Last updated November 26, 2020 My Revenue Stamp Collection Newest Additions
These are the newest additions to my collection.
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Scott # R69a. Added November 26, 2020
???. Listed in Tolman/Shellabear as type P-3, but the company name is not actually listed in the table of contents.
Scott # R15c. Added November 26, 2020
Fuchs Brothers. Vendor of wine, liquors, cigars.
Scott # R113. Added November 25, 2020
Brady's Bend Iron Co. While at first glance it appears to be a handstamped cancel, it is actually a printed cancel. See my page devoted to the cancels of the Brady's Bend Iron Co.
Scott # R33c. Added November 24, 2020
Bold manuscript cancel with great visual contrast.
Scott # R182. Added November 24, 2020
Cambria Steel Co.
Scott # R188. Added November 24, 2020
Mengel Box Co.
Scott # R55c. Added November 24, 2020
3 huge jumbo margins.
Scott # R201. Added November 21, 2020
Unusual and ornate fancy shield cancel.
Scott # R10c. Added November 9, 2020
Mortgage with two $2 Conveyance paying the tax, but what is more interesting is the use of a quadrisected 2-cent Express (R10c) as sigillums (seals for the signature). Very unusual usage, the first example I have seen of a revenue stamp used in this manner.
Scott # R3c. Added November 8, 2020
National Mechanics and Traders Bank. Horizontal pair of 1-cent Proprietary revenues used illegally as documentaries on an 1867 bank check.
Scott # 146. Added November 8, 2020
National Union Bank. Two-cent Andrew Jackson used illegally as a revenue stamp on an 1873 check with an eagle vignette.
Scott # R167. Added November 8, 2020
Reading Mining and Development Co. Very ornately engraved stock certificate.
Scott # R33c. Added November 8, 2020
Continental Insurance Co. Ornately engraved 1869 certificate of profits. Cancel is Tolman C-52c.
Scott # R65c. Added November 8, 2020
This is by far the biggest jumbo of R65c I have ever seen. If not for the pinholes, this would be a candidate for PSE or PF grading.
Scott # 63. Added November 7, 2020
Quincy Mining Co. Very interesting piece. A 1-cent Franklin postage stamp used illegally as revenue, along with a horizontal pair of 10-cent Power of Attorney part perforates on a February 1863 voting proxy (early matching usage) from the Quincy mining company. A similar document (sans illegal usage) is shown in Mike Mahler's book U.S. Revenue-Stamped Documents of the Civil War Era. The proxy was for 3 related family members, hence what should have been 30 cents tax. Either the clerk grabbed the wrong blue stamp in their haste, or they ran out of 10-cent revenue stamps and grabbed something that looked close. Either way, the document is doubly illegal: (1) postage stamp used as revenue, and (2) short payment of the tax.
Scott # R154. Added October 26, 2020
USPS. Mangled 1-cent and 2-cent provisional revenue overprints used illegally as postage long out of period.
Scott # R24c. Added October 25, 2020
Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad. 1st issue 5c Certificate used illegally as postage on a railroad cover. Sadly opened roughly at right, tearing off part of the stamp. Otherwise it would be a $250+ item. Was found along with a 1956 letter from Hugh Shellabear, a renowned revenue collector and author, to the cover's owner describing the cover and its attributes.
Scott # R34c. Added October 25, 2020
USPS. 1st issue 10-cent Contract used illegally as postage, out of period, on an 1895 envelope fragment.
Scott # R135. Added October 24, 2020
USPS. 3rd issue documentary used illegally as postage LONG out of period, on a 1938 cover, caught and 2 cents postage due assessed.
Scott # R164p. Added October 24, 2020
USPS. 2-cent battleship documentary used illegally as postage on a 1927 cover, used out of period.
Scott # R229. Added October 24, 2020
USPS. 2-cent documentary used illegally as postage on a 1921 advertising cover.
Scott # R164. Added October 24, 2020
USPS. 2-cent battleship documentary used illegally as postage on a 1900 cover, caught and held for 10 days until correct postage was affixed.
