WERE CUT-OUT PTPO ENVELOPE INDICIA VALID FOR USE IN 1890s?

[Ross Ewington]

This interesting cover from 1895 "crossed" my desk earlier today.

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Four ½d QV indicia cut-outs from PTPO envelopes have been used to pay 2d of the necessary postage.

Were postal stationery cut-outs used this way actually valid for postage? The cover appears to have been
mailed 'over the counter' at the Launceston post office however acceptance by a postal clerk is not
primary evidence of course.

I suspect the sender may have been a certain William Petterd in Launceston - can anyone 'tie' the handwriting?

[Ross Ewington]

I discovered this item in the same consignment as the cover above.

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Would this be a valid use in 1912? (the use of regular Tasmanian stamps anywhere in Australia was)

Haes & Eggers Ltd. were Mechanical and Electrical Engineers so the usage is unusual in that it not being blatantly "philatelic".

[Malcolm Groom]

My understanding is that while postal stationery cut=outs were not formally approved for use they were formally banned from use. This occurred in 1902 in the Commonwealth Post Office Regulations. I have an expert currently seeking the exact reference and will update when obtained. It was not unusual for cut-outs used on domestic mail after 1902 (contrary to Regulations) to be carried untaxed but it was unusual for overseas mail to get through unpenalised.

I attach a copy of cut-outs on cover used in 1892.

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[shatten]

Noting Malcolm's reference to the Commonwealth regs in 1902 - I've recently been scanning the Tasmanian Postal Guides for 1891 and 1895. As far as I can see, there's nothing in the guides that would prevent indica from PTPO envelopes being cut out and used as postage stamps. Logic suggests that, once you've paid for the imprint, it could be used for postage in whatever way you choose - in the absence of any rules to the contrary.

[Hobbit123]

When there was an active Australian States Study Group of the Royal, I remember that David Cronin from Canada sent us an image of a Victoria card with cut-out indicia used to prepay a Registered Postcard (!) I will see whether I can find an image in the records of the meetings, just to show an example from another colony/state.