An unexpected connection arises when sending a Connecticut cover to a buyer in Michigan.
So called "Doane" cancels are an early 20th century experiment to see if government-supplied rubber handstamps would hold up under regular use at small post offices. The experiment worked, and the devices (in three major types) went on to be used in thousands of mostly 4th class post offices around the country.
"Doane" markings are characterized by 4 or 5 killer bars with a numeral in them; they must be rubber handstamps. The name comes from research Edith Doane, who assembled lists of markings and studied their history.
The first 500 markings were distributed in 1903. The type 1 markings, like the example illustrated above, have 5 killer bars. Type 2 has four hollow bars (or paired lines); type 3 has 4 solid bars. A few lasted in service until the 1920s; and some are even seen in the 1930s on philatelic mail. Most were gone by 1915, however, replaced by 4-bar handstamps (without the number in the killer) or by other types of markings.
Doanes were used in all 50 states, as well as in Samoa, the Canal Zone, and perhaps other places. Their heaviest use coincides with the early 20th-century postcard craze, but finding nice examples on cover can present a significant challenge. Because Doanes were used at small post offices, many of those offices are now discontinued.
Doanes are well studied. Richard Helbock and Gary Anderson published a catalog ("United States Doanes") in 2002; it lists periods of use for each reported marking with a scarcity factor. The lists are now updated online - see www.doanecancel.com for the latest information.
New discoveries- not only new EKU/LKU dates but also previously unreported markings - are still readily possible. Go hunting!
"Doane" markings are characterized by 4 or 5 killer bars with a numeral in them; they must be rubber handstamps. The name comes from research Edith Doane, who assembled lists of markings and studied their history.
The first 500 markings were distributed in 1903. The type 1 markings, like the example illustrated above, have 5 killer bars. Type 2 has four hollow bars (or paired lines); type 3 has 4 solid bars. A few lasted in service until the 1920s; and some are even seen in the 1930s on philatelic mail. Most were gone by 1915, however, replaced by 4-bar handstamps (without the number in the killer) or by other types of markings.
Doanes were used in all 50 states, as well as in Samoa, the Canal Zone, and perhaps other places. Their heaviest use coincides with the early 20th-century postcard craze, but finding nice examples on cover can present a significant challenge. Because Doanes were used at small post offices, many of those offices are now discontinued.
Doanes are well studied. Richard Helbock and Gary Anderson published a catalog ("United States Doanes") in 2002; it lists periods of use for each reported marking with a scarcity factor. The lists are now updated online - see www.doanecancel.com for the latest information.
New discoveries- not only new EKU/LKU dates but also previously unreported markings - are still readily possible. Go hunting!
