Page 73 - Prepaid Reply Cards

4.3 REGULATIONS AND PRACTICES –COMMON NON-UPU REGULATED PRACTICES

TREATMENT OF «EXPIRED» STAMPS
One of the unsolved issues was the handling of stamps with expired validity. Even though not very frequent, it
was possible that a reply card was mailed back at a date, when the imprinted or adhesive stamp was no longer
valid. Even though UPU sought an exchange of information concerning the validity of foreign stamps – an
example is the practise of distributing UPU specimens – it was virtually impossible for a postal clerk to judge if a
foreign stamp still was valid for postage or not. Also, UPU rules did not cover this issue at all with respect to the
specific problems posted by reply cards.

Austrian 2 Kreuzer reply card. These cards were valid until 30.06.1891. The double card was most likely
originally posted in Austria before that date. Then the reply card initially was posted in Stuttgart on
03.08.1891, it was rejected because the incipium was no longer valid. This is shown by an handwritten note of
uncertain origin. Accordingly, the card bears an extra franking of 5 Pfennig Württemberg, cancelled
06.08.1891, and was delivered in Vienna 07.08.1891.

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