On Jun 4, 7:44*am, Blair wrote:
On Jun 4, 2:29*am, "rodney" wrote:

On further inspection, I see other Spanish stamps defined as "private" Pedro
but I have no idea how the definition is applied.http://cjoint.com/data/geizk7CUFU.htm



Rodney:

One flavour of this type of stamp is called a Franchise Stamp.

This Franchise Stamp was only used by the Portugese Red
Cross Society to frank their mail. (No denomination specified)
http://www.linns.com/howto/refresher...1_0628_big.jpg

Another was used by the Lisbon Geographic Society
http://www.linns.com/howto/refresher...3_0628_big.jpg

France has issued FM (Military Franchise) stamps for use by
members of their armed forces, while on duty. Here is one
used on a cover.
http://www.mayoph.com/images4/06b930.jpg

Here is an older one used from Algeria.
http://www.mayoph.com/images2/02d015.jpg

Here are some Swiss Franchise stamps. The number
(828) indicated the organization / charity entitled to use the stamps.
http://i18.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/20/e9/a7cb_1.JPG

828 was Kantonsspital Winterthur (Canton Hospital of Winterthur)
http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...20071003151449

Winterthur is the sixth largest city in Switzerland.

Blair