stainlessb
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qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Sept 24, 2024 18:24:18 GMT
As I continue to soak stamps from some lots of Austria I acquired, I keep finding the same color blue line on the back. in some cases there is a pattern in the line, and sometimes there is some writing, but the color is always the same. These are common stamps (front)  and the back (lower right stamp lacks the blue lines but is stamped "Franco."  Detail of the three on the right. Top stamp far right, I have mirrored the image so the words are legible, but notice it appears to be signed? Is there somthing about this stamp I am missing. I also find it somewhat interesting that the clear band on the vario enhances the image  bottom row #3 brightness turned down to see printing. Paper also shows a pattern -perhaps from the tight mesh screens used on paper making machines (?)  and here's the one stamped Franco. It still has some remnants of the paper, so this could just be something on an envelope(?)  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2024 19:48:23 GMT
They are just the parts of envelopes / postcards that tell you where to put the stamps. You can see on at least one of them "zum aufkleben der briefmarken", which literally means "for attaching the stamps". It's quite common for that to end up transferred in reverse on to the backs of stamps.
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Sept 24, 2024 20:16:58 GMT
I thought as much as it was in reverse, but the one with the signature has be baffled....
it must be only the blue ink used... I never see black
and it penetrates through the gum...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2024 20:24:21 GMT
I would guess the message had been written under where the stamp was placed, and the stamp was carelessly placed on top of the fresh fountain pen ink, resulting in it seeping into the back of the stamp.
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vikingeck
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Posts: 3,546
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Sept 24, 2024 20:31:09 GMT
It is not a “signature “ as such. It is handwritten “Franko” Which means stamped or paid . You have a printed “Franco” on another stamp
I guess these have all leached on the reverse of the stamps during soaking off printed stationery
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,903
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Sept 24, 2024 21:09:20 GMT
all have been hinged (on stockpages or makeshift album pages)
so would Franco indicate an 'official' use, or just the regular mail?
Austria does seem to have a large number of postage due stamps
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2024 21:35:58 GMT
Franco just means franking, as in, indications of the mail being paid for. I'm not sure if the term is in wide use, but my father told me that he worked at a factory in the netherlands in the 80s, and he used a machine to mark every letter with "Franco", which just meant that the company had paid for the postage. In this case, I'm pretty sure it's just another indication of where to place the stamp.
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rex
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Post by rex on Sept 25, 2024 7:28:10 GMT
The word "Francobollo" in italian language means stamp, the etymology of the word stamp derives from FRANCO, meaning what Is free from expenses or taxes.
Precisely something where the tax has already been paid. It is also a term used in prephilately.
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Post by gstamps on Sept 25, 2024 13:51:51 GMT
stainlessb , FRANCO markings were used in Moldova in the period 1859-1865; Moldova was on the border of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The definition is taken from "Stampilografie Postala" by Kiriac Dragomir. “FRANCO for pit shipments They were used on “covering letters” of value (money pits, pawnsie value,etc), with the aim of excepting postage with stamps of heavy shipments by pay the shiping tax in cash.” 
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rex
Member
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Post by rex on Sept 25, 2024 16:26:47 GMT
1850-1880 Stamps for printed matter and prints prepaid before sending..where you can read the word "Franchi" already paid.
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