| Title | Author(s) | Publisher - my comments |
| 19th Century Fancy Cancels, 1963 Redbook and 1972 as Billig Handbook Vol 33 - 1972 has updated prices. | Herst and Sampson | One of these (preferably the newer 1972 Billig's) would serve as a starter for a Fancy Cancel collector. Covers many a wide range of stamps and cancels. He used a value system of A - J and gave dollar values from $1 to $200+ (1960s and 1970s but still good for reference). |
| Cancellations of the Banknote Era 1870-1894 | James Cole | US Classics Society (still in print $50). The current best reference on banknote era items. |
| United States Cancellations 1845-1869 | Skinner and Eno | Still the only reference on early cancels and huge and wonderful work. Unfortunately, no indications of rarity or value. APS Handbook 1980 (out of print). |
| The Foreign Mail Cancellations of New York City 1870 - 1878 | William Weiss | The latest and best in a series of books on this subject. My only complaint is that he rates rarity by C(ommon), S(carce) and R(are) and I'd like more guidance. Available from the author William R Weiss - he runs a noted auction. |
| US Cancels 1890-1900, 1985 | Sol Salkind | Don't use this one much - hard to follow and no values. Lots of pictures, but they're not great. |
| Flag Cancel Encyclopedia, 1976 | Frederick Langford | Published years ago and was type set on a type writer. Lots of information, but hard to use. |
| United States Postal Markings and Related Mail Services 1851 to 1861 | Tracy Simpson | US Classics Society 1979. Old. out of print but still has some interesting information. Not really replaced by the one below. |
| Simpson's US Postal Markings 1851-61 | Thomas Alexander | Coffee table book. Pretty, but I don't use it much. Hard to navigate. Does list rarity factors. |
| Cyclopedia of Postmarks and Postal History | Norona | 1933 & 35 - I have Quarterman reprint of 1975. Vol 1 typewritter type set - Vol 2 typeset. Long out of print still of some use - interesting, but not needed. |
| Chicago Blue Markings 1870 - 1877 | Berg | Very detailed listing of the Chicago Blue cancels with rarity factors. I don't use this much, but I'm not that interest in Chicago Blues. |
| The Two Cent Red Brown of 1883 -1887 | Edward Willard | One of the most detailed book I've ever seen on a single stamp. Second volume is about cancels. Useful, but no indication of rarity (cancels) and hard to follow organization. |
| Pat's Paragraphs | Elliot Perry | Compilation of the ranting of Elliot Perry a noted stamp dealer. Much useful and reasonably amusing. 1981 BIA |
| Postmarks on Postcards | Richard Helbock | Just got this available from Jim Lee. Lot's of very useful information on cancels not just postcards. Published 2002. |
| Billig's Handbook on Postmarks Vol 8 | HK Thompson | This is the basic book on Doanes - there are newer versions -this is the one I happen to own |
| Postal History and Usage of 1907 and Earlier Precancels | Charles C Souder | 1989 but still useful - prices in $ |
| A Collector's Guide to US Machine Postmarks 1871-1925 | Russel Hamner | Lots of useful information - rarity but no values given |
| A Guide to 19th Century US Postmarks and Cancellations | Kenneth Gillman | He claims this is the new Herst-Sampson, I don't find it near as useful as the old one. Mostly postmarks - no values for Fancy Cancels. |
| Maine Postal History and Postmarks | Sterling T Dow | 1943 - I have the 1976 Quarterman reprint. Interesting specialized work. Fairly scarce. |
| The Postal History of Vermont | Slawson, Bingham & Drenan | 1969 - moderately useful for cancels. I found it in an old book store in Newport years ago. |
| Postal Markings | Harry Konweiser | 1980 reprint of many years of his columns - interesting - more postal history then cancels. No pictures. |
| Baker's US Classics | Hugh & David Baker | Another interesting compliation of columns - more postal history. |
| Letters of Gold | Jesse Coburn | Beautiful book - only moderately useful for cancels. Postal history of the gold rush. |
I'm looking for a copy of Rholoff on Waterbury cancels - haven't found one yet.
I'll add more and format the information better as I get a chance.
Most of these are available on eBay occasionally and usually from the following very helpful dealers: