Hand-Written "Rec'd" & "Ans'd" Dates On Covers Question

Hey everyone.
I'm assuming that when I see these written "received" and/or "answered" dates on a classic cover, it is done so by the post officer since the cover usually lacks a corresponding hand-stamp (usually found on the reverse).
Is this correct?

If so, how much weight does it have, if any, when an expert examines, then certifies it?

Thank you

Basically, do examiners often use these to determine a date of use if the cancel itself isn't enough?

Manuscript markings such as "answered" and "received", etc., are most likely by the recipient of the mail item, not the Postmaster. Older envelopes often do not have any receiving markings on the back.

Got it! Thank you orstampman.
I ask not for the cover above (which is only used as a reference), but in general, could it be used as legitimate evidence when expertizing a cover?

For example, if you had a stamp on cover with a year-less postmark, but a scribbling like the one above, and let's say it signified an early usage of the stamp, would experts use it as verification? Would it be worth sending it in for a cert?

Yes, if the docketing appears to be in period ink, and writing style, it is often used to date an item.

Thank you for the confirmation, txstamp! That is incredibly useful information

A good expertiser, like a good postal historian, will consider all the aspects of a cover in reaching a final conclusion. There is no magic formula for "how much weight" to be given to any facet. One faked facet can sink an item.

You will even find such received/answered notations on post cards through the 1950s and 1960s. Some what like texting today, send a text expect an answer. Send a letter or card, expect an answer was the case before texting came about.

As well it should! That's actually why my question came about, because my thought was that "it would be a lot harder to fake a hand-stamp than it would be a scribbling from the recipient", but you all have given me confidence that a good expertizer will even be able to recognize the scribbling as authentic for that time period based on the ink used (and maybe sometimes the handwriting as well).



Absolutely! I have some neat *Reply Postal Cards* that were foldable from the late 1800's to 1930's (I believe) where the recipient tears off the reply portion and sends it back.

No question that docketing can be valuable information to help authenticate a cover. Particularly items such as locals which might not have a cancellation.

Some recipients recorded "received" and "answered" often enough that they had a handstamp made up. This postcard was mailed from Caen to Verviers Belgium on July 18th (postage stamp and postmark are on the front of the card). Apparently the recipient liked to keep track of which mail he had answered.

The corporate world did a fair amount of that, especially from the 1870's on.

Wow. You all have put me in a state of utter shock right now.

To be honest, I wasn't being truthful from the beginning about my purpose for these questions... I have a cover that I believe is an EKU contender for Scott#184.

It has a rec'd and ans'd date, just like yours Stampdoc. I've never thought much about these inscriptions, but revcollector made me realize it makes perfect sense for businesses to use these covers as tabulations.

The back is blank:

I'm still learning about covers, but I'm pretty confident in recognizing stamp papers and I believe this is an American Bank Note Co. Soft Paper (184).
There is a small chance that it could be a 158 variety Double Paper, seeing as they can sometimes possess qualities of soft Paper, but I can make out some mesh patterns from the front here that lead me to a 184.

Please understand, I didn't want to jump straight to this conclusion because I didn't have much information on what would validate it, and I thought "surely it must be fake".
But here you all are, reading my mind!