Hand cancel

**Hand cancel**

A *hand cancel* refers to a postal marking applied manually by a postal worker to cancel a stamp, preventing its reuse. Unlike machine cancellations, hand cancels are applied using a handstamp or pen, often resulting in unique, less uniform impressions. Collectors value hand cancels for their historical significance, variety, and sometimes for the distinctive postmarks that indicate specific locations or dates. Hand cancels are commonly found on older mail or special postal items where machine cancellation was not available or practical.