Most of the stamps in this group were listed as Specimens in earlier editions of this catalog. Most Specimens are generated for publicity and promotional purposes and are expected to have at least some public exposure. Test stamps have a different purpose. They are generated during internal tests of machines and equipment, for employee training purposes, and to preview town marks and slogans before they are released to the customer. They are not intended to be seen by the public and are normally destroyed or trashed after use. Those that escaped destruction and are available to collectors were in most cases saved by employees for their personal collections or those of friends.
Test stamps are also generated when variable rate stamp vending machines and digital post office franking systems are switched on. These "initiation" stamps are meant to show if the system is working properly. Test stamps such as this occasionally are found in public trash bins near the machines.
There is much overlap between Test and Specimen stamps. Specimen stamp designs have often been used for internal testing purposes. Cataloged in Group TST are only those stamp designs that unambiguously were meant for internal testing purposes only.
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-DE3. Pitney Bowes.
Type DE3 frank only, without town mark, with "P.B.METER" prefix but blank space in place of meter number.
Without value figures.
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-DG2. U.S. Postal Meter.
Type DG2 with town mark: SHOP / TEST
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IA(1). Pitney Bowes.
An "R" model machine stamp made of horizontal bars with a blank circular (town mark) insert at left and a small square insert at lower right containing the value figures.
A. V/F: * 00
B. V/F: ≋ 00
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IA(2). Pitney Bowes.
A Sub-group IA frank with most of the design above the value box obliterated.
Both the town mark circle and value box are empty.
Meter number: 482359 seen.
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IA3. Pitney Bowes.
Type IA3 or IA4.1 with "U.S.POSTAGE" above the value box obliterated and with the meter number defaced.
Town mark empty.
V/F: 1 00 : (. 00 :or ≋ 00 : ?)
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IA4(1). Pitney Bowes.
Horizontal line design as TST-IA(1) but with value figures as found with Types IA4.1 and IA4.2.
V/F: ≋ 00 :
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IA4.1. Pitney Bowes.
Type IA4.1 with blank space where the meter number would be.
With empty town mark.
V/F: ≋ 00 :
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IB4. Pitney Bowes.
Type IB4 with upper half of frank obliterated.
Both the town mark and the value box are empty.
Meter number: 453829 seen.
Type SPE-B3 in 2001 edition
TST-IC(1). Pitney Bowes.
A 5300 series model machine stamp made of a solid background with insets at top center and at bottom right and center plus a circular (town mark) cut-out at left and a rectangular (value figure) cut-out at right. With horizontally oriented grooves snaking through the center and right of the design.
The number 1234567890 appears in both the top and bottom center cut-outs.
Type SPE-B2 in 2001 edition
TST-IC(2). Pitney Bowes.
Horizontal line design as Types IA(1) and TST-IA4 but the footprint fits the 5300 series model stamp.
The value box is empty, and there is no meter number.
A. Town mark: CITY / STATE
B. Town mark normal town and state
C. Town mark: QUALITY CONTROL / TEST
D. Town mark empty
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IC1. Pitney Bowes.
As TST-IC(2)D but with value figures.
V/F: ≋.00 :
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IC4. Pitney Bowes.
As TST-IC(2) but with wide triad at left in the value figures.
A. Town mark: CITY / STATE
V/F: . 00
B. Town mark blank but with date. The value figures have a slash bar between the two zeros.
V/F: . 0/0
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IC4.1. Pitney Bowes.
Type IC4.1 with SPECIMEN above the value box and with QUALITY CONTROL / TEST in the town mark.
Meter number all zeros.
V/F: . 00
Type SPE-B4 in 2001 edition
TST-ID2. Pitney Bowes.
Type ID2 with QUALITY CONTROL / TEST in the town mark.
Meter number: 1007694 seen.
V/F: ≋ 0.00
Type SPE-B5-1 in 2001 edition
TST-IE1(1). Pitney Bowes.
Type IE1 blank at top of value box and with QUALITY CONTROL / TEST in the town mark.
Meter number: P.B.METER SPEC.
V/F: ≋0 .00 ≋
Type SPE-B5-2 in 2001 edition
TST-IE1(2). Pitney Bowes.
Type IE1 with QUALITY CONTROL / TEST in the town mark.
Meter number: 6002605 seen.
V/F: ≋0 .00 ≋
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-IE1(3). Pitney Bowes.
