Pictorial cancel

Pictorial cancels are postmarks with a decorative image. There really is no set definition, but most collectors will agree that pictorials may be a subset of fancy cancels. Pictorials are mostly relatively modern, from the 20th Century and later, and have the image and town and date integral. Meanwhile fancy cancels are usually standalone obliterators/killers or the killer part of a duplex cancel. Obviously, there can be modern cancels that fall in the latter category, including reproductions of a 19th Century fancy cancel.

The cancels are used at various events, most commonly stamp shows. Modern first day cancels are often pictorial. Subject matter is as varied as possible. There is plenty of material for topical collectors, but there is no comprehensive pictorial cancellation catalog or database. 



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