Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | ,
19th Century > 19th Century Fancy Cancels
Postmasters in Arkansas, as around the US, enjoyed spicing up their outgoing letters with flights of fancy, often carved in cork and lasting only a few days.  Some were real artists, others only making crude figures, but all are entertaining.  Below are those for which I have gathered scans in the last 45 years.
Updated 2023-03-09

 Post OfficeSorted By Post Office In Ascending OrderDateFancy Cancel DesignCommentCover Scan and Source
Ada1884-09-10Star in Circle Ada 9-10-1884 star in circle.jpg
Argenta1882-12-15Negative star in circleOctagonal CDSArgenta AR 1882-12-15 Octagon DS negative star killer eBay20160111.jpg
Arkansas City1883-01--31 CDS Circle with teeth "M.O.B"Arkansas City AR 1883-01-31 MOB eBay 2020927.jpg
Atkins1878-01-01Star in Purple CirclePair of 5 cent Taylor BN's on registered cover to St Louis MOAtkins AR 1878-01-01 Reg No 2 Purple star in circle EDoubleday 20140714.JPG
Atkins1873-04-19Star in Purple Circle Atkins AR 1878-04-19 Purple star in circle.JPG
Augusta1894-09-11Black Maltese Cross Augusta AR 1894-09-11 Small BN 2c w Maltese Cross eBay20131214.JPG
Bentonville1879-03-06Negative "EHE" Bentonville 3-6-1879 EHE negative.jpg
Big Bottom1877-11-06Black Star in Circle Big Bottom AR 1877-11-06 Star in Circle eBay20151219.jpg
Black Rock1887-10-27Black Star Black Rock Star 1887.jpg
Blackville1883-02-16Red Maltese Cross Blackville AR 1883-02-16 Maltese Cross Purple eBay20160111.jpg
Brookland1885-11-09Wheel of Fortune Black Brookland 11-9-1885 Wheel of Fortune cancel DKelleher_Sale628_Lot623.jpg
Buckner1887-01-26Purple Star Buckner AR 1887-01-26 Purple star.jpg
Cabin Creek1881-11-29Purple Wheel of FortuneOn GPCCabin Creek Arkansas 11-29-1881 wheel of fortune cancel ebay 2-27-11.jpg
Cagelsville1880-07-03Red Star in CircleOn PPCCaglesville 7-3-1880 star in circle on GPC ebay 12-5-10.jpg
Camden1886-08-28Hollow letters in the CAMDEN CDS Camden AR 1886-08-28 Hollow letters in Camden eBay20130329.jpg
Caulksville1883-04-18Lacy Doiley design Caulksville 4-18-1883 bold fancy on 3c BN JTMcClusker_Sale298_Lot624.jpg
Clarketon1886-06-07Negative Star in Blue Circle Clarketon 1886-06-07 Neg Star in circle eBay 2012-01-15.jpg
Des Arc1894-06-06Star in Circle Des Arc 6-6-1894 Star in circle eBay 9-30-11.jpg
Des Arc1880-10-17Wheel of Fortune Black Des Arc 10-17-1880 Wheel of Fortune ebay 1-7-11.jpg
DeWitt188x-05-27Black Star in Circle Dewitt AR 188x-05-27 Star in Circle on 3c BN LHarris Stock.jpg
Eureka Springs1890-05-29Purple Wheel of Fortune Eureka Springs Arkansas 5-29-1890 ebay 2-27-11.jpg
Forrest City1880-09-16Black Star in Circle Forrest City AR 1880-09-16 Star in Circle on 10c BN.jpg
Forrest City1882-09-09Wheel of Fortune Black Forrest City AR 1882-09-09 Wheel of Fortune eBay 2012-05-12.jpg
Forrest City1883-02-23Pin Wheel Forrest City AR 1883-02-23 Pinwheel Cancel NutmegSale172 Lot5827.jpg
Gurdon1886-03-11Wheel of Fortune Black Gurdon AR 1886-03-11 Wheel of Fortune.jpg
Helena1883-04-04Shield in CircleOn GPCHelena 4-4-1883 shield in circle ebay 10-31-10.jpg
Hot Springs188x-01-22Negative star in circleCC of Merchandise store in Fulton ArkansasHot Springs AR 188X-01-22 Neg Star in circle eBay20130514.jpg
