Despite the fact that the big express companies likely used as many or more one cent battleship stamps as a function of their business as any company in the United States, railroads included, and they were the primary method of retail shipping in the country, only two companies, American Express and National Express, are known to have precanceled the one cent battleship.
The express companies functioned as retail shipping agents for the railroads. For while railroads provided retail service to passengers, they did not receive and forward retail packages. That service was subbed out to the express companies, including the large and dominant companies like American Express, Wells Fargo, US Express, and Adams Express.
Adams Express is known for many handstamp types on the one cent and other battleship values, but not for printed cancels. The two cent stamp is another matter. Yet for Adams Express these are rare and rather obscure. Fullerton lists three dates for Adams Express mimeographed cancels: August 12 1899, October 25 1899, and November 19 1900. Examples of the latter two are shown below. I have never seen the August 12 cancels, which come in two types: one using four lines of type and a second type that uses three. Likely used on checks, I have yet to see a used example of one of these two cent stamps on document.
If anyone has examples of the August 12, 1899 cancels, please send scans to 1898revenues@gmail.com.
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