Glossary Term

Bisect

A bisect is a stamp cut in half — usually diagonally, vertically or horizontally — and used to pay postage at half its face value, typically during a shortage of lower denominations.

Also known as: bisected stamp, split stamp, half stamp

A bisect is a stamp that has been cut into two parts, with one part used to pay postage at half the stamp’s face value. Bisects are an improvised solution to a shortage of the correct denomination and are among the most characterful items in postal history.

Types of Bisect

  • Diagonal bisects — cut corner to corner, the most common form.
  • Vertical bisects — cut top to bottom.
  • Horizontal bisects — cut side to side.

Occasionally stamps were split into thirds or quarters to pay smaller fractions of their value; these are much rarer.

Why Bisects Were Used

Bisects typically arose when a post office ran short of a low-value stamp and could not wait for new supplies. Postmasters in remote colonies, islands and war zones were most affected. A well-documented example is Guernsey in 1940: after the German occupation cut the island off from British supplies, the 1d stamp ran out and the authorities permitted British 2d stamps to be bisected and used as 1d until local stamps were printed.

Some postal administrations formally authorised bisecting through a notice or decree, specifying which stamps could be split and for how long. Others simply tolerated the practice.

Why Bisects Must Be on Cover

A half stamp on its own proves nothing — anyone can cut a stamp with scissors. A bisect is only meaningful when it is still attached to its cover or a piece of the envelope, with the cancellation tying it to the paper across the cut edge. Catalogues typically price bisects “on cover” only.

Even then, caution is needed: bisects are a popular target for fakers, who add a half stamp to a genuine old cover and apply a forged postmark. Signs of a genuine bisect include:

  • Use within an officially authorised period.
  • A postmark consistent with the office and date.
  • The correct postal rate for the letter.
  • A cancellation that runs continuously from the stamp onto the envelope.

Collecting Bisects

Bisects appeal to postal historians because each one documents a specific moment of scarcity. Serious buyers should insist on an expert certificate for any expensive bisect cover.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bisect

Why would someone cut a stamp in half?

When a post office ran out of a particular low value, officials sometimes authorised cutting a higher-value stamp in half to pay the lower rate. A 2d stamp cut in two, for example, could be used to pay a 1d rate.

Is a bisect valuable off cover?

Generally not. A loose half stamp cannot prove it was used as a bisect rather than simply torn or cut later. Bisects are collected and valued on cover or on piece, where the postmark ties the half stamp to the mail.

Were bisects always authorised?

No. Some were officially sanctioned by postal authorities during shortages, while others were tolerated or used without permission. Authorised bisects on cover, used within the approved period, are the most desirable.

Related Terms

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