Last updated October 26, 2022 My Revenue Stamp Collection Newest Additions
These are the newest additions to my collection.
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Scott # R15c. Added October 26, 2022
Documents featuring both U.S. and non-U.S. revenue stamps are fairly scarce, the vast majority being Spanish American War period or later. Civil War period documents in this category stray into 'rare' territory. This is a very delicate 1870 Mexican bill of exchange with imprinted revenue stamp (renta papel sellado), also with two R15c affixed, presumably when it was presented for payment in Galveston, Texas. The imprinted revenue is #870.45 in Donald O. Scott & Frank A. Sternad The Revenue Stamped Paper of Mexico 1821-187. Currently the only reported U.S.-Mexico dual taxed document from the Civil War period.
Scott # DI13. Added October 26, 2022
E. Ruhling & Co. A large format (approximately 14-in x 6-in) 'Memorandum of Gold and Silver Bullion' from the Assay Office of E. Ruhling & Co. in Gold Hill, Nevada, recorded June 18, 1868. The stamp, sadly somewhat damaged, is State Revenue Catalog #DI-13, compound roulette 10x15.
Mike Mahler, in his article in the August 2019 issue of American Stamp Dealer & Collector magazine, displays an identical document dated several weeks prior (although he says his example is rouletted 10, not compound), and states the following:
Figure 6 shows a June 1868 report of E. Ruhling & Co. in Gold Hill, the sister city of Virginia City, in the heart of the Comstock, also stamped with the 5-cent dark green rouletted 10. The many details show that 1,006 ounces of 'Petaluma Mill slum,' evidently a bullion bar, was 96.7% silver, worth $1,231.67, and 2% gold for another $407.24, total $1,638.91 before the small loss in assaying. The eye-catching magenta-and-blue printing is probably explained by the imprint 'Trespass Print - Virginia, Nevada.' The shortlived Daily Trespass, published February 1867-October 1868, was named tongue-incheek by owner William J. Forbes, acutely aware that he was 'trespassing' in a field dominated by the celebrated Virginia City Territorial Enterprise. In a competitive job printing market, Forbes evidently offered Ruhling & Co. bicolored printing as an inducement to land the firm's business. This is the sole-recorded example of this remarkable form.
Scott # 720. Added October 26, 2022
William J. Claus, Notary Public. Mid-20th century improper usages of postage stamps as revenues are increibly rare, much more so than 19th century examples. This is a 1934 quit-claim deed, with $4 of revenue stamps affixed and initialed by the original signer of the document. Then there is a pair of the 1932 3-cent Washington definitive (Scott #720) affixed by the notary public listed on the second page. I don't know enough about the rates in question to determine whether the $4 was originally underpaid, or if there was a secondary transaction requiring the additional 6 cents. The Washington pair is a partial plate number imprint capture to boot!
Scott # R164. Added October 25, 2022
Notary Public. Very unusual 'deed of stock brand', the first I have seen, transferring the rights to a cattle brand, showing the actual brand symbol.
Scott # R168p. Added October 25, 2022
Notary Public. Cemetary deed from the Pond Creek Cemetary Association, in the Oklahoma Territory prior to it beomcing a state.
Scott # R46c. Added October 22, 2022
Des Moines Gold Mining Co. of Colorado. Very delicate stock certificate printed on thin translucent paper.
Scott # R44c. Added October 22, 2022
Gunnell Central Gold Co. of Colorado. Fragile stock certificate printed on thin translucent paper like tissue paper.
Scott # 113. Added October 22, 2022
Rose, Dinsmore, & Co. 1870 receipt, with 2-cent tax initially paid by the supplier (Rose, Dinsmore & Co., manufacturer of railway car springs) on February 2, improperly using a 2-cent horse and rider (Scott #113). When it reached the (audit?) office of the New York Central Railroad on February 25, a revenue stamp was properly affixed. Very scarce; currently the only reported example of both a #113 and revenue stamp on the same document.
Scott # 286. Added October 22, 2022
Drovers & Mechanics National Bank. 2-cent Trans-Mississippi used improperly as revenue on a check written on the account of J. C. Heckert, 'manufacturer of fine domestic cigars, and dealer in leaf tobacco.'
Scott # 73. Added October 22, 2022
W. P. Murray & Co. 2-cent Black Jack used improperly on a billhead from W. P. Murray & Co., 'refiners and dealers in carbon and lubricating oils, wool oil, tar, spirits of naptha, prepared benzole, &c.'
Scott # 65. Added October 22, 2022
Doubly illegal: 3-cent Washington improperly paying the tax, and short-paying the tax owed (should have been 5 cents).
