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USA Battleship revenues

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Steve View Drop Down
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    Posted: 24 October 2025 at 02:53
In 1862, in order to fund their campaigns in the American Civil War, the Union states put a tax on goods, food stuffs and medicines. Documentary (or revenue) stamps indicated the tax had been paid. These waere phased out in the 1870's but reintroduced in 1898. Whilst anchored in Havana harbour, protecting American interests during the Cuban war of Independence, USS Maine suffered a massive explosion. 261 of the crew were killed, and a naval enquiry decided that it was caused by a Spanish mine, though some thought it was an accident with fire entering the ammunition stores. This sparked the Spanish American War ("Remember the Alamo, to hell with Spain") and led to reintroduction of taxes.
The Battleship documentary stamps lasted from 1898 to 1902, and feature USS Maine. I think this may be a full set of values, from 1/8c to 80c, but not necessarily all colours for each value. They are either roulette or hyphen-hole perforated, the latter process removing a thin rectangular strip of paper is punched out. The paper used is quite thin (something I have noticed in other revenue stamps) and over 100 years on the stamps are easily damaged. As well as values and shades and perforations afficiandos of these stamps look for different cancelations.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Steve Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 October 2025 at 06:35
2 cent Battleship documentary stamps used on cheques

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