I've been sorting 4,500 French stamps, and found several that have Hexagonal shaped cancels. So I guess they would be called HDS, Hexagonal Date Stamps, as opposed to CDS, Circular Date Stamps? Some are solid lined hexagons, and some are dashed line hexagons, and the text within the hexagon is aligned on a circular path.
I have also seen them on stamps of other nations, but can't remember where they were from, maybe French colonies. What is the significance of them and are they more valuable or less valuable. Maybe only interesting, and therefor more valuable to one who collects them as a specialty, like squared-circle cancels.
re: Odd cancels on stamps of France and other nations
Hi again Everyone;
I just remembered that I forgot to mention, I have also seen the dashed lines once in a while on circular cancels. Additionally I also found a few circular cancels with scalloped outer circles. Does anyone collect any of these oddball cancels?
ThePhilatelist Wish I was Engraved! 26 Aug 2014 08:19:30pm
re: Odd cancels on stamps of France and other nations
"So I guess they would be called HDS, Hexagonal Date Stamps, as opposed to CDS, Circular Date Stamps?"
I do collect postmarks, and my definition of a circular date stamps is one where the postmark is a regular polygon with more than four sides.
I have several examples from Portugal with hexagonal and octagonal date stamps. I think I have a few examples from Cape of Good Hope also. Not many more that I can remember in my collection, off the top of my head.
"Maybe only interesting, and therefor more valuable to one who collects them as a specialty, like squared-circle cancels."
I will speak only for myself. A postmark is more valuable only due to its rarity. Another thing that will enhance the value for me is the place and date that has special meaning (historical event, or even personal). Just because the shape is non-circular will not make me pay more for it.
re: Odd cancels on stamps of France and other nations
There are dozens of variations to each of the French cancel types you mentioned. But very very generally speaking:
-- scalloped outside circle cancels are usually the very broad category of "special service" cancels (e.g., telegraph...)
-- hexagonal outside circle cancels are usually either rural/boat postal cancels or revenue cancels
There will be exceptions, of course. Since there are so many variations of each type, correct identification will depend heavily on a picture of the specific cancel.
A very challenging area of French philately. I find the numbered losange cancels are already more than I can handle!
re: Odd cancels on stamps of France and other nations
Hi Everyone;
I have also been able to identify what I believe is a "Registered" letter cancel. I'm basing that on my limited knowledge of using Cassell's French-English/English-French Dictionary. Altho I'll list any town cancel or fancy cancel I find, I'm trying to identify cancels from small villages or towns.
I'll eventually be listing all of these French cancels in approvals, so if any of you advanced collectors spot some you like but think my asking price is too high, then message me about a lower price. That also applies to all my approval offerings.
re: Odd cancels on stamps of France and other nations
Railway mail can be circular,hexagonal or a wavy circle, and usually say (place name) a (place name). There are 2 -types - travelling post offices, between major cities - and "mailguards" postal employees travelling on trains accepting mail.
Some hexagonal( dotted) postmarks refer to travelling rural motorised post offices.
Note the form used changed over time - you need to refer to some of the specialised French postmark sites for more details.
Malcolm
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