Page 175 - Collection
P. 175
Scouting around the World Great Britain
1918-1939 1939-1941 1941-1952
::.·..·..:..·....·....... :..·..·..:..·.·.......... ' :..·..·..:..·.·..........
B6500.02 B6500.0la '
B6500.01
Perfins are perforated initials, used on postage stamps by companies to prevent misuse and
theft of stamps. Three perfins are known to have been made for use by the Boy Scouts
Association. All three read "BS I A" and all were produced by J Sloper & Co Ltd.
The earliest die, B6500.02, appears to date from the BSA move to their new headquarters in
1917, and is recorded from 10 September 1918. Easily identified by the 5-pin alphabet.
The die was replaced c 1939 by B6500.0 Ia, using the now standard 4-pin alphabet. The die was
almost certainly destroyed by the Luftwaffe in the Blitz on Sloper's premises in May 1941.
The replacement die, B6500.0l, looks identical to the previous, and can only be distinguished
by the postmark date. It is recorded up to 1952.
Two business companies have used "BSA" perfins, both having all three letters in one line.
Perfin "BSA " (Boy Scouts Association), type B6500.02 with missing pins in 'S' and 'A '.
Cover sent to the President ofthe Boy Scouts Association in Hungary.
