G3701 .D313 L981u 1937 c.3

THE UNITED STATES ISSUES

OF 1918~20

By

DONALD F LYBARGER

A. P. S. I 1325

Member of Garfield-Perry Stamp Club

THE UNITED §TATE§ I§§UE§

OF 1918~20

B.v D0'..\1 J) I I ) B \RGI:R

\. p s 1132;

,\lemher of (,arllci.I-J>nn '>tamp Cluh

I' I{ ICL '11.011

,\;\11 Rl< '" I'll II \II I I~T II \'.;llllOOK Srtms 1937 Nn. 2

RrPROlltJ<..r..n rRII\1 till' \ \1rRtL\'\ PH 11 \1 H 1~1 f·u~RUARY .'\t,Gl.'Sl, 19J7

Pum.tsHLD nY ·1 11h , \ .\1JcR ic "' PHII~\·1 E:l.ts·• . \L'Gt;~J 1937

PRI"'ED BY Till '->10\\11.1 PRtV!I"!.; C0.\11'\'Y I EDI:R.\l!>lll R<.;, ,\lARYLAl\ll

T111s I·o1110' co'\~1~1~ 111- !O L'\'\l \IBH<rD

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272

COPHI<iiiT 1937

BY Tur. AMLRJCAN Pllll IJLLJSI

The United States Issue of 1918-20 By Do:-.ALO I. LYIIARGER, \. I' S. ;-...o. 11325.

,\\o.;ml>cr of G;~rl!dd-Pcrr~ "tamp Club.

{ '11 \I'TI-:11 I

In the spnng of l<J It! when the \\' orld \\' ar ''as at tts height, a philatelist who was then enli~tcd m the.: \ervin: wa~ stankd to oh,cne .1 nude three cent stamp on a letter which he receiH:d. At ontt: he condudcd that tht ~t.unp wa~ a counterfeit, for he reasoned that 1t was not engr.t\eJ and that tht· workmansh1p \\·hich haJ gone into its making could not h.l\e bu:n that ol tht· Btm·.1u of htgranng .tnd Printing! Of course the truth soon hn-.1mc known and tortun.1td) it "·'' not Jlt:(Cssary to rai'e the hue and cry ;lg.ttn't a <Lwgcrous band of ,t,lmp <<Juntcrfcitcrs.

Back of this incidull, "·hidt perhaps "as similar to the expcncn<"e of many stamp collettors at the umc. hcs the 'Lon of the ,uria,,· printed ,t.unps nude by the Bureau of Lngr.l\"lllg and Printing 111 J<!J'I-20 h) \\ll.lt IS kno\\n ·"the ofTset printing pwcess.

'ever before h.ul the l 'nitcd ~t.ll<s produn·d it, po,tage ,t,1mps hy the pLmographic method. llw i'sue " t htrcfort unique and tt slwuld lx of p.Hti..:ular intcre-r to col\e,tor' hecau,t· ol tlw m:tn) poss1hilit1o tor l)Jl''· 'hadt' and mlllnr \aridies which it presents.

The notes '' hich follow rq>rc.·st:nl an t•llort to coiled .tnd wrrtbte .til a\"ailable inforn1.1tion be.HIIlg 011 thi> mtcrcqin:; issue For the ll.lq ten ~c.·.u, I kl\e cnde.l\ored to <tu<h !ltcs(• st.tmps tnlc.nsi,·d\ .!lld w lt.lrn ·'' much ,1, pos<rhle concerning thc.·lf making. I am indebted to llllllll'fOUS sources for the: ra, ts I h,l\'e gathered, and cspeci:tlh to the "riting' ol tht• l.11c Jo,cph B. l..c..1\ ~ who ''·'' goH rnmtnt phil:nelht durin(! the '' ar .. 1nd to C. \\'. lltelford '' ho \\Orked With me on the is-.m· for some time Jlrior to hts dc;Hh. It 1s my desire huc111 to tnnsidcr how thr of1s~t plates were m;•dc .1nd the m:ulnt·r 111 "hich ,t,unps \\ere printed from them; ami then to take up sep.lratl'lv :1 sttuh of t".l\ h of tl•- thrn· dr IH -,i-'ltiow

The E ngr:JVi ng P rocess.

From the time "hen the me 11on ol 1o1 n nn uot to th< t"ontr.u\ the Umtc.·d States h.ul c.ngran: Its pmt,tgc swmps. "i"he ,j.;d)cd c.ngr.1\·er l.tb(Jrccl o;l a small p1cce of soh steel knm\ n as the the. \Vhc.:n the. dt "gn \\,1, cngra\l·d tht: die was hardened, and imprcs\lono; from tht: d1c \\Trt nl.ldt· umkr prc.·"urc: on the ,oft 'tee! surf.~ee of a round transfc.:r roller, "hidt in turn \\ ,,, hardu1nl. lmprt'S'IOns from the tramfc r roller were then rolled into a suit steel pl.llt :ts m.lll) tunc' ·" nccrssary. and the plate itself was hardened and handed to tht: pnnter. Ink appltc.·d to such an engraved plate filled the nunutc.: crc,icc:s \\hirh \\t'lll to m.tkc up the int.1~lio dc,ign of eadt stamp. Tht: plate thus inked canw Ill cont.ld wllh the paper and left its impression thereon,

PAPER -PLflTE ~

thus producing a \hc.·tt of tngran~d st:1mps whose surfal'l' was somewhat in relief berame the ink from the intaglio design of the plat<' ha<.l now adht·red to the paper.

TilE L'\"ITl:ll ~·1\TJ:,.., b~I'E OF 1!111'--:W

Tl11s in brief had been the proce's of m;tkmg stamps from engra\'ed plates for mora than 70 years. It was a radical departure from cmtom. therefore, when in 1918 the Bureau began manufacturing plates for printing stamps h} the ofTset process.

Reasons for the Change of Process.

On April 6. 1917 the United States entered the World War. To a certain extent as a war measure Congress raised the rate of domesnc letter postage from 2 to 3 cents an ounce on November 2, 1917. This irnmedia1cly t:reatcd a great demand for the 3 cent stamp which hitherto had been little med, anti the die of which was not cut deep enough to create plates capable of withstanding hard usc. T n December, 1917 it became necessary. therefore, to make a new d1e for the 3 cent stamp. Plates were then made from this die which created Type IT of the 3 cent engraYed stamps.

The Bureau of Engr:l\'ing and Prmung he<".tme bmier as the war progressed. Speed was essential in tLrrning out postage stamps. Materials for their proper manu­facture were becoming either scarce or tnfcrior 111 quality. The Bureau found it increasing!} difficult to obtain the qualit> of steel necessary for the making of engraved plates. .\!so the barite used as a base in the printing ink was second-rate and con­tained comiderahle grit, which rapidly \\·ore out the engran~d plates during the process of creating 3 cent stamps in haste.

Meaning of the Terms "Offset Printing" and "Surface Prints".

Late in Febru:>ry, 1918 the Bureau decided temporanly to make the 3 cent stamp by 1hc photo-lithographic or ofTset printing process. Tim method of printing derives its name from the fact that in the prin1ing operation the plate never touches the paper on which the stamps arc printed. but "oiTscts" it~ impression on a rubber cylinder which in turn transfers it to the paper. The stamps of this issue are called "surface prints" because the surface of the plate (and not the etched crevices, as in the case of engra\·ed stamps) is the source of the printed design.

A War Issue.

Eventually three denominations were made h) the oiTset printing method. 'l11ese comprise the issue of 1918-20. The 3 cent appeared ;\brch 23. 1918; the 1 cent on December 24, 1918. and the 2 cent on \larch l'i, 1920. four distinct types of the 2 cent stamp :tncl two of the 3 cent an: recognized. ,\II three denominations were issued imperforille and with pri,·nte perforatiOns. The paper on which the stamps were printed is unwatermarkcd. and the size of perforation is II,. The I cent stamp was nlso issued with perforation 12 1'z . Numerous shades. minor varieties and errors .tre found.

Sinre the origin of the surface printed stamps is traced to the \Var. they may truly be called a war issue, brought forth by the storm and \tress of the days when the United St:ttcs was under arms.

Importance of Understanding the Offset Process.

In studying the ofTset issue 1t is necessary for the collector to dismiss from his rnind the terms familiarly employed 1n describing stamps made by the engraving process. There are no ''double transfers", "shifts" or "rc entries" in this issue. For the lirst time photography played a leading part in the making of United States postage ~tamps. lf the collector is to npprectatc the nature of tht· numerous types and minor varieties of the oflset issue, he must have a clear understanding of how the ofTset plates were made and of the method of printing from them.

How the Offset Plates Were Made

c - Proo/ J-Oie

4-Relovclletl Prinl

8-l'li?t:Sheo' Z1nc P/o/e

I. From the die ( 1) of the en­gravPd stamp a proof ( 2) w:1s madP.

n. Surh cliP proof was photograph­ed and au enlarged negative (~) (approximately 51;6" hy 6%") obtained.

III. LinPs \\Pre retouched and cor­rections made either on this negative ( 3) or on a print ( 4) from H.

I\'. From suc.h retouched print ( 4) was mad€' a small "step down" negr~ tive ( 5) (approximately 1 ~~" by 11,4 ").

V. This was pla<'e<l in a "step and repeal" photog-raphic compos­ing n~ttehine and projected on a sensitized glass plate. After the first subject was thus flash­ed on the plate, the ('amera was moved to the next position where the design of the stamp was lli'Ojected a sPcond time on the 111ate, and so on back and forth until 400 subjects were photographed. Thus was made a -tOO subie<"l positive ( 6).

VI. .\n impression from the latter was made on n celluloid film, known as a "mask." This cre­atl'd a 400 subject master neg­ative ( 'i).

VII. Guidi' lines and arrow~ were dl:.'l wn Pithcr on the I 00 sub­ject tHlSi tive ( 6), or on the master nf'galive ( 7). Plate nun1h!'rs were usua lly placed on tlw maslt (7). (See full dis<·uRsion which follows.)

VIII. A plate of thin zinc (8) was lll'epnred by being ~rained, waslH'rl. counter-etchPd and coated with emulsion. This zinc plate ( 8) was placed under the 400 subject master negative and by nwans of contact pho­tog-raphy a [lOsitive impression made upon it. The plate (8) was inked, developed, and the d!'sign of the stamps etched in with arid. The ink being of a grease base, stuck to the sur­face of the design, and the acit\ a<·tPd only upon the parts of the design which on the print­ed stamp show while.

6

Concerning Plate Numbers.

Since there arc so many \ancttcs of pL.Hc numbus 111 the olisct issue, it is worth while to knO\\ ho'' they occurreJ. First. cight small oblong spaces were usually drawn on the -!00 subject posit!\ e ( 6 ) , so a., to lea' t' corresponding clear spaces on the ma~tcr ncgatl\e ( 7) ior the insertion ol plate numbers. Sometimes. however, such spaces were scrapcJ out of the master negati\"C itscll.

