OVER/UNDER-PRINTS

3) OVERPRINTS

SPECIMENS

"Specimen" overprints on Machins tend to come from booklet panes of stamps. This particular example comes from the "Stamps for Cooks" prestige booklet.

PHILATELIC ?

I do not know the status of the stamp shown opposite. Overprinting the lowest value Machin would, of course, maximise any philatelic "profit" from such an excercise. And overprinting it "SPECIMEN" makes it all the more desireable (?) as well as making it clear it was not for postage (keeping the Post Office happy?). I bought this copy from a reputable dealer who I genuinly believe would not even think of producing such a thing themselves and had clearly described it as "status unknown", so I did not mind buying one as an example of the type.

Finally, one other I'm aware of but have no illustration for. The following paragraph is very much my own personal opinion. I openly admit I may not be on full possesion of the facts, so if I'm misguided feel free to email me and put me right :-
Another overprint was advertised a few years back, claiming to be for use in a foreign country. Only a few sheets were overprinted, of which most seemed to have reached a dealer who could price them such as to pay for full page advertisments in the philatelic press. A large number that were "used" appeared to have survived, on cover and (you guessed it) were available from the dealer. Something stinks in my opinion ... !!!