Cancellation (mail)

The devaluation of a postage stamp means to prevent the mark of a used stamp with a postmark or by another Entwertungsart to re-use the stamp.

Devaluation forms

Today stamps are tied almost exclusively by black postmark. These stamps usually have a circular shape and give place and date of stamping on. A special form of the postmark is the special ( more detail in postmark and special ).

However, there are many other forms of devaluation, which are found mainly at the start of the stamp issues in the 19th century. The most important include:

Vorausentwertung

Precancels (also called VEs ) have been applied by many countries for bulk deliveries. The valid at the time postage stamps were canceled by special letterpress or hand stamp issued in advance and so in all sheets to the Großauslieferer. This causes the individual to stamp later FedEx shipments and mail operation was unnecessary was simplified.

This simplification of the postal operation, but you can not tell if a stamp has been used or not. Therefore precancels could only be used by specific large customers who were registered at the post office. Individuals were not frank with pre- canceled postage stamps letters.

Precancels be used by letterpress today in France and USA.

Another form of advance cancellation, the sender stamp machines. The sender stamped with a special machine that stamps on the item and then delivers this one at the post office. To this end, he also needs a permit from the post office. These VEs come today in Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

A special form of advance cancellation cancellation through a newspaper. It can be found in Austrian and French Newspaper Tax Stamps ( for a fiscal charge) which were glued prior to printing newspapers on this and have been devalued by the newspaper printing. Since the devaluation proceeded with the pressure at the same time, these are basically no "real" Vorausentwertung - but only a newsprint devaluation.

Nachentwertung

The Nachentwertung of stamps is a cancellation form which is common even today. Here are stamps that were inadvertently not stamped, canceled afterwards.

A Nachentwertung can be done for example by the postman, who discovered the unstamped stamp on the mailpiece during discharge. In such cases he often remove them by using a ballpoint pen or similar.

If the unentwertete stamp already discovered on arrival post office, it will be devalued by its own postmark. In them we find the words " In retrospect devalued ".

Pen cancellation

In particular, smaller post offices that did not have its own postmark still in the early years of the stamp, this simply painted by ( " spring cross cancellation " ) or wrote by hand the place name and the date on it. Sometimes the pen cancellation was also prescribed, and the postmark was cut off in addition to the postage.

Handwritten canceled postage stamps from this " classical" time enjoying great popularity at philatelists often, especially on cover.

Lochentwertung

In some countries stamps were canceled by a perforation. This can be found for example in the first stamps of Spain. However, lots of pieces may not be distinguished from later perforated ( fake ) pieces.

Scissors or knife cut devaluation

Another special form for cancellation stamps is the scissor or knife cut devaluation. The data to be invalidated stamp is cut by scissors or a knife. This happened, for example, in the Ottoman Empire, where the stamps but also simultaneously be postmarked received.

Such cancellations are less popular than a pure devaluation by the postmark in most cases with philatelists.

Cancellation through fiscal Temple

In addition to postal cancellations are sometimes found also fiscal cancellations. This devaluation of mold may have different reasons and is explained in more detail in the most relevant issues in the stamp catalogs.

Complacency devaluations

Previously next spring or color markers also holes or cut-outs were used. The Philatelist looking particularly stamp with special shapes or colors, and other features that make a particularly rare stamp. This is especially true for stamps from the early years.

Some cancellations of postal authorities are mainly philatelic purposes. Special example that will be used on special occasions are mainly spent for collectors. Here, even the own provisions are sometimes violated, as opposite examples.

Fakes

As used often many older stamps are much rarer than mint it is not uncommon to counterfeit the stamp (false stamp). Another possibility is the backdating of genuine stamps. These are called falsified stamp.

There also exist numerous forgeries of the other forms of devaluation to the detriment of the collector. Handwritten devaluations are often counterfeit, as this is particularly easy.