Scott # RB27. Added October 22, 2022
USPS. Improper use of proprietary battleship revenue as postage on an in-period cover. WHile the cover itself is nondescript, the proprietary battleships are seen improperly used far less frequently than their documentary counterparts.
Scott # R184. Added October 22, 2022
Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad Co. Stock certificate featuring a detailed mining vignette at bottom center, stamp canceled by Toland Brothers. & Co.
Scott # R638. Added October 22, 2022
Solo use of 1953 $2.75 denomination, not frequently seen on documents, along with two Pennsylvania state real estate transfer tax stamps.
Scott # R9c. Added October 20, 2022
Marcus L. Ward. Check with very interesting red 'SOLDIERS PAY' handstamp. Marcus L. Ward, later governor of the state of New Jersey, per Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Lawrence_Ward) Ward devised and managed one of the first systems in New Jersey for enabling soldiers to set aside monthly allotments of their pay for delivery to their families and gained the nickname “the soldiers' friend.” It is conceivable that this document is from that effort.
Scott # R15c. Added October 20, 2022
Charles W. Stevens. 'Manufacturer of solid black walnut mouldings, walnut & gilt ovals, walnut mirror frames, oval and square picture frames, gilt, rosewood and gilt mouldings, also wholesale dealer in photographic material'
Scott # R15c. Added October 20, 2022
Sanford's Independent Line. Freight receipt for goods carried aboard the steamer KATAHDIN. While the handstamp cancel at top does not tie the stamp, it's nice to have a full strike of the steamship cancel.
Scott # R152b. Added October 20, 2022
The Bismarck National Bank. Check from 'The Bismarck National Bank, successor to Bank of Bismarck' in the Dakota Territories. Documents from territories prior to their becoming states are fairly scarce.
Scott # R15c. Added October 20, 2022
First National Bank. Just a lovely vignette at left.
Scott # R61b. Added October 20, 2022
Gorgeous example showing portions of next stamps both above and below.
Scott # R21c. Added October 20, 2022
Lawrence & Cohen. Typeset (printed) provisional playing card company cancel, incredibly scarce on the 4-cent Playing Cards. Were it not for the condition issues, this would be a very valuable piece (a nicer-condition example sold for over $1,000 on Stamp Auction Network in 2019).
Scott # R68c. Added October 19, 2022
Pacific Mail Steamship Co. Single strike from the Pacific Mail steamship Oregonian. This ship used a straightline cancel with a large block sans-serif font, unlike the other ships, which used a thinner serifed font.
Scott # R116. Added October 19, 2022
Foreign entry, design of 70c at top. Plate position 31.
Scott # R118. Added October 19, 2022
B & R. Gorgeous socked-on-the-nose handstamp cancel with the red perfectly contrasting the blue and black of the underlying stamp.
Scott # R45d. Added October 19, 2022
Scott # R3d. Added August 7, 2022
Lee & Munson. Lee & Munson JOKES breath perfume handstamp cancel dated 1869, but stamp is clearly a silk paper with multiple blue threads apparent on both sides of the stamp. The silk paper did not exist prior to early-mid 1870, but it was not uncommon for users of proprietary cancels to use the same cancel for extended periods of time, so this cancel could easily have been used into 1870.
Scott # 65. Added July 30, 2022
A one-of-a-kind piece, a complete bottom margin plate block of 16 used improperly as revenue stamps.
Scott # R15c. Added July 24, 2022
The Franklin Bank of Cincinnati. Doubling showing in lettering at bottom.
Scott # R164. Added May 22, 2022
Crocker & Co., Bankers. Nice large-format oval bank handstamp cancel.
Scott # R164p. Added May 22, 2022
Jas. B. Haines & Sons. Block of 4 plus a single. Very unusual document. Not only is the date of the cancel two plus years PRIOR to the date the document was written, but the anti-protest clause at right is overly dramatic, encouraging the bank to 'PUSH VIGOROUSLY' for payment.
Scott # R164. Added May 21, 2022
Farmers National Bank.
Scott # R155. Added May 21, 2022
Pleasant Valley Wine Co. Lovely sight draft with vignette.
Scott # R140. Added May 21, 2022
Double transfer in stars, plate position as yet unidentified.
Scott # R1c. Added May 21, 2022
USPS. A strip of three 1-cent Express (R1c) used illegally as postage, caught and a 6-cent penalty (double the postage amount) assessed. All 3 stamps are tied by a bold December 29, 1863 Washington, DC postal cancel. A lovely example of a wartime illegal/improper usage.
