Specimen

A specimen is a stamp or postal stationery item sent to postmasters or postal officials as a reference to confirm valid postal items. They can be overprinted or handstamped in any number of languages and styles. In many cases, the overprinting is done by the originating post office. Otherwise, the receiving post office will do the overprinting to prevent attempted use or sale.

The exchange of specimen stamps has been a UPU requirement since its beginnings in 1879. Still, specimens date back to the Great Britain Penny Black.

As with any overprint, some specimen overprints have been forged.

 File:Japan specimen.jpg|Japan. File:Philippines specimen.jpg|Philippines. File:Russian Semi specimen.jpg|Russian overprint. File:US 65 specimen.jpg|United States. 

[[Category:S]]