1. What are "town" precancels vs "bureau" precancels, and how do I differentiate between them?
2. Precancels aren't listed in any catalog I'm familiar with: is their some resource that I can use to catalog my stamps?
3. How do I determine the value of the precancels I own?
EDIT: I've included some pictures as examples of the stamps I need help with.
Thanks for helping,
Lin
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Hello Lin-
1. A Bureau was printed at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, the whole sheet at a time. It will appear to be professionally printed, straight and uniform.
A town or local precancel was hand canceled locally by a post office. It is usually a rubber stamp that covers a number of stamps at once, like a block of 6. It will appear to be rubber stamped like a cancellation, often not straight or quality printing.
2. The Precancel Stamp Society has a listing of books.
https://www.precancels.com/general-precancel-catalogs
3. The catalogs may give you an indication of rare precancels. There are some bureau cancels that are quite scarce.
Good luck!
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See if you can find a used copy....i am sure they can be found on the internet of The Precancel Stamp Societys Town and Type Catalog of the United States and Territories...its about 2 inches thick !
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Many of their catalogs are for sale second hand on Ebay for very reasonable pricing.
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I recently bought a set of 100-some US precanceled stamps, and being a newcomer to collecting precancels, have some questions about them:
1. What are "town" precancels vs "bureau" precancels, and how do I differentiate between them?
2. Precancels aren't listed in any catalog I'm familiar with: is their some resource that I can use to catalog my stamps?
3. How do I determine the value of the precancels I own?
EDIT: I've included some pictures as examples of the stamps I need help with.
Thanks for helping,
Lin
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re: Precancel questions
Hello Lin-
1. A Bureau was printed at the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, the whole sheet at a time. It will appear to be professionally printed, straight and uniform.
A town or local precancel was hand canceled locally by a post office. It is usually a rubber stamp that covers a number of stamps at once, like a block of 6. It will appear to be rubber stamped like a cancellation, often not straight or quality printing.
2. The Precancel Stamp Society has a listing of books.
https://www.precancels.com/general-precancel-catalogs
3. The catalogs may give you an indication of rare precancels. There are some bureau cancels that are quite scarce.
Good luck!
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likes this post.
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re: Precancel questions
See if you can find a used copy....i am sure they can be found on the internet of The Precancel Stamp Societys Town and Type Catalog of the United States and Territories...its about 2 inches thick !
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re: Precancel questions
Many of their catalogs are for sale second hand on Ebay for very reasonable pricing.
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