Queensland 3rd Sideface Stamps 1895-1913 by Dr Jeremy Hodes: Queensland 2 shilling turquoise-green specimen overprint

This page is a census of known examples of the 1900 2 shilling turquoise-green issue 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) was used for the 2 shilling turquoise-green 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 black ink on mint gummed issues, wmk 2nd type "Crown Q", perforation 12.5, 13 in around 1901 or 1902. At least two sheets were overprinted.

Examples are also known stamped SPECIMEN after receipt by various UPI countries and colonies, and Bechuanaland and Natal are shown below.

The Portuguese postal authorities in Lisbon stamped their examples ULTRAMAR in blue and them provided them to postal authorities in their colonies. Two examples from the Goa postal archive as well as one from another unknown postal archive are shown at the bottom of the page.

The Specimen overprint

CENSUS

A block of 10 from the bottom right hand corner of the sheet (positions 106-110 and 116-120). Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

An upper marginal block of 9 (positions 5-7. 15-17 and 25-27). Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

A block of 9 (positions 8-10, 18-20 and 28-30). Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

A block of 9 (positions 36-38, 46-48 and 56-58). Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

A block of 4 in my collection

A block of 4 seen in Millennium auction no 18 lot no 76

A block of 4 seen in Prestige Philately auction no 85 lot no 549

A bottom right hand marginal pair (positions no 119-120) seen in Prestige Philately auction no 139 lot no 339

A pair seen at Abacus auction no 232

From my collection

Seen on Ebay

Seen in Abacus auction no 237

Seen in the collection of Andrew Mortlock. Ex Alan Griffiths

Seen in Abacus auction no 256 lot no 320. This example also has the circular ring cancel, which was usually applied to the junction of 4 stamps to cancel stamps as an alternative to a handstamp or overprint for presentation purposes or to be retained by the authorities. Why it was applied in this case is unclear

BECHUANALAND SPECIMEN

Specimen receiving handstamp (seriffed 22.5 x 2.75 mm) in Black by Bechuanaland. Seen in Status auctions