Scott # R3c. Added May 21, 2022
S. R. van Duzer. A 1-cent Proprietary (Scott #R3c) with printed/typeset precancel on an unfolded box top from S.R. van Duzer. This piece showcases perfctly what we collectors frequently lament as lack of care with respect to the stamps themselves, when in fact the workers of the period cared not one whit... nor were they required to. The sheets of stamps were cut up once removed from the printing press, and it didn't matter how close the cuts aligned with the perforations. The only thing that realistically mattered was affixing the canceled stamp to the product to prove the payment of tax. A very scarce piece.
Scott # RB11a. Added May 21, 2022
First National Bank. Four 1876-81 checks from the First National Bank in Hartford, CT with 2-cent Propritary revenue stamps used illegally/improperly as documentaries. The top two 1876 checks have RB11a (silk paper) affixed, and the bottom two 1881 checks have RB11b (watermarked USIR) affixed.
Scott # R1c. Added May 21, 2022
Harnden Express Co. Express company receipt. The revenue stamps overlapping is nominally illegal, although universally condoned. Note that the two 1-cent Express stamps are paying the 2-cent recipt tax, not the 2-cent express tax, which by late 1865 had long since been repealed.
Scott # R49a. Added May 21, 2022
A very nice dual-EMU! A May 1863 protest document with the original instrument (a January 1863 promissory note) attached. It's odd in that the 25-cent revenue paying the tax on the protest is affixed not to the protest document itself, but to the original document, overlaying the 15-cent revenue paying the original tax. What is notable though, is that BOTH stamps are EMUs (early matching usage): R40a 15-cent Inland Exchange imperf paying the tax on the original promissory note, and R49a 25-cent Protest imperf paying the tax on the protest.
Scott # R15c. Added May 21, 2022
Joseph Greenleaf, Treasurer.
Scott # R15c. Added May 21, 2022
Tax Collector, City of St. Louis.
Scott # R35c. Added May 21, 2022
Four singles of the 10c Foreign Exchange on an 1865 Indiana indenture.
Scott # R28c. Added May 6, 2022
G & Co.
Scott # R160. Added May 5, 2022
Scott # R41c. Added May 4, 2022
Scarce double transfer down left side, most visible in scrollwork, TWENTY, and FO of FOREIGN.
Scott # R49a. Added May 4, 2022
Very scarce position piece, a horizontal strip of four with full plate number imprint at right. Sadly torn in half and reattached. Catalogue value shown is simply that of two pairs.
Scott # R135. Added May 1, 2022
Robbert Fitton. A fancy large-format embossed cancel from Robert Fitton, 'Manufacturers of Woolen Fancy Cassimeres' in Cavendish, Vermont. The word 'cassimeres' is an archaic spelling of cashmere.
Scott # R706. Added May 1, 2022
Steve Kopecky, Notary Public. Uncut examples of R660, R664, R673, R706, and R707 on a 1957 warranty deed.
Scott # R635. Added May 1, 2022
Pauline E. Koch, Notary Public. Uncut solo usage of 1953 $1.65 documentary on a 1957 warranty deed.
Scott # R607. Added May 1, 2022
Fritz A. Nagel, Notary Public. Uncut examples of R571, R577, R595, and R607 on a 1953 warranty deed.
Scott # R726. Added April 30, 2022
Partola Products Co. Uncut examples of R666, R675, R677 and R726 on a 1959 deed.
Scott # R155. Added April 30, 2022
The Litchfield Security Co. 1898 Colorado promissary note with two 10-cent battleship documentaries and two provisional overprint revenues, the latter with overprints shifted dramatically to the north.
Scott # R163. Added April 29, 2022
USPS. 1-cent battleship documentary used illegally as postage on a 1904 leather postcard to New Denver, British Columbia, Canada. Canadian receiving handstamp on reverse.
Scott # R15c. Added April 29, 2022
Samuel Dexter Hastings, State Treasurer. Very attractive bi-color draft.
Scott # R15c. Added April 29, 2022
Secretary of the State of Wisconsin. Unusual check from an audit of the state school fund income account.
Scott # RB27. Added April 28, 2022
USPS. 2-cent Proprietary battleship revenue stamp used illegally as postage on an 1899 Spanish American War patriotic cover.
Scott # RB11b. Added April 28, 2022
USPS. Two 1-cent proprietary revenue stamps used illegally as postage on an 1899 Spanish American War patriotic cover.
Scott # R174a. Added April 27, 2022
Very scarce and under-catalogued imperforate between pair. I've seen less than 10 examples come to market over the last 20 years.
