Étiquette de sécurité pour valeur déclarée

–

Seal for declared-value mail

Drawing: In the centre, probably a stylised flower in an oval medallion with another flower in each corner.

Format: 21.5 x 27.75 mm

Paper: Thin plain, no watermark.

Gum: white and smooth

Perforation: 12 ¼ x 12 ½ by comb

Sheet: 50 labels (10 x 5)

In the centre, double rows of vertical perforations (12 ½) spaced 4 mm apart. This is a safety measure to prevent any attempt at detachment. It is assumed that at least two plates were used for printing. But the difference does not show on the labels. In the central oval, there are 3 lines of characters. The dark colour makes them difficult to read.

紙 緘 封  (Zhi Jian Feng) "Closing label",

件 郵 險 保  (Jian You Xian Bao) "Postal insurance documents",

部 通 交  (Bu Tong Jiao) "Ministry of Communications".

In principle, these labels are glued astride the edge of the flap of the envelope and then affixed with the sender's personal seal. On "postal insurance" envelopes, two wires were caught under the flap and then attached by one of these labels. This made it impossible for anyone to open the envelope without it being visible.