Ras Makonnen was the father of Hailé Selassié I and Governor of Harrar. This overprint or private stamp was the seal of Ras Makonnen. It is only known on the first seven stamps. The use of this seal on this issue is not understood. It is possible that it was clandestinely used by Jean Adolph Michel or Theodore Michaelides. Michel and Michaelides were prior postmasters in Ethiopia and were involved in producing many fraudulent philatelic items.