Photographs oi pLne numbers \\·erl' made and the negatt\CS of them developed. These numbers were cut out and opaqucd tnto the .,paces prm iJed for them on rhe master negative (7). .\fter the master ncgattn h~1d made one plate the numbers were scraped from the neg:HiH and ctght Ill'\\' oncs tnscrteJ. Thus many plates were created from the: ~amc negati,e, the only change bcing in the substitution of plate numbers.

At first photogr:>.phs of cngra\ ed numbers wen: employed. Later those of printed numbers came into use, and in sncral inst,utccs rubber stamp numerals were used. Somettmes plates would he incorrectly numl)(:rnl. To rectif~ such errors one or two of the digits at the end <?f the eight platl' numl)(·rs on the master negati\·e would be

Ppaqued out and the correct numbers etched 111 by hand. These latter numbers would therefore diaer in each of the eight positiom on the plate when finished. Sec the accompanying illll'>lr::ltion. The same practice was frequently resorted to (in the absence of any error) when it was destrcd to change the plate numbers so as to follow the regular sequence of numbers (e.g. tn changtng from plate number 86-!'5 to 8646 the dtgit ''')" would become a handmade "6").

It should also be noted that in rare instances the enttre plate number was made bv hand. It 1s possible that such numlx.·rs \\'Lre etched directly on the finished zinc plate itself when \Vorkers got in a hurr~.

Offset Plate Number Types.

7

By reason of the methoJs used for numbering plates of this issue, there are •everal \\Til Jdim:d t} pt.s of plate numbers. In general, these may be classified as follows:

Type 1 212 mm. tall by ~ to 11 mn1. long. A thin. neat numeral, doubtless mad<' from a photograph of Pll!!;r<l\"Pd numerals. !Examples: ),'os. ~41 7. h 1~0. 12!ll:ll

Type~ :l mm. tall by !J to 1:1 mm. long. ,\ light tn>c numeral. (Nos. 9266, 1164!), 11!l7fi)

Type 3 Samp as Type 2. IJnt a heavy typP num<•ral. (Nos. 9993, 11406. 12410)

Type 4- :~to 4 mm. tall by 10 to 13 mm. long. A thick numeral of the rubber stamp ,·ariety. CNos. 8610. 9!!20. 9350)

Type 5- Hand made numerals. (:-.'os. 8648, 99~i. 12243, 11531)

Size of Plates.

The usual size of an oiTsct plate was 400 subjects. I lowe\·er a few plates of 800 and 1600 subjects were employed to ~peed production. These were made by exposing a 400 subject master negatiYe on a large zinc plate either two or four times as the case might be. This plate was then treated as were those o( normal size. After sheets of stamps had been printed from such plate, the sheets were subJiviJed into portions of 400 subjects carh. It is impossible to distinguish stamps maJe (rom these oversize plates except by plate number.

T he Printing Process.

After a plate was prepared as previously described, it was ready for use by the printing department. Hderence to the aboYe Jrawing and to the explanation which follows will make clear the manner in which stamps were printed by the offset process.

8

I. ! I.

Ill.

IV.

\'.

The zinc plate was placed on the plate cylinder of the press ( 1). Ali lht> platP rpvoh•t>d il was muislt'llf'd h) a wl'l 1011 (2) and a !'!nomic ar'id solution disll'iblllf'd PI'Pnly OI'PI' il 1 :l ), with thf' result that tlw etched part~ of lh! ' plate which "Pl't' to l'cmain <"Oiorlt>RH wer1• 1\'l'l but lht• surfal'P of till' piaU• was dry. Tht> plate tlwn toudiPcl thP inking rollers 1 4 1. Sinc·e the t:tched parts of tlll' desi~n wen• wet. ink would adlwrc only to the SUI'­fat·P of lhf' platP. 1. P .. to tlw JHtrts whil'll furnish the lines of color on till' printed stamp. 1\pxl in its n•,·olution till' plate co11tacted a ruhher transfer cylinder sometinH'S !'ailed a blanket ( 5 ), whkh waH pbl!'ed immedintely aho1·1· a steel prcssnn• roll!'l' ( 6). The plate !crt its impression upo11 this rub!)('r <·ylindPI'. A sheet of paper 1 71 proccPded through the [ln•ss l!l•twcen tho rub­her (·ylindPr and tlw roiiPr Tlw imprPssion was thus tn\nsfcrrcd from the rubber cylindC'r to the paper, and a shePl ot [lrinted stamps l't'Slll!! d.

Sources of T ypes and Minor Varieties.

ft \1 ill be ~el'll (rom the abo1e outlme of the oJiset printing process that there are many more possibilities of types, error~ and minor Yaneties among surface printed stamps than among engraved sumps.

A true type originated when a change was made in the retouched pnnt or step down negati1·e used 111 creating a master negati\T. For example, the Bureau was not satisfied with the first 2 cent ollset ~ t amp (Type J\'). Then:forc a new photograph of a die proof '''a'> made, worked o1er and retouched. :\n enurcly ne" step down negative was obtained and the result was Type V.

TnE r~!TED STNfEti l l>SCE OF 1918-~0 9

A slight defect occurring on the master negative would be transferred to every zinc plate on which an impression from such negative was made. This fact accounts for the numerous Jots, dashes and lines of color often found on offset stamps. For example, the '"CRNTS" variety of the 2 cent was caused by a small flaw on the negative which made the letter"£" appear to be an "R".

Zinc plates were far more susceptible to imperfections than are the steel plates from which engr:l\ed stamps are printed. A scratch o( any sort on the face of the plate would be nmcd on the stamp by the absence of color. No doubt the fact that small particles of lint might find their way on the plate also explains some of the minor imperfectiom on the stamps.

The blurred appearann: of some st:unps of this issue, and the extremely light shades which arc found may be accounted for by the follo"·ing facts. Constant friction of the plate and the ruhber tranj)fer cylinder camed the" plate to become over­heated after it had been in usc for several hours. The ere\ ices of the stamp design then would not remain moist and the plate would become dry along the edges. As a re~ult, stamps from this portion of the plate would appear heaYily inked and blurred because ink would occupy the crevices. lt v·as then the practice to stop the press about evcrv 3,000 i mprcssions, wa-.h the pl:\ll:: and permit it to cool. It was observed that the ftrSt sheets printed after the plates had been thus w~shed would have ~he stamps :dong the edges of the sheet quite light in color.

., ................ ~···~·········· • 1084:1 1084 1 •

So-called "ph;"lntom" plate numbers (that is. faint repetitions of the plate number on the margin of the sheet) were caused hy the rollers which fed the paper into the press, coming slightly in contact with the rubber cylinder and thus picking up the impression of the plate number from it :1nd transferring it to the paper. See the accompanying illustration.

Double Prints.

The best known minor variety is the double print which is found on all three denominations. Double prints may have resulted in several difTerent ways. There is evidence that some sheets o( stamps were printed so faintly that ordin:~rily they would have been discarded. However they were pl~ced in the press again and printed a second time thus creating genuine double prints. In "Philatelic Classics" for Novem­ber, 1930, r-.1r. Charles ). Phillips tells of the experience o( L. J. Seely who in 1918 discovered at his home post office a number of 3 cent stamps which were double printed. He was so interested in the matter that he went to \Vashington and even­tually got permission to go through the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to observe the printing of stamps by the offset process.

Mr. Seely is quoted as saying. "I talked to the foreman and said, 'Tt is funny how you get the double impression by the machine slipping.' The foreman said, 'It does not.' and I said. 'Your Superintendent savs it docs.' 1l1e foreman then said, 'As a matter of fact we were working on high 1;rcssure, working all night long to get these three cents out and I found that the sheets were coming through so lightly inked that you could not even see an impression on it. I then told the boys, 'Don't waste that

10

paper, stick them in and run them through again.' anJ this we did. I do not know how many sheets there were but it was a great many and you can find offsets to the right or the left. up above and below, the first impression being very pale lilac with tlw deeper purple over it.'"

In "'Ine American Philatelist" for March I, 1919, reference is made to the fact that sheets of the 3 cent stamps printed from plate 937{ were so light and faint in ('Olor that they were put through the press a second time and then were printed from plate 9396. The margins of sheets so printed show single impressions of each plate number.

Inquiry at the Bureau some years ago brought the reply that double prints may have resulted because the paper stuck in the keckr and failed to proceed through the press. In such case two impressions would ht· m:~de on the rublxr cylinder before the next sheet of paper came along, and the double print e!Tect would he transferred to the shet't when it entered the press. Tt is my opinion that the very slight double prints which present merely a b~urred appeamnce were caused bv the plate vibrating the least bit as it came in contact \\ ith the rubber C\'linder.

The collector \\ ho wishes to work in a fertile philatelic field can do no better th:~n giH• serious attention to the numerous types and unusual minor varieties which the ]9) S-20 issue produced.

'1'111·: [':\I'I'Ul ST.\'1'1::- J:..;:-;t'E OF l!ll~-:!() 11

('tl.\l'TI-:1: ]J

TilE ONE CENT OFFSET.

When in the fall of lYl i the United St;ltes rat~ed tts postage rates, an unusual demand arose not only for the 3 cent d<.:nomtnation but :1lso for the 1 cent stamp to usc wtth the 2 cent adhesive :1nd envelope. For a year the Bureau of Engraving and Printing depended exdu~ively on th<.: engraving process to supply this need. rinally as an emergency measure, :1fter nine months of pmducing rhe 3 cent by means oi oilsct printing the Bureau began making the l cent hy the same method.

Distinguishing Marks.

In the cour~e of preparing to pnnt this denomtnauon. a dit proof of the 1 cent engraved stamp was first obtained. This was photographnl and <.:nlarged. The result­ing negative was not greatly touched up. as was the Gl'ie with the ~ cent and 3 cent. Therefore the diiTerences between the lines on the engra\cd and surface printed 1 cent stamps are not marked. Thts dtstinction, ho\\'C\ cr. may he noted: On the 1 cent

I engraved stamp there are five plain venical ltnes in the buuon of the toga; on the surface printed stamp there is a very small dot in the center of the thi rd vertical line in the button. It is difficult to see without the aid of a glass. ,\lso, the L cent offset i~ one-half millimeter shorter in length than the engnved.

In general it mav be said that the stamps or this issue can be distinguished from engraved stamps by their flat, smooth appearance. They arc not so clear and sharp in detail as engraved stamps.

Only One Type.

