You don't give much to go on. What do you mean by "large"? Do they look like they may have been very loosely attached to something and just pulled off without soaking?
Those are roller cancels, rather than CTOs. They are done for a variety of reasons.
Two examples, which your local postmaster may or may not permit:
1. I have a number of packages all going to the same place. The shipping is substantial, and I can't plaster full sheets of 20c stamps on the packages to cover the shipping. So the stamps are cancelled in bulk by the clerk, and most of them are inserted in an attached invoice pouch sufficient to cover the mailing cost, or even handed back to the customer. I've even met some dealers who did this, getting the cancelled panes back from the receiver of the packages.
2. Customer has a postal bill/fee that can paid by stamps. The clerk bulk cancels the full panes and hands them back to the customer. I've known some dealers who used to sell full panes of cancelled gummed US panes from businesses that worked with the PO in that fashion to pay certain bills. The business would resell or trade the cancelled panes to the dealer. I don't remember the details of what could be paid that way.
I'm sure there are other avenues...
Actually, Michael#####'s knows the rules much better than I do. Perhaps he or someone else can shed more light on it.
I was told the above by a dealer once when I saw full panes of cancelled gummed stamps at a booth. I had seen gummed cancelled panes of postage dues before, but never those of first class postage. His explanation was supported by a USPS philatelic window clerk, but again I don't remember the details of the rules.
After seeing the picture, I agree with KHJ. It's a good explanation, as is Chris' supplemental information.
re: USA CTO's.
You don't give much to go on. What do you mean by "large"? Do they look like they may have been very loosely attached to something and just pulled off without soaking?
re: USA CTO's.
Those are roller cancels, rather than CTOs. They are done for a variety of reasons.
Two examples, which your local postmaster may or may not permit:
1. I have a number of packages all going to the same place. The shipping is substantial, and I can't plaster full sheets of 20c stamps on the packages to cover the shipping. So the stamps are cancelled in bulk by the clerk, and most of them are inserted in an attached invoice pouch sufficient to cover the mailing cost, or even handed back to the customer. I've even met some dealers who did this, getting the cancelled panes back from the receiver of the packages.
2. Customer has a postal bill/fee that can paid by stamps. The clerk bulk cancels the full panes and hands them back to the customer. I've known some dealers who used to sell full panes of cancelled gummed US panes from businesses that worked with the PO in that fashion to pay certain bills. The business would resell or trade the cancelled panes to the dealer. I don't remember the details of what could be paid that way.
I'm sure there are other avenues...
re: USA CTO's.
Actually, Michael#####'s knows the rules much better than I do. Perhaps he or someone else can shed more light on it.
I was told the above by a dealer once when I saw full panes of cancelled gummed stamps at a booth. I had seen gummed cancelled panes of postage dues before, but never those of first class postage. His explanation was supported by a USPS philatelic window clerk, but again I don't remember the details of the rules.
re: USA CTO's.
After seeing the picture, I agree with KHJ. It's a good explanation, as is Chris' supplemental information.