There Are Many Kinds of Stamps : Page 22

world and to be used by a few small countries to replen-ish from collectors' pocketbooks the national treasuries.A commemorative stamp such as was first issued wasstill an ordinary postage stamp. It differed from theordinary stamp only in that it wag issued for a shortperiod of time and in honor of a special event.

Figure 14. United States Centennial envelope, the world's first commemorative stamp.

But if a stamp could be issued to commemorate aspecial event, then why could not a stamp be issued toraise funds for something special?

That horrible thought was given birth in 1897 whenNew South Wales issued two stamps to raise funds withwhich to build a home for consumptives. It is an ideathat has cost stamp collectors many millions of dollarsand one which has accounted for a large portion of allof the modern stamps issued in late years. The plan wassimple. Stamps were issued in double denomination, buthad postal franking power for only a portion of their facevalue. The other portion was donated to the charity forwhich they were issued.