15 Cents Canal Zone Precancel

Canal Zone · 1928 · 15¢

A 15-cent US definitive stamp overprinted 'CANAL ZONE' and further precanceled with 'CRISTOBAL C.Z.' and 'PRECANCELED' in two lines. The underlying design features a portrait, typical of US definitive issues of the period.

This stamp represents the postal administration of the U.S. Canal Zone, a territory vital for international shipping. Precancels like this were used to expedite mail processing by allowing stamps to be canceled before being affixed to mail, particularly for bulk mailers in specific towns like Cristobal.