Specimen stamp

For other uses, see Specimen.
1902 Colony of Natal stamp, overprinted SPECIMEN in black showing Edward VII
A specimen registered envelope from Natal.

A specimen stamp is a postage stamp or postal stationery indicium sent to postmasters and postal administrations so that they are able to identify valid stamps and to avoid forgeries.[1] The usual method of invalidating the stamps is either overprinting in ink or perforating the word Specimen[2] across the stamp and where English is not the common language, the words Muestra (Spanish), Monster (Dutch), Muster (German) or Образец (Russian, 'Obrasetz') have been used instead.[3]

  1. ^ UPU Specimen Stamps, James Bendon, Limassol, Cyprus, 1988, p.vii.
  2. ^ "Philatelic glossary". British Postal Museum and Archive. Archived from the original on May 18, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  3. ^ Mackay, James (2003). Philatelic Terms Illustrated: 4th edition. London: Stanley Gibbons. p. 145. ISBN 0-85259-557-3.