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What are Specimen Stamps?
Specimen stamps have the word “specimen” printed across them and usually have the face value struck out since they are not intended for postal use. Early specimen stamps would have the word “specimen” (or equivalent) applied via handstamp whereas later stamps were overprinted. Non English speaking countries would apply the word in their native language – for example “muestra” is used on Spanish era specimen stamps of the Philippines. Specimen stamps were once an important tool for member countries of the UPU (Universal Postal Union). Member countries of the UPU would send specimen stamps to each other so postmasters in each country could identify new international stamps. This helped postmasters to reduce the use of fraudulent stamps on international postage coming into their country. The sharing of specimen stamps across member nations started in 1879.
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It should also be noted that not all specimen stamps were produced for the sole purpose of distribution to UPU members. Final proof stamps, sample stamps, exhibition stamps and reference stamps for archive were often overprinted as specimen stamps to ensure they were invalidated for postal use. Some specimen stamps will also bear a serial number, you can see this on later Philippine specimens (and in the examples above). Other countries have at times used perforations (perfins to be precise) to identify the stamp as a specimen though this was not a practice in the Philippines as far as I can ascertain.
Are Specimen Stamps Valuable?
Specimen stamps are definitely more valuable than their regular postage varieties. Since the late 1970’s typically only 1,000 specimen stamps have been produced for each Philippine stamp released. From the 1,000 specimen stamps that are produced some are held back for the Philippine Postal Museum and Philatelic Library and many are distributed to editors and publishers outside of the Philippines. It is this limited quantity that makes specimen stamps more valuable than their mass produced counterparts. For example, I have often seen a regular issue sell for less than $1 USD while the specimen stamp will sell for more than $20 USD. Many older Philippine specimen stamps are also quite valuable (in the hundreds of USD each) – of course it all depends upon the stamp, scarcity and quality. There can be limited information on older specimen stamps due to limited record keeping on print quantities and distribution information.
Some Final Thoughts on Specimen Stamps
Specimen stamps are often not listed in leading catalogs and as such you won’t typically see Scott #’s and retail values. It can also be difficult to find historical information on print quantities and other general information. When dealing with older hand-stamped specimens one needs to be cautious of fakes as they do unfortunately exist in the market. In my opinion specimen stamps will only increase in value given their limited production numbers and a renewed interest from collectors.
Gallery of my Philippine Specimen Stamps
2008 United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon 2008 United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon 2007 First Philippine Assembly Centennial 2007 First Philippine Assembly Centennial 2007 United Nations Month - Stand Up! Speak Up! 2007 United Nations Month - Stand Up! Speak Up! 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Birds (2007) 2007 Christmas 2007 2007 Christmas 2007 2007 Christmas 2007 2007 Christmas 2007 2006 The Philippine Legacy in Hawaii Centennial 2006 The Philippine Legacy in Hawaii Centennial 2006 His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin 2006 His Eminence Jaime Cardinal Sin 2006 Colonial Lighthouses of the Philippines 2006 Xavier School Golden Jubilee 2006 Knights of Columbus Centennial 2005 Tribute to His Holiness Pope John Paul II 2005 Tribute to His Holiness Pope John Paul II 2004 Polytechnic University of the Philippines Centennial 2004 Arrival of Our Lady of Piat Fourth Centennial 2004 Manila Central University, Centenary 2003 Presidential Seals - Surcharged (in red) 2003 Presidential Seals - Surcharged (in black) 2003 Camera Club of the Philippines - 75th Anniversary 2001 Launch of Natural Gas Industry in Philippines 2001 Launch of Natural Gas Industry in Philippines 2000 Summer Olympic Games (2000) - Sydney 1995 MOPC Manila Overseas Press Club - 50th anniv. 1995 Philippine Guerrilla Units of World War II 1989 General Santos city 1987 National League of Women Voters 1985 Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration 1985 Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration 1984 300th Anniversary of Religious Order of the Virgin Mary 1984 300th Anniversary of Religious Order of the Virgin Mary 1984 Francisco Dagohoy (Revalued, Type I) 1984 Light Rail Transit 1984 Philippines First F.I.P. Gold Medal Award 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1984 Philippine Jaycees Awards 1983 International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions 1983 International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions 1983 Postal System Bicentennial 1982 Manila Metropolitan Waterworks 1982 Manila Metropolitan Waterworks 1982 UN Conf. on Human Environment 1982 UN Conf. on Human Environment 1982 42nd Skal Club World Congress 1982 42nd Skal Club World Congress 1981 68th Spring Meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union 1981 68th Spring Meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union 1981 International Year of the Disabled 1981 International Year of the Disabled 1981 Intramuros gate, Manila 1981 Concert at the Park 200th Opening 1981 11th South East Asian Games 1981 11th South East Asian Games 1981 11th South East Asian Games 1981 11th South East Asian Games 1981 11th South East Asian Games 1981 11th South East Asian Games 1979 Association of Special Libraries of the Philippines 1968 Foreign Dignitaries at JFKs Funeral (Souvenir Sheet) 1968 Kennedy Family 1968 John F. & Robert F. Kennedy 1968 John F. & Robert F. Kennedy 1968 Kennedy Family 1968 Kennedy Family 1968 John Kennedys Funeral Procession 1968 John F. Kennedy 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue 1943 Documentary Revenue