Imperforate Issues :

Has anyone heard or read any reason
why there are so many imperforate stamps
that were produced alongside normal perforated issues?

Really, would Dagnija from the Latvian village of Bauska,
walk into the Post Office and say,
"Give me a sheet of the 5 Lats imperforates please"
"I need to excercise my scissors"

Or is it just another grubby way to lighten
the pockest of collectors?
Anyone?

(joke stolen from Chris 2005)

Rod, good question...they certainly in the case of the Hungarian ones sell at a good premium over the perforated guys...i would think it would be the other way around !!

My Scott for Austria (1908-13 issue)reads:

"All values exist imperforate. They were not sold at any post office, but presented to a number of high government officials. This applies also to all imperforate stamps of later issues, including semi-postals, etc., and those of the Austrian Offices Abroad."
Just how common this practice is or was and to what extent other countries participated, I have no idea.

Another source: STAMP SHOWS
If I remember correcly, that is where this one came from.

I think because there were legitimate uses for some imperforate issues, and the knowledge that older stamps came imperf, made it seem or lent a lustre to any stamps that came as imperf. No doubt this was taken advantage of by enterprising salesman and stamp producing (but not using) countries at times. Not always but hey, if there is a market they are salesman not stamp collectors.

Also, some collectors prefer them I think.

Thanks for the replies.

I was reading yesterday that on the self adhesives, it would be just as easy for the printers to give the stamps straight edges, thus appearing imperforate. However it seems that the public prefers the die cuts to simulate perforations. Go figure.