From an examination of records in the Photo-lithographic Section of the Bureau, :tm able to state that there were two 400 subject positive glass plates made for the

1 cent. I have seen blue prints from these, and found that the plates had the guide lines dra\\n upon them. Roth plates were made from the same "step down" negative. This precludes the possibility of there being more than one true type of this denomina­tion. Minor differences, even though when found to recur on a number of plates, capnot be said to denote different type~. since th<.:y originated by reason of variations not in the ultimate source or the plates, hut on the master negative.

Making the Plates.

According to records which I have seen in the Bureau, the first ofiset plates for the 1 cent denomination were made on September 20, 191 il. These were plates numbered 909'5, 6, 7, 9242 and 3, of which numbers 9097 and 9243 were not used. The next day the printing section began producing stamps from the first plate men­tioned. The denomination was first offered for sale at \Vashington on December 24, 1919. For six months the Bureau turned out l cent surface printed stamps. The last plate listed, which was number 10072. was made on March 21. 1919. It may be that four additional plates were made at a later date. Tf so, there is no e,·idence that they,

12 'I'TTE l'->ITl:D ~TATES Ts>;n; OF l!JH\-:!0

or for that matter any plates subsequent to number 10054, were ever used. Printing of rhc I cent ceased March 26, 1919.

A total of 261 plates of the 1 cent were used for printing. Of these all were 400 subject plates save two which were of 1600 subjects.

P late Numbers.

The numbers uset.l on the 1 cent plates arc generally o[ Type II and III as pre­VIOusly described. On a few plates the large numbers of Type IV were used, and on others handmatle numerals of Type V. Notable among the latter type is number 9987 which has the Jppearance of having been scratched directly on the zinc plate. \Vhen plate number 1 00-B was numbered, the second "0'" was so indistinct that It had to be drawn in by hand. Plate numlx:r Yariations of this nature are frequently found m the ofTset issue.

Shades.

The 1 cent oJlsct was pruned in a w1de range of shades running from a very pale to a dark green. The shade most frequunly found is gray green. The most dii'!Ye shades are emerald green and a comparatl\"ely dark green.

Minor Varieties.

Since there were fewer plates of the 1 cent than of the other ofTset cie· nominations, not nearly so many minor varieties are found. Distmct double prints arc qutte scare<.. an<.l e1·en slightly doubled Impressions are not easy to obtain. An imtancc.: of a true.: double pnnt, and not one.: due merely to me· chanica! causes, is found on plate '\o. W1/-l which went thru the prt''' twice, and ti1L second time rl-reiicJ another plate number. Due to a perforating­error the stamps arc i"ound impc.:rlor:\te 1crtically. on~: row of pcrforauom be­Ing mts\lng. ~ umerou'> comt.1nt platL ,·aricues arc found. . \s has been pointed out prcYIOusly, when a muwr 1 ar11.:ty occurs on a number ot different plate'>, it ma~ safe!) he.: concludc.:d that It was a llaw which occurred on the master negallYC and therefore \\as repeated each ll111L the ncgatne \\:1'> used to 111.1kc a zinc plate. For example, there is the 1ariety which gl\l'S \\'ashing­ton a black eye. This occurs on the 22nd stamp of the lower left pane.

L&.AI (Plate numbers uncert:un.) .\ dark 'pot of color con1l'S im111ediatc.:h O\L'r the t.:yL. Sec the accompanying dlmtration.

( )ne unmual 'ancty almost completd) cuts oll \Va'>hll1gton 's nose. This 1s found oi1 the I Oth stamp of a lo\\'C:r lcft p:mc. (Plate numbers unccrtai n.)

The 36th stamp on the lower right pane (plate numbered 9245, 8, 9, 9250. 7. 9, 9260, 6, 7. 9283, 4. 5, 9290. 1, 9306. 7, 8, 18, 20, 22, 28 and <>thcrs) has a large dot which comes directly outside of the top frame in the upper nght corner of the stamp. On the 93rd stamp of the same pane the "P" of POST.\GF is completely white.

Arthur E. Owen, who has contributed so much to philatelic knowl­<'dge not only concerning the ofTset issue but many others, in the Novem ber 14, 19'6 l'>'>Ue of ST.\MPS, reports a striking \'aricty which is found on the 16th stamp on the upper right pane of plate !9525. There is found "a large white area along the left side opposite \Va.,hmgton's nose that almost entirely ohlitcr:>tes the left frame line and the center section of the left wreath."

T mention th<: aboYc as examples of the kind of minor Yarieties which frequently occur in this issue. Many others might be chronicled. T belieYe however that the collector must lx· on guard when studying this issue and must bear in mind that the

Tille 1':-:ITEn :-:;'L\'l'E!" lsst·J: OF l!llb-~0

manner by which the ofiset stamps were produced was conduci\'e to slight variations and minor difTerences creeping into the finished product.

The Imperforate.

On January 21. 1919 the Bureau issued the 1 cent stamp imperforate for the purpose of supplying the Schermack Company wnh stamps to be privately perforated for use in mailing machines. Sixteen plates were u-.cd to supply the imperforate stamps, namely 9402. 9'509, 21, 23, 27, 40, 9808, 17, 18. 19, 28, 30, 40, 99~1, 5~ and 65. The variety is found in a number of shades, the ll10'>l unusual of wh1ch IS a dark briqht green. The Schermack Company ga\·e the 1 cent stamp its perforation Type Ill. The compar:lti\'ely small number of I cent oiTset stamps issued imperforate makes them ']Uite desirable.

The Rosback Perforation.

Almost in a class with the stamps pnntcd on hiUI-.h experimental paper in 1909, is the I cent ollset stamp which was perforated experimentally in 1919. The Bureau at that time tried out a perforating nuchine which was made by The F. P. Rosback Company of Benton Harbor. Michigan. Its purpose was to perforate a sheet of stamps bo•h horizontally and \ ertically in one operation. The Bureau did not find the rnnchine a success Jnd after gi,·ing it a trial returned to the usual method of perfo­mting.

Tn all 6.641 sheets of 400 I cent -.tamp-. Wtrl' perforated on the Rosback machine. A large number of the sl1eets thus perfouted were imperfect and therefore could not he ust•d. IIowe\cr a lola! of 3,46() sheets of 400 were nit up and supplied to the Post Office Department. This means that 1.386.400 stamps perforated by the Roshack machine \\ere made a\'ailnble to the public. They were plnced on sale at the general po't oflire :1nd all branch offices in \Vashington on August 12. 1919.

The Rosback perforation is classified as size 12 1 which is the smallest perforation used on any United States stamp since the issue of 1857.60.

The stamps \\ hirh were given the Roshack perforation were printed from seven d!fff'rt' llt plates. namclv those numbered 9QR5, I 000 I, 1'5. 11. 33 and 52 all of which were of 400 suhierh; and 9993 \\'hirh was of 1600 subjects. The \·ariety exists imper­fnrate \ertically.

Check List.

R) wa\· of summary there follows a check list of the cent \'aneties. The plate ntnnl'lt'rs med ha,·e lx:en comniled from data obt;uned at the Bureau and from the lists contained in Kmg and fohl's \Cry exccllmt work on "n1c Pnited States Postage Sr:1mps of the 20th Century." Thev were compiled b, Arthur F. Owen and arc used herein h\ courtesy of the publisher, H. L. Lindquist.

Offset Printing Issue of 191 8-20.

Scott's No. 525-1 Cent Offset. Unwmk'd. Perf. 11.

First issued December 24, 1918. Typi<'al shade: gray green. Range of shades: f1·om very pale grel?n to dark green. Scarcest shades: emerald grC'en and tiJC' dark greens. Minor varieties: Imperforate vertic•ally.

Double print. 1'\umerous flaws in the design.

Plate numbers of plates which \\'C're used:

14

400 subject plates

9095- 96 9242- 45, 47, 411, 19, 50, il7, 5R, 59, GO. 61, 66, 67, 83, 84, 85, 90, 91 9306- 07, 08, 18. :lO, ~1. 22, 28, 99 9 4 0 2-0 3' 8 6. 8 j'' 8 8. 8 9' 9 6. !l j' !l 8' 9 9 9508- 09, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 39, 40,

41, 55, 56, 57, 58 9640-41, 43, Hl, 62, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 7~. 'i9, 80, 81, 82, 85, 92,

93. 94, 98, 99 !1700- 01, 02, 03, 10, 11. 12, 13, 1·1, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23 , 24 , 25,

53, 54, 55, 56, 63, 64, 6fi, 66. 67, 68, 72, 73, 74. 79, 80, 81, 82, 87. 88, 89, 90, 91, 92

9802-03, 04, Ofi, OG. 07, 09, 10. 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, :!8, 29, ::o. 37, 38, 39, 10, 41, 42, 43, 44. 59, 60, 61, 70, 71, 74, 76, 78, 79, 93, !14, 95, 96. 97

9906 Oi, 09, 16, 17, JS, 20, J9, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 72, n, 74, 75, 76, 77. 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 9:), 96, 97, 98, 99

1oooo-o1. 02, o:l, 05, 06, 01. os, o9, 10 . u. 12, 13, 14, 15, 1s, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. 26, 27. 28, 2!l, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. 35, 36, 37. ::<;, 41. 42, -ta. 41. 45, 4!l. 50, 52. 53. ;;1

1600 subject plates

9971- 93

531-1 Cent Offset. llli!Wrfo rate. First issued January 21, 1919. Typical shade: gray green. Scarcest shade: dark green. Variety: Private pcrfOJ·ation ::>ehermack III.

Plate numbers of plates which were used:

4 00 subject plates

9402 9509-21, 23, 27, 40 9808 17 , 18, 19, 28, 30, 40 9951 52, 65

536-1 Cent Offset. Perf. l!! lh (Roshack perforation) . .F'irst issued August 12. 1919. Typical shade: gray green. Variety~ Imperforate vertically.

Plate .numbers or plates which were used:

400 subject plates

9985 10001 25, 32. 33, 52

16 0 0 su hject plate

9993

Tm: L.'\ITEO ~T.\TI:~ lssn: oF l!Jlh-:.!0 15

( 1 II \ l'Tl It 111

THE TWO CENT OFFSET.

The offset presses had been devoid of postage stamps for a year, when in March, 1920 the Bureau of Engra\ ing and Printiug once more resorted to them for the pur­pose of turning out a suppl} of the 2 cent denomination.

The rate of domesttc letter postage was restored to 2 cents on July 1, 1919. TI1is created an increased demand for 2 cent stamps. The Bureau was able to meet it sati'­factorily hy the use of the flat plate until a considerable number of these were ruined by inferior ink. Again therefore it was stern necessity which caused the abandonment of the engraving process for the more rapid method of ofT~et printing.

That photo lithography proved convenient and popular, at le;~st so far as Bureau workers were concerned. is attested bv thl fact that It continued in me for more than a year. the last of the oflset plates being made .\lay 16, 1921.

