Two different usages of postal tax stamps in issues of Cuba from 1941 and 1942. The first benefited the National Council of Tuberculosis and use on all mail was obligatory during December and January. The second, "Victoria", is a war tax stamp which had obligatory use during WWII until October, 1944. The proceeds were used to help fund Cuba's National Police.[1] To use the existing stock, the government decreed in November 1944 that the remainders could be used as regular postage.

A postal tax stamp refers to a stamp which raises revenue for charity or war related projects.[2] Postal tax stamps are similar to semi-postals, except their use is mandatory instead of voluntary. They are used to show payment of a compulsory tax on mailing letters and parcels. The taxes often go to a charitable institution or fund.[3]

The postal tax stamp originated in Spain and Portugal. Many Balkan nations and some Latin American nations have been the most prolific issuers of postal tax stamps. There are no postal tax stamps in the United States.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Actividades Filatelicas (Official Journal of the Philatelic Club of the Republic of Cuba), April 1943, No.23, page 7.
  2. ^ Cabeen, Richard McP.; The Standard Handbook of Stamp Collecting, Rev.Ed. (1986).
  3. ^ Klug, Janet. "Inexpensive postal tax stamps offer a collecting challenge". Refresher Course. Linn's Stamp News. Archived from the original on 2010-12-28.
  4. ^ Miller, Rick. "Revenue or postage stamp, or a bit of both?". Refresher Course. Linn's Stamp News. Archived from the original on 2010-03-25.


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