Printed Postmarks. 74- Stamp News

Transcription

1

2 Printed Postmarks Used Stamps Do you collect "used" stamps? Would you like some with nice circular postmarks with gum on the back? Australia Post has been producing these for over years and selling them for about 5 cents each. They are found in the packs of 50 or 00 used stamps available at most Post Offices. Some collectors are replacing their old used stamps (that have been through the mail stream) with these new "printed postmark" (PP) stamps. Four Postmark Positions Why are they called "printed postmarks"? It began back in 994 when Australia Post decided to recycle the many sheets of withdrawn mint stamps by having them machine overprinted with a simulated postmark. Sheets are fed through a printer and overprinted with a cancellation that was placed over the intersection of four stamps and was repeated in the exact same position on all stamps in the sheet. In some cases, the stamps at the edge received a half cancellation so that the selvedge was not marked. So every stamp on the sheet was postmarked in 4 different positions only. Many printed postmark collectors save these 4 stamps. An unseparated block of four or a complete sheet, rather than individual stamps, are highly prized additions to a collection! Australia Post does not appear to keep any records of what sheets of stamps or how many they send away to have the postmark overprinted. Stamp Packs PP stamps originally appeared in The Stamp Gang packets of 50 used stamps in 994. They were mixed with other used stamps (that had been through the mail stream) obtained from commercial sources. These packs were given to school children when Australia Post staff gave presentations at schools and also given away at stamp exhibitions. Most packs of used Australian stamps available at the Post Office contain printed postmark stamps. e.g. The contents of a sample "Collector Choice" pack of 00 Australian Stamps, No.4. May 003, contained 35 PP stamps and 65 used stamps. 74- Stamp News

3 "Collector's Choice"00 Australian Stamps No.4, May 003, RRP $.45 (sample contents) Printed Postmark Stamps Quantity 40c 40c with tab 45c 8 45c with tab 8 49c 3 50c international post 80c international post with tab 98c Total PP stamps 35 Other used stamps 65 (6 pre-decimal and 59 decimal) Total stamps 00 Current Australia Post Stamp Packs Pack Series Issue Date Cost Bird stamps 5th July 003 $.0 Train stamps 5th July 003 $.0 Marine stamps 5th July 003 $.0 Animal stamps 5th July 003 $.0 Flower stamps 5th July 003 $.0 Australian stamps* 3 5th July 003 $.0 0th August Dogs stamps $ th August Cats stamps $ th August Sport stamps $ th August Bike & Motorbike stamps $ th August Dinosaur stamps $ pt November Stamp Collecting Kit** $ nd October Sniffer and the Stamp $.95 Gang's Stamp Album** 007 st November "Collector's Choice" 00 $3.95 Australian Stamps* 007 Notes:. These packs contain 50 world used stamps, including some Australian stamps. Two packs, (indicated with an*), only contain Australian used stamps. The "Collector's Choice" pack contains 00 stamps.. The stamp collecting kit and album, (indicated with an**), also contain packs of used stamps. 3. Asample Sport pack had 5 Australian PP stamps and 45 foreign PP stamps! (Other countries must be machine overprinting their stamps too!) 4. Asample Australian pack had 50 used stamps- no PP stamps! Stamp News- 75

