I have not gotten around to putting together a proper "How To" page for this hobby, but I think I owe my readers some information, if only as a caveat. The most significant question is "How do I receive information on pictorial cancellations offered by the USPS?" The answer: the USPS Postal Bulletin, published biweekly, which you can download for free. Pictorial cancellation announcements will be found under the "Philately" section, and each edition includes instructions on how to send away for them.
The second question is "Where do I get the stamps?" If you have a local stamp shop, they will probably be able to help you out. If not, or if you prefer mail order, I recommend Iowa Stamps & Coins. Unlike many dealers they have no minimum purchase amount, although there is a nominal surcharge for orders under $5. Shipping is free, the stock is wide, the stamps provided are of excellent quality, and email communication is quick and professional. One suggestion, however: if your order to Iowa Stamps contains multiple copies of a single stamp, make this as painfully clear as possible. A simple number in the 'Quantity' column seems to be insufficient. After four or five orders shipped incomplete, I now use large boldface blue type (like this) for any quantity larger than '1'.It is important to remember the Postal Bulletin is free. This is important, as there are many sources that want to sell you this information. The major stamp publications list this information; this is fine and helpful, and there is plenty of other worthwhile content. But I wish to warn you specifically about The Postmark Advisory. Published twice a month by one Paul Brenner, this will cost you $13 per three months for a subscription.
Is it worth this? Well, according to the site:
"About one third of the cancels used by the postal service are not publicized in the Postal Service's Postal Bulletin. And, since the stamp newspapers depend, essentially, on the Postal Bulletin for their information, their coverage is similar. Although we are also dependant on the Postal Bulletin, we also have an outreach program that obtains information about hundreds of cancels in any one year not found in any other source. I believe that in 1996 we were able to obtain information on about 1,000 of such cancels."
I was skeptical of his "outreach program" claim. First, though I have no idea where he gets the "one third" figure, let us assume for a moment that this is true. Let us also assume that The Postmark Advisory is able to find information on every pictorial cancellation in the U.S., which I highly doubt. In a particularly fruitful two week period, the USPS's free Postal Bulletin will list about 45 cancellations; this means that there are under 1200 cancellations listed in a one year period. Even with very favorable assumptions, by Brenner's own numbers we cannot expect more than 600 unlisted cancellations to exist per year.
I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. On the site he writes "If you would like a sample copy, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope and ask for one" (his emphasis.) So I did. I wrote near the end of October 2000. Pictorial cancellations are only offered thirty days after the release date, so to gauge the quality of the information in the newsletter I thought it best to ask for the newest issue. (Note added 10 April 2001: Not a bad idea, it turns out. I downloaded the small 'teaser' selection of cancellations, most of which are listed in the Postal Bulletin, that Brenner released for free on 16 March. He listed a "Prospect Park Centennial Station" postmark that the Postal Bulletin did not. When I sent away for it, it was returned "no such street".)
His response was as follows:
To do this is a bit of a pain in the neck. I don't feel that I should do any extra work whatever to send you something free. Further this requests [sic] suggest that you are looking for specific information -- that you have no interest whatever in subscribing -
Please do not write again
Click for larger image
My return address appeared in the upper-right corner of the letter. As you can see, he cut out that corner, scrawled his rude note on my letter, and returned it in the self-addressed stamped envelope that I provided.
That evening I sent him an email:
Sir:
We recently conducted an exchange via U.S. Mail that deserves clarification. I wrote:
*******
Dear Mr. Brenner,
I am writing to request a sample copy of The Postmark Advisory. I have enclosed a SASE per your specifications.
Please delay response until the November-1-2000 issue is available.
Many thanks,
Joshua McGee
joshua@mcgees.org
********
Today I received your response:
*******
To do this is a bit of a pain in the neck. I don't feel that I should do any extra work whatever to send you something free. Further this requests [sic] suggest that you are looking for specific information -- that you have no interest whatever in subscribing -
Please do not write again
[punctuation sic]
*******
A few clarifications. Firstly, I was indeed considering subscribing. I collect philatelic postmarks, found your site on the web, and was intrigued. I currently use the USPS Postal Bulletin for information regarding pictorial cancellations. I was (and still am) sceptical whether the additional information obtained by your your "outreach program" warrants a charge of $40 per annum.
Secondly, note that I was responding to an offer made by you: "If you would like a sample copy, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope and ask for one."
Thirdly, I take exception to your interpretation of my letter as an attempt to receive a free issue simply for the sake of receiving it for free, for pursuing a particular piece of information, or whatever ulterior motive you have attributed to me. When you write "this requests [sic] suggest that you are looking for specific information -- that you have no interest whatever in subscribing," I must assume (through process of elimination) that this is in response to my third sentence requesting the *upcoming* issue of Postal Advisory rather than the previous one. This hardly seems an unreasonable request: *tomorrow* is the first of November, and as you know there is a 30-day limitation on requesting pictorial cancellations. Therefore, I cannot adequately evaluate your publication (i.e. whether the additional postmarks you list are actually available) with an outdated copy. The issue prior to the November 1 issue surely contains offers that are about to expire, if some have not expired already.
Finally, I was insulted by the rudeness of your letter. Your response was venomous, offensive, and uncalled for. It is perhaps unfortunate that I am soft-hearted enough to let such incivility ruin my evening.
Regretfully and with reservation,
Joshua McGee
Rockwell Science Center
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Mr. Brenner never responded to my message.
In the interest of skepticism, thrift, and a desire not to reinforce uncivil behavior, I would urge caution if you are considering a subscription to Brenner's Postmark Advisory.