Queensland 3d Brown Specimen Overprint

This page is a census of known examples of the 1898 3d brown 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 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 1901. One example in black ink is also known. At least one sheet was overprinted. 

Examples are also known stamped SPECIMEN after receipt by various UPI countries and colonies, and Bechuanaland, Natal and Tunisia 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 and examples from the Goa postal archive are shown at the bottom of the page.

The Specimen overprint

CENSUS

Red Ink

A block of 56 from the bottom of the sheet (positions 61-100, 101-108, 111-118). Seen in Abacus auction no 237

A single from my collection

A single from my collection

A single from my collection

A single seen in Abacus auction no 229

A single seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

A single seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

Black Ink

This example has a cancelled handstamp applied horizontally, as well as a very faint specimen handstamp also applied horizontally near the bottom of the stamp.Why teh specimen handstamp was applied in this case is unclear. Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

BECHUANALAND SPECIMEN

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

Natal Specimen

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

Tunisia

Specimen receiving handstamps in violet and black by Tunisia. Seen in Abacus auction no 237

Ultramar

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue ex Goa postal archives. Seen in Status auctions

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue ex Goa postal archives. Seen in Abacus auction no 237. Ex Bill McCredie and Bernard Manning

Queensland 3d. Brown Cancelled Overprint

This page is a census of known examples of the 1898 3d brown issue overprinted with the word 'Cancelled'. This handstamp was introduced in the early 1870s to cancel proofs and other samples to be retained by the authorities (Kenneth Scudder, Queensland Postage Stamps 1879 to 1912, p. 366)

It was typeset with sans-serif capitals, 21 mm long and 2.75 mm high. It is known applied in black ink on

• an imperforate proof on thin unwatermarked paper
• mint gummed issues, wmk 2nd type "Crown Q", perforation 12.5, 13

 It is extremely scarce and rated 5R

The Cancelled overprint

Census

Imperforate

Cancelled handstamp in black ink applied diagonally downwards on imperforate thin unwatermarked paper. On the back it has ‘Printing Test’ written in ink. It probably dated from 1897. Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock. Ex Alan Griffiths

Perforate

This example, applied horizontally upside down, also has a very faint specimen handstamp applied horizontally near the bottom of the stamp.Why it was applied in this case is unclear. Seen in the collection of Dr Andrew Mortlock

This example, applied diagonally upwards, 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. Seen on Ebay

Queensland 4d Yellow Specimen Overprint

This page is a census of known examples of the 1898 4d yellow 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 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 black ink on mint gummed issues, wmk 2nd type "Crown Q", perforation 12.5, 13 in around 1901. At least one sheet was overprinted.

Examples are also known stamped SPECIMEN after receipt by various UPI countries and colonies, and Bechuanaland, Natal and Tunisia 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 and examples from the Goa postal archive are shown at the bottom of the page.

The Specimen overprint

CENSUS

A block of 50  from the bottom of the sheet (positions 71-120). Seen in Abacus auction no 237

A block of 4 from my collection

A block of 4 from the collection of Dave Elsmore

A single from my collection

A single seen on Ebay

A single seen at Abacus auction no 237

A single seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

BECHUANALAND SPECIMEN

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

NATAL SPECIMEN

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

Tunisia

Specimen receiving handstamp in black by Tunisia. Seen in Abacus auction no 237

Ultramar

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue ex Goa postal archives. Seen in Abacus auction no 237. Ex Bill McCredie and Bernard Manning

2 Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) examples in blue ex Goa postal archives. Seen in Abacus auction no 237

Queensland 4d. Yellow Cancelled Overprint

This page is a census of known examples of the 1898 4d yellow issue overprinted with the word 'Cancelled'. This handstamp was introduced in the early 1870s to cancel proofs and other samples to be retained by the authorities (Kenneth Scudder, Queensland Postage Stamps 1879 to 1912, p. 366)

It was typeset with sans-serif capitals, 21 mm long and 2.75 mm high. It was applied in black ink on mint gummed issues, wmk 2nd type "Crown Q", perforation 12.5, 13. It is extremely scarce and rated 5R

The Cancelled overprint

Census

Seen on Ebay

In my collection

Queensland 5d. Brown (1899) Cancelled Overprint

This page is a census of known examples of the 1899 5d brown issue (numerals in 4 corners) overprinted with the word 'Cancelled'. This handstamp was introduced in the early 1870s to cancel proofs and other samples to be retained by the authorities (Kenneth Scudder, Queensland Postage Stamps 1879 to 1912, p. 366)

It was typeset with sans-serif capitals, 21 mm long and 2.75 mm high. It was applied in black ink on mint gummed issues, wmk 2nd type "Crown Q", perforation 12.5, 13. It is extremely scarce and rated 5R

The Cancelled overprint

Census

A pair from my collection

A single from my collection

Seen on Ebay. No gum

Queensland 5d brown (1899) specimen overprint

This page is a census of known examples of the 1899 5d brown issue (numerals in 4 corners) 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 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 1901. At least one sheet was overprinted.

Examples are also known stamped SPECIMEN after receipt by various UPI countries and colonies, and Bechuanaland, Natal and Tunisia 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. One example from the Goa postal archive as well as several from other unknown Portuguese colonial postal archives are shown at the bottom of the page.

The Specimen overprint

CENSUS

A block of 48 from the bottom of the sheet (positions 67-70, 77-120). Seen in Abacus auction no 237

A block of 4 from my collection

A block of 4 courtesy of Dave Elsmore

A block of 4 seen in Spink auction no 16030 lot no 1170

A pair seen in Prestige Philately auction no 139 lot no 339

A single from my collection

A single seen on Ebay

A single seen in the Queensland Stamp Collecting Facebook Group

A single seen in Abacus auction no 237

A single seen in Abacus auction no 229

A single seen in Status auctions

BECHUANALAND SPECIMEN

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

NATAL SPECIMEN

Specimen receiving handstamp (sans serif 17.25 x 3.25 mm) in violet by Natal. Seen in Abacus auction no 256 lot no 323

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

Tunisia

Specimen receiving handstamp in black by Tunisia. Seen in Abacus auction no 237

Ultramar

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue from a Portuguese overseas possession. From my collection

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue from a Portuguese overseas possession. From my collection

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue from a Portuguese overseas possession. From my collection

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue ex Goa postal archives. Seen in Abacus auction no 237. Ex Bill McCredie and Bernard Manning

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue from a Portuguese overseas possession. Seen on Ebay

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue from a Portuguese overseas possession. Seen on Ebay

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue from a Portuguese overseas possession. Seen on Ebay

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue from a Portuguese overseas possession. Seen on Ebay

Ultramar receiving handstamp (sans serif 15 x 3 mm) in blue from a Portuguese overseas possession. Seen in an online auction