Victoria Officials

Victorian Official Overprints

Stamps overprinted with "OFFICIAL" were introduced in the early 1880s, with the purpose of assisting governmental accountants in tracking the postal spending of various state departments - hence the overprinted "OFFICIAL" was accompanied by "INLAND REVENUE", "OFFICE OF WORKS", "ARMY", "GOVERNMENT PARCELS" or "BOARD OF EDUCATION" accordingly. Clearly this is not an exhaustive list of government departments, as many other government departments used Perfins instead of overprints.

Our Quality Guarantee

At Albany Stamps, we stand behind the quality of our products with confidence. While some of our items may feature stock images, rest assured that the product you receive will align with our Grade guidelines (below). If you're ever unsatisfied with your purchase, you can return it for a full refund within 14 days. We're committed to transparency and customer satisfaction, ensuring that you always receive stamps that meet your expectations. Shop with peace of mind at Albany Stamps, and Discover Excellence in Philately.

Product Grading

Please refer to the following grading acronyms in relation to this category.

• UM = Unmounted mint.
• FMM = Fine Mounted Mint, a light hinge mark and good gum.
• AMM = Average Mounted Mint, a larger hinge mark and possibly hinge still attached.
• VFU = Very Fine Used, with a very light postmark.
• FU = Fine Used, with moderate postmark.
• GU = Good Used, with heavier postmark.
• AU = Average Used, slight defect such as poor cancel, pulled perf or small snagged corner.
• SF = Stamp with faults, such as trimmed perfs, thinned, small tear.