postage stamp or item of postal stationery that is cancelled prior to its use. Precancels are either Bureau Precancels or Local Precancels. Some revenue stamps were also precanceled.
stamp with a printed cancell used for bulk mail
Stamps or stationery issued by the Post Office with words or lines printed thereon which prevent further use of the stamp. Precancelled stamps need not be cancelled again during mail handling. The standard First Day postmarks, however, are applied to FDCs of precancels.
Precancels are postage stamps that have been canceled before being used on letters or packages. There are two categories of precancels: Bureau precancels, precancels applied by the BEP and local precancels, precancels applied by the local city or town post office. A great site for this fascinating subject may be found here: http://www.precancels.com
Stamp with a special overprint cancellation allowing it to bypass normal canceling. In some cases the precancel also designates a specific mail-handling service, such as "Presorted First-Class." Other precancels may include the city and state of the issuing post office. Precanceled stamps are used by volume mailers who hold a permit to use them.
A postmark which cancels the stamp prior to use in situations where there is bulk mail such as in commercial mail.
To cancel postage stamps or stamped envelopes before mailing. If authorized, bulk mailers may precancel their own postage.
Stamp with the postmark applied before the actual mailing of the article it pre-pays.
postage stamp or revenue stamp that has been cancelled, under proper postal authority, before being affixed to mail (or taxable) matter. Precancels are either Bureau Precancels or Local Precancels. Some postal stationery has also been precanceled.
A precanceled stamp, or precancel for short, is a postage stamp that has been cancelled before being affixed to mail. Precancels are typically used by mass mailers, who can save a postal system time and effort by prearranging to use the precancels, and delivering the stamped mail ready for sorting. The postal administration will typically offer an incentive in the form of a reduced price for precancelled stamps in volume.
