STAMP STORY

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30953, 8 January 1966, Page 17

STAMP STORY

All five values of 1855 were reprinted, the words “skilling banco” at the foot being cancelled with horizontal bars, and the stamps made valid for postage to the same number of ore. But these curious revivals of stamps of a century before could not be bought at post offices. They were available only at the exhibition. And though the set had a postal value of only 45 ore, the price was 2k.45 —which included an admission ticket to the exhibition costing 2 kroner! Collectors in other countries who wanted to add these unusual stamps to their collections thus found themselves willy-nilly paying for admission to an exhibition which they had no opportunity of attending. The Swedish Post Office came in for considerable criticism for its part in the scheme, but since the stamps could and did pay ordinarypostage, they are duly listed in the catalogues. Incidentally, there was little risk of the reprints being passed off for the originals of 1855. Apart from the lines through “skilling banco,” the perforations were different.