BISECTED 4 CENTS STAMP USAGE IN 1903

    Danish West Indies

POSTAGE DUE

The postcard was cancelled St. Thomas 22.01.1903 and arriving in Copenhagen 11.02.1903.

The postcard was cancelled St. Thomas 22.01.1903 and arriving in Copenhagen 11.02.1903.

This postcard is of great significance to the bisected 4 cent Postal History.

Some Postcards sent from DWI to Denmark were receiving a postage due penalty by the Danish Postal Authority. This postcard shown above is one of only four postcards being mentioned in several documents related to the reimbursement of Mr Riise for wrongful postage due assessment of postcards carrying a bisected 4 cent. As you can see from the documents below - which were all retrieved from the Danish Rigsarkivet - there were correspondance between several authorities on this matter. The conclusion was that Mr. Riise (and others who might claimed reimbursement) was fully compensated and the Danish Postal Authorities was now acknowledging the use of bisected 4 cents on incoming post from DWI.

Please pay attention to the file numbers on the bottom part of both the front and the back of the postcard. They are perfect matches with the file numbers mentioned in the official documents related to this case - clearly tying this postcard (and the other known postcard shown below) to this postal historical event. 

Many thanks to Peter Kjersgaard Rasmussen for passing on these incredible postcards to me.

Backside of the postcard showing the message saying that the stamp (bisected 4 cents) is what is being used at the moment and is considered a great rarity. Please note the file number in black ink at the bottom of the postcard. Perfect match to the documents below.

Backside of the postcard showing the message saying that the stamp (bisected 4 cents) is what is being used at the moment and is considered a great rarity.
Please note the file number in black ink at the bottom of the postcard. Perfect match to the documents below.

The second postcard mentioned in the correspondence. Both postcards were travelling along side to Denmark. This one is addressed to the sister of Mr. Riise, Gerda Riise. Please also note the file number in the bottom part of the postcard. The card has an obvious tear - but regardless a very important postal item.

The second postcard mentioned in the correspondence. Both postcards were travelling along side to Denmark. This one is addressed to the sister of Mr. Riise, Gerda Riise.
Please also note the file number in the bottom part of the postcard. The card has an obvious tear - but regardless a very important postal item.

Backside of the 'second' postcard. Also showing the black ink file number in the bottom part of the postcard though not visible on this cut photo.

Backside of the 'second' postcard. Also showing the black ink file number in the bottom part of the postcard though not visible on this cut photo.

An example of a letter from Indenrigsministeriet from March 19 1903 - where the Postal authorities in København had granted Reimbursement.

An example of a letter from Indenrigsministeriet from March 19 1903 - where the Postal authorities in København had granted Reimbursement.

Another example of Danish Postage Due. This particular postcard is not part of the reimbursement mentioned in the documents shown above, but a rare item indeed.

Please see the section

Please see the section "Unauthorized use" for more information on this magnificent and unique cover.

A clip showing unauthorized use of a bisected 4 cents. The bisected stamp has not been cancelled as it was not allowed to be used in combination with other stamps. A postage due T has been applied. Departure Christiansted 22.02.1903, destination unknown, but could very well have been Copenhagen(?).

A clip showing unauthorized use of a bisected 4 cents. The bisected stamp has not been cancelled as it was not allowed to be used in combination with other stamps. A postage due T has been applied. Departure Christiansted 22.02.1903, destination unknown, but could very well have been Copenhagen(?).

POSTAGE DUE IN THE UK

St.Thomas February 7 - 1903. Picture postcard properly franked with a 4 cents bisect to England (Isle of Wight) to pay the UPU 2 Cent rate. It was not accepted by postal authorities in England and the postcard was stamped “Contrary to Regulations 723” and postage due “2d”. Denmark had failed to notify England about the authorized use of bisected 4 cents stamps.

St.Thomas February 7 - 1903. Picture postcard properly franked with a 4 cents bisect to England (Isle of Wight) to pay the UPU 2 Cent rate. It was not accepted by postal authorities in England and the postcard was stamped “Contrary to Regulations 723” and postage due “2d”. Denmark had failed to notify England about the authorized use of bisected 4 cents stamps.

Most postcards having a bisected stamp had no messages and were philatelic. This card appears to be non-philatelic.

Most postcards having a bisected stamp had no messages and were philatelic. This card appears to be non-philatelic.

Apparently, The postal authorities in St.Thomas failed to give advance notice to the Danish General Directorate of Post and the Universal Postal Union about the use of bisected stamps and mail with their valid use arriving in Denmark and England was charged postage due. After many complaints and an explanation to the public - the Danish postal authorities granted reimbursement upon request to those who had paid postage due as mentioned above. 

Another example - but this is sent from St.Thomas on February 9.

Another example - but this is sent from St.Thomas on February 9.

Letter from the General Post Office, London March 14 1903, to The Director General of Posts St Thomas informing that 16 postcards bearing bisected stamps have had the postage due penalty applied.

Letter from the General Post Office, London March 14 1903, to The Director General of Posts St Thomas informing that 16 postcards bearing bisected stamps have had the postage due penalty applied.

This postcard and the postcard below could very well be 2 of the 16 postcards mentioned in the document above. Shipped from St. Thomas to Liverpool on 2x.01.03 Arrived at Liverpool on 20.02.03 -Distributed on 21.02.03 Refused by receiver maybe due to punishment postage (most likely) Arrived at Liverpool return office on 21.02.03 - Arrived at London return office on 23.02.03 Returned for some strange reason via Korsoer (12.04.03) to St. Thomas. Arrived St. Thomas at 30.04.03.

This postcard and the postcard below could very well be 2 of the 16 postcards mentioned in the document above.
Shipped from St. Thomas to Liverpool on 2x.01.03
Arrived at Liverpool on 20.02.03 -Distributed on 21.02.03
Refused by receiver maybe due to punishment postage (most likely)
Arrived at Liverpool return office on 21.02.03 - Arrived at London return office on 23.02.03
Returned for some strange reason via Korsoer (12.04.03) to St. Thomas. Arrived St. Thomas at 30.04.03.

Another postcard almost identical to the above mentioned and having traveled the exact same route. These postcards are very rare.

Another postcard almost identical to the above mentioned and having traveled the exact same route. These postcards are very rare.

POSTAGE DUE IN THE USA

The only known postage due penalty to a bisected 4 cents postcard/letter in the USA. COLLECT POSTAGE and 4 CENTS have been applied to the postcard.

The only known postage due penalty to a bisected 4 cents postcard/letter in the USA. COLLECT POSTAGE and 4 CENTS have been applied to the postcard.

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