Green Half Penny Stamp - Need Help With Identification

Hello There...
First my post and I already need help !
Can someone help me identify this stamp?
looked to me like an Australian Victoria Half Penny? But it didn't have the $ amounts at the corners that I see in the catalog.

Hi ananthveerappan, welcome to this forum. What you have there is not a real stamp but a 'cut square' from a stamped envelope. That is the reason you won't find it in a regular catalog!

Peter

Thanks Peter. Any idea about it's origins? Queen Victoria and Commonwealth zone is as far as I could go on it.

This has been cut out from a British newspaper wrapper first issued in 1901.

Technically ,this would be a Great Britain Book Post cut-out. As you see in the scan below, your cut-out is as nigelc identifies. Originally BOOK POST then PRINTED PAPERS after 1916, these were reasonably well collected as cut-outs if you go by the prices mentioned in the scan of a page from an old Bright and Sons catalogue. Most modern calalogues rarely include these items and they are somewhat forgotten.

Any UK collectors might be interested in this link to buying an old Bright and Sons catalogue. These catalogues list envelopes, wrappers, postcards etc
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-li...ndition=used

That's interesting Scotzm. I hadn't seen them referred to as "Book Post Wrappers" before.

This Wrapper would have had the following text which brings the different names together:

This wrapper may only be used for Newspapers, or for such documents are as allowed to be sent at the Book-rate of postage, and must not enclose any letter or other article liable to letter postage. If this rule be infringed, the packet will be charged as a letter.

Book Post was the original name started in 1848 (sixpence for up to a pound in weight and was for books obviously). This was extended to anything printed in 1855... circulars, newspapers, catalogs etc at the rate of one penny for 4 ounces. The halfpenny rate came in 1870 for two ounces/ one penny for 4 ounces. The halfpenny rate continued from 1897 onwards but for weights of up to 2 ounces only.

The Postmark "printed matter" Curt Fernau style Fig156, W=West district Pmk dates later than 1905 are scarce.

Thank you Guys.
Currently in the middle of cataloging my 20 yr old stockbook and sorting the other pile that has accumulated since then.
Having major troubles in so many areas !
Appreciate all your support.