1899 ½d green - Specimen overprint

This page is a census of known examples of the 1899 ½d green stamp (the so-called Widows Weeds) overprinted with the word 'SPECIMEN.' These handstamps are believed to have been for record or presentation purposes only and were not sold to collectors. They were not handstamped in this manner for distribution to the Universal Postal Union; mint stamps being used instead for this purpose.

A Scudder Specimen Type 9 overprint (Kenneth Scudder, Queensland Postage Stamps 1879 to 1912,  p. 364) overprint was used for this issue. It was typeset with sans-serif capitals, 15.5 mm long and 1.75 mm high plus a stop at the end. It was applied in red ink on mint gummed issues, wmk 2nd type "Crown Q", perforation 12.5, 13 in around 1899

Examples are also known stamped SPECIMEN after receipt by various UPI countries and colonies, and those for Natal and Tunisia are shown below

The Specimen overprint

CENSUS

From my collection

Image supplied by Dave Elsmore

From my collection

Seen at auction

Seen on Ebay

Seen on Ebay

NATAL SPECIMEN

Specimen receiving handstamp (sans serif 17.25 x 3.25 mm) in violet by Natal. Seen in Corinphila auctions

Tunisia SPECIMEN

Specimen receiving handstamps (sans serif 12.75 x 2.5 mm) in violet and black from Tunisia. Seen in Abacus auction no 237