OVER/UNDER-PRINTS

2) POST OFFICE TRAINING BARS

The Post Office Training Schools were established in 1920 and hence training bar overprints may be found on a number of British stamps from that date.

Indeed the bars also turn up on non-postage stamps such as the "TV Licence" and "National Insurance" revenue stamps.



There are also many types of training overprints. They usually take the form of one or two vertical bars but do occasionally appear as single horizontal bars. The bars also vary in thickness. In addition overprints with the text "SCHOOL SPECIMEN" also exist

LIST OF ISSUES

Probably just about every sheet sourced Machin may turn up with training bars so I wont put a list here. However a detailed listing may be found in section 'R' of the Specialised Machins Catalogue.

The stamps were never officially released to the public, but are fairly common on the philatelic market. The majority tend to turn up in mint condition, used examples being far more elusive (but still not particularly valuable).

A book is also available on the history of the Training School.