USE OF CUT-OUTS FROM POSTAL STATIONERY

[PSHAW14244]

My first post here:

I recently purchased, for a very modest sum, a 1905 postcard which had used, quite legitimately, a ½d QV postcard cut-out for postage. My question is- why bother to cut out a stamp from an almost identical postcard? Was the QV postcard no longer valid but the use of the cut-out was?
One explanation would be that it was from a used, but uncancelled item- this seems unlikely as the Victorians were pretty thorough in cancelling, (unlike today!).

1905 Cut-out on post card.jpg

Any thoughts?

I also add what is almost certainly a "faked up" cover using a QV 1d Pink cut-out- this looks very much as if a previously franked cut-out has been stuck onto a mint envelope. They didn't even bother to open the envelope!

Cut Out Stationery.jpg

[PSHAW14244]

Here is an example from 1905 of a cover with a 1d QV cut-out which has been posted! (It also has a receiving datestamp on the reverse)'

1905 1d Cut-out cover.jpg

The same question applies- why not just use the original envelope?

Anybody there??!!

[johnhbarker@btinternet.com]

The use of cut-outs makes an interesting study. First of all the use of postal stationery cut outs for paying postage has been allowed by many postal authorities for certain periods. The introduction of the post card conveyed at a cheaper rate than a letter put a great strain on the postal authorities to process the mail. Although postal cards were of a standard size, making them easier to sort, the indicium still needed 'cancelling'. Many escaped the canceller and as always we all like a 'freebie', hence many cut outs used for postage are cut outs from postal cards. An experiment was carried out (by the G.B. postal authorities) to enable more rapid processing by using a (Sloper) device to punch hole(s) through the indicia of a pile of c100 cards. This did not last long.
Cut outs from letters may have come from ones which went through the post but missed the canceller, but others may have been salvaged from the spoilt addressing of envelopes or other such damage. A great many were used by philatelists! However I have some which were used by commercial enterprises, others (by begrudging tax payers) to government offices.
This would make an interesting topic for the Journal - any offers would be welcome.

[PSHAW14244]

Thanks for the reply- I have that cut-outs were not permitted in GB between 1870 and 1905. Is this correct? (Making my "faked up" example even more obvious!). Another source suggests that they were permitted until 2012! (Although obviously not pre-decimal ones). I guess that pre-1870 ones are pretty scarce, however. Any examples?

[johnhbarker@btinternet.com]

George King provided some useful notes on the use of cut-outs many years ago. These can be found in the Society Journal issues #47 and #51 which can be downloaded from this site.