Own a Scarce 1765 British Revenue Proof
Produced for the Stamp Act – Led to Revolution
Only One Available!
This is your chance to own a genuine piece of American history with direct ties to the American Revolution – an embossed British Revenue stamp paper proof produced for use in the American colonies. Colonists were so strongly opposed to the tax, it w... more
Own a Scarce 1765 British Revenue Proof
Produced for the Stamp Act – Led to Revolution
Only One Available!
This is your chance to own a genuine piece of American history with direct ties to the American Revolution – an embossed British Revenue stamp paper proof produced for use in the American colonies. Colonists were so strongly opposed to the tax, it was repealed just five months after the stamps went into use. As a result, few used stamps exist, and only a limited number of proofs remain for us today.
These scarce proofs are missing from most collections. We only have one available – be the lucky collector to secure this old proof in your collection.
The “America” Almanac Stamp
According to the Stamp Act, this two pence stamp was intended to pay the tax on any almanac or calendar for one year or less that fit on the front of a single sheet of paper, parchment, vellum, or skin. Almanacs or calendars intended for use for several years had a tax of four pence.
The design includes a crown atop a circle enclosing a sun with a cross at the center. A sword and scepter are crossed behind the design. “AMERICA” is printed across the top while “DVTY (DUTY) TWO PENCE” encircles the sides and bottom. The number of the printer die appears at the bottom.
The Infamous Stamp Act –
Rallying Colonists Toward Revolution
Great Britain had issued its first embossed revenue stamps for use in the United Kingdom in 1694. Decades later, The Massachusetts and New York Colonies began producing their own embossed revenue stamp paper in the 1750s. Since the end of the French and Indian War, the British Parliament had been looking for new ways to increase its revenues from overseas colonies. Parliament reasoned that it was their right to impose a tax on the colonies to pay for the British troops that protected them.
As a result, Parliament passed the Stamp Act on March 22, 1765, placing a direct tax on the colonies for the first time. (The stamps would be effective November 1.) It forced colonists to buy a British tax stamp for every official document they obtained. Under this act, all types of printed material required a stamp showing that a tax had been paid. These included newspapers, books, court documents, land deeds, almanacs, and playing cards.
Colonists were outraged and protested against taxation by Parliament, because they had no one to represent them. In response British goods were boycotted, customhouses were vandalized, and tax collectors were attacked. In England, merchants whose products were boycotted pressured Parliament to repeal the act.
Colonists gathered in New York City on October 7, for the Stamp Act Congress. The two-week meeting produced the Declaration of Rights and Grievances. Among the documents’ 14 points were the colonists’ belief that they should be able to choose representatives to levy taxes, that all colonists had the right to trial by jury, and the economic consequences of the act (that the colonists would reduce trade with Britain).
While many in England refused to acknowledge the document, others were concerned over the threat of lost trade and rallied for Parliament to repeal the act, which they did on March 18, 1766. However, they also passed the Declaratory Act, which claimed its authority to legislate the colonies no matter what.
The Stamp Act Congress that was held as a result of this stamp is often considered one of the first organized political actions of the American Revolution
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