Tt should not be ddricult for the collector to dtstinguish the 2 cent surface printed stamps from the engran:d. The ofhets have a shin} appearance and a characteristic shade of red quite diflerent from that of any engraved sramps. Also. they often present a striking contrast because the white portions of the design seem to stand out so distinctly. In size the 2 cent stamps of 1918.20 arc generally found to be about 1;.4 mm. wider and from 14 to 3{ mm. shorter than the engraved stamps from Aat plates.

The Question of Types.

Any discussion of the 2 cent denomination of the olT set issue leads immediately to the question of types. Since the collector often has dilliculty in identifying the numerous type.~ found on the 2 cent .\tamps issued from 1<l 12 ro 192 I, it may be help­ful to recall the fact that prior to the appearance of the surface printeo stamps, three Jistinct die~ h:HI been used for the making of the t.:ngraved stamps of this denomina­tion. The advent of the rotary press ml·thod of turning out engraved stamps in 1914-15 brought with it two dies difTerent from the one which had first been in use. The followmg t) pe distinctions are worth noting:

Type I - In use on the ~cent !>tamps ex<'lusive-ly from 1912-14. (1) There is one line of shading in the> first curve of the ribbon to the left, and one line of shading in the s!'cond .curv<> of ribbon to the right at thP base of the medallion and above the numerals "2." ( 2) The top line of the toga is faint. ( 3) The outline of the button of th<' toga is faint. ( 4) The> cross hatching lines in the roll of the toga are thin.

Typo II - :\lade its appearancE> in June, 1915, on the rotary press coil stamps of 1914-16. ( 1) There is one line of shading in the curves of the ribbon as in Type I. (2) The top lin<> of the toga is strong and d istinet. ( 3) The ou tl inf' of tlw hu tton or the toga is strong. ( 4) The IPft edge of the lock of hair in l'ront of the ear has an outline of color.

Type III Firs! issued in December, 1915. There are two lines of shading in the curves of the ribbons. All other distinguishing marks are the same as in Type II.

Making the Offset Plates.

When the Bureau began the preparation of offset plates, the first step was to obtain an enlarged photograph of a Jtc proof of the engraved stamp. From a com­parison of all of the types mentioned above wtth the diflercnt types of the surface

16

printed stamps, I believe that a proof of Type [ was used in each inst:~nce. More of the characteristics of the die o( Type I than of Types II or III are seen on the ofisets.

During the time when the 2 cent ofisets were being produced at least five di!Ter­ent step down negatives were used in the making of pbtcs. By "di!Tcrent" negatives I mean that changes or corrections (no matter whether quite noticeable or not so well marked) were made upon what in the engraving process corresponds to the die. Thus were created types which the collector cannot overlook when studying this issue.

Some philatelists have subdi\'ided the types further :~nd app:~rently arc convinced that more distinct sources were drawn upon th:111 the h\'C mentioned. The collector must constantly remember, however, that the manner of making this issue was con­ducive to dificrenccs appearing on the stamps. Therefore the mere fact that a great number of copies with similar characteristics can be gathered together does not mean necessarily that they came from distinct types. ,\ l\owance mu.,t be made for printing variations. Conditions could not possibly be so uniform as in the case of intaglio work.

On this subject Mr. Burgess Smith, who is now Director of Rescarch for The Todd Company, of Rochester, New York, and who was in charge of the photo-litho­g raph section of the Bureau at the time when the olTset stamps were first made, says:

"In theory tllere should be no va1·iations in the plates made by this pro­cess. In practice the s lig ht E>st trace of dirt or imperfections in the film would be reproduced in the individual stamps and very rlose observation will show innumerable small differences in stamps made from the same negative.

"The actual plates made from these negatives had their quota of me­chanical defects due principally to dirt 011 the neJ:;ative or plate or in the coating, and somet imes for various reasons a line would be scratched in one or two stamps.

" \VI!en the plate was placed in the p1·ess then' we1·e innumerable pitfalls for producing slight df'fE>els, for the blanket from which the image was trans­fened might have pin holes, and in clamping the plate on scratch es cou ld be produced that would e ither print bla('k lines or break the lines alreadf exis ting on the plate, depending entirely upon the circumstances. In timP­the image on these plates would wear off, the fine lines going first. If it happened on a s ing le stamp this plate sometimes could be repaired on th.e press, ·which operation invariably made a stamp different from its neighbor."

Another question of intereot in this connection is a~ to how many 400 subject positive glass plates,. and 400 subject negative "'masks" were ust·d in the making of the 2 cent ofisets. Mr. Smith informs me that "the life of a master positive on glass was practically indefinite. The contact negatives made from it ordinarily would make hundreds of plates. The life of the celluloid negative however was shortened by the haste, anxiety and lack of experience of workers. A slight damage was corrected by ~killful repair. Others had to be abandoned and new ones made from the master positive."

Through the courtesy of H. M. Southgate sc,·eral years ago I was enabled to check on records in the Bureau and examine proofs of the orTsct plates. T found a 400 sub­ject positive glass plate for Types TV, V, and two for Type \'IT. I also saw an en­larged negative of a photograph of a die proof of either Type V or Type Va, and the step down negative of Type \'1. I have no doubt that originally there were other plates which have since been destroyed. There were record s of ten 400 subject nega­tive masks, one 800 subject mask and one I 600 mask of the 2 cent. It is quite likely that these existing records arc incomplete, and that no exact list of masks was kept.

From the above facts I conclude that there were very few 400 subject positive glass plates made and that as a general rule not more than one such plate was created for each type. There were more 400 subject master negatives made, but there is no

Tilt' l':"tTLn :-;·tAT£:-; Js:-;n: oF l!llo-~0 17

way of determ1n111g thL Lxact number. I beline that fi,c generally accepted types are worthy of most c.1rdul study. If anyone wishes to suhdi,ide funhcr upon some other basis that is his nnnlege.

Type IV.

1 In button of toga l!<l and :lnd vertical lines join0d at lOll and bottom, and like­wise thP 1th and 5th. thus forming the word "DID'' with 1st"])" reversed. (R).

2 Top line or toga (Tl broken and [aint, re­sembling Type I.

:l S1ze: l!lx:!J12 mm. Spacing: 2~!-3 mm. horiz .. 2 ~2 mm. vert. Rane;P of plate nos.: fOSlS-1093i;.

On t.larch 5, 1920, the first plate of 2 cent TYPE: J3l Type IV (No. 10818) 11as made. Others fol

lowed in rap1d succession during the next few weeks. Pnnting heg.1n on March o, .1nd ~tamps 1n·rc lirst otfcrcd for sale at \\'ashing­ton on ;>.!arch 15. It is likch that some \\l'rC sold at Detroit. ~{irh .. on }.larch 13th.

Type I\' i., eaw to itknt1i'y. In the course of 1ts preparation 1t was treated to a secret mark of its own. In the button of the toga thL first and second vertical lint's were jo111ed at top .tnd hotwm. ;tnd hktwise tht fourth and fifth. This gave the appearance of the word "DID" with the first "f)" rc\crseJ. llere ts the simplest and surest means of reco)!nizing Type 1\'. l11 addition it will be oh~c::ned that the hon­zontal line' whith compo'c the ha< kgrountl of the entire stamp are ~lightly further :-apart than 111 tht otlwr types ot this i'>'ue. Tht top line of the toga i~ faint and prtrt of it is I111SSII1~. Thth it rcsemhks Type I. ,\s ;1 whole the o,trtmp h:h a light appear ancc. Its tYpical o,h:t·lc. carmine rose. i'> another means of itkntification, for it dirf•: r< deridedh from that pf other tv pes.

The size of o,t:1m11s of Tyne I\' i, 19 by 21 1f rnm. Sp:tce between rO\\'S mca,ures from 2 3• to ) mm. horizontallY rtnd 2 1'z mm. vertically.

N111t:t) -fivc plates of Type [\' 11ere used. , \ll were of 400 subject~. It is definite­ly known that the two 400 subjetl mao,ter negattves were employed. On the first negam e a ~mall fla11 occurred upon the lJ3rd slrtmp of the lower right pane. It had the c!Tcct of plac1ng a ball of wlor 111 the upper part of the left numeral "2.'' This variety 1s found upon 23 pbtes of Type IV. namely Nos. IOHi ll to 27, 10918, 19, 21-23. 27 ·29. 31-35. The horizontal guide line of plates made from the first negative is qu1te thick. The flaw was soon di'>w1eretl and a new negatiYe made from the 400 subject master positilt. On plate~ made from thts negatiYt the horizontal guide line is very thin. The range of nlatc numbers from this second negative is from 10828 to 109 17. Apparently by mistake the workers rnerted to the defective negative and used it on plates 10918 to 1093'5 as appears from the former list of numbers. The last plate of Type IV was made March 24.

TILE l':s-t'l'EO ::-;'1',\'I'E!-' b:·WE OF l!J)l-; ~0

Type V.

1-5 \'ertieal linPs in button. (B). ·• Top line of toga complete and strong. (T). :! :\[ore lines and dots in ribbons. (R). ·1 A \·ery thin. or a broken line in left num­

ber "2." (!':). ;; Size: 19x:! ~ n1111. Spac·ing: :l !}4. mm. horiz.,

2111 -2% mm. vert. !l- Hange of plate Kos.: 10924-11284; 11386;

1187h-11!l3'i.

The Burcc~u was not satisfied \\ ith 1ts first T Y p E:. y 2 cent oflset ~tamp anJ therefore on March 20,

1920, completed the first plate (No. 10924) made irom a second Jes1gn. Thu~ Typt. \ 'came into lx:111g. ft ditTers decidedly from Type 1\'. There arc 11\e 't;rtical lines in the.: button of the toga. The top hne of the toga 1s complete anJ strong. Thert are more lines and Jots in the ribbons above th:: numerals "2." 'I here is a 't:r> th111, or more frequently a broken line of color be· tween the tail nnd body of the left numeral "2." The l111cs of the background arc closer together than in Type IV.

In size stamps of Type \' measure 19 h) 22 mm., anJ arc therefore slightly larger than other 2 cent offsets. The space between horizontal rows of stamps on the plate is 2 314 mm. anJ between \crtical rows from 21

4 to 21 ~ mm. There werl !.79 plates of 400 suhJt'cts. and 22 plates of I ()00 subJeCt~ of Typt. V

used. The range of plate numbers extemh from I 0924 to II 937, although all but a dozen plates haH' numbers below 112R4. l11e Bureau made the last of the pLncs cf this type in the early summer of l 920.

Type Va.

1-Same as Type V except that in the nose the 3rd line of shading above cun·e of nostril contains 4 dots instead or 6. <D) .

