 #211 |
Any information about this stamp is much welcomed - year, catalog #, value etc.
Posted by Kurt E. Hodonos on 18 Jan 99 |
ANSWERS:
It is one of the Second Aerovias air mail issues of Puerto Rico. The
complete set is 8 stamps, denominations from 1 c (10.000 issued) to $1
(only 1500 issued). They are listed in 'Triangular Philatelics' by Chris
Green as OA 1100. Also listed in Sanabria's Air Post Catalogue.
Value is hard to say; recently an incomplete set of 7 (missing the
highest denomination) was sold for $61. | |
 #212 |
I found this on a letter from Bristol (GB) to Holland. Letter had a machine
stamp of £ 0.20 dated 12-11-98. 4 days later someone put this revenue
protection stamp on it, still in Bristol. In my opinion , the £ 0.20
on the machine stamp was inland 2nd class rate while for Holland £ 0.50
should have been paid. Does this mean that the post office has charged
the sender for the missing postage and put the stamp on it to indicate
that the full rate has been paid? Posted by Jos Wessels on 22 Jan 99 |
ANSWERS:
This revenue protection stamp is used for items that do not have sufficient
postage, "items are generally forwarded with the receiving foreign postal
authority having the jurisdiction to recover the excess, and any surcharge
that is appropriate to their service. | |
 #213 |
Is this just one of those Spanish items easily identified with the proper catalog?
Posted by Casper Boks on 29 Jan 99 |
ANSWERS:
#213 - This is some sort of Spanish charity label which I was unable
to locate in Edefil or Galvez, though I've seen it and its cousin (a
tiny windmill stamp) frequently. I've seen it in use attached to the
back of letters and cancelled.
Here's a website that features #213: http://web.jet.es/plopezp/filatelia/filaespa.htm.
It seems that this stamp was a sort of post free label (or duty free label)
to be used by mail personnel only. | |
 #214 |
Hi -
You don't come across them as often as you like, but this is another stamp of the kind "huh .... never seen anything like this before". Does someone have a clue
about the origin of this stamp?
Posted by Casper on 5 Feb 99 |
ANSWERS:
In 1895, China ceded Taiwan to Japan. Local Chinese
inhabitants objected and proclaimed an independent republic. This rebellion
was soon put down by Japanese troops. Between August and October 1895, eight
locally printed stamps were issued. That means I was wrong about the
Republic of Taiwan part. So could your stamp be one of them?
We report here the original contribution of Clarence to the solution to
this puzzle, we think Clarence did a great job examining the various elements this stamp is made of.
#214 - Taiwan, Black Flag Republic local stamp issued in 1895. This
appears to be the 5 cash value (as listed in Hurt-Williams), also
listed in Stanley Gibbons as 50 cash. There are three values to the
set; four printings (based mainly on the kink in the tiger's tail);
and forgeries exist.
Your previous correspondents have correctly located this stamp as belonging
to the Black Flag Republic issues of 1895. The central design is a sitting
tiger, with its tail at top right; this was the emblem of the Republic. As
stated this is the main feature distinguishing the four issues, your stamp is
clearly not from the first (July) or second (September) issue; if it is genuine
it may show part of the papermaker's name as a watermark "DORLING & CO / LONDON".
The third issue was also in September, while the fourth type (unissued) is very
like the third, differing mainly in the characters of value in the right-hand tablet.
Your example reads 50 cash, for which only one value type is listed for the
third issue, and which does seem to be the same as on your stamp. But now we
come to the big problem: the 50 cash third issue is known only in vermilion
(perf.12 or 11½) or deep red (perf.12 only). Dare we suggest your copy is a
forgery in a fancy colour, or could it have faded to its present colour, or
is it a totally unknown specimen? I have taken this information from the
Colour-illustrated Stamp Catalogue of China (1878-1949) edited by Shiu-Hon
Chan, 1992. I wonder if the paper and perforation of yours is correct.
The Michel Asien Katalog recognizes types I and II (the first two issues)
under China / Provinzen / Formosa / Schwarzflaggen-Republik, but not the
third issue. A philatelic encyclopedia of c.1972 says the value of the
Black Flag Republic stamps varies from a few shillings to eight pounds.
| |
 #215 |
My Yvert catalogue should list this under the separate section for the Herceg Bosna region, or at least under the main section
for stamps of Bosnia Hercegovina. But it does not. Is it maybe a stamp issued for Herceg Bosna before these became official?
