Perfins Or Under-Prints

Hi All

I was in a live chat last night at IPDA and we were chatting about perfins etc. A question I raised was: Which came first, perfins or under-prints? We were not exactly sure.

Would like to hear your thoughts here.

Thank you.

Chimo

Bujutsu

I know perfins came about first in 1868, but I'm not sure about underprints.


I'd say perfins, myself.

A letter to Joseph Sloper dated 13th March 1868 represents the authority under which the perforation of postage stamps with initials was officially introduced.



Sloper's device/ideas were patented in 1858 so he had a monopoly on perfins from 1868 to 1872 when his patent rights ran out.
The first company to use perfins was COPESTAKE,MOORE, CRAMPTON & CO using the initials "S.C."
He was also granted permission to perforate Revenue Stamps with initials from 27th June 1870.

An application to the G.P.O. for official permission to UNDERPRINT stamps was made in a letter dated 23rd October 1867 with permission granted 25th October 1867.

This request also asked for permission to PERFORATE but was refused at that time.

Thanks all

So, both were introduced pretty well the same time but the under-prints were "allowed" first?

Interesting.

Chimo

Bujutsu

speaking of perfins- I recently seen a perfin cow! seriously!

Moo!

Neat perfin I-L-Stsmps

First time I have seen it.

Chimo

Bujutsu