Lot 20044 – 1896 Group with « TAMEION » Treasury cachets applied to the front

1896 Group with « TAMEION » Treasury cachets applied to the front, incl. 1l in two blocks of four and vertical pair tied to piece from Syros and a mint 1l block of four with central strike of the Syros cachet (some perf. separation), plus four used singles with 1l, 20l (2) and 40l (odd small fault), an interesting group.

Note: In order to prevent these stamps from being used in Greece to the detriment of the revenue during the 1897-98 Greco-Turkish War, orders were issued that all stamps still in the hands of the Greek Government should be overprinted with a special Treasury cachet to mark their validity. The cachet was normally applied to overprint four small stamps or two large ones. Later, in order to a void confusion with used stamps, the cachet was applied to the backs of the stamps.