Has anybody ever seen this before?

The word SPECIMEN is stamped in blue ink.

If it is a simple bogus invention, one might expect the inking to have been done a little better. But maybe that's only wishful thinking.

Any thoughts or comments will be very welcome.

Robin R.

Hello Robin

Interesting this.

It so happens I have my copy of Samuel and Huggins book on Specimens next to me. If it is genuine it could be Type 33 OP as this is the only one listed for the Coronation. The book warn us that any stamps of this period need to come form of guarantee. Type 33 is a Cancelled OP 11.75 x 1.75mm. The other stamps came with Specimen Type 23 10 x 1.5mm and Type 32 10.5 x 2mm.

There has been no indication in any literature I have seen of OP's in Blue.

I guess its time to put them up for a RPS Cert or BPA.

Sorry cannot help more.

Dear Anon,

Your turn to raise an interesting issue!

As there is not, by any account, and authoritative source of information about the colonial post offices - like for example, when was any Portugese territory part of a British colony? how can, or on what basis does a certifying authority KNOW whther an overprint is official or genuine?

As I mentioned elsewhere, I have two examples of the '37 Coronation stamp overprinted CANCELLED. One has a certificate of genuineness, the other has a certificate of fake!

Now, when I mount these two on a sheet - can I also mount the certificates (or reduced photocopies)?

Cheers, Robin R.

Since writing the above, I have seen several examples of this overprint on KEVII and am satisfied that the chances of it being genuine are high. I'm now hoping that it might turn up on KEVIII...

Robin R.

Thank you for this Robin.

I am not sure how to respond. Portugal did OP some GB material with Ultramar but this was for UPU purposes, (see book by Bendon on UPU OP's).
Cancelled seems OK by Vol 2 of Gibbons Specialist - 4 Kings and latest Oct 09 issue. Page 267 in this does not mention Blue OP on any King, so you may have a 'find' or you may not. Despite being an avid Specimen collector I am not moved by these as I have had too many warnings about fakes.

I thought mounting on sheets was in the eye of the beholder. Putting genuine and fake side by side could be very educational.