England Newspaper Stamp Circa 1856

Hi

I have a number of copies of the cover page of the Medical Journal Lancet from period 1856 - 1860. Some of the earlier editions of this period have this stamp affixed:





What would this stamp be considered? Prepaid postage? I notice additional postage on some copies in the form of a Penny Red. These papers were being sent to Ireland so perhaps a Penny was insufficient postage?

I guess this reflects the newspaper stamp duty that was enforced until its repeal in 1855.

This was a tax on newspapers and had nothing to do with postage.

It is possible that your earlier examples that are taxed are from 1855 or before?

Nigelc

The editions that contain the Newspaper Stamp are from 1956. Specifically:

2/16/56
5/10/56
5/31/56
6/28/56
7/26/56
8/9/56

I have 9 from 1859 and 6 from 1860 that do not contain the Newspaper Stamp. I have none from 1857 or 1858.

Nigelc

Did additional research on Newspaper Tax Stamp. Found a website that explained the history. URL gb.precancels.org/NP.html

Interesting and relevant section:

Initially the one penny rate was the only option and simply allowed them to be posted within London or to be posted and delivered within the postal limits of the same town. However the Government wanted newspapers to be more widely distributed, and also they were being accused of having a 'tax on knowledge' and on 30th June 1855, the tax was abolished and newspapers could pass through the post at the 'Book-Post' rate of one penny per 4oz. This led to the introduction of the three half pence and two penny stamps.
The newspapers that still used the old red tax stamps could continue to use them as postage stamps (although the proceeds went to the Inland Revenue, rather than the Post Office) allowing them free postage (sometimes multiple times) for up to 15 days. Some Newspapers chose to do this until the revenue stamps were abolished in 1870.

It appears, based on the above, The Lancet continued to use the red stamp as a Postage Stamp after repeal of the act.

Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.

Pretty late usage for a Penny red

Stallzer

The newspapers that still used the old red tax stamps could continue to use them as postage stamps ... allowing them free postage ... for up to 15 days. br / br / Some Newspapers chose to do this until the revenue stamps were abolished in 1870.

That's very interesting. I wasn't aware of the postal use of the tax stamp.

Does that mean that publishers could pay the 1d tax as an alternative to buying a postage stamp and this was accepted by the post office despite the "15 days" (presumably from the date the tax no longer applied)?

Nigelc

I don't know. Some of these newspapers have both the repurposed tax stamp and a Penny Red (Feb and Aug 1856). The remainder of the 1856 editions just have the repurposed tax stamp. I don't know if they ever had a 1d stamp on them. The newspapers are addressed to Birr Ireland and postmarked Parsonstown. They are addressed to Doctors Home...Staff Surgeon. I find no name and wonder if the mailings are the equivalent of mail addressed to Occupant. The term Staff Surgeon is not one I am familiar with.


I am wondering how to catalog a tax stamp that is actually being used as postage. Tax Stamps are typically Revenue Stamps. I don't have a copy of a Stanley Gibbons catalog but doubt such a distinction between tax stamps and tax stamps used as postage stamps would exist even though historically they have been authorized by law between 1855 and 1870.

SG list quite a number of postal fiscals, i.e. revenue stamps that were authorised for, and used in the post.

As far as I know they only list adhesive stamps of this kind.

I see my old SG GB Queen Victoria Specialised catalogue lists in detail quite a few revenue stamps that were used for postage, especially inland revenue and draft stamps but it also says many more types were accepted as well although they mention some of these other types without giving a detailed listing.

These references seem to refer to just adhesive stamps, whether surface printed or embosssed, rather than handstamped stamps like the ones here but I suspect these handstamped stamps were accepted under the same regulations.

It would be fascinating to learn more about this.

Thanks for sharing this topic.