The Common Law Courts (Fees) Act 1865, effective 31 Dec 1865, provided for the collection of fees payable in the Superior Courts of Law at Westminster by means of stamps.
De La Rue, watermark Scales, perf 14. Issued well before Key Types came into use, these stamps are the same size as the large (pounds) Key Type stamps (0.95″ x 1.6″).
Printing plates were made by De La Rue at the end of 1865, with a penny plate following in early 1866. The 1d stamp is the most scarce with only 300 sheets printed.
| Current No. | Duty | No. | Registered | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 259 | 6d | 1 | 31 Oct 1865 | 6,000 |
| 260 | 1/- | 1 | “ | 9,750 |
| 261 | 2/- | 1 | “ | 23,200 |
| 262 | 5/- | 1 | 3 Nov 1865 | 16,900 |
| 263 | 10/- | 1 | “ | 900 |
| 264 | £1 | 1 | “ | 1,325 |
| 270 | 1d | 1 | 2 Feb 1866 | 300 |
Watermark Scales as seen from the front of the stamp; and cut-down die proofs in pale blue, carmine, and green, possibly for the 1867 Paris Exhibition.
Cut-down die proofs in black on glazed cards, click to enlarge.
Common Law Courts stamps were replaced by Judicature Fee stamps in 1875.