Very Late Use Of De-Monetizedpre-Decimal GB Wilding

Morning all, just wondered if anyone had ever seen a late usage such as the Wilding shown in the picture? Pre-decimal stamps were officially de-monetized in Britain on 29th February 1972, so this 4d ultramarine was used over 3 years later! Found whilst sorting a huge pile of (mostly) junk bought many years ago. Bit of a keeper, as an oddity.
Regards
DavidR



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Interesting, although being on a clipping, it offers no evidence that these two stamps were part of the needed or accepted postage for this mail piece. They could have ridden along essentially as Cinderella labels next to the proper postage. One could add these same stamps next to valid postage on an envelope today and then clip them off with the date portion of the postmark.

John Becker makes a valid point. There is no proof this item was not subject to postage due.

It looks like it was a letter.

The basic 2nd class letter rate had been raised to 5½p on 17 March 1975. The 4d represented 1.67p. Thus, this item would have been underpaid. That, still, leaves the possibility the 4d was confused with a 4p stamp. The basic 1st class letter rate became 7p. 7½p would have prepaid carriage at the 1st class rate.

Still a nice item.

Thanks gents. Hadn't considered it could be subject to postage due, having only this small fragment. Can't see the stamp would have been confused for a 4p Machin though!
Regards
DavidR

I agree with John, who explained it eloquently,
I have had mail from the US with a Monaco stamp in amongst the postage, cancelled.

It is a machine canceller, if the CFC had read the Machin, that was all that was needed to pass the cover through the obliterator.