Rhodesian Cancellation

The cancellation on this 1910 Rhodesian high value turns a collecting gem into little better than a space filler.

Why?

Alas, the heavy cancel on this item offends the collector’s sensibilities in two ways.

 First, this is an obliterating cancellation—one that completely, or nearly defaces the stamp’s design.

Secondly, the cancel is of a type known as a fiscal, which means the stamp was used for revenue, as opposed to a postal purpose. Fiscals can usually be recognized by the characteristic oval hand-stamp or a handwritten cancel. Some stamps, such as newspaper stamps, are specifically designed as fiscals. Others serve double duty and are marked “Postage and Revenue,” as is the case with many British stamps.

Fiscal cancels greatly reduce the catalogue value of the item, another reason they are less than prized—unless one collects fiscals, that is.