Help Needed In Identifying Stamp On Malta 1988 Money Order

The Malta local money order as shown below sold recently on ebay (I was not the buyer):



What's intriguing me is the stamp with the letter M on the item. I had never seen such an item before (I don't know anything about money orders). It is cancelled with the Accounts GPO cancellation dated 5 October 1988.



Does anyone have any info about this? What was it used for? What does it signify? What do you class it as - a revenue, a cinderella or something else? Are you aware of similar stamps by other countries?

*** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. ***

Unlisted Barefoot Catalogue 2000

I have the most recent edition of Barefoot (2012) and it's not listed either. I don't know whether it should actually be listed, since I'm unsure if it is to be regarded as a revenue or a cinderella (I don't think it's there to pay a tax).

Clearly there does not seem to be any information at all about this. Can any members help me understand what it might have been used for? Maybe from similar issues from other countries?

Interesting. My guess is that, if there's no value it's a receipt stamp. This is probably why Barefoot doesn't list it as it had no monetary value.

I imagine that there is a philatelic society in Valetta. Maybe it's worth contacting them for help, or try talking to someone in the Postal administration? It is certainly specialist stuff.

Opinion:
The two claret shaped devices, appear to be similar to the shape / colour of an old wax seal.
Perhaps the item is a counterfoil section of a company seal / receipt ?

Pop in to the GPO and ask there?

I tried asking around the Malta Study Circle and on another forum as well, but I got no answers. I'll try contacting the Malta Philatelic Society and the Gozo Philatelic Society as well.

I also went to the GPO to ask if they have any information, but no one was able to help. In 2012 I obtained a money order from the post office, but it had no stamp, just a regular Valletta postmark. Today MaltaPost still offer a money order service but it's simply a bank transfer, and printed forms like the one above are no longer in use. https://www.maltapost.com/local-for...money-orders

The text in the section where the stamp is affixed reads Timbru tal-hrug, which is Maltese for "postmark of issue". This refers to the cancellation and not the stamp.

The idea that the "stamp" might be a counterfoil seems to make sense.

Generally the answer will turn up,
one sometimes has to put aside, and carry on in the hobby,
before stumbling on the solution, some time later.

Or...keep asking, someone, somewhere will know.

I recently came across a similar money order from 1986 on ebay:



I still have no idea about what this stamp's function is - any information or speculation about what it might be is welcome. :)

Have you considered some kind of proof poundage or commission was paid?

maybe that the full amount including commission was received??