The stamp is OX21 to OX39 (assuming OX40 was issued in 1969). On cover examples are all valuable (CV over $10) as far as I can tell. What's really interesting is the marking on the stamp. It appears to have a hand stamp applied to the seal BEFORE it was used. It looks like 219 S La Salle Street, Chicago. That's the Rookery Building. Why would that be handstamped on the seal before it was applied? Very interesting cover!
Lars
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."
you have already received lots of good information, all correct.
These seals were used by the PO to reseal envelopes that either had been damaged accidentally or were opened by the PO for one or another reason. Those reasons could be to find a return address because the cover wasn't deliverable or to check its contents.
As Lars notes, their value is almost solely in on-cover uses. Lars also points out the seal's pre-printing; i have NEVER seen that before.
They are no longer in use (pity) and are different from the censor seals one sees in times of trouble because they are applied by different agencies.
Lovely cover especially because of the interesting overprint or preprint or....
David
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"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"
Tim,
Can you tell what the complete overprint says?
It looks like "LOCK...." on the first line and "DOWNTOWN STATION" on the second. The rest is easy.
Lars
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."
I found this cover on eBay; note that the officially sealed stamp has pen or possibly penciled initials, "J.B." I expect that the stamps had to be "cancelled" in some way to prevent re-use, although the only re-use that makes any sense would be to create bogus covers.
Another current eBay offer is this Buy-it-Now Canada officially sealed stamp,OX3, which I would (almost) die to have. Price is $124.50, which might be high considering that it is "RG to NH," which I take to mean "Re-gummed". Still, a gorgeous stamp.
Bob,
My understanding is that the initials weren't so much of a cancel as an indication of WHO sealed it back up so if there were concerns (like something missing). I've seen those before. I've just never seen one with a handstamp.
Lars
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."