Two distinct overprints were made, before and after the formal independence of the state on 6 December 1922. The Provisional Government of Ireland ("Rialtas Sealadach na hÉireann") overprints were initially issued on 17 February 1922, with eight low-value and three high-value stamps overprinted by Dollard and four by Thom. This overprint is composed of the four words "Rialtas Sealadach na hÉireann" and the numeral date "1922" arranged in five lines of seriffed text. The unoverprinted stamps remained valid for postage in Ireland until 31 March 1922.