4 Printed Postmarks Postmark Types The postmarks were circular and contained the text "G.P.O. Melbourne VIC 3000". Four different types have been identified. (Australia Post has not kept any records of postmark types.) st Postmark: Smooth "metal-type" thin text "G.P.O. Melbourne VIC 3000". No Datecode. "ct Postmark: Smooth "metal-type" thin text "G.P.O. Melbourne VIC 3000" + Datecode Type # 3rct Postmark: Rough "rubber-type" thick text "G.P.O. Melbourne VIC 3000" + Datecode Type #. 4th Postmark: Rough "rubber-type" thick text "G.P.O. Melbourne VIC 3000". No Datecode. The datecode had two different formats: Datecode Type # = T-XDD MM YY. e.g. 4-P3 FE 89, 9-A4JA93, 9-A-7 AP 93. Datecode Type # =DD MMM YYYY. e.g. 3 JUL 995. The text and datecode is just symbolic and does not reflect where or when the stamps were cancelled. The following datecodes (Datecode Type #) have been identified: 3 FE 89,3 AU 89, 7 JA 90, AU 9, - JA 9, 4 JA 93,-7 AP 93. Cancelled to Order The postmarking of a stamp affixed to an envelope or cover at the customer's request or order is known as "Cancelled to Order" (CTO). It is also known as "Philatelic Postmarking". Australia Post's Guideline G8.3.7 gives details about these postmarking requests and specifies that "the stamp should be affixed to an envelope $9.00 : ~::!V \ / L45c or cover". Hence separate CTO stamps when removed from the envelope should not have gum on the back. While it is possible to have a separate stamp (not affixed to an envelope or cover) hand cancelled to order, the majority of stamps with gum on the back have had the cancellation machine overprinted. They can be easily identified as they are postmarked with one of the four types listed above. These stamps with printed postmarks are often referred to as "CTO stamps". Clearly they are not requested or "ordered" by the customer, however CTO is the term in current usage. Some of the PP stamps are listed in the Australian Commonwealth Specialists' Catalogues as CTO stamps. Type Used stamp favour Stamp Cancellation Types Description A stamp that has been used for postage. lt has been through the mail stream and hand or machine cancelled with a postmark. The postmark can be of any type and in any position. If the stamp has been removed from the article it will not have any gum on the back. A stamp affixed to an envelope, postcard or cover that has been hand cancelled at the request of the customer. (The stamps must be valid for postage and their value must be equal to or greater than the Standard Letter Rate.) The postmark is usually of the circular type and in any position. Once the stamp has been cancelled the envelope may not be put through the mail stream. If the stamp has been removed from the envelope it will not have any gum on the back and it becomes indistinguishable from a used stamp. Also known as "Philatelic Postmarking': (Refer Australia Post's Guideline G8.3.7.) 6- Stamp News

5 Dayid Mallen Separate favour Aseparate stamp that is not affixed to an envelope, postcard or cover that has been hand cancelled at the request of the customer. Once the stamp has been cancelled it may not be. affixed to an article and put through the mail stream. The postmark is usually of the circular type and in any position. The stamp may have gum on the back. Australia Post used to permit stamps to be placed in a transparent packet or covered with favour used stamp a transparent material and affixed to an article that is posted. This prevented the stamps from being further postmarked. Pen cancellation Astamp that has been cancelled by hand with a pen instead of a hand or machine postmark. This may occur if the stamp has been through the mail stream and has not been cancelled. This type of cancellation is to prevent fraudulent reuse of the stamp. If the stamp has been removed from the article it will not have any gum on the back. (Refer Australia Post's Guideline G8.3.7.) "Unofficial" These fake postmarks include: cancellations Hand-stamping a circular postmark on a stamp using a round device and ink pad. This type of postmark is usually just a small part of the circle across a corner of the stamp. This simulates a portion of a hand postmark without any text. (Some stamp clubs and dealers provide this service to convert a mint or unpostmarked stamp into a"fine used" stamp!) Afacsimile of a postmark created on a computer and printed onto a stamp affixed to an envelope or sheet of paper. Printed postmark Apostmark that has been overprinted on a (PP) stamp. The postmark is of the circular"g.p.o. Melbourne" type and the datecode does not relate to the date of printing. The postmark is in one of only four positions. The stamp is sold with gum on the back. CTO (Cancelled to Stamps cancelled by the Postal Services order) for inclusion in certain specimen packets distributed at a discount from face value. First Day Cover (FDC) printed postmark The postmarks on stamps on Australia Post FDCs are machine cancelled. The postmark usually has a special design. The datecode is the date of issue of the stamp and does not relate to the date of printing ofthe postmark. Customers may send stamped envelopes to Australia Post requesting that the stamps be cancelled with the special first day of issue postmark. This service may be performed up to one month after the date of issue of the stamp. (Refer Australia Post's Guideline G8.3.5.) Other Printed Postmarks Most Australia Post First Day Covers (FDCs) contain printed postmarks. The date on the postmark is the issue date of the stamp but may have been printed before, on or after this date. Customers can send a stamped envelope to Australia Post and request a FDC be cancelled with a dated postmark corresponding to the date of issue. These first day of issue cancellations can be requested up to one month after the actual issue day. Printed postmarks are also found on stamps of Australian Territories such as Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island and Australian Antarctic Territory. The 007 Impressions range of products issued last November contained acto Collection of Australian Stamps 007 in a black and silver presentation folder for $ All of these were printed postmarks. This was a popular way to obtain a collection of postmarked gummed stamps for the whole year. Some collectors are collecting these instead of collecting used stamps. I would like to thank and acknowledge the Australia Post Philatelic Group for supplying some of the above details and PP samples and Bryan Young for allowing me to photograph some of his PP collection. Stamp News- 77