Scott # R196. Added October 24, 2020
USPS. Horizontal pair of 1-cent documentaries used illegally as postage on a 1915 cover with a preprinted address.
Scott # 65. Added October 24, 2020
3-cent Washington used illegally as a documentary revenue on an 1865 promissory note.
Scott # R13c. Added October 24, 2020
Tioga Railroad Co. 2c Proprietary used illegally as a documentary on an 1865 dividend receipt.
Scott # R32a. Added October 18, 2020
Simon de Visser. Vertical pair showing bold strikes of contrasting red SdeV handstamp cancels.
Scott # R6c. Added October 18, 2020
Not a T5 major double transfer, but about the closest thing to it with respect to the doubling of letters in the bottom scroll.
Scott # R7b. Added October 15, 2020
Listed as a fake because R7b doesn't exist. Likely created from an an imperforate R7a, but the question is why? It doesn't make sense as a philatelic forgery. The perfs are jagged and nonstandard. I posit that it may have been privately done for the sake of expediency and functionality, similar to the private sewing machine perforations. Interesting regardless.
Scott # R155. Added October 15, 2020
Connecticut Fire Insurance Co. First day of tax usage, July 1, 1898.
Scott # R155. Added October 15, 2020
The Watertown National Bank. First day of tax usage, July 1, 1898.
Scott # R155. Added October 15, 2020
The Dime Savings Bank. First day of tax usage, July 1, 1898.
Scott # 68. Added September 22, 2020
10-cent Washington used illegally as revenue on an 1865 document, written entirely in German. Very unusual.
Scott # R162. Added September 21, 2020
Lake Superior & Mississippi Railroad et al. Very scarce solo use of half-cent battleship documentary on an 1899 2-day traveler's accidental death and injury policy from The Travelers Insurance Company. The full name of the railroad in the cancel is Lake Superior & Mississipi and Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad.
Scott # R155. Added September 20, 2020
Numerous. U.S. revenue documents with both U.S. and non-U.S. revenue stamps affixed, paying multiple taxes throughout a chain of transactions are quite scarce. This example was taxed in England and then doubly taxed in the U.S. There is an extensive 2-page writeup of the document here and here.
Scott # RB24. Added September 18, 2020
New Jersey Plate Glass Insurance Co. 1-cent proprietary battleship revenue stamp used illegally as a documentary, along with an R155 2-cent provisional overprint, paying 3 cents tax on an attractive 1898 insurance policy premium receipt.
Scott # R152a. Added September 16, 2020
Wiard & Hough, Wiard Plow Works. Very attractive check with plow vignette and stylized lettering.
Scott # RE30. Added September 16, 2020
Very scarce plate number 413 single. The catalog value listed is from Durland. Undervalued in my opinion.
Scott # R164. Added September 16, 2020
USPS. 2-cent battleship documentary used illegally as postage, caught by the USPS and valid postage subsequently affixed.
Scott # R32a. Added September 11, 2020
Excellent example of the 'West Coast late date imperfs', 5 singles of R32a on a piece of a court document used in the state of Oregon. Normally, a usage date of November 1865 would be late enough to raise alarm bells as to whether the stamps were contrived (trimmed).
Scott # 250. Added September 9, 2020
This looks like a nondescript illegal usage, a bit beat up, likely a $10-15 item at retail. But the timing is curious. It's dated February 21, 1891... but that stamp wasn't issued until 1894. Unless it's a contrived item, the only thing I can think of is that it was retroactively taxed at the time the check was submitted for payment, some 3+ years later. The reverse shows nothing except for the endorsement of the payee, presumably a family member.
Scott # 146. Added September 8, 2020
Farmers' National Bank. 2-cent Andrew Jackson used illegally as a revenue stamp on an 1872 bank check.
Scott # R154. Added September 7, 2020
USPS. Horizontal pair of 1c Franklins with provisional IR overprints, used illegally as postage on an 1898 cover.
