Sewing machines as perforators - a guide for the perplexed

After Lord Rodney of Travencore's snide remark about Barwani using a
sewing machine as a perforator, I thought I might post an image of
just what happens when a sewing machine is used in that way:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g.../SG23sheet.jpg

This is Barwani SG 23, issued about 1927, but other noteworthy places
(such as Bussahir) also used sewing machines to perforate stamps.

Note that sewing machines don't punch out the paper, and so produce
what would properly be called a 'pin perf'.

(Indeed, perforating stamps wasn't the only notable sewing machine
activity at that time. I recall from my student days writing an essay
on the Communist rebellion in the Dutch East Indies in 1926-7, which
was in part stirred up by travelling Singer sewing machine salesmen.)

Tony of the Antipodes

"Asia-translation"

This is Barwani SG 23, issued about 1927, but other noteworthy places
(such as Bussahir) also used sewing machines to perforate stamps.

Very nice stamps, indeed, one can note the endeavor to
produce a suitable design, and to emulate its Travancore siblings.

One may also note 1920 Denmark invested in a sewing machine
as a canceller for used stamps on parcel cards.
The PM was concerned that stamp collectors would cease buying
new stamps for cancellation, if there were a large and ready supply of
used cancelled stamps.
He therefore perforated the used and cancelled stamps on the parcel cards
with the sewing machine.

I also have an Indian issue (I believe) to be perofrated by sewing machine
as a precancel, however I am dashed if I can find it at present.

Other sewing machine perf data
authors varied.



Sewing machine perforating was also done on several denominations of

the 1872 US (blue) revenue stamps. However Scott catalogue will not

list the imperforate stamps that were used for sewing machine

perforations. No pairs of the imperforate stamps have been reported in

collectors hands.

Art

----------------------------------------------------

Sewing machines were used for experimental perforating

of Yemen's first issue 1925-1929.

Blair



Iceland Tollur Cancellations

Some ca. 1907-1918 Icelandic postage stamps are known bearing

postal-type cancellations and additional "sewing machine needle"

cancellations. Such stamps were used as revenue stamps, most

likely on customs/import documents as precursors to Tollur-canceled

stamps.

They are very scarce because most were discarded as being

"damaged". Most usages are of high-value stamps (as is true of

Tollur cancels as well), thus sewing machine cancels on low-value

stamps are extremely scarce. One can find examples of sewing

machine cancels as either randomly positioned holes or in straight

lines. Very often the holes are not visible from the front of the

stamp.

Icelandic stamps used for paying customs (Tollur) can be divided into 5

periods:

1-1-1913 to 14-3-1920 stamps was used on "Fylgibréf" arriving from

abroad. Canceled with normal postmark, and can only be recognized

on letter.

15-3-1920 to 31-12-1921 stamps used for customs was perforated

with a sewing machine or a needle in addition to the normal

cancellation.

These stamps are rare, probably because these stamps have been

considered faulty.

1-1-1922 to 31-3-1924. Ordinary postmark used.

1-4-1924 to august 1924. Ink cancellation.

August 1924 to 1-12-1938. Tollur cancellation (sometimes both Tollur

and regular postmark on the stamp).

The use of Tollur ended 1-12-1938

Hi all,

Colombia, South America, also used sewing machine perforation during
the 1000 days war (1900 - 1903).

Jerry B

Here are some of the Yemen stamps with sewing machine perfs.
They were done by a philatelic son of HM the Imam Yahya.
Probably Prince Seif al Islam Ishmail.

a single - Scott #2
http://cjoint.com/data/docowQqgpy.htm

a strip of three
http://cjoint.com/data/docvuLqL0D.htm

Blair

On Mar 13, 9:23 pm, "Blair (TC)" wrote:
Here are some of the Yemen stamps with sewing machine perfs.
They were done by a philatelic son of HM the Imam Yahya.
Probably Prince Seif al Islam Ishmail.

a single - Scott #2http://cjoint.com/data/docowQqgpy.htm

a strip of threehttp://cjoint.com/data/docvuLqL0D.htm

Blair

On Mar 14, 12:23 pm, "Blair (TC)" wrote:
Here are some of the Yemen stamps with sewing machine perfs.
They were done by a philatelic son of HM the Imam Yahya.
Probably Prince Seif al Islam Ishmail.

a single - Scott #2http://cjoint.com/data/docowQqgpy.htm

a strip of threehttp://cjoint.com/data/docvuLqL0D.htm

Blair

Ah, now that's more like it. I always wondered why I felt a strange
attraction to early Yemen ...

Antipodean Anthony

I have posted this before, however
for the record, what appears to be a sewing machine application
on a Madras issue. (two lines sewing machine?)
Unaware if it is meant to act as a Perfin, or just a random occurence.
I have not seen any like this before.
http://cjoint.com/data/drnmWFIZMn.htm


"Blair (TC)" wrote in message
...
On Mar 13, 9:23 pm, "Blair (TC)" wrote:
Here are some of the Yemen stamps with sewing machine perfs.
They were done by a philatelic son of HM the Imam Yahya.
Probably Prince Seif al Islam Ishmail.

a single - Scott #2http://cjoint.com/data/docowQqgpy.htm

a strip of threehttp://cjoint.com/data/docvuLqL0D.htm

Blair

On Mar 17, 11:16 pm, "rodney" wrote:
I have posted this before, however
for the record, what appears to be a sewing machine application
on a Madras issue. (two lines sewing machine?)
Unaware if it is meant to act as a Perfin, or just a random occurence.
I have not seen any like this before.http://cjoint.com/data/drnmWFIZMn.htm

"Blair (TC)" wrote in message

...

On Mar 13, 9:23 pm, "Blair (TC)" wrote:
Here are some of the Yemen stamps with sewing machine perfs.
They were done by a philatelic son of HM the Imam Yahya.
Probably Prince Seif al Islam Ishmail.

a single - Scott #2http://cjoint.com/data/docowQqgpy.htm

a strip of threehttp://cjoint.com/data/docvuLqL0D.htm

Blair

Could quite well be a sewing machine, but I doubt that De La Rue, who
had the India contract at the time, suddenly whipped out the Singer
and put a sheet of Half Annas through it just for a giggle. Most
likely fortuitous. Someone decided they needed a bit of stiffening
when doing the hemming?

Antipodean Anthony

"Asia-translation"
Could quite well be a sewing machine, but I doubt that De La Rue, who
had the India contract at the time, suddenly whipped out the Singer
and put a sheet of Half Annas through it just for a giggle. Most
likely fortuitous. Someone decided they needed a bit of stiffening
when doing the hemming?
Antipodean Anthony

Agreed, but I am hanging out that this may be a perfin,
I soak thousands of Indian issues, there has to be another one day.
They are very well hidden, only for the Eagle eyed.