2- Size: 18 %x21 ~ mm. Spacing: 3-3 ~1 mm. horiz., :! 1.2 mm. vert.

3 Range of Jllate Nos.: 11266-11597; 11823-12149; 12838-55.

For quite a number of years collectors realized that ~tamps which ordinarily were classified as heing of Type \' Yaricd in size. and therefore must haYe come from difTercnt sources. Writing in the "Collectors Club Philatelist" for July, 1927, George C. Mt '\'ahh called ;lttcntion to this difference in d~rnen·

T Y P E. Y a sion.' In "Philatelic Opinion .. for February. 1928, Roland W. Catc d1d ltkcw1sc.

It remamcd for Byron L. Wilcox of St. Louis to d1sro,·er the distinguishing fca· turcs of what is now called Type Va. T l is work in this respect was first reported hy Max G. Johl in the issue of STAMPS for August 25, 19.34. The variety was listed for the first time in the 1937 edition of the specialized catalogue.

The outstanding characteristic of stamps of Type Va 1s the absence of two Jots of shading upon the nose. Starting alxnc the curve of the nostril it will he observed that the first full line of shading extending across the no~c contains eight dots, the second seYen Jots and the third cont:uns four dots. Consequently two dots arc m1ss· ing. In Tvpc V this line con,ists of six dots. Otherwise the appearance of the two types is the same.

}!)

The size of the stamps of Type \'a ts another means of identification. Thev measure between 1!! ~ 2 anJ 1!! ' 4 mm. 111 wtJth and 21 !/z mm. in height. The di~­tancc Lx:t\\!:cn stamps is from 3 to 3 1

4 mm. horiwnully and 2 ~ 2 mm. vertically. 111is means that stamp~ of Type \'a are ~maller than th<N: of Type V and arc spaced fur­ther apart.

I hehnc that rhc abO\c dtstincttons ckarly JUSttfy rhe conclusion that this is a scparatc type and that it must he recogntzed as such, even if the average collector is reluctant to do so on what may seem to lum surh slight evidence. Ilow did Type Va occur? The chances arc that for some reason t•:•rly in the summer o[ 1920 the Bureau dect<lt·d to m.tke ,1 llC\\ 400 subject glass posttJve. Evidently to do so the workers used the 'ame step down negative as was employed in the making o( stamps which w<.. tdcnufy as of Type \'. ,\pparu1tly it \\as not retouched in any way. If it had lx:en so treated, new lines and out-tanding dt!Ter<..nces would lx: noted on the fimshed product. I lowe\'l:r, a slight imperfection crept ullo the step down negative, namely one \\ htch took a\\ ;n the: t\Hl dots from the nose.

The: step down -negative was placed in the step and repeat machine. The image of the stamp was then projected on the photographic dry plate. The size of the stamp wa' sltghth reduced in both width and height. and a little more space was allowed het\\TCil the 'tamp horizontally.

More plates ot Type \'a were made than of Type \'. In all there were 529 plates of 400 subjects and 13 plates of 1600 subjects of this t\ pe. The range of numbers ex­tends from 112(}6 to 128'55, with numerow. om"'iom. Tt should he ohsen·ed that no numlwrs lx·t\\'t'en 11'597 and 11823 are found in Type \'a. since numbers within the~e limit- were assigned to Type 'T

T Y P E ::sZI

Type VI.

1

2

., •>

Same as Type V excf'pt that there is a hl>avy lint> of color in left numeral " 2," noti<'Pably thicker than line in right nurr.­!'ral. Size: 18%x21~ mm. Spacing: 3 mm. horiz.: 2 ':6 mm. vert. Range or plate Nos.: 11562-11820 .

The ongin of Type VI is not surrounded wtth the same my~tery a~ that of Type Va. There is cYidencc as to just how it happened to come tnto existence. A. E. Owen tn \\ nttng to me on the subject has this to say:

"Joseph B. Leavy and I talked with the man in the Bureau who made the change in the step down negative, and he said that the line of the left "2" needed to be made stronger and therefore he did it."

At the Bureau I found that this corrected step down negative was entered upon their records on June 7, 1920.

The left "2" i~ the di;tingui;hing mark of Type VI, for the line of color between the tail and body of the numeral is noticeably IH:avier than that of the right "2." In other particulars Type VI resembles Type V, except that in size stamps of Type VI are somewhat smaller. They measure 18\ mm. in width and 21 X mm. in height. The distance between stamps of this type is 3 mm. horizontally and 2 Yz mm. vertically.

The first pbtc of Type VI (No. 11562) was made on June 23, 1920. The last plate of the type ( To. 11820) was made on July 20, 1920. Within this range of numbers there were 73 plates of 400 sub1ects, 19 pl:ltes of ROO subjects and 11 plates of 1600 subjects of Type VI.

20

-®-

T ype VII. 1 Line of color in left "2" is distinct, unbr oken

and of same thickness as that in right num­eral, bul nol so thick as in Type VI. (N).

2· Ncar top of head are about 7 small dots. (H). :; I'!l!Wr lip has .J horizontal rows of 3 dots

each. (L). 4-Sizt•: 18 :\i x21% mm. Spacing: a mm. horiz.,

:Ph mm. vert. 5 Hauge of plate Nos.: 12151-13164.

The last o[ the distinct types of the ofTsct stamps made its appearance in the fall of 1920 when whJt is known as Type \'II was issued. The

(5"") first plate of 'I ]pe \'IT (~o. 12151) was made Oc ~ tobcr 19, 1920, ;md thl last plate early in ~fay, 1921.

Type \' [! may be distinguished by the fact that the line of color between the tail and rhe body of

the left numeral "2" 1s of the same thickness as that found in the right nlllneral. This line " always distinct and unbroken but ne\ er so he;l\ y as that in the left numeral ot Type \'1. :-:car the top of the head appears a row of about seven small dots. On the hp abo\·L d1L mouth there are four horizontal rows of shading each consistin~ of t h rec dots.

T y p E. =sz::Ir

Type \'TI has proved to be the wmmonest of the five ofTset types because there were a total of 585 plates made of it. Plates were di! .. tributed as follows: 425 of 400 s11hiects, 1')2 of 800 subjects and 20 of 1(l(}0 subjects. The range of plate numbers cxtt·rHis from plate 12151 to 13164, with numerous omissions.

The relative scarcity of the five types of 2 cent ofTset stamps, generally speaking, is indicated by the numhcr of plates issued or c.:ach type. I Iowcver, I consider Type \'I the scarcest one because little or no anention was p:tid to it at the t ime of issuance. 'Jext comes Type I \' and then Type V, the lntter being relntively twice as scarce 3.S

T\ pes \';t and \'TJ which are the most plentiful ones.

'1'111. I ''\ !TEll ~T \Tr:~ bsr·r: <II' l!ll~ :.!0 21

('11.\I'Tlli t\•

THE TWO CENT OFFSET

(('nntiJHttd)

Shades.

The collector who I'> intere~ted 111 ~hade~ conws into h1s own when dealing w1th thl" oliset i~~ue of 1918 20. Shades of the 2 cent stamps arc prolific. The characteristic color of Type IV is rose carmine. and it ranges from a n:ry light to a deep shade. After a little study it is not difficult to identify Type TV merely by its color.

Carmine is the term used to describe the color o[ the other four 2 cent types, Jnd it is next to impossible to pick out these types by shade alone. I believe that stamps of Type VI m:ty he said frequent!) to have a brighter color than those of the other tYpes but this cannot be laid down as a tkpendable guide. Stamps of this issue are found in hlocks which are half light .md half dark in sh;tde.

Tt must be borne in mind that .. hade depends not only on \':Hicties of ink but also on printing conditions. Sometimes as a plate became worn its entire surface would bcgm absorbing a small portion of ink. with the result that the paper on which the stamps were printed would have a pinki .. h cast, and the shade of the stamp would appc·ar quite dull.

One of the scarcest shades is a near pink. another a dt·ep brownish carmine, and another a shade which closely approaches lake. In betw.:en these extremes are found numt•rous .,hades of carmine.

Paper and Perforation.

Like the other denominations of this issue, the 2 cent stamps were printed on an unwaterrnarked paper and giYen perforation 11. Ckcasion;,lly stamps are found on paper thicker than that usually med. and on paper which seems to he ribbed. The latter dTert is said to have resulted from worn hbnkets on the presses. The stitch watermark has also been found on the 2 cent.

Size of Plates.

The mual si:t( of plates for the 2 cent was 400 subjects. I IoweYer quite a few pbtes of 800 and 1600 subjects \nre also used. Farly in JCJ21 a plate of 300 stamps was produced for the purpose oi trying out dry lithography. It was no. 13104. No stamps wae C\ er printed from it.

The Imperforates.

All types of the 2 cent of 1918 20 were issued imperfor.ue to supply the need of the Schermack Company for stamps which could be priYately perforated for use in m:~iling and Yending rn:~chines. The first imperforate appeared April 25, 1920. It was thou~ht original!) th:n imperforate 2 cent offsets were a rarity , and they commanded a price as high a' S20.00 a block. Later the postmaster at Chicago requisitioned for a supply of impt:rforates ''hich \\TTl' not unmediately taken up (or commercial use. Some sht·ets \\Trr therefon: <;old to collettors. 1\Jo doubt the same situation prevailed in seYeral other large pmt otlices. I Imn~Yer. l·omparativcly small quantities of the 2 cent stamps in imperforate condition ,,., re '><1\ed and are a,adable to co1lectors.

I mpnforate stamps of Type \' were first i,sued about \fay 20. 1920. when an order for fift,· sheeh was st:nt w Ru1ton I Ltrbor. \fichivan. The exact time of the

22

appearance of tmpc:rioratc' ol the othu tYpes is unct•rtain. ·r ype \'ff and Type V. [J.s now recognized. have proYnl to be the sta rcest, "hile T) JK \a ts the mo't plent iful of tht t} pes. A., a m:nter of fact. all impc:rforatcs oi this i'>'>llc .He desimhle items in any colkctton. Perforation Type Ill ol the Schcrmack Company was applied to the 2 cent imperforates. Stamps of Tnx: \'II .tre most ln:quentl~ found \\ tth this pri\ate pcrfor;Hion.

Plate Number Varieties.

The plate numbers gin:n the 2 cent dt:nomination \\"ere oi Types l, 11, I IT. ;llld V as previously classified. I h;t\C ne\er found a 2 cent plate number of what T have called the '"rubber ~tamp" type. \'eq k\\ numl11:r., \\ere Jmwn by lunJ. and this denomination docs not haYe nearly so m;tny unusual \·arictic:s as docs the ~ cent.

