About the Machine Cancel Society

April 27, 2002

This page contains information about the Society.

Membership Application

An application to join the Machine Cancel Society is available here.

History

The Machine Cancel Society has its roots in the Flag Cancel Society, formed over thirty years ago. The last Flag Cancel Society Constitution was adopted November 28, 1981. The Flag Cancel Society was incorporated under the laws of the State of Ohio. The Corporate Charter was submitted on June 4, 1982, and signed by Ralph Grumke, the late Andy Buckland, and Bart Billings. The State of Ohio accepted its filing as a non-profit corporation on June 7, 1982. The Internal Revenue Service gave the Society a provisional status as a non-profit organization on September 22, 1982. In a subsequent letter dated April 30, 1985, the IRS formerly recognized the Society as an "exempt" non-profit organization under 501(c)(3) of the Code, for the reason that we are an educational society of the type described in sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi).

On May 1, 1987, the Flag Cancel Society amended its name to the Machine Cancel Society, as well as its Charter to reflect its change in mission from studying only Flag Cancels to studying ALL machine markings.

Benefits of Membership in the Society

Machine Cancel Forum: Quarterly journal sent to members in January, April, July, and October with a variety of articles on all phases of machine cancel collecting.
Society Auction: Presented with each issue of Forum, here is an opportunity to buy and sell choice machine cancel covers. Covers are pictured in Forum. Photocopies of lots are available. The Auction is headed by Larry Haller. See the Officers Page or inside front cover of any issue of Forum for the address of the Auction Manager.
Questions about a particular postmark? Study group leaders head the investigation of machine cancels in their field. Have a question that does not fit into any category, or you do not know the category? Machine Cancel Forum has a special column called "Members' Column." Place your question there by sending to the editor. [You can also email your questions to this address (given in plain English):
rds <at> swansongrp <dot> com. Bob is a volunteer member who will try to answer your question, or, failing that, send it on to an appropriate specialist.]

See the Officers Page or inside front cover of any issue of Forum for the addresses of the Study Group Leaders and the Editor.
Need more information about a particular postmark? Chances are the Society has a book on it! The following links will load PDF files with the latest publications pricelists: Page 1 and Page 2. These lists should help you find the book you are looking for. (Do you need an Adobe PDF reader? Its free! Download it from here.) Most of these books are loose leaf, not only to keep their prices down, but also to allow you the reader to decide how to bind them.

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