An Impression made by public authority, in pursuance of law, upon paper or parchment, upon which certain legal proceedings , conveyances, or contracts are re- quired to be written, and for which a tax or duty is exacted. A small label or strip of paper, bearing a particular device, printed and sold by the government, and required to be attached to mail-matter, and to some other articles subject to duty or excise.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