There are. however. scl.'cral outstandtng plate number di!Tcrcncts which should be noted. Formerly ll used w he the pradin: of Bureau worker., to place: their initials on the margin of engra,·ed plates of stamps on \\ htch thn wc:rc working for the purpose of detcrmtning who \\as thc J.~.,t person to ,,·ork on the plate while it was on the press. 1· Yidt•ntl} a [cw persom took the Iibert} of doing so in tlw cast of the 2 cent o!Tset pl.ttc:s. Til JQ20 ~uch practice \\as contrarv to thL cmtomary procedure and it \\a~ soon stopped. ft appears liOm good t·ntkncc: that tlw initials \\ere etched on tht zinc plate aCter it w:h on the pre" and aCtLr 1t had hce11 Ill usc a while. the in itials ha\'ing hccll mscrtcd by a \\'orker or \\'orkt·rs subscquult to the first man to

. . . ~

. . • . . I

: 11495 • ....... , ........... . n~IIA'l'!'II!~I!PiKI· • n,...,..., __ liiSJ!n,."CilAal: 11&4• ttC:;r;wJe IE&&t .us

11 591 ....

• •

1 1 37 1 : ·····~~-····· ····'·· 11510 ~ t ' • • ..

print from thc platt·. lisually the llliuals of o11c: pt'N>n wne '' nttu1 upon the z1nc plate. Ill monogram form. ,tlxne or clost' to an upprr pl.lle 11umher. (Sec tllustration). In scvc:ral inst;uKn :1 sc:cond person added h1s 1n1tial~ to those ol thL tirst \n>rkc-r. The chid ofTender \\as ··o .. \. \1.," who'>l' il1ltl.t!s h.l\l' ht-cn round 011 platl"S II B .t 49, 61. (>i. il. Hl. <J7. 1140~. 10. IH. 24. H. ·H. 44. 11J, Mi. 1110r,, IK. 29, 90 .. \mong oth•rs were '·R <;. \\'.". "T. C. P."". "C. II. K.'·. ··J>. II." .111d "\\'.B.". I haYc idcn· tilled such iniu.tls 011 both pnioratc and nnpcrloratt· st,lmf" ol Type~ \',t and \' 1, :~nd on plates in the srr1es I rom 11300 w 11600.

Above an upper number on plate i\o. 11 600 appl·ars the km·r "T." 1 he initials "T. C. P." arc found beside the lower right plate number on plate 11639, Type VI.

"\Y. B."" apJ't"<trs on one of il1t· sHit· margins of pbte I I (>11(>.

THE ~-~Trw :-;T.\TE:-: bt-'t'E or. l!Jl~-> :?0

Another unu~u:ll variety is that which ex1sts alX>\'e thc first stamp of the upper right pane of several plates. For some unknown rea~on a letter ".\," "B" or "C" was

inserted on the margm of the zinc plate within the .111gle formed by tiK <Jrro\\' (sec illustration). ", \ ·· shm' s in the: <trro\1 on plates 11196, 11?.09, 20, 27, 3(>, -IX, '50; ··w on IIW>R, and "C'' on plates llllJ7. 9R.

On the upper left pane of plate number 11226 an error was made in inserting the number and one digit was omitll"d, making the number read "1226." The:· '>;nne sort of omission is found on the upper nght p<~nc of pl;ltc l\:o. 11233. where the numlwr appt":Hs as ''!?.B."

In the rase of plate :-\o. 1 HOO all of the num­bers wen~ ctchnl in hv hand. and in two Instances tht" plate: numbers \\·ere impro[Krly rlarcd SO that they \\:Ul along side of tWO \l,llll(lS imtead of one.

\ttcnuon h;ls been prcnousl}· called to the m.1nnn 111 \\'hich plate numbers \\'crc prepared on ofht·t pbtt s. .\n inten:,ting evidence of the fact that nunlht.·rs wert" b<.'1ng platTd on the master nt·«;ltl\"t' 1., the prcscnrc oi a series of scratrhes be '1 2 0 56 t\\~cn the st.unp 11\clf and '"' upper plate number in the gc·m r.d r.111gc of numbers between 12000 and L~ 100. ( ~n· illustration.) • • · • • • • • • • •

Phantom platt numbers arc found on all types of the 2 rult. ,\ \;lriet) quite different from phan ­tom mllnht·rs 1s found on ;tn upper left pane of plait 'o. 11~0~. Type: \ ' . where two distinctly printed pl. lit' lllllllba.s . ml <lrmws iljljll';lr. SllliT this pLitt consistl'll of I oOO subjects, 11 I'> likth that the numhcr ot the 41l0 suh1ect plate alltl\l' "' wmc \\'a) was includc.:d with t h.11. of th~ pane mentioned.

Retoudtc.:d Flaws.

Fla1" oi t:\er1 sort .m.: found on the 2 cent stamps ol the offset i"ue _\ ran•1t n· c·x:uninauon oi .111 unsorted lot of these stamps \nil bnng to light 1111nor imperft:diO! ' an ·! lla\\'s 111 eHr) p;•rt oi the design. 1 hoc, ho\\'l'\Cf, should not c:xcitc mnn· th 111 pa\Sing interest. for thn arc not of so muth si.t.:nifir.uKe unless it i~ known \\'here on tht• pl.1tc· thn occurred 111d that they art· ronst.mt ( rt·t'urring on more than one plate).

I· rrors whil'h attract particular attention :ne those \\ hich 1\"l'f( dchher:llely repaired In Bu­reau \\'orhrs. I consider the retouched cheek '·lfll"l y tht" outst;ll1thng example of this sort. ( lm of the "olamps in the Rth row of an upP<'r pane of Typt" VTT den·loped n large while spot on the check of \\'ashington's portrait. (See tllustr:trion.) Tl1t z1nc plntc was therefore re­paired by a scric' of horizontal stroke~ whi!'h part!) covered the spot.

On a par \\ nh tht abO\t" \'cHicty is that \\'hirh resulted in the retouching of the letter "P" in "POST -\GF." .\pparently a flaw which \\'as O\'al in shape developed on the pLue from the top oi the "P" to near the upper frame line of the medallion,

TrrE {'xrTED :-;TATE~ b-;,.,r-E or l!lb-20

and from the edge of the letter "S" across more than hall of the ··p:· It was re­paired by having the outline ot the leuer and the horizontal lines of the background scr:..tched in Wtth an engraver's tool. The position ot this \ariety is uncertain.

On plate l:'o. 11172, Type \', is found a vanc:ty '' ha:h shows a retouching of the hnes on the neck of the portrait. This occurred on a stamp 111 the second row 111 an upper pane and under the plate number. On the stamp under plate )Jo. 11897, Type Va, the letter "T" of PUST,\Gr. has been wrrt•cted in rather a crude manner so that the "T' appears to be leaning to the ldt. One stamp of Type \'a has a minor correc­tion on tl1L toga of the portrait. These ar<.. but a fe\\ oi the repairs which doubtless were made on the 2 cult stamps. A quest for such retouched flaws otTers an interest­ing hll of \\·ork to plulatelists "ho arc p;trttcularly concerned wllh minor \arietics.

Flaws which were Not Correded.

B) tar the greatest number of m111or ,·arieties on the 2 cent othLls wen.: flaws which in one way or another crept into the pl.ue and were not retouched or corrected thereon. In Typ<.. I\' the llaw which plan:s a dot ol color m the left "2 .. of the 93rJ

stamp oi the lo\\ n nght pane h;h already been mentiom:d. The g.1sh on forehead '.met} of this type 1s found under plate \Jo. I OS62. ( ~ee illus­tration, at h:ft.) ·1 he 'J/th stamp of an upper right pane of Type T\' has ;l strc.:;lk which extends from the ribbon to tht lo\\t'r fr;lme line b;tck of the left numeral "2." (~et: dlmtrauon.} This vanety was reported to 11ll by \\' S. Rohmson of \fentor, 0.

The ''('R'\;TS" \aritt) 1s a striking ex.unplc ol .1 ILl\\ \\·htrh Tl •Uited by reason of a small break or) the tilm oi the nl<lster nq~.lliH' . l·nou;.:h uf the h:Kkground of th\' •t, mp ncar the lo\\-cr h.alf of the letter "E" was t.tken .1w I) so th. t the: "I:" rtppertrs to he changed tnto an "It.. ( ~cc Illustration.) This variety oc curs o 1 ·1 '1 t \',1 un a sump directly under an llJ'Pt·r J' l.ltl numhn. .\11 of the copies which I haH' stvn .!n' foun I under plate numbers either in 1 ht' I 1000 !If J.~ l ()() scm·s.

\bon· plate '\'o. 11700, Type VI, and the ~tamps r~djarent to it 1s found rt rather prominent horii'Cmt.tl lint· ;thnut an inch and one h:~lf long.

On the stamp abm·e the plate numbn on a lo\\'cr right pane of 1 >Pe \.II there appears to he .1 bre:k in the upper ldt part of the letter "T' of "CI STS."' Th:~ ,·arict) 1s found on many plates which range in numllt'r 111 the snits from 11100 to 128'50. (Set t!lustration. below. at left.) On tltt' stamp .thm t the t'1.lte number on the !own ldt pane of the ~amc sheet will ht• found ;t dot oi lol » .1ho\t: the lock of hair and to 1 he right of the eye on the portrrtit.

12178

25

On the 46th stamps of a lower right pane, T) pc \'. ts found .1 rather heavy horizontal line of color extending through the upper part of the left numlr;d ··2" .tnd through the "EN" of "CENTS." (Sec ilJustr;ttion, below.) This scratch evidently onurrcd en the: mastc:r nc:gau1·e, since the variety nist~ on senral diiTerc:nl plates. notably Nos

1120~ and liS%. On .111 c:nwaYed ~tamp tl11s \,tritt) \\·ould be most ~trikin)! and would hFe tht• appcar:llKe of being a tracknl pl.tte.

On the lower kft pane of plate ~o. 119'50 1s found .1 white dt feet which in one tmtance almost ohlitc:rates the letter ··p .. of POST \(;t~ . and in another it takes out the letter "0."

Perforating Errors.

Perforating errors "ere frequent 111 this 1ssue. The 2 cent denomination exists 'mperiorate hoth \l'rtit·all) and horizontally. I haYe a hlcKk from a lower right pane of Type \' 11 htch ha~ no perforations along the outc..r margtn of the sheet.

.\nother tntne,ung \'aric:t) came ahnut by rc...tson of the upper left corner of a shn·t bring folded mer the beL of the shel't so that thL tirst st.tmp of the upper left pane (:•ncl a \Tr\' small part of the stamps ne:~rest it) \\'as printnl on the folded corner. \Vhl'll this corner wa' "nwothed out it had the ciTed pf suhtrartmg one sump from thl' shn t .tnd pl:tcing ir on the hack. This occurred on pbte '\o. 122H. Type VII. Thl' \,trit' l) \l,ts disco1ered in l<J20 hi' \\'illiam ,\. L.tngdon. of Cle\'eland.

