Spanish Cartwheel Cancels

Spanish Cartwheel Cancels

Spanish cartwheel cancels ("rueda de carreta") are a distinctive and attractive cancel used on classic Spanish stamps, from the fall of 1859 through the 1860s, ending at the beginning of the 1870s. They feature a central number indicating the originating city, and that number repeated four times in the rim of the cartwheel, separated by "spokes". The vast majority are black, but cartwheels in blue and red can also be found from some cities. A modified cartwheel was used in some cities (mostly in the late 1860s), featuring slightly different numerals or spokes.

Many of them are quite common, although naturally some from smaller locales and in blue or red can be quite rare. As with any cancel, clean strikes with clear numbers are desirable. The following table is meant as a quick reference for purposes of identification. For more details, including valuations, I would recommend obtaining a copy (available from the publisher) of Tomo I of Edifil's Catálogo Unificado Especializado Sellos de España.

~Greg

Spanish Cartwheel Cancels