Scott # 114. Added September 7, 2020
3-cent Locomotive used illegaly as a revenue stamp on an 1870 Lousiville receipt, overpaying the 2-cent receipt tax due.
Scott # R163. Added September 4, 2020
Adams Express Co. 1c battleship documentary block of 10 with partial margin imprint at the bottom, on a document fragment, with interesting patriotic 'Remember the Maine' sentiment written across the block.
Scott # R13d. Added September 4, 2020
2c Proprietary silk paper horizontal strip of 3. Severely thinned but a very scarce silk paper multiple. Per the Curtis Census, this is tied with one other strip of 3 for the second largest multiple, with only a single block of 4 larger.
Scott # R1b. Added August 22, 2020
Very scarce short transfer (bottom of upper stamp) with 1983 APEX certificate. Interestingly, the 1866 usage is very late for a part perf.
Scott # R116. Added August 22, 2020
Webb, Turner & Co. Cheese merchant.
Scott # R51d. Added August 22, 2020
Scott # R164. Added July 25, 2020
USPS. A little beat up, but great aesthetics. Oversized cover with 3 2-cent battleship documentary revenue stamps used illegally as postage, caught, and 5-cent and 1-cent postage stamps subsequently affixed over top of the revenue stamps and canceled.
Scott # R228. Added July 25, 2020
USPS. Very scarce illegal usage, a 1-cent documentary used, not as postage, but instead as a postage due stamp.
Scott # R28c. Added July 25, 2020
5-cent Playing Cards used illegally as a documentary on an 1865 promissory note.
Scott # R162. Added July 25, 2020
Fred W. Peters, Insurance Agent. Very scarce solo use of 1/2-cent battleship documentary on a 1900 insurance policy renewal receipt from The Standard Life and Accident Insurance Co. of Detroit, Michigan.
Scott # 286. Added July 23, 2020
Citizens National Bank. 2-cent Trans-Mississippi used illegally as a revenue stamp on a July 1898 check, caught, a 2-cent battleship documentary subsequently affixed and both stamps tied by a boxed bank handstamp.
Scott # 73. Added July 16, 2020
Union Bank of Watertown. 2-cent 'Black Jack' used used illegally as a revenue stamp on an 1864 check, tied with black oval handstamp cancel.
Scott # R196. Added July 15, 2020
USPS, Mexican Post. Unusual 1914 illegal use cover, with a horizontal pair of 1-cent documentaries used as postage. It appears that the postal clerk misread 'Miss' in the address as 'Mex', and the cover was sent to Mexico where it ended up in a dead letter office. The affixed Mexican postal seal and the violet handstamps match. Violet handtamp reads 'Received in the Dead Letter Department without the corresponding stamp.'
Scott # 279b. Added July 4, 2020
H. Van de Bogart, Deputy Register in Chancery. A horizontal strip of 5 2-cent Washington postage stamps (Scott #279b) illegally paying 10 cents tax on an 1898 divorce decree.
Scott # R29c. Added July 4, 2020
George Wolton, Prothonotary. 5-cetn proprietary illegally used as a documentary on en election certification document.
Scott # R27c. Added June 21, 2020
American Lloyd's. Just a beautiful document! An 1871 certificate of classification for the schooner W.H. Green, from American Lloyd's Insurance Co. In addition to the large green underprint of the company logo, it has the corresponding green embossed seal, an attractive maritime vignette at top center, and a boldly struck example of a 'JOHN DEVEREUX SURVEYOR FOR AMMERICAN LLOYDS' handstamp cancel typing R27c to the document. Very rare.
Scott # R41c. Added June 21, 2020
Very scarce major double transfer with doubling along the entire left side and the bottom. Only a handful of examples are known.
Scott # R165p. Added June 21, 2020
Mint original gum margin block of 24, with 16 of the 24 stamps never hinged. Very scarce multiple, the hyphen-hole perforated documentaries are considerably more scarce as multiples than the rouletted versions, or their proprietary counterparts. The top and third from top stamps in the far right column contain double transfers.
Scott # 286. Added May 31, 2020
McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. 2-cent Trans-Mississippi used illegally as a revenue stamp on an August 1898 promissory note.