Scott # R173b. Added April 27, 2022
Very scarce and under-catalogued imperforate between pair. I've only seen examples come to market 2 or 3 times over the last 20 years.
Scott # R40c. Added April 24, 2022
Unusual large format (7in x 4in) 'Magic Lantern' glass slide in wooden frame with remains of a 15-cent 1st issue revenue stamp affixed, dated April 29, 1865, approximately two weeks after Lincoln's assassination.
Scott # R155. Added April 24, 2022
The Peoples National Bank. Interesting check that straddles the beginning of the Spanish American War tax period. Check written on June 28, 1898 with the admonition 'this check not goot till July 2/98' submitted for payment on July 2, 1898 and revenue stamp affixed, a second day of tax usage.
Scott # R113c. Added April 24, 2022
James E. Woods, Notary. Second issue 30c and 20c paying 50 cents tax on an 1872 chattel deed.
Scott # R240a. Added April 24, 2022
Tropical Fruit Corp. Sight exchange document drafted in Kingston Jamaica on the Bank of Nova Scotia, with funds drawn on the account of the Tropical Fruit Corporation in New York, with multiple U.S. and Jamaica revenue stamps on the reverse.
Scott # 113. Added April 24, 2022
Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Co. Sequence of five annual life insurance policy renewal receipts from 1865 through 1869, all for the same policy, with the last one bearing an illegal use of the 1869 2-cent post horse and rider as a revenue stamp. Unlike today, life insurance policies were generally a luxury only the wealthy could afford, so they were not common.
Scott # R152a. Added April 23, 2022
Two confirming examples of the same diagonal plate scratch just touching liberty's head. Note also that what initially appear to be stray ink dots throughout are also persistent, which means that they are not merely a printing anomaly but more likely plate erosion. The left stamp exhibits an additional plate scratch at upper right which is not present on the right stamp, so presumably the left stamp was printed later, after an additional scratch had occurred.
Scott # R70c. Added April 23, 2022
Double transfer at bottom that resembles a doubled bottom frame line.
Scott # R142. Added April 23, 2022
Largest jumbo I have seen of this stamp with three large margins. Unfortunately the top-to-bottom centering precludes grading.
Scott # R155. Added April 23, 2022
Elgin National Watch Co. Very nice typeset printed cancel.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 23, 2022
Second National Bank. Three versions of a uniquely engraved fish vignette from the account of John Elsey, a fish dealer. You can see variances both in color and in the position of the revenue imprint with respect to the vignette. Of special interest is the unique fish-shaped check protector used over the dollar amounts.
Scott # RNB1. Added April 14, 2022
The London and San Francisco Bank, Ltd.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 14, 2022
The Bank of Leadville.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 14, 2022
National Bank of New England. Account of Emory Johnson, Manufacturer of Cotton Twines, Neptune Twine Mills. Not sure if it was printed in 2 colors or hand tinted. Small documents (checks, receipts, notes, etc.) printed in more than one color of ink are very unusual, as most companies would not have gone to the additional expense.
Scott # RNM2. Added April 14, 2022
American National Bank. Account of The Sharps Rifle Co, with beautiful background vignette of crossed rifles.
Scott # RNB1. Added April 14, 2022
City National Bank. Printed in black, red, green, and brown, with reflective gold ink used for the frame and banner borders. Account of the Travelers Insurance Co.
Scott # RNB1. Added April 14, 2022
The Phoenix Insurance Co. Printed on translucent parchment/onion skin. Draft drawn on account of the Connecticut River Banking Co.
Scott # RNX7. Added April 14, 2022
S. Lemon Banking Co.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 14, 2022
First National Bank. Account of W.A. Lowell & Co., Dealers in Hardware, Cutlery, Stoves, Tinware and Furnaces, House Furnishing Goods. Revenue imprint shifted to the right instead of being printed at center, in order to not overlay the attractive vignette underprint.
Scott # RNB1. Added April 14, 2022
C. H. McCormick & Bros.
Scott # RNG1a. Added April 14, 2022
Jacksonville National Bank. Account of John I. Chambers, Wholesale and Reatil Dealer in all Kinds of Lumber.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 14, 2022
Merchant's Savings Loan & Trust Co. Changed via violet handstamp from original GERMAN NATIONAL BANK.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 14, 2022
Merchants Savings Loan & Trust Co. Account of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Co.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 14, 2022
Addison Goodell, Real Estate & Farm Loan Agent. Printed on dark blue paper.
Scott # RNG3. Added April 14, 2022
Banking House of E. C. Haskett & Co. Printed in metallic bronze ink.
