Below is a list of Machine Cancel Reference Literature that we currently have available. With these references, collectors and dealers can identify and evaluate thousands of different postmarks.
Most of these books are regular stock items, but some are available in limited quantities. As an example, the total printing of my Illinois Post Offices book was 418 copies. More than two-thirds of those have been sold since it was published in February, 1996, and I do not plan to reprint it. Such limited-edition titles are often difficult to obtain once the original printing is sold out.
PUBLISHERS: If you have any reference literature that you would
like to make available through this page, please email 
mehrer@postal-history.com , call or write
to discuss terms.
DEALERS: If you would like to stock any of the literature that
we publish (those showing Jim Mehrer as the author), we give generous
wholesale discounts at low quantities.
Email mehrer@postal-history.com,
call or write for details.
ALL BOOKS ARE PRICED POSTPAID to U.S. addresses.
ILLINOIS RESIDENTS: Add 8.5% state sales tax to your order.
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: Before ordering, please email us for the shipping charge.
We do not accept CHARGE CARDS, and HERE'S WHY: Card companies would take about 5 percent off the top of whatever we sold. We don't feel like giving it to them, and we would rather not raise all of our prices just for the sake of handling charge cards. (Before you write and tell us that we can negotiate a better deal than 5 percent, we know that. But whether it's 3 or 4 or 5 percent, we still don't feel like raising the prices to "cover" it, as they say.) We were accepting payments through an online payment service for awhile, but then they started charging for their services, too. Maybe things will change someday.
We regret that we're unable to send
"bill with" orders, but that just adds to
the paperwork, and we've got plenty to do without the extra load.
Exceptions: If you're a long-time customer of ours, and you're
experiencing some kind of major "reference literature emergency"
that won't allow you to wait a couple of extra days, give us a
phone call (309 / 786-6539) and we'll discuss the possibilities.
American Flags: See "Standard Flag Cancel Encyclopedia."
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American Service Markings: The Service Markings Attributed
to the American Postal Machines Company, 1890-1918. (Reg Morris
& Robert J. Payne/1991): The definitive catalog on the subject,
containing all known varieties of the receiving, transit, "mail
late," etc., styles of American machine cancels. Illustrated
and annotated, with catalog numbers, known periods of use, rarity
factors and corresponding value ratings. (73 pages; unbound.)
#970498. Price on Request.
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Anthology of Machine Cancel Postal Markings: Volumes 1 through
6. (Machine Cancel Society/1992-1994): Contains monographs
on a wide variety of machine cancel topics, including: updates
on Barry, Groth-Constantine, Barr-Fyke, Perfection, Pneumatic
and Hampden cancels, plus American Machine service markings; U.S.
Naval machine postal markings; purple postal markings by facer/cancelers
1973-1984; machine postal markings of Florida; Greenfield, Michigan,
pseudo-machine cancels; a list of slogan cancels; spray markings;
Dayton, Ohio, jet-sprayed holiday labels; Potter & Vail update;
1992 Olympic Games marks; Doremus received marks; Universal "K"
cancels; parcel post stamps with flag cancellations; a history
of the Ohio Jet Spray; and Aero-Marcophilately. A useful and interesting
potpourri of subjects. (Unbound.) #970493. Price on Request.
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Barnard: See "George E. Barnard's Invention..."
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Barr-Fyke: The Machines and Early Postal Markings Attributed
to the Barr-Fyke Machine Company of Kansas City, Missouri - Volumes
1 through 3. (Reg Morris & Robert J. Payne/1990): The
definitive work on the subject, containing the history of the
company; the experimental machines; the U.S. machines; and the
foreign machines. Fully illustrated and annotated, with catalog
numbers, known periods of use, rarity factors and corresponding
value ratings. (367 pages; unbound.) #970494. Price on Request.
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The Barry Story: Volumes 1 through 3. (Reg Morris &
Robert J. Payne/1988-1989): The complete catalog on the Barry
Machine postmarks. Begins with a history of the company, then
covers all known oval, circular and rectilinear postmarks, plus
slogans and service markings. Fully illustrated and annotated,
with catalog numbers, known periods of use, rarity factors and
corresponding value ratings. (495 pages; softbound. Volume 1 is
in its second printing as has a different binding from the other
two volumes.) #970495. Price on Request.
