History And Usage Of Usir "Silver Tax" Stamps

I recently came across this USIR 2-cent "Silver Tax" stamp. Based on a quick Google search, I think that it is Scott #RG2. (I had mistakenly filed it as stamp R229.) At the risk of showing my naïveté, I wasn't previously aware of Silver Tax stamps (in part because there doesn't seem to be a "Silver Tax" section in my Scott National album, and in part because the dealer that I usually work with doesn't show them on their web page). I am curious about "Silver Tax" stamps and how they were used - can anyone provide a brief primer? Are there also USIR stamps for other precious metals (e.g., "Gold Tax" stamps?) that I simply haven't seen?
Thanks in advance for any input on this topic.

No gold tax. It was really a silver purchase tax of 50%. As might be expected, KODAK was the biggest purchaser; there are documents around. There are also some very rare provisional usages. Looking at the PF site might be instructive.

Thanks, revcollector!
Sorry to ask, but what is "the PF site"?

The Philatelic Foundation. philatelic foundation.org. You can search the stamps which have certificates. Search either RG or at the bottom you can search silver tax.

Got it - thanks again! I'll take a look, and appreciate the info.

Like lots of revenues, they started with an overprint of an existing stamps, and then got their own series.

One of mine, based on the documentary series, which were fodder for overprinting.



One of the bespoke series, check behind the sofa to see if you have any of these, (not mine)



And, a poor resolution image of the form found on HA. com

That 1914 revenue issue was a real workhorse set. It was overprinted for everything; stock transfer, silver tax, future delivery, tobacco sale tax, cigarette tubes, narcotics, etc.

Great to see the RG 103 silver tax stamp one of three known.

The silver tax stamps on document are not common. I keep looking for them, but rarely see them come to market.

The 2 documents I have imaged (I think I have 1 or 2 others somewhere) are shown below.

The first is interesting in that no tax was actually due (sold at a loss), but by statute/regulation a minimum of 1-cent tax still had to be paid on the transaction.

The second is notable in that it features an RG63 (8 cent denomination), which Scott does not value used, only mint.

I can't remember ever seeing the one cent usage.

Dan,

Your 1 cent form is very nice!

I set out a while ago to find a clean example of the form for my collection.

Some of the forms look a little worse for wear with the old tape. Clean forms are harder to find from what I have seen. I also assume the forms with the nicer stamps were soaked a long time ago and sadly don't exist.

One of my goals is to get one of the nice Kodak forms with all the different denominations neatly canceled. Every time I see one come up at auction and I don't win, I cross my fingers it isn't some ebay dealer intent on soaking or worse - just cutting the best ones out.

Attached is my one Form 2, canx June 6, 1960. Nothing flashy, but I have one! It is also a mixed usage of Series 1941 and 1944 stamps.

Those Kodak forms have come up occasionally, but it has been quite a while since I have seen one. I can't imagine anyone spending that kind of money just to soak the stamps off. I would expect that anyone interested would know better.

The silver tax was 50% of the profit. If no profit, there was the requirement for a 1¢ stamp to be placed on the document.