~fore Concerning Ponhlc Prints.

I >islln~ t double prmt~ ot the 2 .- ci~ l \ lllliJ"· 'lKh ,l\ th.: one illll'· t ratt•tl. ;tre not common. '>I ghth· doublt d cir " •lipJ·ed" prints are m " rt frtquentl) iound. Thne " no cYidcnce th:t am 2 cent plates ,,·crt· e·:~r .tctualh put through the pre•. ,., .1 'cwnd time' \\'hat we commnnlv term tiot;ble print~ (lx·cause tht:) apJT:lr to h;ll'l: been printed twirc) are more than likelv the rc,ult of improper adiustmenr of the nress. Thc follcm inl! cxpl:.tnatton by ~lr. Burge'' Smith. formerly of the Ru­I'l'au of l·ngr;ll·ing and Printing. is one IYhich 1 helic1·e h:1s nc\'er bc~n gin~n bdore.

1 Tc state'> that in o!Tst·t printin.1! ll IS essenti:•l that the thickness of tlw plate on the press and of tht· blanket on the cylinder be in prorer relation one to another. That is. if the tot.•! di;tmt.:tt:r of one cvlinder 1\'l'rc Ltnrer than that of the other. it \\'ould nw:tn that thev wot;ld not l>t- e\·enl\' paired and that the imJ're~sion from the plat~ would not :- l wa\'s f. til at the .. a me point on tlw blanket. .\ t>;reat \'ariation in the ratio between the thickness of the: pl.ltc and the blanket, or the fact

th;H the hl.tnkl'l \\'as not drawn so tighth· as it should Ill'. would result either in an app:lrt.:nt thirknl'" of the lines on the printed \tamp or in actual doubling of the lim s, 'I be cfTt•ct would he to ~i1·e the stamp tht• appt·arance of h;wing been printed t wil'e.

:!6 TnE ll'\"ITlll ~T\TE:-; I ~H'I: oF l!llt~-:!0

The outstanJing minor \'arieties of the :?. cent otT~Lt have been listeJ al)()\'e. !low­ever numerous other interesting it~rm rnrght be mentioned. The collector who fol­lows this issue will be able to unearth man) unusual \.trieties \\'hich will amply repay him for the t11ne spent in searchinj:! for them.

The platl numbers contained Ill the following clm:k li\t ha\'e been prepared after conferring with , \rthur E. Chn:n. wl1<>~l' '.tluec.l assJst:Jncc is acknowledged. By cour­tesy of H. L. Lindquist I ha\'C also drawn upon King and Johl"s "The United States Stamps of the 20th Century" (revised edition).

C'HTX'K US'I' Scott's No.

:>26-2 ('cnC. OfTsct. l"n\\ mk'd . Pt•J•I". 11 .

Type IY First issut'd ~larch l:l, 1!1:?0.

Typi<'al shadt>: roH !'armJnP. Hauge of sbad~>~ : from light to d~>~>Jl ro~.- !"armine. :\Tiuor varietiPs: 11all of c·olor in lf'ft ":?"' ( !l::rd stamp, LTI pane ).

nash on forE'h<'<HI (\llHll'r UJlllPr plat e no. 10~6~). Phantom plate ;nrmhc·rs. :-.ltllllProus flaws in lhP tl<•sign.

Platt> IIUllllh'l"S of plates whi!"h WPI"P IIS<'d:

400 subject plate~

10~18-19. 20 . .:?1. :?:!. :!3, :?1. :!ii. :?6, 21. 2~. :?9. 30. 31. ~2. 33, H, :!5, 36, 37, :HJ. 40, H, 42, 43. t I. 15. :i2. :;:~.54. 55, 56, 57, !iS, 59, 60. 61, 62. tl~. 61, li6, 71, 72. 1:1. 71, 76, 78, 79. 80, 81, 82, 83, S.J. ~5. 86, S7, >-S. 9t1, 92, 9:}. !l·l, !if>, !lfi. 97, !18, 99

10900 01. IJ2. 0 I. o;;, Ofi, 07, OS. 0!1, 10. 12, 1:1, 11. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21. 22. 2:1. 27, ·>s, ~''· 31, 32, :l?.. H. 3:.

Type Y l<'irsl phtfP llHHl<' ~larch 20, 1 !120.

Typic·al Rhaclt•· <'Hl'lllill< ·. nan~(> Of shad< s ; fi'Oill llf'a!' pin!i (O ci !'PJl !':11":UillP. :\linor Yari <' tiPs : llonlol<-' prin1.

11• tonC"!rPd to~J:a LitH · throu~h l~>ft ' ' :!" ancl ·b)\" of ('1,.;)\TS . lli!ncl clra wn plalf Jlll•llhl'rs. l'hlf<' initialPcl "\"OJ" "B ·. llllJH r!oratP \"<•rl i<•a lly llllll<'rforat<· horizontall~· . Phaulmn plat~> nnmh<'l'H.

l'latro nnmll<'rs ol' plnt~>s whi!'h \\'!'l't' ns• d:

100 snbjf'f't plates 10924- ::6. 4~. 49. :iO, Sl. !i3. :il. fl:i. :itl. f17, fiS. 59 , 60, fil. ti:!, 65. GS.

6 !1, 7 0 . 71. "j 2. 'j ::. 'j 4. j 5. "j 6. 7 j. j s. s 1. 8 2. s 3 . s 4. s 6. s j . s 8. >-9, 90, !ll, !i:l, !):{, 94. !J;), 96, 9i, 98, !19

11000-01. O:l. 03, OJ. o;;, Oti, 07. OS, 0!1, 10, 11, 12, l:l,l4,15, lfi. 17, IS, l!l, :!0. :!1. 22, 2a. 21, :!:i, :l6. :!i, 2~. 2!1, 31, 32, 33, :1-1, 35, :16.37, 38. :Ill, 10, 41 , 1:?, t:J, -14, lfi. 16, 47, 48, 50, iii, !i2, 53, ;; 4 . :; 7. :; S , :; !J • 6 0, fil. 6 2, 6 3 , 6 I , 6 fi , !i G, 6 7 . 6 9, I 0, 71, 7 2, 7 3, 74. 75, 76, 77, 71', 7!1, so. 81, 8:?. 8::. 8·1, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 92. !13. !14, !l!l, !17, !JS, 99

11100-01. O:l, O:l. 01, or;, Oli. 07. O!l, 10, 11, 12, 11, 15, 20, 21, 22. 24, :! .-.. :! 6. 2 "j . :! s. 2 !l, :l 0. 31. 3 2. :: ::. :: I. :lfi. 8 6. 3 7. 3 9. 4 0. 4 2. 4 3. 4 l, Hi . .J6. I 'i, I !I, 50. a 1. 5:!. ;; 3, ;; 1. ii 5, 56, !l 'i, 5 !l, G 0, 61, 6 2, 64, s;;, 11. 72. 7:1.; 1. 'i:i, 7<i. 77, 7s. 'i!l, so. 81, s2, 83, 84, 85, 86, S'i. 88. 8!1, 90, !Jl. 93. 96, 97, !IS, 99

11200-06. O!l. 10, ll , 1 :?, 1::. 14. 1:\, 16, lS, 19, 20, :!1, 22, 23. 24. 26, 2 7 . 2 H . :~ 0, :n , 3 2 , 3 3. 3 1. :lfi , :J G, ~ 7 , :1 S, 41, 4 2, 4 3, I 5, 4 G, 4 7, 48, 49, :;o, iii, :;:l, !\:l, 54, 60, Gl, !i:l, 6:L 6 t, 65, 7:!, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81, 8:?, 83, 84

1600 subject platPs 11166-68, 69, 70 11202-03, 04, 05, 56, 57 11386 11878-79, 83, 92, 93. 9-i, 95, 96 11934-36, 37

Type Va First plate made May 14, 1920.

Typical shade: carminP. Rangp of shad(•s: from light to dl'!'Jl l'arminP. Minor variPties: nnublP print.

R!'!OliC'liPO "P" of I'ORTAC:FJ. "CRNTS" for f'EI'\TR. Hand drawn piaL' numhC'rs.

27

:\Tono~?;ram or initial!'! in mand•r ncar plate num­lwr.

PlatP initialPd ".\", "n''. Phantom plate numbers.

Plate numbers of plates whi!-h w!'rl' mwd;

400 subject platPs

11266 67, 85, 86, 81. 88. 89, 90. 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 99 11300-01, 02, 03. 04, 05. Otl. 07, OS. O!l. 10, 11, 1~. 13, 15, 16, 17, 18,

19. 20. 21. 23, 24. 25, :!6. 27, 2~. !!9, :JO, 31, 3~. 33, 35, 36, 37, 3 :-.. 3 !l, 4 0. 41. 4 2, 4 :1. 14, 4:;. 4 6, 4 7, 4 8, 19, 50, 51, 53, 54, 55, :; H, ;; S, 5 H. 6 0. 61. ti!!. 6 3. !l 1. 6;;, ti 6. 6 7. G S. G 9, 7 0, 71, 7 3, 7 4, 7:i, 76. 78, 7~1. SO. Sl. <::!, S:l. S I, S:i, SS. S!l. 90, 91. 92. !13. !15, !l7, £IS. 99

11400-0:!, 0:). 04, 05, oG. Oi, OS. 0!1. 10. 11. 12, 13, 14.,15, 16, 17, 18, 1!1. 20. 21. 22. ::!:J. 24, z;;, zn, 27. 28, :!!1, :10. :n, 33, 3·1, 35, 36, 39. ·10, 41. 13, 4·1, •lii, 16, 17. IS. HI, 50. lil, 52. 53, 55, 56, 57, :iS. 59. 60, 61. £i2, G:l. £i4. !ill, tl7. G8, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 7fi, 76, 77. 78. 79, 80. 81. S:!, 83. Sri. ~7. SR, 89. !JO, !ll, 92, 93, 9-1. 95, !17, !JS, !l!J

I15 0 1- 0 :) , 0 ·I, 0:;, 0 l.i, 0 7, o S. 0 !l, 1 0. 1 1, 1 ~, l:l, 1 I, I :i. 16. 17, 18, 19, :!0. :!1, 2:!, :!:l. :!4. :!ii. 26. :!7. :!S, :!9, 30. 31, ::2. 33, 35, 36, 37, 3 R. :J 9. 4 0. 11, 12. I :l, H. I ~., I H. ·17, 4 S. ·I !1, 50. 51, 52, 53, 55, ,) tL ;} s. :l H. G 0. G 1. fJ 1. 6;;, ti H. li 7. 7 n. 7 I . I:?. 7 ;~. 7 l, 7 ;-;, 7 H. 7 7. 'j 8. 7 !J. 8 0' s 1. s :! . s :l, !I ] • !l :! • !) 3 . 9 I. 9 5. 9 li. 9 7

