Used 19th Century US Postage Stamps

Used (aka cancelled) 19th century US stamps are highly collectible, just like unused 19th century US stamps. In addition to the rarity and condition of the stamp itself, collectors also focus on the quality and rarity of the cancellation (also known as the 'cancel,' or 'killer').

Many 19th century US stamps were hand-cancelled by local postmasters, to prevent re-use of the stamp. Handmade cancels were often carved from cork in a wide variety of creative designs, sometimes referred to as fancy cancels.

Lightly cancelled stamps, with the postmark on a small corner of the stamp, are typically more valuable than heavily-cancelled ones. One exception is the so-called 'bulls-eye' cancellation, where an entire postmark is readable on the stamp, allowing collectors to see the time, date, and location where the stamp was used.

Interviews & Articles

Stamp Collector Bob Allen on Stamp Design and Production Techniques

Like many collectors, I collected when I was a child, and then I became interested again in the ‘90s. I think eBay and other Inter… [more]

In Postal History, Every Stamp Tells a Story

I have a stamp collection, but I don’t consider myself a collector. I have a collection of my initials on stamps from Great Britai… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

1847USA

1847USA

Bob Allen's beautiful and well organized catalog of US stamps from 1847 to 1970 is a fantastic resource for all US … [read review or visit site]

The Stamp Collecting Round-up

The Stamp Collecting Round-up

Don Schilling's long-running, in-depth blog on stamp collecting and postal operations. Schilling stays up on all th… [read review or visit site]

National Postal Museum

National Postal Museum

If you're into postal history or collectibles, check out the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum. This extensive s… [read review or visit site]

R. A. Siegel Auction Galleries

R. A. Siegel Auction Galleries

This auction house site offers an extensive online database of US stamp information. Includes PDF catalogs of past … [read review or visit site]

Post Office in Paradise

Post Office in Paradise

Post Office in Paradise showcases Hawaiian postal history from the years before Hawaii became a part of the United … [read review or visit site]

Private Die Proprietary Stamps

Private Die Proprietary Stamps

Bob Hohertz's impressive database of U.S. Private Die Proprietary stamps from the Civil War and Spanish American Wa… [read review or visit site]

Alphabetilately

Alphabetilately

First shown in 2008 to celebrate the Smithsonian National Postal Museum's 15th anniversary, Alphabetilately is esse… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Stamps

Top eBay Auctions

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Us Stamp:#o69 $5 Green 1873 State Official Used Stamp $13,000 Rare!+certificateUnited States Imperf 5c Sc 1. Used. Scott $1200.Us Stamp:#2 10c Black Washington Imperf 1847 Used Stamp Red Grid CancelUs Stamp:#16 10c Green Type Iv 1857-61 Imperf. Used Stamp $1,650 + CertificateCkstamps : Us Old Stamps Scott#245 $5 Black 1893 Columbian Used 2013 Cv$1,350Us Stamp:#2 10c Black Washington Imperf 1847 Used Stamp Us Stamp:#101 90c Blue Washington "f" Grill Used Stamp $2,250 Us Stamp:#1 5c Franklin Red Brown 1847 Imperf Issue SatmpNystamps Us Stamp Scott 1 1847 5c Used Retail $525 FranklinCkstamps : Us Old Stamps Scott#1 5c Imperf 1847 Franklin Used 2013 Catalog $450Bundleware 12 Bundles Of 2c Columbians #231 On & Off Paper About 1,000 StampsNystamps S Advanced Old Us Stamp Collection Scott Album Page Scv $3000Us Stamp:#122 90c Carmine Black 1869 Pictorial Issue Used Stamp SeNystamps Thousands Mint Used Old Us Stamp Collection 6 Large BoxCkstamps : Us Old Stamps Scott#122 90c Grill 1869 Pictorial Used 2013 Cv$2,100U.s. #2 Used Beauty - 10c Black ($1,400)Nystamps Thousands Mint Used Old Us Stamp Collection Album Box CartonCkstamps : Us Stamps Scott#292 $1 Black 1898 Trans-mississippi Used 2013 Cv$700Nystamps Old Us Stamp & Cancel Collection Scv $1800Us Stamp:#99 24c Gray Lilac WashingtonNystamps Old Us Stamp Collection Scv $2000++++fancy Cancel Geometrics 1861 Series++25 Stamps++++fancy Cancel Geometrics #2 1861 Series++25 StampsMr Fancy Cancel 2 Vf++ Appearing Very Large Margins Weiss Cert Cv$1050 No Reserv#293 Used Super CenteringCkstamps : Us Old Stamps Scott#293 $2 1898 Trans-mississippi Used 2013 Cv$1,100Nystamps Thousands Mint Used Old Us Stamp & Cover Collection Album BoxSc 27, 5 Cent Jefferson, 1858, Brick Red(23) Us #1 1847 5c Franklin Used Stamp Usa Stamp #1 5c Franklin 1847 Used Nystamps Us Stamp Scott 277 Used $450Us Stamp:#120 24c Green Black 1869 Pictorial Issue Used Xf++++fancy Cancel-negative 5 & 6 Point Stars++8 StampsNystamps Us Stamp Scott 22 Used Retail $550Usa # 278 5$ Marshall Dark Green Used 1895 Cat 625 Us++++fancy Cancel Pinwheel/cogwheels++++8 Stamps-unique++++Us Stamp:#27 5c Brick Red Jefferson Type I 1857-61 Used Stamp $1,650 Ckstamps : Wonderful Mint & Used Assorted Us Stamps Collection In Album PagesCkstamps : Us Old Stamps Scott#313 $5 Dark Green Perf.12 1903 Used 2013 Cv$750Nystamps Us Stamp Scott 155 Used $350U.s. #30a Choice Used App - 5c Brown, Type Ii ($275)U.s. #292 Used Beauty - $1.00 Trans-mississippi ($650)Us Stamp:#67 5c Buff Jefferson 1861-62 Used Stamp $1,100#210 Fancy Cancel Masonic Absolute Beauty#210 Fancy Cancel Lovely AnchorU.s. 1847-1898, 19th Century Classical, Scott #1, Grills, Fancy, 1st Series BobUs Stamp:#28 5c Red Brown Jefferson Type I 1857-61 Issue Used Stamp $1,200 Nystamps Us Stamp Scott 120 Used Retail $700Sc#39 1860 90c Blue Washington With 2013 Pse CertificateMr Fancy Cancel Scott Us 1 Used Four Margin Cancel Removed Cv$450Ckstamps : Us Stamps Scott#22 1c Blue Type Iiia, 1857 Franklin Used 2013 Cv$500Nystamps Us Stamp Scott 70b Used $900(23) Us #67 1861~1862 5c Jefferson Used StampNystamps Large Old Us Fancy Cancel Stamp Collection Stock Page !Us Stamp:#121 30c Eagle & Shield 1869 Pirctorial Issue Used StampNystamps Thousands Mint Used Old Us Stamp Collection Must SeeUnited States Imperf 12c Sc 17. Used. Scott $260.Ckstamps: Us Stamps Scott#278 $5 Dark Green 1895 Perf.12,marshall Used 2013 $625Usa # 121 30c Shield Eagle & Flag Blue & Carm. Pict. Used Cat 525 UsUs Sc #72 Washington 90c Blue 1861 Issue - Used