Now that revenues are an accepted part of
philatelic exhibits - and about time, we'd say - it enables the clever exhibitor to use
some of the fascinating taxes and tax stamps to augment and enhance his or her exhibit.
Whether the collection is a tax-related one or a topical/ thematic grouping, the collector
must tell his story with well-chosen stamps. Even a non-exhibitor is telling a story with
his collection, if only that these are the revenue stamps of a country. The story,
whatever it is, can be dull or fascinating - the difference is often in the research and
knowledge that the collector can add to the mix. Mary Ann Owens' wonderful exhibit of
Elephants on Revenues is made even better by the stamps where the elephant is not obvious:
the Order of the Elephant Medals which grace this or that potentate, the coats of arms
with an elephant head or tusk. The old saying states that God is in the details and so is
a good exhibit or collection.
As in most of life, attention to detail pays off. A thorough knowledge of the subject
allows a collector to search the details of a stamp for his particular theme. Take, for
instance, a dog topicalist. An obvious revenue series to find is the dog license revenues
of Ireland. Most are simply the English King or Queen on a revenue overprinted "For
Dog License", but there is one lovely revenue showing a very regal wolfhound (Irish,
of course). A lesser known revenue which fits the topic is the Rome, Georgia, Beer Tax
stamp - a virtual paradise for the topicalist. This rather large stamp (beer tax) shows
Desoto (explorer) and his men on horseback (horses) and his dogs. Searching a catalog will
not give you this information, but the Dogs on Stamps Study Unit's handbook will mention
this very scarce stamp. Information may or may not give you what you want in the search.
It may take hands-on effort in hunting through the stamps themselves, sometimes with a
magnifier.
To attempt to give equal time to the cat collector, there are no revenue stamps for the
domestic cat, but big cats do show up on a few revenues of the Far East. Straits
Settlements do feature tigers on some of their revenue issues.
Other animals are also possible on revenues, for example: bears from Switzerland, fish
on a sardine tax from an Italian municipality, deers and elk and bears from U.S. state
revenues. Trains are found on many revenues from Hungary, Austria, China, Argentina and
others. Bees are seen as decorative devices on some French revenues and beehives show up
on Hungarian issues. Flowers are found on revenues from many countries, even some that
didn't start that way. K. Bileski overprinted the revenues of Saskatchewan with flower
motifs to prevent flooding of the market with excess mint copies of an otherwise scarce
issue. Mythological characters are often portrayed and royalty is a dime a dozen.
As you can see, with research and attention to detail, it is possible to expand and
enrich your collection or exhibit with the revenue stamps of the world. What's your topic?
There could be revenue stamps out there with your topic on it, if only in the details.
fig. 1 Ireland dog license
stamp. 
fig. 3 Malay States Judicial tax showing
bounding tiger. 
fig. 5 Greece social insurance stamp showing a pelican. 
fig. 7 Tati Concessions (Bechuanaland) showing elephant.
fig. 9 Santa Fe (Argentina) showing horses.
fig. 11 Thailand revenue stamp showing Buddha playing a musical instrument.
fig. 13 Japan revenue stamp showing bird.
fig.
2 Rome , Georgia (state revenue) beer tax stamp showing many topics. 
fig. 4 Saskatchewan
(Canada) law stamp showing Bileski floral overprint. 
fig. 6 Jersey (GB) revenue specimen showing a Jersey cow. 
fig. 8 Northern Rhodesia revenue showing giraffe and elephant.
fig. 10 Hungary Sales tax stamp showing Mercury.
fig. 12 Isle of Man (GB) revenue stamp showing viking ship and a coin.
fig. 14 France bill of exchange tax stamp with sylized bees in
upper corners. 
fig. 15 China revenue stamp showing modes of
transportation.
fig. 16 Iceland
receipt stamp showing sheep and fish.
fig. 17 Japan silk worm egg tax stamp with moths in each corner.
fig. 18 Philippines science stamp showing
scientific equipment .
