TV LICENCE STAMPS

Since the resumption of regular television services after World War Two it has been necessary for the viewer to purchase a viewing licence. However it was not until 1972 that TV licence revenue stamps were issued for use on such licences.

Complete Stamps with Post Office Counter Training Bars

The stamps consisted of two sections seperated by perforations. These perforations include additional eliptical holes that are a feature of a number of later British revenue stamps and even more recently appeared on normal postage stamps. Note how this split design always results in the larger section always appearing as if the stamp were printed off center.

The larger portion of the stamp was affixed to the section of the licence that was to be retained retained by the viewer as proof of having paid the fee.

The smaller section of the stamp was affixed to a section of the license that would be returned to the television licensing authority as conformation of a viewer having bought a licence. These were to be subsequently destroyed and hence such used portions are comparatively rare.

Monochrome (1972)	Colour (1975)

The first issues indicated the actual cost of the TV licence. Only four such stamps were issues, £7 and £8 (monochrome licence) plus £12 and £18 (colour licence).

Monochrome		Colour

From 1977 onwards, the stamps were simply marked with a letter ('M' for monochrome, 'C' for colour) followed by a number (1 through 13) that was incremented with each change in licence fee, which for a while seems to have been an anual event !

The original design lasted until 1996 when it was replaced the above 'C14' design. The design changed yet again the following year, after which licence stamps ceased to be used.

Stamps were, and indead still are, also used as part of a system to encourage people to save for their yearly TV license. The above examples, with their black bars, were all originally intended for use in the training of Post Office staff

Cancellations

These stamps were invariable cancelled at a Post Office counter with a steel circular date stamps ('CDS')

Value

This is one area in which I find the various catalogue listings totally stupid ! "Values" between £5 and £12 get quoted. However the stamps themselves are relatively common so 50 pence to £1 should be considered a maximum.

With the vast majority of the UK population using colour television sets, the later monochrome TV licence stamps (M6 and above) should command a premium.