The year on the stamp tells me it might be something like that.... but an omission by Yvert seems even more likely. Does anyone know?
Posted by Casper on 5 Feb 99 |
ANSWERS:
Stamp #215 was issued in the Croatian part of Bosnia.
There are also issues from the Muslim part (the "official" one) and from the
Serbian Republic in Bosnia. Your stamp is MICHEL-No. 12 from the Croatian
part. Value is 7,- DM. Issue date is 10.2.1993. | |
 #216 |
This is the most exciting item I recently brought back from my adventures in the 10 cents boxes of the Chalonstamps Stamp shop
in Christchurch, New Zealand. I recommend that shop! Does anyone know where this "Lloyd - Deutscher Privat Post" stamp may be listed? It is not in the Michel Deutschland Spezial catalogue.
Posted by Casper on 5 Feb 99 |
ANSWERS:
This stamp comes from Berlin and was issued by one of the many private mail companies in
Germany, this stamp being issued on 18 Aug 1886. The set was made up of 3 stamps, 2 pf.
rosa, 3 pf. green, 10 pf. yellowbrown. You can find these stamps and many more
private stamps from Germany in the Michel catalogue "Michel-katalog der deutschen
Privatpostmarken"
This is listed in Michel's catalog for Stadtpost, the latest edition from
1996. It is a local post from a short lived private carrier. It is from Berlin
I think--sorry I do not have the catalog at hand. The society of collectors of
these is the Stadtpost Study Group, an affiliate of the GPS.
It is listed in Michel Spezial-Katalog der deutschen privatpostmarken. It is
a Berlin private post of 1886 and is #1 under the E] Deutsche privat-post Lloyd
listing. | |
 #217 |
A lot of Victoria stamps are stamp duties, but I never saw one with an overprint like this one. Was it maybe something like an early tax on cattle menuire (always a hot item here
in Holland....) Posted by Casper on 5 Feb 99 |
ANSWERS:
The Cattle overprint on the Victoria Revenue is similar to the Swine
overprint and
apparently was used to prepay some sort of tax on cattle. I have twelve
denominations
in four styles of overprint up to the 10 shilling. and I think I have seen
it up to the 4
pound in another collection. The newer Barefoot & Hall British Revenue
catalog
should be starting to list these. Though there is not a lot documented on
these yet.
Cattle sales taxes were to provide funds for health testing and for
compensation in case carcases had to be destroyed. The stamp and other denominations are listed
in the Barefoot catalog of British Commonwealth revenues. | |
 #218 |
This is something that somehow got my attention. It looks like the post office ran out of stamps. Was this a common cancel? Or was it used as a stamp? Should this be thrown away or not?
Posted by Casper on 5 Feb 99 |
ANSWERS:
#218 to the best of my knowledge, was struck on mainly bulk postings of
mail, in much the same way as meter mail now. | |
 #219 |
This 5 shillings stamp is neither listed in Yvert nor Stanley Gibbons.
The original (without overprint) Cape of Good Hope stamp is listed though, and comes in three varieties, one
of which has the CA+crown watermark (the other two have an anchor watermark). This stamp does have the CA+crown watermark too.
However, it is not listed with the British Bechuanaland overprint. Since the original stamp is quite valuable,
I am rather curious if this stamp is very rare, unknown, or perhaps just a freak? In any case, it is exciting! And it is in one piece too!
Posted by Casper on 10 Feb 99 |
ANSWERS:
The Barefoot catalog of British Commonwealth Revenues lists
"Bechuanaland (British) Revenues" as 1887 Cape Revenues ovpt "British Bechuanaland" however they
list only a 6d brown on yellow and a 1/ brown. and the 6d is wmk with an anchor
and the 1/ of a CC. I would guess that yours is a later issue but that is yet to be
proved. | |
 #220 |
In 1986 my wife bought me a plate block of 6 of this 65c stamp. I noticed a
dark blue triangular ink mark in the top half of the "5" of one of the
stamps. I went back to the post-office where the block was purchased and
asked to look at the sheets they had of the same stamp. Another sheet had an
identical defect. I have not seen or heard of a similar defect. Have you?
Posted by Elias Traboulsi on 19 Feb 99 |
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