Scott # R10c. Added May 31, 2020
R. N. Ham. Only the second reported example of this cancel that features the camera image. However, unlike previously attributions to the photographer C. Becker based upon the imprint on the front of CDVs, this cancel shows the photographer as 'R.N. Ham' at the same address.
Scott # R3c. Added May 22, 2020
Orange National Bank. Two 1c Proprietary stamps on an 1869 bank check. Nominally illegal in two different aspects: First, proprietary stamps were not permitted to be used as documentaries, and secondly, the stamps are overlapping, with the bottom stamp almost completely obscured, which was also not permitted.
Scott # R196. Added May 17, 2020
USPS. Two 1-cent documentaries used illegaly as postage on a 1917 cover, caught by the USPS and held for postage, with a coil pair of 1-cent Washington stamps (Scott #490) affixed to pay the postage. Nice 'THIS IS THE MAIL FOR WHICH YOU SENT POSTAGE' block letter marking at left. Mousies had some chompies at lower right.
Scott # R44a. Added May 16, 2020
B of B Co. Lovely meticulous manuscript cancel.
Scott # R58b. Added May 16, 2020
A reference piece. The 50-cent Life Insurance part perf is not listed in Scott as being found imperforate vertically. Also, the 1867 date is far too late to be a genuine part perf.
Scott # R195. Added May 4, 2020
S. R. Benjamin & Co. 1/2-cent, 1-cent, 10-cent, and 25-cent documentaries overpaying 37 & 1/2 cents tax (should have been 32 & 1/2 cents) on a policy from the Westchester Fire Insurance Company of New York.
Scott # R195. Added May 4, 2020
Leland P. Wilson, Agent. 1/2-cent, 1-cent, 5-cent, and 10-cent documentaries paying the correct 17 & 1/2 cents tax on a fire insurance policy from The Connecticut Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, Connecticut.
Scott # R162. Added May 4, 2020
Chas. Merriman & Co, Agents. 1/2-cent, 2-cent, and 3-cent documentaries paying 10 & 1/2 cents tax on a fire insurance policy from the Hartford County Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
Scott # R195. Added May 4, 2020
Emery & Norton. $1, 50-cent, 10-cent, 4-cent, and 1/2-cent documentaries paying $1.64 & 1/2 cents tax on a policy to for the Lacombe Lumber Co., by the Fire Insurance Co. of Hartford, Connecticut.
Scott # R195. Added May 3, 2020
Chapman & Nauman Co. $1, 10-cent, 5-cent, and 1/2-cent documentaries paying the correct $1.15 & 1/2 cents tax on an insurance policy from the National Fire Insurance Co. of Hartford, CT.
Scott # R162. Added May 3, 2020
Title Guarantee and Trust Co. 1/2-cent, 2-cent, 10-cent, and 25-cent battleship documentaries paying the correct 37 & 1/2 cents tax on an insurance policy.
Scott # R162. Added May 3, 2020
Aetna Insurance Co. 1/2-cent battleship, along with 1-cent and 5-cent battleship documentaries, paying 6 & 1/2 cents tax on an Aetna Insurance Co. policy.
Scott # R195. Added May 3, 2020
Lovejoy & Spear, Managers. 1/2-cent and 5-cent documentaries paying 5 & 1/2 cents tax on a policy from the Phoenix Insurance Co.
Scott # R162. Added May 3, 2020
Homer G. Gilmore. Half-cent battleship, along with 4-cent, 10-cent, 25-cent, and 50-cent battleship documentaries, paying 89 & 1/2 cents tax on a 1901 contractors' employers liability policy issued by The Travelers Insurance Co in the amount of $188.84. Tax should have been 94 & 1/2 cents, so the missing stamp was presumably a 5-cent battleship.
Scott # R58a. Added April 18, 2020
Lovely multiple, a vertical block of 10, a complete strip of the sheet from top margin to bottom. It is the third largest reported multiple, unlisted in the Curtis Census.
