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United States/Covers & Postmarks : A question on an Official Seal

 

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auldstampguy
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Tim
Collector/Webmaster

05 Oct 2014
04:25:46pm

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I haven't seen this type of thing before. Could someone please explain what the official seal (shown below) is all about.

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Thanks for your help.

Regards ... Tim.

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roy
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 300 categories

05 Oct 2014
04:33:53pm
re: A question on an Official Seal

Likely delivered to the wrong PO box, opened in error, handed back to the Postmaster who applied the official seal.

Roy

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auldstampguy
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Tim
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05 Oct 2014
04:35:41pm

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re: A question on an Official Seal

That makes sense. Thanks Roy.

Regards ... Tim.

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michael78651
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05 Oct 2014
05:09:24pm
re: A question on an Official Seal

They are listed in the Scott US Specialized. The prefix is "OX"

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auldstampguy
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Tim
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05 Oct 2014
05:46:01pm

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re: A question on an Official Seal

Thanks Michael.

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larsdog
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APS #220693 ATA#57179

05 Oct 2014
08:27:52pm
re: A question on an Official Seal

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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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

06 Oct 2014
09:08:04am

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re: A question on an Official Seal

Tim,

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"

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larsdog
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APS #220693 ATA#57179

06 Oct 2014
01:36:09pm
re: A question on an Official Seal

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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Bobstamp
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06 Oct 2014
03:11:38pm
re: A question on an Official Seal

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.

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

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.

Image Not Found

Bob



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larsdog
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APS #220693 ATA#57179

06 Oct 2014
04:13:15pm
re: A question on an Official Seal

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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auldstampguy

Tim
Collector/Webmaster
05 Oct 2014
04:25:46pm

Auctions - Approvals

I haven't seen this type of thing before. Could someone please explain what the official seal (shown below) is all about.

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Thanks for your help.

Regards ... Tim.

Like
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this post

mncancels.org

BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 300 categories
05 Oct 2014
04:33:53pm

re: A question on an Official Seal

Likely delivered to the wrong PO box, opened in error, handed back to the Postmaster who applied the official seal.

Roy

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"BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50- 10,000+ new covers coming Tuesday June 1"

www.Buckacover.com
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auldstampguy

Tim
Collector/Webmaster
05 Oct 2014
04:35:41pm

Auctions - Approvals

re: A question on an Official Seal

That makes sense. Thanks Roy.

Regards ... Tim.

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mncancels.org
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michael78651

05 Oct 2014
05:09:24pm

re: A question on an Official Seal

They are listed in the Scott US Specialized. The prefix is "OX"

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www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
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auldstampguy

Tim
Collector/Webmaster
05 Oct 2014
05:46:01pm

Auctions - Approvals

re: A question on an Official Seal

Thanks Michael.

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mncancels.org
Members Picture
larsdog

APS #220693 ATA#57179
05 Oct 2014
08:27:52pm

re: A question on an Official Seal

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

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

www.larsdog.com/stam ...
Members Picture
amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
06 Oct 2014
09:08:04am

Auctions

re: A question on an Official Seal

Tim,

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

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

juicyheads.com/link. ...
Members Picture
larsdog

APS #220693 ATA#57179
06 Oct 2014
01:36:09pm

re: A question on an Official Seal

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

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

www.larsdog.com/stam ...
Members Picture
Bobstamp

06 Oct 2014
03:11:38pm

re: A question on an Official Seal

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.

Image Not Found

Image Not Found

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.

Image Not Found

Bob



Like
Login to Like
this post

www.ephemeraltreasur ...
Members Picture
larsdog

APS #220693 ATA#57179
06 Oct 2014
04:13:15pm

re: A question on an Official Seal

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

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."

www.larsdog.com/stam ...
        

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