Doane Postmark Types (US-MN)

Doane Cancels

Doane cancels were named after Edith R. Doane, a postal historian, who compiled for over a quarter of a century a list of post offices which used these particular cancel devices and then published a comprehensive catalog in 1978. These rubber handstamps were introduced by The Post Office Department in the early part of 1903 in an effort to standardize and make a more legible postmark throughout the United States and its Possessions.

There are three types catagorized by Doane.

Type 1 has 5 bars and most were issued to some 500 smaller 4th Class Post Offices where receipts were under $500 per year. The number in the bars represents the postmaster's compensation for the previous fiscal year with each number representing $100. They were issued from Aug. 28, 1903 to Sep. 28, 1903 for only one month with a total of 1600 being issued.

Type 2 has 4 hollow bars with a compensation number in them. They were issued from Sep. 29, 1903 until Jun. 30, 1905 with some 17,500 being issued.

Type 3 has 4 solid bars, again with a compensation number in them and were issued from Jul. 1, 1905 until the fall of 1906. There are about 12,000 Type 3 handstamps having been issued.