Netherlands, Scott #O4, used (o), 1913, Poor Law Overprint, 2½c, black on green

Item Specifics

Country

Netherlands

Catalog Number

O4

Stamp Type

Officials

Condition

Used

Centering

Fine

Stamp Format

Single

Topic

Cultural - Other

Year of Issue

1913

Item Description

Netherlands, Scott #O4 (NVPH #D4), used (o), 1913, Poor Law overprint; between 1913 and 1918, all mail relating to the administration of the Poor Law was required to use a set of stamps overprinted ARMENWET (meaning ‘poor law’); though listed as official stamps in most catalogs, these stamps were never used by government, but only by public charity institutions, called ‘Arms Councils’, established to administer the poor laws; the stamps were provided ‘gratis’ by the government to the arms councils, and were to be used on outgoing mail and could be adhered to return address envelopes; 2½ cents, overprinted on the 1899 Scott #60, engraved, no watermark, perforated: 12½, deep green, Scott 2025 catalog value: $12.00, considerably off-centered (fine), light, black-inked, quarter circular, double-rimmed, socked-on-the-nose corner cancel with some mailing details on the lower left and clear the main image, sound back, good perforations. This is not a 'bait and switch.' The stamp you see will be the one you receive.

This series is known for its many forged overprints. However this stamp appears to be authentic: 1) the stamp is clearly off-center, and forgers typically select perfectly centered stamps for their work; 2) the overprint is positioned correctly at the top of the stamp above the stamp value; 3) the lettering appears correct at all check positions, the leg of the “R” starts thin, then thickens and curves, and ends at a point, the “M” has flattened tops, the third leg of the “M” is thinner than the others, the middle bar of the “E” is shorter and above the middle, the flat parts of the “N” are wider at the top left than the bottom right, the fourth leg of the “W” is thinner than the others, and the cross bar of the “T” is shorter at the left than at the right; 4) the available mailing details ‘XENHAGX’ does fit the letters of one of the town locations for the arms centers PRINCENHAGE. Therefore, I believe this stamp has an authentic overprint and warrants a selling price premium.

Please review my terms of sale. If you are not ordering from the United States, there is a $US1.65 additional postage expense that needs to be added to the price of the stamp. If you are ordering from the United States, there is only a $US0.73 added postage expense. Also, if you make additional purchases from my offerings, they can all go in one mailing at no extra shipping expense for the added purchases. I will send the purchase by US first class mail, since the relatively low value of the stamp does not warrant signature or tracking mail. Hence the buyer assumes risk of loss or non-delivery. I will keep a scan of my mailing to verify that the correct mailing address was used.

By way of reference, I am an American Philatelic Society member (195176) and an American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) member. Thank you for looking, and I hope this is the perfect stamp to fill that gap in your collection.

Seller Information

Seller

JDumville (3989)

Registered Since

06/10/2018

Feedback

100%

Store

Worldwide Used Stamps

• Sales

Item Location

Virginia, United States

Ships To

Worldwide

Returns Accepted

Yes

Returns Policy

If not satisfied, return the stamp to me at your own expense, and I will refund the cost, but not my postage to you. If the stamp is not as described, I will refund the cost and reimburse you for postage both ways.