by Phil Cayford
I realize that some of you are more interested in learning the value of precancels than you are in learning how to collect them. As with most collectibles, collecting them is easier than evaluating them. However, in precancels, a great deal of effort is required to learn enough about precancels to be able to evaluate them. There’s no easy way out, except maybe to find an expert whom you can trust to evaluate them for you.
With few exceptions (mainly rare US stamps such as Scott #596, or #544), the value of a precancel depends first on the town it comes from AND on the style of TYPE. Therefore one must learn how to identify types to be able to get started in the evaluation. This can take a LOT of study! In some cases (bureaus and classics mainly) the specific stamp enters into the evaluation process, but usually the stamp has nothing to do with the value.
Fortunately, the PSS has published a group of catalogs which can be used to evaluate most precancels. The two primary catalogs, Bureau and Town & Type, are the basic tools one needs. All it takes is some dedication and patience to be able to understand the systems that are used to identify the particular cancel or stamp. Other than these two catalogs, the MOST IMPORTANT factor in learning about the identification of precancels is to discuss the subject with more advanced collectors. The best way to do this is to attend precancel meetings. I don’t know of any precancel collectors who have become experts in the field without considerable discussion with their fellow enthusiasts.
Other catalogs exist for the most popular fields of precancels, such as Double-line Electros (DLEs), Bicent’s, Black Harding’s, etc. Their usefulness is more a matter of listing what exists than in pricing, which is usually derived from one of the two basic catalogs.