Bidspirit auction | Early, forbidden use of a
Early, forbidden use of a revenue stamp as postage, November 1952: printed ”State of Israel, Registered Mail” envelope to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Jerusalem, franked with a 50 prutah revenue stamp cancelled Haifa - A printed ”State of Israel, Registered Mail” envelope addressed to the Manager of the Central Registration Section, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Jerusalem, P.O.B. 299. Instead of a postage stamp it bears a 50 prutah revenue stamp, purple and red, inscribed ”Revenue” in Hebrew and in Arabic, cancelled with the Haifa postmark: an early and forbidden use of a revenue stamp as a postage stamp. On the back the Jerusalem postmark of 14 Cheshvan 5713 (2.11.1952) and the boxed propaganda cachet ”Buy the Zionist Shekel” with a Star of David; the sender's address handwritten on the flap. File numbers in ink and pencil on the front. Creases, age spots and small tears at the edges of the envelope, exactly as photographed. Keywords: tax stamps / fee stamps / revenue stamps / revenue stamp used as postage