Patent License, Royalty Fee & Copyright Stamps are an interrelated group in that they all deal with Intellectual properties. The heaviest usage of these is from the around the Civil War until around 1919.
So, I guess I should explain a little more about what they are.
Patent License stamps were used to show that a License to use their Patent was obtained from the Patent Owner. Thereby being an “Officially Licensed Product.â€
Royalty Fee Stamps used to show that a Royalty Fee was paid to the Patent Owner or their agent. These were commonly placed on the item that was made using the patented design or on their machinery.
Copyright Stamps are a little different. Most of them were used to let the reader or purchaser know that the Copyright owner has been paid and that you are getting the book that you paid for. In that it is complete and printed as the writer and publisher wanted. Or in at least one case a guarantee that the book will not be sold at a cheaper price, in any form, such as a cheap serial book.
As these were privately printed by individuals or corporations and were not Government issued, they would fall under Private Fee stamps. I have personally cataloged over 400 different stamps.
Many of these can be found in Catalog of Various North American Cinderella Stamps , Vol. 6, By Sherwood Springer, 1973. Or the Long out of print License and Royalty Stamps used in the United States 1860 to 1885 by Henry W Holcombe, 1935.
Here are a few from my collection. They range from common to less than 5 known.
Several types of Copyright Stamps exist. There are Copyright stamps that were located on the end papers of books. On Piano Rolls they are found on "Word Rolls" to show the payment of Copyright Fees. Not mechanical License fees as many people think. I also know of them on Medical Books as a verifacation of a Copyright License. I'm sure others exist as well. I just have not verified them yet.
I see a date of 1888 on that stamp. The oldest book I have is a 1905 Scott Catalog, and that doesn't have a copyright stamp. We they mostly limited to the 19th Century?
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."
I had no idea these even existed! I don't think very many other members did either. Thanks for showing them to us.
If I were looking to start a really different and interesting topical collection this would be perfect. I always did like the engraved revenue stamps of US and other nations as well.
Hi all,
Just found your posts, thanks for having these available. I just came across this unique "Royalty Stamp"from George E. Waring Jr. the inventor of the toilet, civil war colonel and sanitation inventor from central park amongst other things.I'm going through an auctioned collection.Any feedback would be helpful.
Thanks
Steve G.
"License and royalty stamps seem to have had their widest use in the United States during the years between 1860 and 1890. They were affixed to various products to show that the manufacturer and been given permission by owners of the patent involved to use such patented feature in his product, and usually indicated that a certain fee had been paid for such use." (Sherwood Springer; Handbook of North American Cinderella Stamps, 1973)
"License and Royalty Stamps were, many years ago, obtained directly from shoes, paper collars, books, etc. Those were the real days of collecting - when anything with holes around the edges, and gum or evidence of it on the back, was a stamp, and hence collectable. Today, the few that remain are those which were removed from 'original covers' and have since been a part of one collection or another." (Henry W. Holcombe; 321 West 94th Street, New York, 1935)
Henry W. Holcombe, 1935, Checklist of License & Royalty Stamps used in the United States - 1860 to 1885.