§ 271-a. Sale of stamps. No person, firm, company, association or
corporation other than a corporation organized under the banking law of
this state or under the national bank act of the United States, or a
duly authorized agent of the tax commission, shall sell or expose for
sale, traffic in, trade, barter or exchange any stamp issued pursuant to
this article, without first obtaining from the tax commission its
written consent to sell, traffic in, trade, barter or exchange such
stamps, except that in connection with a sale of or agreement to sell
stock a broker or agent of the principal making such sale or agreement
to sell may supply and affix the stamp or stamps required by this
article. No persons shall sell or expose for sale any stamp so purchased
or acquired for a sum less than the face value thereof without the
written consent of the tax commission. Any person lawfully in possession
of unused stamps of the issue then in effect may request the tax
commission for its consent to redeem the same. He shall present to the
tax commission, if so required, a sworn statement setting forth the name
and address of the owner and the party desiring to redeem said stamps,
how, when and from whom the same were acquired and such other pertinent
and relevant information as the tax commission may require. Thereupon
the tax commission may authorize the redemption of such stamps through
its fiscal agent appointed for the sale of stock transfer stamps. Upon
the failure or refusal of the tax commission to give such authority the
same may be enforced by mandamus. Any person violating any of the
provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon
conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not less than five
hundred nor more than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not
more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the
discretion of the court.