Bertram W. H. Poole, Los Angeles, recently showed me a copy of the 1922-26 ½¢ Nathan Hale overprinted diagonally in one line, in black, "POSTAGE DUE."  Mr. Poole found a few of the stamps in a lot purchased from the estate of a San Franciscan, who had been in the postal service, also a number of covers showing the stamps used to collect a fee of ½¢.  He believes it may have been a provisional, hastily made up and pressed into service by the postmaster of San Francisco for a short time just prior to the issue of the regular postage due stamp of that denomination.  Postmaster are frequently called upon to exercise their ingenuity and improvise a makeshift when rates change and there are no special stamps
available.
 

- George B. Sloane
Sloane's Column
Stamps
May 22, 1937

Posted November 17, 1999

Editor's Note:  How does a postman collect ½¢ Postage Due?  Has anyone seen a single on cover?  I can't remember seeing one, right off hand.  

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