Very nice Robert. The Australia "Military Stamps" have such an interesting history. If I recall correctly these overprints were produced to discourage soldiers (in post-war Japan) from sending stamps back home to be cashed in.
E
Hi Eric
You are correct about the reason the military used the overprint; the gold and red overprints are trial proofs, the stamps printed from the proofs were recalled rather quickly when the Australian Postmaster-General found out about the unauthorised overprinting, this occurred in 1946, thus the year 1946 on the stamps, but the B.C.O.F. issues you see sold today were actually reprinted in 1947 when an agreement was made between the Australian government and the Australian military.
The stamps delivered to the military for the over-stamping of the B.C.O.F. overprint was part of the agreement, once delivered to the military the government no longer had control of the stamps.
The proof stamps and the overprints on plain wove paper are the only original 1946 overprints. I forgot to mention which were proofs in my B.C.O.F. presentation so I amended the post showing my newest addition.
Now you know that whenever you see B.C.O.F. stamps for sale or in collections, those stamps were actually printed in 1946 with the original issue date unaltered (albeit the originals were unauthorised and illegal).
Any collector with an authentic 1946 on cover will be in possession of a very valuable envelope, to my regret I do not have one although I do know a rare few do exist.
Rob
My newest addition is the 3d brown King George VI gold overprint trial proof with partial imprint in mint unused condition, it is also rare, the red overprint trial proof is very scarce and completes the B.C.O.F. colours. The brownish appearance is caused by oxidisation. These overprinted stamps and the proof overprints on plain wove paper beside them (also very scarce) are original 1946 printings.
re: B.C.O.F. Gold Overprint Trial Proof
Very nice Robert. The Australia "Military Stamps" have such an interesting history. If I recall correctly these overprints were produced to discourage soldiers (in post-war Japan) from sending stamps back home to be cashed in.
E
re: B.C.O.F. Gold Overprint Trial Proof
Hi Eric
You are correct about the reason the military used the overprint; the gold and red overprints are trial proofs, the stamps printed from the proofs were recalled rather quickly when the Australian Postmaster-General found out about the unauthorised overprinting, this occurred in 1946, thus the year 1946 on the stamps, but the B.C.O.F. issues you see sold today were actually reprinted in 1947 when an agreement was made between the Australian government and the Australian military.
The stamps delivered to the military for the over-stamping of the B.C.O.F. overprint was part of the agreement, once delivered to the military the government no longer had control of the stamps.
The proof stamps and the overprints on plain wove paper are the only original 1946 overprints. I forgot to mention which were proofs in my B.C.O.F. presentation so I amended the post showing my newest addition.
Now you know that whenever you see B.C.O.F. stamps for sale or in collections, those stamps were actually printed in 1946 with the original issue date unaltered (albeit the originals were unauthorised and illegal).
Any collector with an authentic 1946 on cover will be in possession of a very valuable envelope, to my regret I do not have one although I do know a rare few do exist.
Rob