Horizontal line design as Types TST-IA(1), TST-IA4, and TST-IC(2) but the footprint fits the 6500 meter model series stamps.
Town mark: CITY / STATE
V/F: ≋0 .00 ≋
Type SPE-B6 in 2001 edition
TST-LA. Hasler.
Sub-group LA frank frame with panels at top and bottom but otherwise completely empty.
Town mark: SPECIMEN / SPECIMEN
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-NA(1). Pitney Bowes, 1993. [RRRR]
This stamp and the next one [TST-NA(2)] were used during the designing and testing of Pitney Bowes' first digital stamp, internally nicknamed the "Fox" and released in 1995 as the PostPerfect model. The stamp includes an image of a fox in the design. It was never meant to be issued as such and so is considered a Test stamp rather than an Essay.
The design shows a sitting fox at left of POST. The fox sits above the value figures, and POST is above the meter number and the date.
The stamp contains a scalloped border in the upper corners.
Meter number: PB0000000
Town mark: MAILED FROM FOXLAND 06926'
V/F: 00.00
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-NA(2). Pitney Bowes. [RRRR]
Test design as Type TST-NA(1) but without the scalloped border.
Meter number: PB0000000
Town mark: MAILED FROM FOXLAND 06926'
V/F: 00.00
a. With LOW VALUE above POST
Type SPE-A(MA1) in 2001 edition
TST-NA1. Pitney Bowes.
Type NA1 with TEST ONLY SPECIMEN in arc above eagle's head.
A. Town line: MAILED FROM STAMFORD CT 06905
B. Town line: THIS IS FOR TESTING ONLY and ZIP code
Meter number: PB 2000000
V/F: $00.00o
a. With LOW VALUE over the wing
Type SPE-A(MA2)2 in 2001 edition
TST-NA2.1. Pitney Bowes.
Type NA2.1 with TEST ONLY SPECIMEN in arc above eagle's head.
A. Town line: SPECIMEN SPECIMEN
B. Town line: THIS IS FOR TESTING ONLY 09626
C1. Town line: MAILED FROM normal town, state and ZIP code
C2. Town line: normal town, state and ZIP code without MAILED FROM
D. Town line: MAILED FROM FOXLAND 06926
Meter number for A: PB0004510
Meter number for B, C and D: 000000000
V/F: $00.00o
Type SPE-A(MA3) in 2001 edition
TST-NA3. Pitney Bowes.
Type NA3 with TEST ONLY SPECIMEN in arc above eagle's head.
Town line: SPECIMEN SPECIMEN
Meter number: PB0056821 seen.
V/F: $00.00o
Type SPE-A(MA3) in 2001 edition
TST-ND1. Francotyp Postalia.
This stamp looks nothing like the postage stamp produced by the meter. The machine prints it out when verifying if everything is aligned properly.
The stamp is a horizontal rectangle containing a target at center with various alignment indicators at the sides.
At lower left is mymail Test Print and at lower right is USA with numbers at the sides above the date and time.
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-QA2.1. Neopost-Hasler.
Stamp label as used with Type QA1.1B but inscribed (from top down): TEST INFO, the date, time, model number, Safe (and number), and with PostLink Meter | US on the bottom.
Without value figures.
NOTES:
* The scan shows the stamp along with a tab at right (black on top, "Hasler" on bottom). The tab is not part of the stamp. They are used as spacers on the rolls of blank labels fed into the machine.
* Presumably this test stamp also exists on QA2.1 labels Type A1, A2, and C.
Type SPE-A(IA3a????) in 2001 edition
TST-QB1.1. Pitney Bowes.
Type QB1.1 with ENGINEERING TEST replacing "UNITED STATES POSTAGE" in the arc above the eagle's head.
NOT VALID POSTAGE above eagle's wing.
A. ID number with 02 1A prefix
B. ID number with 02 1M prefix
V/F: $00.00o
Type SPE-A(IA3a????) in 2001 edition
TST-QB1.4. Pitney Bowes.
As TST-QB1.1 but with six bank value figures.
ID number with 02 1P prefix.
V/F: $000.00o
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-QB5(1). Pitney Bowes.
This stamp comes from the Connect+ meter model but has no resemblance to the standard stamp except for the 2D DataMatrix barcode field. The barcode has a vertical line at right with a small numeral 1 or 2 at top. Examples seen include a traditional barcode at left below a client's address.
