On Nov. 19, 1987, South Africa issued a commemorating the Bible Society of South Africa, which was founded in 1820. It was meant to be a four-stamp set. However, the 40¢ stamp contained two lines of script, one in Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament, and one in Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament. Both lines contained the word “God.”
The stamps had already been distributed to South African post offices when complaints from Orthodox Jews about the use of the word “God” in a non-worship setting led South African postal authorities to withdraw the stamp.
A limited number of the 40¢ stamps were sold, and some were used for postage. The withdrawn stamp is popular with collectors of religion on stamps and Judaica collectors.
The 2016 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue notes but does not list or value the withdrawn stamp. Prices for the stamp in mint never-hinged condition vary widely, from about $650 up to $1,000. If you find it at the lower end of this price range, it is a good buy. Used examples rarely come on the market, but we think that they probably would sell for more than mint never-hinged examples, if offered.
