THE MACCLESFIELD AND PRESTBURY PHILATELIC SOCIETY
JUNE MEETING
Unfortunately due to illness the guest speaker planned for our June meeting was unable to be present. We wish him a quick recovery and very much look forward to welcoming him and seeing his collection at a future date.
However the gap was filled by one of our own members, who gave a dazzling display of the post-war revenue issues of Italy.
Immediately following the Allied invasion in 1943, government administration was in chaos. Yet taxes had to be raised, and the method used was to issue revenue stamps. Printed with the same care and security precautions as normal postage stamps, the first revenue issues after Italy became a republic depicted either Romulus and Remus or the goddess Minerva. The method used was simple. Legal documents had to bear the tax value in stamps, normally purchased from the local tobacconist. The stamps would be provided by, and the proceeds returned to, the central government.
For example, stamps would be bought to the amount of value added tax on an invoice, with roving government auditors checking each company’s receipts to ensure that the correct amount of tax had been paid.
During subsequent years the system was expanded and different designs of revenue stamps were issued for different purposes. Stamps were used by the government to collect taxes on pension funds, customs duties, lawyer’s pension schemes, passports, radio valves, duty payable on cigarettes, alcohol, ice cream and entertainment. An attractive range showing vintage vehicles was printed for use on driving licences.
Some of the uses were quite bizarre. Sometimes one had to purchase the tax stamps from the tobacconist, affix them to a document, take them to a post office and then pay again to get them hand-stamped before the document could become legal.
Due to wartime disruptions to the records of both church and state, before entering matrimony a bachelor had to visit the local town hall to confirm that he was not already married. For the resulting legal document he had to use revenue stamps to pay a bachelor tax. Further stamps were required for a pre-contract of marriage and reading of the banns. Then the marriage certificate itself had to bear further revenue stamps.
The revenue system is still used in Italy. These days the stamps are more sophisticated to prevent forgery and they are also available from post offices.
Most of the stamps shown by our speaker were very attractively designed and printed. What made the display special, however, was the inclusion of legal documents showing how the revenue stamps were actually used. It was a superb display on a most unusual subject.
ABOUT OUR SOCIETY
The Macclesfield and Prestbury Philatelic Society was formed in 1966 to promote stamp collecting in the Macclesfield area of East Cheshire.
The Society is very friendly and informal, with a varied programme of speakers, displays and society evenings.
Anybody may join. The annual subscription is currently £8 (payable in September), which includes the cost of coffee and biscuits at meetings.
The Society runs its own internal packet scheme and also participates in the packet scheme of the North Western Federation of Philatelic Societies, allowing members to look at a wide choice of stamps and philatelic items in their own homes.
Everyone is welcome, regardless of age and from beginner to expert, as all members benefit from the experiences of fellow collectors.
MEETING PLACE: The Heritage Centre, Roe Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Meetings are held upstairs (first floor) but a lift is available. The Heritage Centre has a strictly no smoking policy.
TIME OF MEETINGS: 7.45pm
DATES OF MEETINGS: Mainly the first Monday of each month from September to June.
CONTACT: Peter Kirk Tel: 01625 829119
E-mail: peter@kirk199.freeserve.co.uk
FUTURE PROGRAMME
Following a summer break, our 2008/9 season will begin with the following:
1st September: Guest speaker who will present a display on New Zealand.
6th October: Guest speaker who will present a display on GB Pre Machin Decimal Coils.
3rd November: Guest speaker who will present a display on Canada 1927-1937.
1st December: Guest speaker who will present a display on the New Hebrides.
