519
WashingtonPerf. 11
Imperforate sheets of#344 were perforatedto create #519.
Imperforate sheets of#344 were perforatedto create #519.
Accidental Variety Created in 1917 with the #519 Stamp
In 1917, the New York postmaster had about #519 stamp by adding fake perforations to the more
1,500 sheets of imperforate 2¢ stamps of the common #344. Mystic’s stamp expertise assures
1908 issue (#344). When he tried to return them you’ll receive the correct stamp.
for credit, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Scott # Mint Used
instead had the stamps perforated and released for
1917 Design of 1908-09
general sale. Most were used and destroyed before
Double Line Watermark,
collectors learned of their existence – making them
Perforated 11
difficult to find now.
Today, forgers attempt to create the scarcer 519 2¢ carmine............................$710.00 $1,750.00
523 524
547
Franklin
#523 an Error in Color…
The 1918 $2 Franklin stamp – US #523
– pictures the Founding Father in black with a
striking orange red frame.
Two years after it was issued, the $2 Franklin
stamp – US #547 – suddenly appeared with
a carmine frame. Collectors thought they’d
discovered a color error, which postal officials
denied. Upon further investigation, they learned
the original 1918 stamp was the error!
Because the discovery was made more than
two years after US #523 was issued, few were
saved – making the stamp scarce today.
Stamps of 1918 Unwatermarked
Scott # Mint Used
523 $2 orange red & black.... $1,050.00 $350.00
524 $5 deep green & black ... 395.00 55.00
1920 Flat Plate Printing, Perforated 11
547 $2 carmine & black......... 375.00 45.00
The Switch to Offset Printing
Effective November 2, 1917, the first-class during World War I. The ink contained so much
letter rate rose to 3¢, which greatly increased the grit that printing plates wore out in about 10 days,
demand for 3¢ stamps – and also for 1¢ stamps, faster than it took to make them. So the Bureau
to go with 2¢ stamps and stamped envelopes switched temporarily to offset printing, for which
already purchased. plates could be produced much more rapidly.
Operating at full capacity, the Bureau of Later, a more satisfactory ink was found, and the
Engraving and Printing found its ink to be of higher-quality engraving process used previously
poor quality – probably due to difficult conditions was re-established.
531 535
532, 533,534, 534A
525 529, 530
536
526-28B
Washington
Scott # Mint Used Scott # Mint Used
1918-20 Offset PrintingOffset Printing – Imperforate
Perforated 11 531 1¢ gray green............... $25.00 $25.00
525 1¢ gray green............... $6.00 $.75 532 2¢ carmine rose (IV) .... 110.00 95.00
526 2¢ carmine (IV) ............ 45.00 5.00 533 2¢ carmine (V) ............. 395.00 200.00
527 2¢ carmine (V) ............. 40.00 1.35 534 2¢ carmine (Va) ........... 39.00 37.50
528 2¢ carmine (Va) ........... 19.00 .75 534A 2¢ carmine (VI) ............ 140.00 100.00
528A 2¢ carmine (VI) ............ 75.00 1.35 535 3¢ violet ....................... 17.00 16.00
528B 2¢ carmine (VII) ........... 42.50 .50 1919 Perforated 121/2
529 3¢ violet (III)................. 8.50 .50
536 1¢ gray green............... 39.00 45.00
530 3¢ purple (IV)............... 2.50 .25
1919 VICTORY ISSUE COMMEMORATIVE
Mint Used
537 3¢ violet................................................... $16.50 $4.95
This stamp was inspired by America’s victory in World War I, known
as “The war to end all wars.” The stamp’s design features the victorious
goddess of liberty, wearing armor and helmet. In one hand she holds a
sword, and in the other the balanced “scales of justice.”
Directly behind Liberty is the Stars and Stripes, surrounded by the flags of
America’s closest allies: Great Britain, Belgium, Italy, and France.
#537 is becoming scarcer and harder to find every day.
Interest-Free Time Payments Available on Stamps $200 or More
537
“Victory” and Flags of Allies
541 542 546
540, 540a 543
Washington
1919-21 “Coil Waste” Issues... Interesting Varieties forStamp Collectors
A supply of coil stamp sheets had been set aside in 1919 as “waste” due
perforated horizontally with the current 11-gauge machines. So the
stamps, Scott numbers 538, 540, and 541, were issued with 11 horizontal
by 10 vertical perforations.
Other sheets intended as coils had been perforated 10 horizontally (top
and bottom) and were now perforated 11 vertically. So #542 is perforated
10 by 11. Still others were imperf and were given perforations 10 x 10 or
11 x 11. The 11 x 11 coil waste stamps are especially scarce today.
1919-21 Coil Waste Stamps, Perf. 11x10
538 1¢ green........................................................ $20.00 $19.00
540 2¢ carmine rose (III)...................................... 18.50 16.00
540a 2¢ pair, imperforate horizontal...................... 90.00 – – –
541 3¢ violet (II)................................................... 75.00 72.50
Perforated 10x11
to poor centering or other defects. They had been perforated vertically, or 542 1¢ green........................................................ 16.00 1.60
horizontally, while some were not perforated at all. Perforated 10
Usually such “coil waste” stamps were destroyed. But in an economy 543 1¢ green........................................................ 1.10 .25
measure, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing decided to issue the stamps Perforated 11
in sheets. A quantity of stamps, already perforated 10 vertically, were 545 1¢ green........................................................ 250.00 250.00
546 2¢ carmine rose............................................ 165.00 195.00
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