Scott # RB67. Added April 12, 2020
W. J. D. Reconstructed block of 4 (two horizontal pairs) double impression. Only listed as mint in Scott, no listing for used. Value shown is for 4 singles.
Scott # R45b. Added April 12, 2020
B & M. This is the largest of 4 recorded multiples of R45b imperforate vertically. Far more scarce than the normal imperforate horizontally. The catalogue value shown is for two pairs. Ex-Curtis.
Scott # R162. Added March 22, 2020
U.S. Casualty Co. Very interesting item. This is the first solo usage of a half-cent documentary battleship revenue stamp that I have seen. It appears to be a promotional 1-month accident insurance policy. Very innovative marketing idea!
Scott # R15c. Added March 22, 2020
M.M. & Co. Interesting tombstone-style framed handstamp cancel. Hardware, glass, putty &c.
Scott # R69a. Added March 22, 2020
Clerk's Office. An example of what I call 'The California Late Imperfs'. Normally imperforates and part perfs with late cancel dates are an immediate red flag for fakery... the one notable exception being a cache/hoard of imperfs that apparently resurfaced from storage late in the taxation period in California, that are legitimate imperforates and part perfs. Normally you don't find imperfs used after 1864, but California examples can be found MUCH later.
Scott # RNT4. Added March 14, 2020
Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western Railway Co.
Scott # R36a. Added March 10, 2020
This one is a travesty... a vertical pair of R36a with a large-format clotheir handstamp cancel. Sadly, it has a piercing (document was stacked on a spindle on a clerk's desk) which results in severe tears to both stamps. It would have been a great showpiece otherwise.
Scott # R15c. Added March 10, 2020
Price, Parrish & Co. Very unusual handstamp cancel with either an eagle or a seal/walrus at the center (likely the former). I've not been able to dig up any logo or other images associated with this firm, which was an import house.
Scott # R36c. Added March 10, 2020
G.P. Hopkins. Very scarce negative photographer handstamp cancel, the only example I have ever seen.
Scott # R6c. Added March 10, 2020
Very unusual boxed 'PAID 4' handstamp cancel with very ornate corner ornaments.
Scott # R22c. Added March 8, 2020
Walker & Taylor. Extremely rare 7-line Walker & Taylor printed cancel; much more scarce than the 10-line printed cancels found on the 1-cent and 2-cent denominations. Double transfer at top and lower left.
Scott # R18c. Added March 8, 2020
S. McCrary. One of the three known California photographers that used stencil cancels. Very scarce. S. McCrary was located in a fraternal organization meeting room called the 'Odd Fellows Hall'.
Scott # R89c. Added March 8, 2020
Bold 'Bark Magna Charter' manuscript cancel.
Scott # R15c. Added March 7, 2020
Comstock's Regular Clipper Line. Reconstructed large-format boxed handstamp cancel from Comstock's Regular Clipper Line, New York to San Francisco.
Scott # R5c. Added March 7, 2020
Jacob Tobler. Fancy negative 'JT' script monogram cancel, the first example I have seen in a multiple.
Scott # R27c. Added March 7, 2020
B & Co. Unusual negative cancel with Old English font.
Scott # R68c. Added March 7, 2020
William Langford & Sons. Ornate insurance broker boxed handstamp cancel.
Scott # R44c. Added March 7, 2020
The Farmer's Bank of Washington County. Ornate oval bank cancel with fancy text placement.
Scott # R44c. Added March 4, 2020
The Montana Mineral Land and Mining Co.
Scott # R57a. Added March 4, 2020
FE & CEC. Very bold and heavy manuscript cancel.
Scott # R21c. Added March 4, 2020
Unusual circular handstamp cancel with 'AWF' script initials.
Scott # R65c. Added March 4, 2020
D. H.
Scott # R130. Added March 4, 2020
Simon de Visser. Large-size handstamp cancel with diagonal cutting blades above and below the date slug as part of the canceling device.
Scott # R247. Added March 3, 2020
Dollar Steamship Lines. R247-249 with cut cancels and large-format circular handstamp cancels, prsumably from bills of lading. Very interesting and scarce.
