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All Forums Category: World Stamps and Covers Discussions Forum: World Classic Stamps Mint and Used

Received Overprint - What Does It Mean?

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Replies: 4 / Views: 1,439

Pillar Of The Community

United Kingdom

895 Posts

Posted 09/01/2018 07:03 am

Hi. I noticed the overprinted stamp below in a mix of old GB. At first glance, I thought it was the Irish overprint but then realised it was different.

It reads: RECEIVED for Tom Smith & Co Ltd With thanks

Couldn't find anything on Google, except that Tom Smith used to make Christmas Crackers.

What purpose did this overprint serve, and what would the stamp have been used for?

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

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Pillar Of The Community

United States

8408 Posts

Posted 09/01/2018 07:17 am

Overprints like that were used by firms to prevent thief of stamps by employees or by hired help to deliver service of the mail to the post office .

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Pillar Of The Community

United Kingdom

895 Posts

Posted 09/01/2018 07:22 am

Thanks. I knew about company overprints but it seemed odd to me that it had a message saying thanks.

Since posting this I have found out more about commercial overprints - for anyone interested: http://commercialoverprints.com/

They have a page on Tom Smith.

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Pillar Of The Community

Netherlands

6526 Posts

Posted 10/16/2024 2:20 pm

Answering the question posed by this active member.

The overprint was intended for fiscal use. As it states, it was stuck on a receipt as proof for receipt of revenue tax.

It, also, had the benefit of invalidating the stamp if a clerk stole it to sell it back to the post office. But that was secondary in this case.

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Pillar Of The Community

United Kingdom

8579 Posts

Posted 10/16/2024 2:59 pm

Tom Smith still makes crackers (of which Tom was, I think, the inventor). We get them each Christmas.

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Replies: 4 / Views: 1,439

All Forums Category: World Stamps and Covers Discussions Forum: World Classic Stamps Mint and Used

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