I Thought Surcharges Enhanced Value

Here is a pictorial representation of the example pointed out on page 1 of this thread:



The 1926 Canada 2c surcharge on 3c .

cjd, The original 3 cent value was negated (This did not become a 5 cent stamp), thus I would call this a revaluation, and NOT a surcharge.

John,

I would use 'surcharged' as you define it as the word means 'a charge above an original charge.'
In philately it has been used for all types of overprints. In English, I have only seen it in relation to a value, but the French do use it to denote 'overprint.'

However, having a mathematical background, adding a negative number is adding even if the value goes down.
So, here goes:

http://goscf.com/t/34152#289342

After we convince all of the catalogues that they have to drop an established philatelic term, we'll start in on Julia Child and Jacques Pepin and the CIA and every French cookbook I own, along with every French restaurant in which I've ordered coquilles St Jacques. You work on the cookbooks and I'll start with the restaurants. It could take me some time, but I'll report back.

(Yes, I know Julia Child is dead, so we might not be able to convince her, and yes I know that the French say that they don't like America's French fries.)

That's why I picked it as an example.

But do you pronounce scallops to rhyme with shall-ops or skoll-ops?

I believe the CIA cookbook uses "Freedom Fries".

Apparently,we do not visit the same French restaurants in France.




Julie Enfant?

This thread is running on fumes, so I'll wrap up my participation with a brief summary. I have no problem with calling the Canada stamp a revaluation, but it is a surcharge. Surcharge is the long-accepted philatelic usage.

NSK, YES!!!! I agree. Thank you. The Belgium example shows a rare example where the original value is retained and then changed through a NEGATIVE mathematical operation. I would still stand by my definition for surcharge, but add "there are rare negative surcharge exceptions such as Belgium ...", otherwise there are going to be exceptions which would destroy any attempt to define anything.

Add: For those who don't like my definitions of surcharge and revalue, please provide *your own* definition. Not quoting someone else, but YOURS.

Also, show me somewhere outside of philately where "surcharge" isn't used in the context of "something added". If your electric bill contains a surcharge, did it ever cost you less?

Interesting; Per the interwebs, see #2


sur·charge
/#712;s#601;r#716;CHärj/
See definitions in:
all
finance
philately
noun
noun: surcharge; plural noun: surcharges

1.an additional charge or payment.
"we guarantee that no surcharges will be added to the cost of your trip"
a charge made by assessors as a penalty for false returns of taxable property.
the showing of an omission in an account for which credit should have been given.

2. a mark printed on a postage stamp changing its value.

verb
verb: surcharge; 3rd person present: surcharges; past tense: surcharged; past participle: surcharged; gerund or present participle: surcharging

1.exact an additional charge or payment from.
"retailers will be able to surcharge credit-card users"

2.mark (a postage stamp) with a surcharge.

Inasmuch as "surcharge" in the philatelic world has meant "change in value" since long before any of us were born, I don't think the fact that some think it incorrect in some cases is going to change anything. Change higher or lower, it will still be called a surcharge by most philatelists.

Here is the definition from the SCF Glossary:

Surcharge
An overprint that changes or restates the denomination of a stamp or postal stationery item.

Works for me.

What about the term "overprinted" which would cover all types of additional markings to the stamp?

ASKPHIL.

Overprint (Opt.,Ovpt.): an additional printing on a stamp that was not part of the original design; for example, the Molly Pitcher U.S. stamp of 1928 has the words "Molly Pitcher" overprinted on top of the design;

Where the additional inscription changes the face value of the stamps, this is then named a surcharge.

Overprint transposed: used on stamps of South West Africa, English inscription of Afrikaans stamps, or vice versa.

Already shown elsewhere, the 1966 'England Winners' stamp celebrating England's 1966 world football championship is often considered an overprint. The original stamps advertising the world cup held in England included a design that differs from the 'England Winners' only by that inscription. The stamps with the additional inscription were printed from new cylinders. They were not overprinted on existing stamps.
- additional inscription ==> overprint, or
- new cylinders based on the original design with and additional design element ==> new design?

Also, I mentioned the 1883 Great Britain 3d and 6d stamps that even Stanley Gibbons calls 'Surcharged' issue. They neither are surcharged nor overprinted but completely new stamps.

Also, Yvert will call 'overprinted' stamps that have no face value as part of the overprint whatsoever, e.g. TANGIER or MOROCCO AGENCIES stamps with sterling values, 'surchargés.'