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Doremus: See "Standard Encyclopedia of Doremus Machine
Cancels."
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Flags: See "Standard Flag Cancel Encyclopedia."
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George E. Barnard's Invention of a Mail Marking Machine.
(Robert J. Payne/1994): Contains information about the company,
its experimental period and usages, leading ultimately the sale
of its patents to the American Postal Machines Company. Fully
illustrated and annotated, with catalog numbers and known periods
of use. (113 pages; unbound.) #970530. Price on Request.
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Groth-Constantine Machines and Postal Markings. (Reg Morris
& Robert J. Payne/1989): The complete reference on these scarce
and desirable machine cancels, with information on the development
of the machines; their patents; Post Office trial periods; and
use. Illustrated and annotated, with catalog numbers, known periods
of use, rarity factors and corresponding value ratings. (71 pages;
unbound.) #970496. Price on Request.
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Hampden: The Machines & Postal Markings Attributed to the
Hampden (Landfear) Cancelling Machine Co., 1896-1906. (Reg
Morris & Robert J. Payne/1991): The complete work on the subject,
with a history of the company and its patents. Fully illustrated
and annotated, with catalog numbers, known periods of use, rarity
factors and corresponding value ratings. (205 pages; unbound.)
#970531. Price on Request.
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Imperial Mail Marking Machines in Canada. (Robert J. Payne/2003):
Illustrates and describes the Canadian flag cancels and other
types attributable to the Imperial Mail Marking Machine Company.
Complete listings of earliest and latest known usages for all
known types, many which are scarcely seen. (64 pages; unbound.)
#750603. Price on Request.
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Imperial Mail Marking Machines Used in Boston, USA, 1896-99,
and in the United Kingdom, 1898-1907. (Robert J. Payne/2003):
Illustrates and describes the flag cancels and other types attributable
to the Imperial Mail Marking Machine Company, used in Boston,
MA, and the United Kingdom. Complete listings of earliest and
latest known usages for all known types, many which are scarcely
seen. (70 pages; unbound.) #750604. Price on Request.
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Leavitt: See "Thomas Leavitt: His History and Postal
Markings, 1875-1892."
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Perfection Mechanical Handstamp Machine: The Perfection Machines
and Mechanical Handstamp Markings of United States and Canada.
(Reg Morris & Robert J. Payne/1991): The definitive work on
the subject, containing the history of the company, its patents
and distribution of the machines. Illustrated and annotated, with
catalog numbers, known periods of use, rarity factors and corresponding
value ratings. (63 pages; unbound.) #970497. Price on Request.
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PMCs: A Guide to Collecting Purple Machine Cancels. (Rob
Washburn/2000): Completely new revision of the information contained
in the original 1994 publication: The Purple Machine Cancel Handbook.
Includes newly discovered dial types, slogan types and cities,
with new earliest and latest known usages. Contains nearly twice
as many listings as the original, with a new section on purple
"flats" machine cancels. Illustrated. LIMITED
TO A PRINTING OF ONLY 250 COPIES. (81 pages; spiral
bound.) #700401. $22.00.
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Pneumatic: The Machines & Postal Markings Attributed to
the Pneumatic Cancelling Machine Co., 1898-1904. (Reg Morris
& Robert J. Payne/1991): The complete work on the subject,
with a history of the company and its patents, and sections covering
the experimental period and contract periods of the during which
the machines were used. Fully illustrated and annotated, with
catalog numbers, known periods of use, rarity factors and corresponding
value ratings. (170 pages; unbound.) #970532. Price on Request.
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Postal Markings of Michigan: The Machine Cancels. (Dave
Ellis/2008): This catalog contains all known Michigan machine
cancel types from 1893 to the late 1980's, with earliest and latest
known dates of use for each type. This is an important and useful
reference for this popular Great Lakes state. (175 pages; 3-hole
punched.) #781201. $36.00.
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Potter and Vail: A Machine Cancel Society Specialized Study.
(Hilbing/1998): Definitive work , with company's history,
and details on all machines. Full census of known examples of
these scarce markings. (82 pages; unbound.) #980801. Price on
Request.
