Precancel

Precancels are stamps that are, as advertised, cancelled first and then sold to heavy or mass mailers at a discount in exchange for the lesser amount of handling needed for mail. Precancels are often printed and done in an identifiable style or can be rubber stamped (or later, in vinyl) in cases where quantities needed didn't justify printing setup costs.

Generic types exist but many precancels are marked with the post office of mailing.

United States precancels
Precancels were first authorized by the post office department in 1887, but a few post offices and private local posts were already using precancels. There are Bureau types, a standard format done by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing since about 1910. There are a large number of local types that do not follow the design scheme of the Bureaus. A notable one is the Glen Allen, N.Y. star, used in the late Banknote stamp period.

There are handstamp cancels typically used on third class mail that can be mistaken for precancels, various roller cancel and rectangular boxed handstamp cancels with city/town and state names only.

An interesting use was of precancelled postage dues, usable for offices handling large amounts of permit mail that require collection of postage on receipt.

Precancels were replaced by stamps in specific designs with no denomination specified. These were allowed to pass through uncancelled. In recent years, bulk mailers have used spray-on MPP cancels to give the look of normal and not "junk" mail.

Catalogs of US precancels and more information are available from the Precancel Stamp Society.

 File:US postage due precan.jpg|US postage due. File:US Minneapolis precan.jpg|US Minneapolis, Minn. local-type precancel on cover. File:US Glen Allen star.jpg|US Glen Allen (N.Y.) star. File:Canada 6c precan.jpg|Canada mute precancel. File:France 50f Cere precan A.webp|France 1.50f value. 

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