Overprint

This article is about overprints on stamps and currency. For the use of the term in printing, see overprinting. For other uses, see Overprint (disambiguation).
Overprinted Iranian banknote with the seal of the Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, which was printed after the 1979 revolution in Iran
An 1897 Chinese Red Revenue stamp overprinted with small "one dollar" characters was sold for HK$ 6.9 million in 2013.[1]
France, 1929: Commemorative overprint for the Philatelic Exposition in Le Havre

An overprint is an additional layer of text or graphics added to the face of a postage or revenue stamp, postal stationery, banknote or ticket after it has been printed.[2][3] Post offices most often use overprints for internal administrative purposes such as accounting but they are also employed in public mail. Well-recognized varieties include commemorative overprints which are produced for their public appeal and command significant interest in the field of philately.[4]

  1. ^ "1897 Red Revenue Small One Dollar" stamp sells for $970,000 at auction". News.com.au. 3 July 2013.
  2. ^ Reinfeld, p. 36.
  3. ^ Williams & Williams, p. 256.
  4. ^ Klug, Janet (3 June 2002). "Surcharges and overprints make a difference". Linn's. Retrieved 3 September 2011.