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Same Year Use of Different Flag Cancellation Dies. (Billings/1991):
Hundreds of illustrations & descriptions of similar appearing
types used in the same town during the same year. A must for identifying
varieties. Includes state-by-state listings of the scarce &
rare flags. (134 pages; loose-leaf.) #730213. Price on Request.
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Standard Encyclopedia of Doremus Machine Cancels. (Frederick
Langford/1988): The definitive catalog on the Doremus cancel
types, with illustrations and identifying features. Lists all
towns that used these types, with periods of usage and relative
values. (60 pages; hardbound.) #990304. $29.00.
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Standard Flag Cancel Encyclopedia / FOURTH
Edition. (Frederick Langford/2008): More than
30 years in the making, this much anticipated publication was
well worth the wait. Building on his original definitive reference
book on U.S. flag cancels, Mr. Langford has produced this much
expanded (43 more pages!) and revised work containing newly discovered
types, previously unknown "different die" varieties,
and much more information than was known when the 1976 edition
was published.
As did previous editions, this updated version of the Flag Cancel Encyclopedia includes illustrations and identifying features of the various U.S. flag cancel types, including American machines, Barr-Fyke machines, Columbia machines, handstamps, etc. It contains state-by-state lists of all towns that used American machine types, with their periods of usage. Specialty types such as slogans, involutes, ovates, etc., are grouped into individual lists as well. Relative values of all types are indicated via a point system or, in many cases, dollar values are assigned.
In addition to the U.S. listings, much more information is
included about various flag types from Canada, Germany, Australia,
Mexico, France and other countries. Many entries have also been
added to the lists of known U.S. handstamp flags, particularly
the Rural Free Delivery types. (160 pages; hardbound.) #781202.
$39.00.
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Thomas Leavitt: His History and Postal Markings, 1875-1892. (Robert J. Payne/2000): This definitive work on Leavitt Postal Markings covers the postal history of this fascinating subject from the earliest machine development to its final use.
The Leavitt hand-powered canceling machines are recognized as the first of the continuous-use canceling machines in the United States. They were used in 29 different cities, and saw major use in the Boston and New York City post offices. The earliest and latest reported dates of use are cited for each recognized marking, and many of these early and late uses are among more than 380 covers and postal cards which are illustrated. Each city known to have used a Leavitt machine is represented in the illustrations.
The author gives careful attention to the study of the rectilinear postmarks, the circular dials, the different types of the barred oval cancelers, and the various oblique and horizontal bar types.
All significant types of markings have been given scarcity ratings, with a table of dollar range equivalents accompanying the rating system. In addition, there is a special section that illustrates cancellation variants, showing an added value for each.
Robert Payne is recognized as one of the leading contributors
to postal history research and reference literature, particularly
in the area of machine cancels. Thirty-eight individuals contributed
their knowledge to this work, and several collectors graciously
offered images of material from their collections to be included
among the illustrations. Collectors and dealers alike will find
this book to be a welcome addition to any reference library. (342
pages; hardbound.) #700801. $45.00.
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U.S. Classic Machine Cancels 1871-1991. (Payne): This
book contains Bob Payne's outstanding 24-frame exhibit (shown
at Colopex in 1995) on the identification and usage of U.S. Machine
Cancels from their beginning in 1871 to 1991. The information
in the frames was never intended to be the basis for a book, but
viewers of the exhibit begged Bob to publish its contents, and
he happily obliged. Few exhibits have had the impact on
the postal history hobby that this one has. (394 pages in two
volumes; unbound.) #820802. Price on request.
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Universal Machine Cancel Catalog to 1920 / Revision #2. (Billings): Comprehensive reference with machine & cancel types; alphabetical & numerical lists of slogan cancels. List by state, with town, type, known usage dates, notes, and a value rating. Includes text of patents and drawings of machines. (143 pages; unbound.) #820801. Price on request.
ILLINOIS RESIDENTS: Add 8.5% state sales tax to your order.
INTERNATIONAL ORDERS: Before ordering, please email us for the shipping charge.
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©2002 Jim Mehrer. REPRODUCTION OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS
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