Image 2A
postal stationery envelope used from
London to
Düsseldorf in 1900, with additional
postage stamp perfinned "C & S" identifying the user as "Churchill & Sim" per the seal on the reverse shown on inset. A
perfin, the contraction of 'PERForated INitials', is a pattern of tiny holes punched through a postage stamp. Organizations used perforating machines to make perforations forming letters or designs in postage stamps with the purpose of preventing pilferage. It is often difficult to identify the originating uses of individual perfins because there are often no identifying features but when a perfin is affixed to a
cover that has some user identifying feature, like a company name, address, or even a
postmark or
cancellation of a known town where the company had offices, this enhances the perfin.