Pawn tickets are extremely scarce documents, with currently fewer than
20 reported examples. This is my effort to maintain a census of these documents.
A searchable database of revenue plate varieties (double transfers,
plate scratches and cracks, doubled frame lines, foreign entries, etc.)
with images where available.
The 2c USIR on green paper is an extremely scarce stamp, several times
more scarce than the 2c Bank Check on green paper. This is a census of
reported examples of the stamp.
The Scott Catalogue indicates that certain 1st issue part perforates
can be found imperforate vertically rather than horizontally, and that as
a general rule are more scarce and more valuable than the norm. However,
certain types are MUCH more scarce this way. This page provides a visual
reference as to just how the populations vary.
In the front-of-book area, the majority of so-called double impressions
are actually "kiss impressions", where the paper bounces causing a partial
or complete second faint impression, usually much more faint than the primary
impression. With the 1st-3rd issue revenues, these are true double impressions,
where the sheet of stamps passed through the press twice, and are typically two complete strong impressions. This page tracks examples of these stamps.
While nominally illegal, sometimes when a business was out of a particular
denomination of revenue stamp, they would take a stamp that was double the
denomination they needed, cut it in half and affix it to a document to pay
the needed tax.
Published in 1899, The Boston Book documents the various stamp types,
the quantities printed and delivered, the dates of delivery, paper types, etc.
An essential reference for the reveue specialist.
Last published in 1915, Forbin's work remains the only single-volume catalogue of world revenue stamps. While the pricing is obviously no longer accurate,
It is a great resource for completeness and comparative scarcity. Available in
PDF and online-browsable formats.
