Revenue stamps of Guatemala

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The 2 real stamp from the first revenue stamps of Guatemala. Guatemala 1868 F2.jpg
The 2 real stamp from the first revenue stamps of Guatemala.

The first adhesive revenue stamps of Guatemala were issued in 1868 [1] and preceded the first postage stamps of that country by three years. [2]

Revenue stamp A revenue stamp, tax stamp, duty stamp or fiscal stamp is a (usually) adhesive label used to collect taxes or fees.

A revenue stamp, tax stamp, duty stamp or fiscal stamp is a (usually) adhesive label used to collect taxes or fees on documents, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, drugs and medicines, playing cards, hunting licenses, firearm registration, and many other things. Typically businesses purchase the stamps from the government, and attach them to taxed items as part of putting the items on sale, or in the case of documents, as part of filling out the form.

Guatemala Republic in Central America

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala, is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize and the Caribbean to the northeast, Honduras to the east, El Salvador to the southeast and the Pacific Ocean to the south. With an estimated population of around 16.6 million, it is the most populated country in Central America. Guatemala is a representative democracy; its capital and largest city is Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, also known as Guatemala City.

Postage stamp small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage

A postage stamp is a small piece of paper issued by a post office, postal administration, or other authorized vendors to customers who pay postage, who then affix the stamp to the face or address-side of any item of mail—an envelope or other postal cover —that they wish to send. The item is then processed by the postal system, where a postmark or cancellation mark—in modern usage indicating date and point of origin of mailing—is applied to the stamp and its left and right sides to prevent its reuse. The item is then delivered to its addressee.

Contents

Purposes

Guatemala has issued revenue stamps to collect documentary taxes, taxes on foreign bills and for other purposes. In addition, stamped paper had been in use since Spanish colonial times.

Stamped paper

Stamped paper is an often-foolscap piece of paper which bears a pre-printed revenue stamp. Stamped papers are not a form of postal stationery. The use of stamped paper in the American colonies was so unpopular that it has been credited with sowing the seeds of the American Revolution.

See also

Postage stamps and postal history of Guatemala

Guatemala has been independent from Spain since 1847. The first adhesive stamps of Guatemala were revenue stamps issued in 1868. The first postage stamps were produced in 1871.

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References

  1. Forbin, Alfred. Catalogue Prix Courant de tous les Timbre Fiscaux emis dans le monde entire". Paris, 1910, p. 493.
  2. Morley, Walter. "The Fiscal Stamps of Guatemala" in Morley's Philatelic Journal, Vol. VII, No. 6, June 1906, p. 42.