Scott # R126. Added March 1, 2020
Brady's Bend Iron Co. While at first glance it appears to be a handstamped cancel, it is actually a printed cancel. See my page devoted to the cancels of the Brady's Bend Iron Co.
Scott # R6c. Added March 1, 2020
Brady's Bend Iron Co. While at first glance it appears to be a handstamped cancel, it is actually a printed cancel. See my page devoted to the cancels of the Brady's Bend Iron Co.
Scott # R86c. Added March 1, 2020
John S. Emery & Co. Ship brokers cancel.
Scott # R61a. Added March 1, 2020
Charles W. Brooks & Co. Shipping and commission merchants and agents, Hawaiian Packet Line for Honolulu. An example of what I call 'The California Late Imperfs'. Normally imperforates and part perfs with late cancel dates are an immediate red flag for fakery... the one notable exception being a cache/hoard of imperfs that apparently resurfaced from storage late in the taxation period in California, that are legitimate imperforates and part perfs. Normally you don't find imperfs used after 1864, but California examples can be found MUCH later.
Scott # R5a. Added March 1, 2020
Tallant & Co. An example of what I call 'The California Late Imperfs'. Normally imperforates and part perfs with late cancel dates are an immediate red flag for fakery... the one notable exception being a cache/hoard of imperfs that apparently resurfaced from storage late in the taxation period in California, that are legitimate imperforates and part perfs. Normally you don't find imperfs used after 1864, but California examples can be found MUCH later.
Scott # RB2a. Added March 1, 2020
E.F.B. & Co.
Scott # RB1a. Added March 1, 2020
Walker & Taylor. 8-line printed cancel: SLOAN'S Condition Powder, Horse Ointment, Damily Ointment, Instant Relief. WALKER & TAYLOR. Not the greatest strike, or this would be a $150-250 item.
Scott # RB15b. Added March 1, 2020
Meyer Brothers & Co.
Scott # R77c. Added March 1, 2020
Bank of Commerce.
Scott # R5a. Added March 1, 2020
Handy & Hoadley. Diminuitive embossed cancel.
Scott # R28c. Added March 1, 2020
J D. Printed/typeset cancel, where the press operator apparently had some positioning issues (the cancel should have been centered on the stamp).
Scott # R115. Added February 29, 2020
Henderson Insurance Agency. Large 6-line insurance agency handstamp cancel.
Scott # R15c. Added February 29, 2020
1st National Bank.
Scott # R46b. Added February 29, 2020
Providence Washington Insurance Co. Tolman P-40-1.
Scott # R64b. Added February 29, 2020
Simon de Visser.
Scott # R24d. Added February 29, 2020
Reconstructed block of 9 of 5-cent Certifcate silk paper, showcasing a large-format flourished '31' processing handstamp cancel.
Scott # RJ7. Added February 29, 2020
Set of high-denomination tobacco sale tax stamps: $1, $2, $5, $10, and $10, in used blocks of four.
Scott # R222. Added February 29, 2020
Used block of 4 showing provisional F.D. (future delivery) handstamps. This provisional handstamp is also found in violet.
Scott # R36b. Added February 29, 2020
Part perforate stamps imperforate vertically tend to be far more scarce than their horizontally imperforate counterparts. However, some are incredibly scarce, and this is one example. To date, I have only been able to find one other reported multiple of R36b imperf vertically, that being a lone strip of three recorded in the Curtis Census. The Scott Catalogue does not currently provide separate values for imperf horizontal vs. vertical part perforates, a long overdue improvement.
Scott # R6c. Added February 29, 2020
J. Norris Greene. Large-format shield handstamp cancel. Subject of photo is Capt. Sidney T. Robinson mustered into the 14th Illinois Cavalry Regiment (Company L) as a Private on Jan. 7, 1863. He was transferred to the 5th U.S. Colored Cavalry Regiment on Dec. 14, 1864 as a First Lieutenant. He left the regiment as a Captain.
