Perfin

In the (company) perforation of stamps was a security measure against theft of stamps by the workforce. In the English language and partly in German, they are called Perfin, from the acronym " Perforated Initials", which means as much as: perforated initials. A distinction is made between two types: one is the official perforation by authorities, on the other hand the non- official perforation, for example, by companies. In both cases, a grid of points was punched in the image of the stamp and the appearance of the brand changed so.

The stamp has not been canceled by the hole, but indicated only for a restricted use. Most of this the initials of the company or symbols were used. Perforations served mainly as protection against theft. Companies, departments, and agencies with a larger stock of stamps so marked their brands. These were as useless for the private use of employees and collaborators.

By official perforations from side of the authorities, they were intended for official purposes, where partial service marks instead were used. In Germany, for example, Bavarian postage stamps 1912-1915 by a registered stamped "E" were converted to official marks for the Bavarian railway authorities, Australian brands were the hole "OS" for "Official Stamp ". It was later replaced this perforation (OS) by an appropriate stamp.

The idea of ​​perforation of stamps goes back to the Englishman Joseph Sloper, of a special hole machine filed for a patent in 1867 and received a permit through the mail. Started up in 1877, this method also in use in Germany and was there until the 1950s in use. Today Perfins are in most post areas, as well as in Germany, no longer allowed. Instead indicia are used for franking now mostly.