Stamps That Made History

Abohart... did you ever get your tax stamp appraised?

There are numerous examples of the 1765 tax stamps for America in various collections plus some that are available as well. There are some examples of the newspaper stamps on full newspapers still around as well. These stamps were for use in all of British North America, including Canada and the Caribbean. However the general tax stamps issued at the time were so hated in the 13 Colonies that there is only one example known that was ever used in what became the contiguous 48 states. It was used in Florida and as I recall paid the tax on some Molasses. I was fortunate enough to have had that document in my hands with a chance to examine it some years ago, a great moment.

Abohart... did you ever get your George III stamp appraised?

See this Queen Victoria stamp

Abohart/Revstampman... I believe both of you may be right... It's not the printed stamp that abohart shows but the embossed stamp beind that says "AMERICA" at the top of the design I have seen several of similar design.



I'd love to get my hands on one (any version). Have any of you ever seen one come up for sale or recall how much it went for?

Even though I only collect and deal with US materials, my collection's first binder's initial section opens with a photo and description of Sir Hill and a Penny Black, Red and Blue as fitting tribute to the reformer and the Penny Black as the first regular postage stamp. I thought it may also be fitting to follow it with a tax stamp what would be emblematical of the spark for the "Boston Tea Party" and contributor to the American Revolution.

There are 18 different values of the tax stamps for America, 17 general plus one for playing cards. It's important to realize that these were valid for ALL of British North America, including Canada and the Caribbean. There are certainly documents around from those other areas, often in French or other languages. They all catalog in the low four figures (or with a dash), and are not going to come cheaply.

Point well made about all of North America, revcollector!

Can you tell me what catalogs list these issues? Everything I have stops at or about 1840. I figured the price would be high for these but it'll give me something to salivate over. :)

They are listed in the Scott Specialized, along with the later embossed revenues that were issued by the US. The prefix is RM.

Sure enough - There they are! That's so obvious, I am sitting here shaking my head and laughing at myself... I've been looking through all the British/UK catalogs that I could find! I knew I saw them somewhere. Thanks.