Editing Perfin (section)

== History ==
Great Britain was the first country to use perfins, beginning in 1868.<ref>[http://www.norbyhus.dk/perfin18.html Toke Nørby. The Story about the SPIFS and PERFINs] — See Part 4. The Authorizations to Perforate Stamps.</ref>  The practice spread quickly to Belgium (1872); Denmark, France, Germany and Switzerland (1876); and Austria (1877); the U.S. finally allowed perfins in 1908.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Rick |title=Perfins: maximum challenge, minimal cost |url=https://www.linns.com/news/postal-updates-page/stamp-collecting-basics/2003/december/perfins--maximum-challenge--minimal-cost.html |website=Linns Stamp News |publisher=Amos Media Company |accessdate=29 March 2020 |language=en |date=Dec 8, 2003}}</ref>

In Britain unused postage stamps could be redeemed for cash at the post office. By agreement with postal authorities, a perfin stamp on a letter could be used only by the owner of the perfin.  Therefore, a stolen perforated stamp would be of no value to the unauthorized bearer.  Thus the use of perfins gave organizations better security over their postage. The demise of the perfin came about by the widespread use of postage meter machines which obviated the need for perfins.