Specimen Stamps - Clarifying Their Use

I didn't want to hijack the Peru thread, but I have a question about Specimen Stamps.

Specifically, Smauggie said



Smauggie is smarter than I, but I'm not sure I agree with that statement. I think he is describing TEST stamps or maybe even PROOFs.

I thought -SPECIMEN stamps were provided to other country's postal administration as "examples" or "specimens" for identification purposes.

Can anyone give me more details.

LINN's glossary:

"Stamp or stationery item distributed to Universal Postal Union members for identification purposes and to the philatelic press and trade for publicity purposes."

http://www.linns.com/reference/term...irstletter=s

British Postal Museum website's glossary:

"Under the rules of the UPU all issues of stamps issued by its members must be circulated through its offices to other member countries. Such stamps are usually overprinted or perfined "Specimen" (2) Sample stamps usually overprinted "Specimen" distributed free via the philatelic press or to the trade. Also overprinted officially by postal administrations to prevent re-use"

http://www.postalheritage.org.uk/pa...m=S&doSearch

Here's some of what Scott says about specimens:
'The Universal Postal Union required member nations to send samples of all stamps they released into service to the International Bureau in Switzerland. Member nations of the UPU received these specimens as samples of what stamps were valid for postage. Many are overprinted, handstamped or initial-perforated "Specimen," "Canceled" or "Muestra."'

'The previously described defacement markings prevent postal use, and all such items generally are known as "specimens."'

Regards, Robert

This is quite true, but not all SPECIMEN overprints or perfins were intended for the UPU.

This Cochin SPECIMEN



can't have been sent to the UPU, because Cochin wasn't a member. It would have been made by Perkins, Bacon as a sample of their work. (It's in the issued colour and perforation, and on the correct watermarked paper.)

I agree, I was getting proof and specimen confused.

Scott's explanation of specimen stamps included printer samples. I didn't quote that part.
Regards, Robert

By the way -- Smauggie -- I wasn't questioning your wisdom, just my own confusion

Good info -- thanks everyone.
Kirk

No offense taken, Kirk.

Sometimes my wisdom does need questioning from time to time.

Just to keep it sharp you know.

Specimen's were also supplied from one entity to another for national collections.