Specimen & Cancelled

Specimen and Cancelled panes are from booklets intended for non-postal purposes, with the stamps overprinted to prevent any possible postal use. These booklets were used for trials, as samples, and as reference copies. Specimen and Cancelled Types 1–8 and 10–14 were only used on Victorian issues, Types 9 and 15 were not used on booklets (but see the comments about Type 15 below), so Specimen Type 16 onward are described.

Specimen overprints can be difficult to distinguish, other than Type 17 (horseshoe) and Type 23 (italics), the rest (Types 16, 22, 26, 30, 32) are somewhat similar and best identified by measuring the width of the overprint. Types 26 and 30 are particularly difficult, the “S” and “C” are more closed in Type 26 and more open in Type 30.

Types 17,23 — 16,22,26,30,32 — 24,28,33

Cancelled overprints are easier to distinguish as only three types were used in booklets, the larger Type 24 (about 15mm), and smaller Type 28 in italics and Type 33 in roman (about 12mm).

A handful of booklets are known with a 35mm SPECIMEN handstamp on the front cover. The reason for this is unknown, but all examples occur on otherwise normally cancelled AVC booklets issued in the 1930s. Perhaps they were given as examples to someone other than the advertising contractor? The following have been recorded: BB12(237), BB24(217), BB29(298), BB37(10), BB37(15), and BC2(357).

Specimen Type 15

Although Specimen Type 15 booklet panes have been described, none exist. The error stems from the April 1984 NPM sale where three booklets (BA5(6), 2x BA6) and three panes (MB3s, MB4as, MB6as) were listed in a section titled “Specimen Type 15”. Type 15 was never used in booklets, the auction items were all Type 22.

Specimen Type 16

Ex Apr 1984 NPM sale.
Used in booklet BA1.

Specimen Type 17

Overprinted SPECIMEN in the shape of a horseshoe, designed to avoid defacing the King’s head.
Used in booklets BA2 and BA5.

Specimen Type 22

Used in booklets BA5(6), BA6(7), BB2, and BB3.

Specimen Type 23

Overprinted SPECIMEN in italics.
Used in booklets BB11, BB12, and BB24.

Ex Sept 1985 NPM sale, Type 23 with punch hole on R1/1:
Dark Colours: QB2as, QB11as, QB29t, QB32

Cancelled Type 24

Overprinted CANCELLED, largest of the three cancelled types (24, 28, 33).
Used in booklets BB9 editions 57 and 62, BB10 edition 67, BB12 edition 73, and BB24 edition 137.

Specimen Type 26

Used in booklets BB4-6.

Cancelled Types 28 and 28P

Overprinted CANCELLED in italics.
Type 28 — used in booklets BB12 and BB24.
Type 28P — used in booklets BB12, BB15, BB17, BB28-29, BB34-35, and BB37.

Specimen Type 30

Used in booklets BB12 editions 16 & 53, and BB24 edition 118.

Ex Sept 1985 NPM sale, Type 30 with punch hole on R1/1:
Pale Colours: QB4s, QB30s, QB33s (no punch hole)

Specimen Type 32

Cancelled Types 33 and 33P

Type 33 — used in booklets BB12, BB17, BC2-3, and BD12.
Type 33P — used in booklets BB12-17, BB24-25, BB27-29, BC2-3, BD11-17, and BD21-25.

Ex Sept 1985 NPM sale, Type 33 with punch hole on R1/1:
Block Cypher: NB12a, NB13a, NB14a, NB15a(9)