Handbill headed 'STOLEN POSTAL ORDER FORMS | STOLEN POSTAGE STAMPS NEGOTIATED BY MEANS OF STAMP SAVINGS SLIPS'.

Two pages. On both sides of a piece of paper roughly twelve and a quarter inches by eight inches wide. Illustrated on both sides. An unusual piece of Post Office ephemera, and something of a period piece, on aged paper, with fraying to extremities. Begins 'The object of these instructions is to secure the apprehension of men and women who are negotiating stolen postal order forms and stolen penny stamps, the proceeds of thefts from Post Office. [...]'. The illustrations consist of photographic montages of 'the handwriting upon Stamp Slips and postal orders and of forged issuing date stamp impressions upon postal orders'. Series of five instructions in the event of presentation. '(A) The fact should be communicated by the officer dealing with the application to another officer at the counter by means of a PRE-ARRANGED SIGNAL, and in such a way as not to arouse the applicant's suspicions. [...] Whilst the person is being attended to, an officer should endeavour, UNOSTENTATIOUSLY if possible, to get between him and the door of the office. [...] (D) Should it be impossible for the counter officer either to detain or follow the applicant (for instance, should the officer be a woman and alone in her office) [...]', etc.