Types of Stamp Cancellations & Postmarks: Part II


What in the world is a "favor cancel?" And how is a favor cancel different from a philatelic usage, since they're both for stamp collecting purposes?

Favor Cancels:

Favor cancels are applied by post office works at the specific request of a stamp collector. The cover or stamps that are favor canceled are never mailed. Favor canceled stamps are different from CTO stamps in two ways, even though neither type is ever used in the mail: The difference is intent. The post office sells the stamps intending that they be used in the mailstream. The stamp collector intentionally asks for the cancellation, never intending the stamps or cover to actually be mailed. The post office cancels the stamps or cover as "a favor."

Many First Day Covers (FDCs) fall into the favor cancel classification.

Philatelic Usages:

Philatelic usages result when someone mails an envelope intending that the recipient receives a collectible stamp, group of stamps or a specific collectible stamp usage. Although the mailer's decision of which specific stamps are used to mail the envelope revolves around stamp collecting rather than just the delivery of a mailpiece, unlike favor cancels and many FDCs, philatelic usages are in fact mailed. People sending mail with philatelic usages are usually stamp collectors, friends or relatives of a stamp collector, or stamp dealers. Used stamps from some tiny island countries would probably never be seen by a collector were it not for philatelic usages.