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-QB5(2). Pitney Bowes.
As TST-QB5(1) this stamp's only connection to the Connect+ standard stamp is the 2D DataMatrix barcode field, this time with VOID embedded at center. To its right are two horizontal rectangles with INVALID in the top one and the following data in the lower one: value figures above 02 1W at left and the date, a ten digit ID number and a 3 digit number at right.
V/F: $000.000
Type SPE-B1 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B1. International Business Machine (IBM).
Type PO-B1A with 'large VOID' replacing the impression counter number,. weight and value figures through the center.
Possible similar Test stamps exist (or existed) for PO-B1B through E.
Meter number: 00001 PO
Town mark: NEW YORK
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B3.1. Electronic Communications Inc. (NCR).
Type PO-B3.1 with ECI over small METER at leff of TEST / SPECIMEN as the main design.
The point-of-sale data added at bottom reads: FORUM9 09/08/75- - - - .50
Other dates and values may exist but these are the only ones seen.
Type SPE-A(POX-C2) in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B3.2. Electronic Communications Inc. (NCR).
As TST-PO-B3.1 but the corners of the upper design are square rather than rounded.
The point-of-sale data added at bottom reads: FORUM9 09/08/75- - - - .50
Other dates and values may exist but these are the only ones seen.
Type SPE-B7 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B5(1). Intermec.
Labels from an Intermec machine with fluorescent strip going to the edge at right. The design consists of five columns of seven filled rectangles with a barcode at right.
Type SPE-B8 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B5(2). Intermec.
Label as with TST-PO-B5(1) but the design consists of a row of small filled squares across the top above four of the squares at left bounded by asterisks at the sides. Across the bottom is a large barcode.
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6. Intermec.
Label used for PO-B6 types but blank except for TRAINING LABEL - VOID printed across the top. Found adhering to a blank page in the UNISYS IRT Postage Validation Imprinter Training Program Manual dated July 1993.
Type SPE-B9 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.1(1). Pitney Bowes.
Type PO-B6.1 with town line as:
A. PVI TEST and state abbreviation
B. PVI TEST SITE and state abbreviation
V/F: $0.00
Type SPE-B10 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.1(2). Pitney Bowes.
Type PO-B6.1 with TEST / LABEL / EAR and number / TC and number replacing "U.S. POSTAGE" / "PAID" at top and with a column of hash marks at far left.
V/F: $0.00
Type SPE-B13 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.1(3). Pitney Bowes.
Tracking number barcode label as shown with Type PO-B6.1 but with column of hash marks at left and 0000 / TEST / LABEL below the eagle logo.
Type SPE-B11 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.2. Pitney Bowes.
Type PO-B6.2 with column of hash marks at left and with TEST / LABEL / EAR and number / TC and number replacing "U.S. POSTAGE" / "PAID" at top.
V/F: $0.00
Type SPE-B12 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.3. Pitney Bowes.
Type PO-B6.3 with column of hash marks at left and with TEST / LABEL / EAR and number / TC and number replacing "U.S. POSTAGE" / "PAID" at top.
V/F: $0.00
Type SPE-B14 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.4(1). Pitney Bowes.
As TST-PO-B6.1(2) but with streamlined eagle head logo instead of eagle profile logo.
V/F: $0.00
Type SPE-B17 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.4(2). Pitney Bowes.
Tracking number barcode label as TST-PO-B6.1(3) but with streamlined eagle head logo instead of eagle profile logo.
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.4(3). Intermec.
As Type PO-B6.4 but with TRAINING LABEL - VOID replacing the red band across the top. Found adhering to a blank page in the UNISYS IRT Postage Validation Imprinter Training Program Manual dated July 1993.
Type SPE-B15 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.5. Pitney Bowes.
As TST-PO-B6.2 but with streamlined eagle head logo instead of eagle profile logo.
V/F: $0.00
Type SPE-B16 in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.6(1). Pitney Bowes.
As TST-PO-B6.3 but with streamlined eagle head logo instead of eagle profile logo.
V/F: $0.00
Unlisted in 2001 edition
TST-PO-B6.6(2). Intermec.
As Type PO-B6 but with TRAINING LABEL - VOID replacing the red band across the top. Found adhering to a blank page in the UNISYS IRT Postage Validation Imprinter Training Program Manual dated July 1993.
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