Lot 65495 – 1921 Envelope franked GB 2d orange overprinted IRISH/FREE STATE/PROV.GOVt, tied by machine cancel

After the signing of the Treaty on December 6th, 1921, and prior to the ratification by the Dail on January 14th, 1922, an unofficial overprint made its appearance, as shown in the following three lots. The four lowest values of the then-current British stamps (1/2d, 1d, 1 1/2d and 2d) were overprinted using a stereo setting.

There appear to have been three distinct batches of posting bearing the unofficial overprints. The first was posted from Dublin, dated December 19, 1921, the second from Kingstown on January 17, 1922, and the third from Blackrock on January 18, 1922.

Note: No attempt was made to collect any surcharges on these items which were apparently in breach of postal regulations.

DUBLIN: 1921 Envelope franked GB 2d orange overprinted IRISH / FREE STATE / PROV.GOVt, tied by machine cancel dated DUBLIN/DEC.19.1921, a very fine and rare usage of the unofficial overprint

Provenance: T.E. Field