Hurricane Hill1883-06-05Black StarOn PPCHurricane Hill 6-5-1883 dbl cl cds w star killer.jpg
Jonesborough1884-02-04Black StarDbl circle, ARKANSAS spelled out in CDSJonesborogh Arkansas 2-4-1884.jpg
Lewisburg1875-09-07Large Black "G" Lewisburg 9-7-1875 Fancy G ties 3c BN JMcCusker_Sale308_Lot1369.jpg
Lewisville1881-03-21Black Maltese CrossPostage Due paid with 3 cent PDLewisville AR 1881-03-21 Maltese Cross w J3 eBay20140614.JPG
Lewisville1881-08-30Black Maltese CrossOn GPCLewisville maltes Cross 8-30-1881.jpg
Little Rock188x-04-29Black LeafLittle Rock & Fort Smith Railroad CCLittle Rock Leaf Cancel RR CC ebay 2-26-10.jpg
Lockesburg1884-03-24Black Star in Circle Lockesburg AR 1884-03-24 Star in Circle eBay20151205.jpg
Lockesburg1887-12-19Black Maltese Cross Locksburg AR 1887-12-19 Maltese Cross eBay 2012-05-15.jpg
Luna Landing188x-xx-11Black Star in CirclePair of 2c BNs, Tax Collector of Chico County CCLuna Landing AR 188x-x-11 2x2c BN Star in Circle eBay20160802.jpg
Lutherville1887-01-17Black StarTo Germany "via Bremen"Lutherville Arkansas 1887-01-17 Star to Germany ebay 1-14-11.jpg
Marianna1878-01-09Star in Purple Circle Marianna 1-9-1878 Star in Circle eBay 12-25-11.jpg
Mineral Springs1883-12-24Black Star in CircleOval CDS, Newspaper CCMineral Springs 12-24-1883 star in circle ebay 12-31-10.jpg
Mineral Springs1882-03-29Black Star in CircleThree strikes on pieceMineral Springs AR 1882-03-29 Star cancel Fancy CDS on piece eBay20221129.jpg
Monticello1886-09-30Wheel of Fortune BlackOn GPCMonticello AR 1886-09-30 Wheel of Fortune JForteStock 20141220.jpg
Nodena1894-02-20Red Lacy ring Nodena ARK 1894-02-20 Fancy CDS and killer eBay20201214.jpg
Norristown189xBlack Star Norristown Star in circle 1890s.jpg
Pine Bluff188x-01-04Large Black "M"1 cent BN on 2c Jackson envelopePine Bluff AR 188x-01-04 M cancel on 2c BJ stationary RSiegel Sale1008Lot2035 .jpg
Pine Bluff1874-03-15Large Black "M" Pine Bluff AR 188x-03-15 Bold M cancel eBay20131128.JPG
Pine Bluff1878-11-30Black Fan Pine Bluff AR 1878-11-30 Fan Cancel eBay 2012-04-10.jpg
Pine Bluff1879-08-29Negative "TIME" block lettersAttorney ccPine Bluff TIME Fancy in color RSiegel_Sale927_Lot1461.jpg
Poplar Grover1885-9-28Skull and Cross Bones in circle Poplar Grove 9-28-1885 Skull & Cross Bones in Circle.jpg
Poplar Grover1883-10-22Skull and Cross Bones in circleOn PiecePoplar Grove AR 1883-09-22 Skull & Cross Bones in Circle RSiegel_923_2384.jpg
Poplar Grover1873-09-25Skull and Cross Bones in circleOn GPCPoplar Grove AR 1873-09-25 Skull & Crossbones Schuyler Rumsey_Sale47_Lot1054.jpg
Red Bluff1888-03-08Wheel of Fortune Black Red Bluff Arkansas wheel of fortune cancel ebay 2-27-11.jpg
Sunk Land1881-10-25Star Sunk Land AR 1881-10-25 Fancy CDS and Star cancel on piece 10c, 3c BN eBay20190518.jpg
Van Buren188xPurple Large "L" Van Buren 1880s capital L.jpg
Van Buren1890-01-09Black Initials "J H" Van Buren-JH cancel.jpg
Walnut Ridge1894-02-19Blue Star Walnut Ridge AR 1894-02-19 Fancy Star.JPG
Wilson1881-11-09Purple Star Wilson 11-9-1881 purple star ebay 1-24-11.jpg
Wynne1889-03-16Star in Circle Wynne AR 1887-03-16 star in circle eBay20211224.jpg