words are often used interchangeably, but they mean different things. The cancellation defaces the stamp. The postmark records where and when the item was mailed. A killer is the part of a cancel with no writing at all, such as bars or a blob, whose only job is to obliterate the stamp. A duplex cancel combines a postmark and a killer in one strike.
Types of cancellations
| Type | What it is | Effect on value |
|---|---|---|
| Manuscript (pen) | Cancelled by hand with pen or marker, often an X | Early US pen-cancelled stamps are worth considerably less |
| Duplex | Postmark and killer struck together | Standard for the period |
| Machine | Applied by mail-processing machines, often with wavy lines | Standard for modern mail |
| Fancy cancel | Artistic designs carved in cork, mostly 19th-century US | Can add a lot; some are prized on their own |
| Precancel | Cancelled under postal authority before the stamp is affixed | A collecting specialty; some varieties are scarce |
| Socked on the nose (SON) | A circular postmark centered on the stamp | Collectors like a full, clear SON strike |
| Cancelled to order (CTO) | Cancelled by the postal service without being mailed | Far below postally used |
Fancy cancels and pen cancels
In the 19th century many US post offices carved their own cancelers from cork, producing stars, shields and other designs. The era of fancy cancels ended in the 1890s. Waterbury, Connecticut, was the master of the craft; its "running chicken" was in use for only a few days and is now the most prized of all 19th-century cancels.
Pen cancels went the other way. Collectors long disliked them and removed many, and early US stamps with pen cancellations are still worth considerably less than the same stamps with a postmark.
Precancels
A precancel is cancelled before it is used, usually for bulk mailers. The first precancels date to 1843 or early 1844, made by the private post Hale & Co.; the US Post Office Department authorized precanceling in 1887. Bureau precancels, printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, came into use in the 1910s. Several everyday stamps, including the 1¢ Jefferson, have precanceled varieties worth more than the regular stamp.
Cancellation: common questions
What is the difference between a postmark and a cancellation?
The cancellation is any marking that defaces the stamp; the postmark is the part that shows the date and place of mailing. A duplex cancel contains both.
Are pen-cancelled stamps worth less?
Yes, for early US stamps they are worth considerably less than copies with a postmark, because collectors historically disliked pen cancels.
What is a precancel?
A stamp cancelled under postal authority before it is put on mail, mostly for bulk mailings. Precancels have their own collectors and catalogs.
What does socked on the nose mean?
A circular cancellation struck squarely in the center of the stamp, ideally showing the full town and date. Collectors seek clear SON strikes.
Sources & References
- Cancellation (mail) - Wikipedia
- Fancy cancel - Wikipedia
- Precancel - Wikipedia
- Cancelled-to-order - Wikipedia
- A Glossary of Terms for the Collector of United States Stamps - United States Stamp Society
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