Arrested for stamp collecting?

And all for an overprint.

It was illegal for civilians to own the British government's "IR Official" stamps, overprinted for state use and hoarded in Whitehall.

A few unfortunate philatelists faced the magistrates for this heinous crime.

Overprints are still dangerously enticing to serious collectors.

When headlines roared of "Britain's rarest stamp" in 2020 they were talking about an overprint.

And the 1904 6d pale dull purple with IR Official stamp was duly sold for over £400,000.

Extraordinary circumstances boosted its value.

Produced on the day these stamps were withdrawn, most of the rumoured 19 sheets printed went straight into the incinerator.

Good news for any lucky owner of a mint example - and there may be just one.

Overprints are my favourite specialism.

The role of stamps as tiny historical documents becomes most obvious in these improvised and altered items.

The GB Overprints Society says there are 1,237 British overprinted stamp types alone.

They're worth chasing.

They embody rarity, oddity, difference... all the things collectors love to own.

And they all have a story to tell.

Sometimes dull and bureaucratic. But often of war, abdication, overthrow, coup and invasion.

Diving in to this specialism could be the best stamp collecting decision you ever make.

Here are some of my favourites. Perhaps you'll start your journey here.

You can secure any of these stamps right now.

And we guarantee you won't be arrested for it.

South Africa Zululand 1893 6d dull purple, type 1 De La Rue overprint on Natal, IMPERFORATE IMPRIMATUR, SG16.

I hope you love this wonderful example of a story-telling stamp.

A snapshot of British expansion north from the Cape in South Africa.

Natal was annexed from the Boers in 1843.

Then in 1879, the British invaded neighbouring Zulu territory.

Two films telling the tale of the battles of Isandlwana (a humiliating defeat for the British) and Rorke's Drift (their heroic defensive action) make the short and bloody Anglo Zulu War one of the most well-known in British military history.

Imperial military might prevailed.

A nominally independent Zulu state didn't last long.

And Zululand became a Crown Colony in 1887.

This is an example of the first stamps printed for the territory.

They foreshadow.

A few years later Zululand was gone, annexed into Natal and under complete British control.

A classic Empire tale told by a stamp.

And it's in wonderful condition with good to large margins. Just minor wrinkles on the gum.

Provenance is boosted by the signature of Commonwealth stamps expert Peter Holcombe on the reverse.

Click through for the full description or use the contact details at the end of this mail for your questions.

Buy Now for just £495

St Vincent 1944 German propaganda forgeries of Great Britain 1937-47 set of 6 to 3d (2½d with margins on three sides), each with boxed overprint 'LIQUIDATION OF EMPIRE/ST VINCENT' in red (½d, 3d) or black.

There is so much tragedy and conflict in this little line of coloured paper squares.

These are fakes. But valuable and desirable ones.

The message from the Nazi propagandists who designed and circulated them is clear:

"Liquidation of Empire" they say.

There's no hope for Britain and its allies.

In fact, in 1944 as these stamps were printed, by slave labour in concentration camps, it was the Nazi Reich that was collapsing.

Germany churned out these stamps. Some feature antisemitic or anti-Soviet messages, or reference Allied misdeeds.

They are darkly fascinating. An interesting area of study in their own right. And a worthy addition to any GB, commonwealth or WWII-themed collection.

Buy this set of propaganda stamps now for just £1,100

CHINA 1944 (East China) set of three, SGEC201/3

What a dramatic visual effect is achieved in these 3 simple, diagrammatic images of a junk, a torch, and a bird of prey.

The low-tech production reflects the turmoil of a country at war.

The territories are those China liberated from Japanese occupation. In this case, Central Jiangshu province.

These are the 4th Su-Chung "Unit" issue. No values were printed on the stamps, which are as simple as stamps can be.

In 1944 the Sino Japanese War was still raging. Japan launched a massive offensive south through eastern China in an attempt to open up land routes to Vietnam.

The Japanese failed. But their attacks were a disaster for the Nationalist Chinese.

In the summer, the US government started talking with the communist leader Mao Zedong, and by December the Chinese involvement in World War II was morphing into the Civil War that would see the birth of Red China.

These beautiful stamps are a must for any China specialist and in wonderful condition.

Stanley Gibbons catalogue value for this trio is £2,600.

Buy these 1944 east China stamps now for just £1,200

Overprints always have something to teach us.

And these examples, authenticated by our specialist, Mike Hall, are fine examples.

Three stories of Imperial expansion, desperate Nazi lies and national liberation.

How many stamps in your collection carry such weight?

If you'd like to put these overprints in your album today don't delay.

We have a growing list of specialist buyers who know how to spot a good buy.

Call now on +44 (0)117 933 9500 or reply to this mail to secure them.

You can do so with peace of mind:

Every purchase comes with a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.