Scott # RNC1. Added April 14, 2022
Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western Railway Co. Beautiful railroad piece printed in orange.
Scott # RNX7. Added April 14, 2022
German Savings Bank. Majestic vignette and great font usage.
Scott # RNO2. Added April 14, 2022
J.H. Branch & Bro., Bankers.
Scott # RNB20. Added April 14, 2022
Piatt & Allen. Wholesale dealer in boots and shoes.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 14, 2022
The National Bank of Somerset. Drawee combination manuscript and printed red; serial number printed in blue.
Scott # RNX7. Added April 14, 2022
Traders National Bank. Account of Cephas M. Lewis, Commission Merchant. Train vignette. Printed in metallic gold/bronze ink.
Scott # RNC17. Added April 14, 2022
Generic receipt.
Scott # RNE4. Added April 13, 2022
First National Bank of Provincetown. Account of the Atlantic Mutual Fire and Marine Insurance Company. Very ornate check protector.
Scott # RNB1. Added April 13, 2022
Townsend National Bank.
Scott # RNX7. Added April 12, 2022
First National Bank of Manistee. Ornately engraved check from the Buckley & Douglas Lumber Co., 'Manufacturers of Lumber, Lath, Shingles & Salt,' Cityscape at left shows layout of factory grounds.
Scott # RNC1. Added April 12, 2022
Aull Savings Bank. Two attractive vignettes.
Scott # RNB17. Added April 12, 2022
Pacific Rail Road of Missouri Auditors Department.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 12, 2022
N. Armstrong & Co., Bankers. Account of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company. Indian vignette at left.
Scott # RNG1. Added April 12, 2022
First National Bank.
Scott # RND9. Added April 12, 2022
Banking House of L.H. Hershfield & Bro. Vignette of miner and his dog on a draft payable in gold.
Scott # RNX7. Added April 12, 2022
Farmers and Miners' Bank. Vignette of the battleship Iowa.
Scott # RNC22. Added February 28, 2022
Wells, Fargo & Co.
Scott # RNB17c. Added February 28, 2022
Agency of the Bank of California. Account of the Gould & Curry Silver Mining Company.
Scott # RNB1. Added February 28, 2022
First National Bank of Helena. Beautiful orange and green bank draft depicting a bank's counter with weighing scale.
Scott # RNG1. Added February 28, 2022
Clinton National Bank.
Scott # RNG1. Added February 28, 2022
Banking House of L.H. Hershfield & Brother.
Scott # RNB6. Added February 27, 2022
Banking House of L.H. Hershfield.
Scott # RNB1. Added February 27, 2022
Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Considerably more scarce than the G type that is most frequently seen on these drafts.
Scott # RNG1. Added February 27, 2022
Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Co.
Scott # R317. Added February 27, 2022
USPS. 1941 10-cent documentary used illegally as postage on an oversized 1943 special delivery cover, caught and 10-cents postage due assessed. A scarce mid-20th century in-period usage.
Scott # RNG1. Added February 26, 2022
Banking House of George P. Harrington. Draft, drawee is Marine & Fire Ins. Co., Springfield, Illinois.
Scott # RNB11. Added February 26, 2022
Phillipsburgh National Bank. Account of Joseph C. Stewart.
Scott # RNG1. Added February 13, 2022
The Merchants National Bank of Albany. Account of Gay & Quinby, Grain Commission Merchants. Vibrant pink and green color.
Scott # RNK5. Added February 13, 2022
S. D. Hungerford & Co's Bank.
Scott # RND1. Added February 13, 2022
Steuben County Bank. Account of the Pleasant Valley Wine Co. The medallions at top center are printed in gold foil.
Scott # RNB1. Added February 12, 2022
National Mohawk Valley Bank. Beautiful patriotic vignette and bicolored printing.
Scott # RNB20a. Added February 12, 2022
William Topping & Co.
Scott # RNC19a. Added February 12, 2022
William Topping & Co.
Scott # RNB2. Added February 12, 2022
The American Exchange National Bank. Check from the very company that printed the tax stamps on these checks (American Phototype Co.), payable to the IRS for $1,000 for 'I.R. stamps.'
Scott # RNB13. Added February 11, 2022
The American Exchange National Bank. Unusual greenish-brown color caused by environmental exposure and/or unstable violet ink.
Scott # RNB13. Added February 11, 2022
The American Exchange National Bank.
Scott # RNB6. Added February 11, 2022
American National Bank. Manuscript changed from 'American Exchange National Bank'.
Scott # RNB1. Added February 11, 2022
Atlantic National Bank.
