Minor Overprint Users
A number of countries used commercial overprints. This page shows a variety of these overprints.
Canada
Canadian commercial overprints appear exclusively on excise stamps. Many of these were used on packages of playing cards—the Cancelled/C. P. C. Co., the Cancelled/U. S. P. C. CO., and the Cancelled/International patterns are from the Canadian Playing Card Company, the United States Playing Card Company, and the International Playing Card Company, respectively.
Germany
After the inflation period was over on December 1, 1923 there were literally box cars full of
low-valued sheets of stamps.
The government actually sold them in box car lots as waste paper.
Various businesses (mostly that had some philatelic connection)
overprinted sheets of stamps and used them as advertising labels.
You can find uses well into the 1930s.
-Jerry Jensen (16 Jul 99)
India
India used preprinted commercial overprints, such as the Bombay Gazette (shown), and a variety of probable handstamps, including B L / & Co., Family Macaz..., F. M. / & Co., ? H R & Co., ORIENTAL, R. DUNCAN, and APRAC.
Japan
This Japanese commercial overprint has been used in a postal application, like a perfin, rather than to pay an excise tax.
Kenya & Uganda
This Oriental overprint is probably from the Oriental Government Security Life Assurance Company, which was incorporated in India in 1874.
New South Wales
These commercial overprints from New South Wales have been used in revenue applications to pay an excise tax.
New Zealand
These commercial overprints from New Zealand have been used in revenue applications to pay an excise tax.
Russia
These are stamps of the "Russian Company of Navigation and Trade". The upper overprint was privately applied to Russian Offices in Turkey stamps of 1900 - 1910 issues. They are mentioned in the Russian Offices in Turkey section of the Scott catalog.
South Africa
Commercial overprints are very rare on stamps of South Africa. These are from the Commercial Union Assurance Co. Ltd., Johannesburg, South Africa.
Switzerland
The only reported Swiss commercial overprint to date is Béla Szokula / Luzern.
Thailand
The only reported Thai commercial overprint to date is N. H. B. / Bangkok.
Venezuela
These commercial overprints are probably from retail stores. The stamp on the left reads, "LA CUBANA" (The Cuban). The stamp on the right reads, "J. M. H. I. & Ca. / EL COJO." (The one who limps).
Victoria
This Australian commercial overprint has been used in a revenue application to pay an excise tax.
