Method and device for authentication of first day of issue stamps

Claim 3

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 1 wherein the extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of original stamps being authenticated is affixed in-line with the exposed portion of the selvage edge by adhesively securing the extra original stamp directly to the exposed selvage edge adjacent to and in-line with the area of the selvage edge to which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal is applied.

Claim 4

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 1 wherein the extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of original stamps being authenticated is affixed in-line with the exposed portion of the selvage edge by adhesively securing the extra original stamp to a peelable adhesive label removably secured to the exposed selvage edge adjacent to and in-line with the area of the selvage edge to which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal is applied.

Claim 5

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 1 wherein the sheet of stamps to be authenticated is contained within an enclosing envelope which has an open window positioned to expose the portion of the selvage edge upon which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal impinges.

Claim 6

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 4 wherein the extra original stamp of the same issue is secured to the exterior of the envelope adjacent the open window in a position such that the bulls eye containing the date and name of the post office performing the authentication and a portion of the killer bar cancellation segments of the cancellation seal strike the exposed portion of the selvage edge through the open window and the terminal ends of the killer bar segments of the seal impinge upon and cancel the extra original stamp affixed to the exterior of the envelope adjacent the window.

Claim 7

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 1 wherein the First Day of Issue cancellation seal is applied to the exposed portion of the selvage and the extra original stamp of the same issue by stamping the cancellation seal on the selvage under the supervision of a responsible postal official to thereby provide a simple, efficient and effective one step authentication of sheets of stamps on the first day of issue.

Claim 8

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 6 wherein the extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of original stamps being authenticated is affixed in-line with the exposed portion of the selvage edge by adhesively securing the extra original stamp directly to the exposed selvage edge adjacent to and in-line with the area of the selvage edge to which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal is applied.

Claim 9

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 6 wherein the extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of original stamps being authenticated is affixed in-line with the exposed portion of the selvage edge by adhesively securing the extra original stamp to a peelable adhesive label removably secured to the exposed selvage edge adjacent to and in-line with the area of the selvage edge to which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal is applied.

Claim 10

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 6 wherein the sheet of stamps to be authenticated is contained within an enclosing envelope which has an open window positioned to expose the portion of the selvage edge upon which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal impinges, and wherein the extra original stamp of the same issue is secured to the exterior of the envelope adjacent the open window in a position such that the bulls eye containing the date and name of the post office performing the authentication and a portion of the killer bar cancellation segments of the cancellation seal strike the exposed portion of the selvage edge through the open window and the terminal ends of the killer bar segments of the seal impinge upon and cancel the extra original stamp affixed to the exterior of the envelope adjacent the window.

Claim 11

The method according to claim 1 wherein each stamp in the sheet of stamps being authenticated is integrally formed on a sheet of paper with the other stamps in the sheet but is readily separable therefrom by a line of perforations surrounding each stamp and the selvage edge likewise is integrally formed on the sheet of paper with the stamps of the sheet but is readily separable therefrom by a line of perforations similar to those surrounding each stamp.

Claim 12

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 10 wherein the First Day of Issue cancellation seal is applied to the exposed portion of the selvage and the extra original stamp of the same issue by stamping the cancellation seal on the selvage under the supervision of a responsible postal official to thereby provide simple, efficient and effective one step authentication of sheets of stamps on the first day of issue.

Claim 13

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 11 wherein the extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of original stamps being authenticated is affixed in-line with the exposed portion of the selvage edge by adhesively securing the extra original stamp directly to the exposed selvage edge adjacent to and in-line with the area of the selvage edge to which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal is applied.

Claim 14

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 11 wherein the extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of original stamps being authenticated is affixed in-line with the exposed portion of the selvage edge by adhesively securing the extra original stamp to a peelable adhesive label removably secured to the exposed selvage edge adjacent to and in-line with the area of the selvage edge to which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal is applied.

Claim 15

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 11 wherein the sheet of stamps to be authenticated is contained within an enclosing envelope which has an open window positioned to expose the portion of the selvage edge upon which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal impinges, and wherein the extra original stamp of the same issue is secured to the exterior of the envelope adjacent the open window in a position such that the bulls eye containing the date and name of the post office performing the authentication and a portion of the killer bar cancellation segments of the cancellation seal strike the exposed portion of the selvage edge through the open window and the terminal ends of the killer bar segments of the seal impinge upon and cancel the extra original stamp affixed to the exterior of the envelope adjacent the window.

Claim 16

An envelope specially designed for use in first day of issue authentication of a sheet of original stamps containing a selvage edge integrally formed with the sheet of stamps during printing, said envelope having a flat surface and being of a size to receive a flat sheet of a number of integrally interconnected original stamps and their interconnected integrally formed selvage edge portion with the selvage edge portion retained near an edge portion of the envelope, said envelope having an open window formed in one of the flat surfaces thereof over said edge portion of the envelope for receiving and retaining the selvage edge portion of the sheet of stamps with the open window exposing a portion of the selvage edge of the sheet of stamps for application of a First Day of Issue cancellation seal to the exposed selvage edge portion through the open window and wherein the envelope further includes an integral portion of the flat surface of the envelope immediately adjacent the side of the open window on the side thereof to which a stamp normally is applied of sufficient dimension to accommodate affixing thereto an extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of stamps to be authenticated and with the open window being of sufficient size to accommodate passage of a First Day of Issue cancellation seal applying device therethrough for applying the bulls eye containing the date and name of post office performing the authentication and a portion of the killer bar segments of the First Day of Issue cancellation seal to the portion of the selvage edge exposed through the open window with the terminal ends of the killer bar segments of the seal extending sufficiently to impinge upon and cancel an extra original stamp of the same issue affixed to the exterior of the envelope immediately adjacent to said open window.

Claim 17

An envelope specially designed for use in first day of issue authentication of a sheet of original stamps containing a selvage edge integrally formed with the sheet of stamps during printing, said envelope having a flat surface and being of a size to receive a flat sheet of a number of integrally interconnected original stamps and their interconnected integrally formed selvage edge portion with the selvage edge portion retained near an edge portion of the envelope, said envelope having an open window formed in one of the flat surfaces thereof over said edge portion of the envelope for receiving and retaining the selvage edge portion of the sheet of stamps with the open window exposing a portion of the selvage edge of the sheet of stamps for application of a First Day of Issue cancellation seal to the exposed selvage edge portion through the open window and wherein the envelope further includes an integral portion of the flat surface of the envelope immediately adjacent the side of the open window on the side thereof to which a stamp normally is applied of sufficient dimension to accommodate affixing thereto an extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of stamps to be authenticated and with the open window being of sufficient size to accommodate passage of a First Day of Issue cancellation seal applying device therethrough for applying the bulls eye containing the date and name of post office performing the authentication and a portion of the killer bar segments of the First Day of Issue cancellation seal to the portion of the selvage edge exposed through the open window with the terminal ends of the killer bar segments of the seal extending sufficiently to impinge upon and cancel an extra original stamp of the same issue affixed to the exterior of the envelope immediately adjacent to said open window.

Claim 20

The method of stamp authentication according to claim 16 wherein an extra original stamp of the same issue as the sheet of original stamps being authenticated is affixed in-line with the exposed portion of the selvage edge by adhesively securing the extra original stamp directly to the exposed selvage edge adjacent to and in-line with the area of the selvage edge to which the First Day of Issue cancellation seal is applied such that the terminal ends of the killer bar cancellation segments impinge upon and cancel the extra original stamp.