Very rare and absolutely genuine government office rubber stamps from the
early 1900's or earlier, Samuel Moss wooden handle stamps say "THE
JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL NAVY DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON D.C."., THE COMMANDANT US MARINE CORPS WASHINGTON D.C.", "THE PAYMASTER HEADQUARTERS US MARINE CORPS WASHINGTON D.C." These pieces were found at an Oregon estate sale. Such stamps would usually be destroyed
when decommissioned to keep them from being misused, thus it is
exceedingly unusual to find an original one. The largest is 3&1/2 inches
wide, 3&1/2 high and 3/4 inch thick. In the house this came from
was an empty stamp rack from the early 1900's that would have held about
50 stamps. They had removed the stamps and sold them from a basket
outside the house. These three were the only ones of interest. The rubber is not brittle, but I have not tried
inking it. Guaranteed absolutely genuine and original.