More Worcester Fancy Cancels

The Postal Clerks in Worcester produced a number of lovely Fancy Cancels. Described and illustrated below is another selection of the handywork of the clerks, their penknives and some cork.

The first image below shows an early example of a Worcester Fancy Shield Cancel. It is a rather crude killer, simple but effective.

Worcester Small Inverted Shield

Worcester
Small Inverted Shield
Fancy Cancel
Circa 1860

The next Fancy Cancel is another geometric killer. It is a large, five-pointed star. But if you look closely, there is something special about this one. In the center of the star there is a small letter "S" carved in the cork! Do you see it?

Worcester Large Star With Central S

Worcester
Large Solid Star
With Central "S"
Fancy Cancel
Circa 1880

Here is another geometric killer. Similar styles are called "Cogwheels" and "Starbursts" and the like. This one has a negative number "3" in the center.

Worcester Cogwheel

Worcester
Numerical Cogwheel
Fancy Cancel
Circa 1880

Here is another intricate Fancy Cancel. No doubt the postal clerk who carved this beauty had some time on his hands! The cancel, as struck, is actually inverted. The letter that is depicted is a "W" in Olde English script. Note the "String Of Pearls" border around the edge!

Worcester English Script W

"W" For Worcester
Olde English Script
Fancy Cancel
Circa 1880

The next two Fancy Cancels are geometrics. The CDSs that they are associated with are carry-overs from The Stampless Era. I refer to these as the Small High "ASS" and Small Low "ASS" CDS types.

Worcester Small High 'ASS' And Geometric

Worcester
Florette Geometric
Fancy Cancel
With Small High "ASS" CDS
Circa 1850


Worcester Small Low 'ASS' And Geometric

Worcester
Circel Of Wedges Geometric
Fancy Cancel
With Small Low "ASS" CDS
Circa 1850

Worcester Carved 'W'

"W" For Worcester
Simple Cork
Fancy Cancel
Circa 1880

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