Ohio Sales Tax Stamps were not printed in coils or strips; they were distributed in pads of 100, with each stamp having a (same-sized) receipt attached -- a Vendor's receipt retained on the pad by a metal clamp, and the Consumer's receipt (as shown above) given to the customer.
I have over 700 different, but there are estimated to be 25,000++ different identifiable types. These are "minimums" -- 5 printers, 7 color schemes, 3 colors of paper, rouletted or perforated, 2 sizes, 6 designs, watermarked or unwatermarked, 8 watermark orientations (north, south, east, and west, regular and backwards), with and without a serial number across the perforation or roulette, plus 13 denominations, etc., etc. A great many types also exist with various "Specimen" overprints, but consumers did not receive these except through error. Sorry to say, I'll never have even 10% of the varieties, and no one will ever know how many there are.
I would say they are most often found in poor condition, as they were roughly torn off the pad, then tossed in the sack of merchandise, where they were crumpled or creased. Also, they were often stapled to receipts, which left two holes. The average person considered them a nuisance, but Ohio schools were authorized to collect them and redeem them for 1% to 3% of the face value; I remember several times when gym period was rained out, the teacher would give everyone a big double handful out of a box to be sorted by denomination. But they were handsome stamps to be sure, and no other State had anything resembling them.
The basic denominations were 1c, 2c, 3c, 6c, 9c, 12c, 15c, 24c, 30c, 60c, $1.50, $3.00, and $15.00 -- since Ohio had a 3% sales tax during their period of use, about 1935 to 1957, they tended to be denominated in multiples of 3c. About 20 years ago, a minister tried to publish a catalog of them (and in fact, consulted me for assistance) but finally gave up.
We bought a new Buick in 1951, and I clearly remember INSISTING that I be allowed to tear off the three $15.00 sales tax stamps involved, to make sure they were undamaged, much to the amusement of the sales manager and other salesmen LOL (Davis Buick on S. Main Street, Dayton, Ohio). Ah, the good old days. |
Posted 11/04/2012 8:50 pm
