Post by Craig on Sept 11, 2013 15:57:31 GMT -5
Once in a while, I come across specimen stamps in large lots that I buy. In one recent purchase, I found this left-bottom corner strip of four Kenyan stamps.
This stamp is Scott #537 from the Sept. 5, 1990 issue commemorating the centenary of postage stamps, and pictures the 1903 one-anna carmine and black King George V stamp (Scott #2) – the common design used by the British Colonies during their early postal administrations.
The stamps are perforated “T.D.L.R. SPECIMEN” across the face, a “perforated initial” phrase that extends across four stamps.
The initials T.D.L.R. stand for “Thomas De La Rue.” The De La Rue Co. is located in the United Kingdom; they are one of the top security printers (since 1821) in the European market. In addition to postage stamps for Great Britain and some of its colonies/commonwealth members, they print banknotes, including those for the Central Bank of Kenya. Among the stamps they have printed are the famous Cape Hope triangles. They also developed the first practical fountain pen in 1881 and until 1958 were the leading pen producers in Great Britain.
Specimen stamps are not widely distributed and usually only surface when the client makes them available, or when they are released from the printer’s archives.
This particular stamp catalogs in Scott for 70 cents, so the strip of four catalogs for $2.80. Specimen stamps command a premium and this particular strip was priced at £800 (about $1,160). Much too high, I believe. But then, I’m not experienced in stocking and selling British area specimen stamps.
This stamp is Scott #537 from the Sept. 5, 1990 issue commemorating the centenary of postage stamps, and pictures the 1903 one-anna carmine and black King George V stamp (Scott #2) – the common design used by the British Colonies during their early postal administrations.
The stamps are perforated “T.D.L.R. SPECIMEN” across the face, a “perforated initial” phrase that extends across four stamps.
The initials T.D.L.R. stand for “Thomas De La Rue.” The De La Rue Co. is located in the United Kingdom; they are one of the top security printers (since 1821) in the European market. In addition to postage stamps for Great Britain and some of its colonies/commonwealth members, they print banknotes, including those for the Central Bank of Kenya. Among the stamps they have printed are the famous Cape Hope triangles. They also developed the first practical fountain pen in 1881 and until 1958 were the leading pen producers in Great Britain.
Specimen stamps are not widely distributed and usually only surface when the client makes them available, or when they are released from the printer’s archives.
This particular stamp catalogs in Scott for 70 cents, so the strip of four catalogs for $2.80. Specimen stamps command a premium and this particular strip was priced at £800 (about $1,160). Much too high, I believe. But then, I’m not experienced in stocking and selling British area specimen stamps.
