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Scott Number: RB22 Collection Reference No. for Communications: 5200

Denomination/Type: Proprietary: 3/8c deep orange, watermark 191R, rouletted 5-1/2

Estimated Retail Value: $ 175.00 What is this?

Cancel Method: Handstamped - Multiple Line

Cancel Color: Magenta/Purple

Cancel or Company Type: Merchant

Company: J. D. Van Volkenburgh

City: Hamilton

State: Missouri

Likely philatelic, but very attractive and unusual regardless. J.D. Van Volkenburgh of Hamilton, Missouri owned a 'post office book store' that sold 'Books, Stationery, Cigars and Tobacco, Newspapers, and Periodicals.' He was an early member of the American Philatelic Society. This lot consists of 7 checks, starting with a nice 2-cent battleship documentary with margin marking. The remaining 7 checks are all comprised of a wide variety of PROPRIETARY battleship revenue stamps, affixed illegally. Because most of the proprietary battleship revenues were denominated in fractions of a cent, this allowed for all sorts of fun colorful combinations of 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, 1/2, 5/8, 1, 1-1/4, 1-7/8, and 2-cent proprietary battleships, totaling 2 cents on each check. One of them was caught, and a 2-cent documentary battleship affixed over the proprietary stamps.

If you have any information or comments about this cancel or stamp, please email me.