Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To cancel (a postage stamp) before mailing.
  • noun A precanceled stamp or envelope.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To cancel or frank a postage stamp prior to posting it
  • noun A postage stamp or mail item that has been precancelled

Etymologies

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Examples

  • US Airways Group Inc., which has a hub in Philadelphia, said it cut 679 flights Sunday and planned to "precancel" 100 flights Monday.

    Storm Wreaks Havoc on Travel Susan Carey 2010

  • Caldwell ID 219 precancel on 1972 National Parks set

    Id Park | SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Collectibles 2009

  • In many cases, carriers try to precancel flights before a storm so their customers don't come to the airport and end up camping there.

    Blizzard Strands Travelers Across U.S. Susan Carey 2010

  • In many cases, carriers try to precancel flights before a storm so their customers don't come to the airport and end up camping there.

    WSJ.com: What's News US 2010

  • Some precancel stamp collectors might contend that a certain 2 cent Liberty precancel from Phenix City, Alabama is the rarest U.S. stamp, since it was made solely at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and there's only one.

    Color + Design Blog by COLOURlovers / Feed 2008

Comments

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  • A stamp with a special overprint cancellation that allows it to bypass normal canceling. In some cases, the term also designates a specific mail-handling service, such as "Presorted First-Class." Other precancels may include the city and state of the issuing post office. Precanceled stamps are used by volume mailers who hold a permit to use them.

    August 26, 2008