tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263 
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Aug 24, 2013 20:49:47 GMT
Motivated by Rod222's posts on Romania, I decided to inventory my Romania collection and see if I had anything of interest to share. I spent a fair amount of time trying to identify this set of seven overprinted 1943 King Michael postal tax stamps (design PT7, Nos. RA25-RA31) before stopping to read the note after the listing in my 2009 Scott catalog:   According to Google, the overprint "Serviciul Prizonierilor de Razboi Scutit de Taxa Postala" translates as "Prisoner of War Service Exempt Postage." Should anyone have more information on these stamps, I'd appreciate the help! |
|
rod222
Member 
Posts: 9,877
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
|
Post by rod222 on Aug 24, 2013 21:13:47 GMT
|
|
rod222
Member
Posts: 9,877
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
|
Post by rod222 on Aug 24, 2013 21:22:47 GMT
Steve, these should really slot into a Romanian thread called ............. Romania : Free Franks If webmaster can organise a thread please?  Issued may 1946 |
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Aug 24, 2013 21:52:14 GMT
It is puzzling why Scott would assert that they were unissued yet Michel and Gibbons both list them with used prices. I tried to find some used examples via a brief Google search but have had no luck thus far (but I did find an interesting piece on Roma history titled Internment in France 1940-1946). Does anyone have examples of these on cover showing period use? |
|
rod222
Member
Posts: 9,877
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
|
Post by rod222 on Aug 24, 2013 22:21:13 GMT
I have not seen any Steve, romaniastamps.com offer no info apart from the values.
Never seen any on ebay on cover.
I would side with Scott thus far.
Stanley Gibbons online catalogue does not list any as "used"
|
|
tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,263
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
|
Post by tomiseksj on Aug 24, 2013 22:50:16 GMT
I have not seen any Steve, romaniastamps.com offer no info apart from the values. Never seen any on ebay on cover. I would side with Scott thus far. Stanley Gibbons online catalogue does not list any as "used" I'm inclined to agree. None of the images that I was able to find showed any sign of usage but I'll keep looking. The Richard C. Witt Cinderella Reference Collection also shows the set and one other with the caveat that he had been unable to find any catalog reference to the overprint. I think it would be interesting to see when Michel and Gibbons began to list the overprinted stamps. |
|
rod222
Member
Posts: 9,877
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
|
Post by rod222 on Aug 25, 2013 4:46:07 GMT
My argument for "Free Franks" is based on the following.
The Red Cross overprint was meant to obliterate the value tablet, hence making the stamps non denominational.
Their design device was apparently meant for POW's to mail correspondence without cost.
Despite their authenticy, either way, they are listed under "Free Franks" at romaniastamps.com
and as a devout follower, tend to desire to retain a common known heritage for collectors of Romania
when they trip around the web.
Case in point with other doubtful "Free Franks" eg : King Michael's fund, I can find no hint to it on the web,
how it as structured or whatever, but quite a variety exist, so if we lump them all together under Free Franks
it will enhance future study.
Certainly their Marque remains questionable, the red cross, tends to indicate a charity of some sort,
an intention that never got off the ground, or a complete Cinderella issue.
|
|