11S~3- !!4. 25, !!6, 27. :!s, :!!l, :11. :::!, 3:i, :JG, :!7, 38, :l9. 40, 42, 43, 45, 4 6. 4 7. 4 S. 4 9. :i 0. :i I. 5 ~ ;; 3, 5 I. ;; :; , 5 li. :i 7, :; S, :; !l, 6 0. G 1, 6 2, 6::. ti l, Ga. fi li. li 7, r, ~. fi !1. 7 0. 71. 7:!; 7 3. 7 I, 7 5, 7 6, S 7, 8 8, 8 9, 90. 91. 97, 98. !l9

11900- u1. 02. o:1. n4. n:;. oG. ns. o!l, 1 n. 11. 12. 13. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 2r.. 27, 28, :!!1. 30. :n. :{:!. :J3. 3S. 39, 57, 58, 59, 62, 64 65. 67, 6S. G!l, 70, 71, 72. 73. 71. 7~>. 76, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82. s·:. <,.t, s:;, Sli. S7. SS, :-.!1, !JO, 91. 92. 93, 91, 96, 97, 98

1 :! 0 0 0 01, u 2. 0 3. 0 .j' 0::;. 0 7. 11 . 1 :! ' 1 ::. 1-1, 15. 1 s. 19' 2 0. 21, 2 2' 23. :! 1. 2;;, :! u. ~ 7, ~ s. ~ n. :~ o, 31 . :1:!, J :1. 3 ·1, 3 5. 3 6, 3 7, as, a 9, 4 o, 41. ·1:!, 13. 41, 17. lS, l!l, ::iO. ;;I, :i:!, fi:l. a-1. fiG, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, G2. ti:l, 64. 66, 67. 68, fi9. 70, 71. 7:!, 73. 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 7[1, 81. 8:l, s 1. s:;. 86. sn. no. n. 92. 93, 91. 95, 96, 97, 99

12100- 01. 0:!, O:l, 04, 05. OG. 07, OS, 09, I 0, 11. 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, ~o. 21. 22, z:J, :.!4. :!:>, :!6, :!8, 29. 30. ::2. 33. 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, H, 45, 4FI, 49

1 ~838-!\0, 51 52, ;; I, ii!i

1600 subject plates

11944-·15. 46, 47. 48. 49, :;o, :;z 1 !!14 0 4 1, ·I 2, 4 3 . 55

Tnle YI First plate made June 2:1. 1!1:!0.

TnJi<'al shade: hri~hl c·arminP. Hang-(' of shades: from liA'hl to hrownish carmine.

'l'IIE I ''\ITLl> ~T.\li,S 1:--:--l'E !II' l!ll~ :20

~linor Yaril'tif's: nnnhlP print . ~lono!!;ram or initials in llHll'l!ill near plate uum-

bl'r. lmiH'rforat•· horizontally. HPa,.,. ;wratc·h on mar!!;in aboYe plate no. 11709. Phantom plat!' nnntlH'l'~.

Plate numb!'rs of JllatPH whic·h wf'rP. mwd:

-!00 snhjcet plalPs

115 6 2-8 !i. 8 6. 8 7 • 8 8' !l 0. 9 9 11600 01, 03, 01, O:i, 06, 07, OS , 09, II, 12. 13, 15, 16 , 17, 18, 20, 24,

2 9, a o. :n. :l2. :1 a. :l4. ::ri. :1 G. 3 7. 3 s, 3 9 . .n. 4 2, 4 6. 4 7. 4 8. 4 9. 50. :>1. 52, r;:l, fi4. ~.;;. fili. !i7, r.s. 59. Go, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 8o, 81, 82, 113. 84 . s;;. 93, !11. g;;, os. 97, 98. 99

11700 ROO subject plates

11661-62. 63, 6·1, 65. li6. 67, liS, G!l, 70, SS. 90, 91, 92 11706-17 11S1S-19, ~0

1600 snbjet'l platPs 11643-71, 73, 86 11703-07, OS, 09, 10. 1:!, l:l

Type VII- I<'irst plate made 0\'lober 1!1, 19::!0.

T~·pieal shade: c·ann ine> Rangf' of !-ihadf's: li.ght In df'P]l c·arminP. i\linor ,-arieties: Double• print.

ltP.touehed ehet>k. BrC'ak in "T" of ('1•::-\TH. Jlallfl fll'iiWil plllfP !llllllbPJ'S. Phantom pl<d<' nnmb<'rs.

Plate numbers of plat PH whic·h wPl'l' llS<'d ·

100 subject plates

121 ;) 1-:; 2. 5 :l, fi s. (j !I. 'j' !1, i 1 . 7 :! . 'j' ::. 7 I. i ;; . i 6. 'i7. 7'. i !l, b 0. 8 2. 9 3 . !1-1. !!5, !Ji, !1~, !I!J

12200- 49, ;;o, 51, [;:!, [;3. 51, ii5, GG, 67. 6~. 69, iO, 71, 72, 71, 75, 76, 7 7, iS. I !1, 'U. S I, S:!, S :l, S 4. S:;, S li, S 'i, 8 S, 8 9, 9 0

12301- 02, 03, 04, 05. 06, O'i, us, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 1!i. 16, 18, 19, ~~~. 21. 24, :!:i. :~!!. 40. 41, 1:!, 13, 44, 4il, 46, :i4. 55, 56, 57, 58, ii!J. 60, 6~. 63, 61, G:i, 67, 6~. 70, 71, 7:!, 1:1,74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80. 81, !11

1261S- 1!1, 20. 21. 2::, :!·1, 2~ •. :!li, ~~. :!!l, :10, :;1, :\3, 34, :::5, :lG, :ri, 38, 40. 41. 42. 43, ·11. 15, 16, 47, IS, I!J, :iO, 51. :;z, 53, :i4, 5[;, 56, 5 i, 5 S. 59, 6 0, !il, G:!. ti :l, H 4, !i;;, G 6, 6 7, 6 S. 6 9, 'j 0, 71, 7 2, 7 3, 74, 7 ;; , 7 'j, 7 S. 7 !l , S 0, 8 :! , S :l, S I , S ii, \ ti, S 7 , S 8, 8 9, !I 0, 91, 9 2, !J:J. 94, 95, 96, 9i. !JS, [J!I

12701- 02, 03. 04, O:i. OH. Q'j, 11!1, 10, 11, 1:l, 1:1, 14, 1ii, 16, 17, 18, 19, 2 0, 21. 2 2, 2 3, :! l. :? :; , :! 6, :l 7, ~ S, :J !J, I 0. ·11, 4 3, 4 3, 4 4, 4 5, 4 6, 17, ·IS, ~9, !iO. iil, .i:l, :i.J, !i!i, :iS, !i2, 64, 65. 6i, 6f> , 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 7 !, 76, 77, 78, 7!1, so. 81. 8:!, 85, 86, 89, 90, 91, 92

12805- 40, 41 . .JH, II, Hi. 4fi, 17. IS, fiS, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69, iO, 71, 72, 7:1. 7·1, 7:.i, 76, 77, 79, SO, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, s 7. 8 8. s !l. 9 0' [11 . 9 :l. !I ;!, !14. 9 5' !16. 9 7. 9 s . 9 9

12900-03, 01, o::;. 07, os. O!l, 10, u. t:!. t:L 11, 15. 16, 17 13018- -Ifl. :?0, :!1. :!2. 2::, :!4, :!ii, :JG, :!7, :!S, :!9, 30. :Jl, 32, 33, 34, 35,

3 'i, :J S, 3 9. 4 0. I 1 , I :! , I :1 , 4 I , ·I;;, I fL I 7, ·I~, 4 9, 50, 51, 5 2, 5 3, 54. 55. 56. 57. 58, 5!1, GO, 61, 62, 63, 61, 66, 67, 78, 79, 80, 81, S :l. S 3. S l. S ii. S fi. S 7, S 1->. S !l, !Ill, !I 1, 9:!. f) 3. 9 5, 9 6, 9 7, 9 8, 9 9

13100- 01,06.07,08,09.10. 11, 1:!, 1:1,11, tr., lli. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, :!2. 23, 24, 25. ~6. :Ji, :!S, :l9, :10, 31, 3:!, 33, 34, 36, 37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45

'I'll!' I '\!TED ~T.\TJ.,; b,;tlE OJ·' 1!118-:W 29

800 subject plates

12157 !iS, 1i9. GO, 61, G:!, !i I, G5. 66, 67 12:!01-02, 03, 05, 19. 211, 21. ::!2, :!3, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 39, 40, 41, 42,

43, -H, !:i. 46, 47. IS, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62, 63, 64, 65, 91, 92, 93. !14, 95, 96, 97, !JS. !l!l

12326-27, 2s. 2!1, 30. :n. :12. 33 34, 35, 36, 38, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 9:J, 94, 96, 97, 98. !19

12402 o::, 04, Of>. 06, 07, OS, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 1272!1-30, ::2.33, 31, 35, 36, 97, 98, 99 12800-0l, o:l, 06, Oi, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21,

2 2, 2 :~, 2 t. 2 ;; . ~ fi , :? 7. :? H • 2 H. :l 0. 3 1 , :l 2, :) :3, :{ 4 , 3 G 13069-70, 71, 72, 73, 75. 76, 77 131o2-o::. 57. 58, 59, 60. Gl, G2, 1;3, 64

1600 subject plates

12183 l->4, 85. 86, So, ss, 89. 90, n, 92 12201 os, 09, 10. 12. 1:::. Hi, 17, 29, ao

532--2 Cent Otl's<•t. Impe1·fm·ate.

Type IV Firsl issued April 2!i, 1920.

\'aril'tio;: Center linf' hlcH'k from 1'\l nwRlPl' nt'gatin• (lhick lines) ('pnt('J' linP hlo!'l\ from 2ud ma~tPr nPgatil'e (lhin lines). l'ri1·ate lH'l'foration ::-idJPrnwcl< IlL

PlatP numbPrs of Jllat<'s whic•h wPl'P uspd:

10SH4 -&1, 92, 96 1091fi 18

100 subject plates

Type V l<'irst issued in early summer of 1920.

\'arietiPS: Stitch WHlll'lllHJ'IC Pri\·a tP llPrfora t ion Schennack TIL

!'late numbers of platPs whit'h were used:

4 00 subject plate

11260

1600 subject plates

11893- 95, 96

Typ~ Va- First issued during summer of 1920.

\'a l'iPty: PriYate pPl'fora 1 ion SC'lwrmack IlL

Pll1t•• numbPrs of plut<'s which were used:

400 subjC'ct plates

1135G-73, 80, 84, 90 114 0 3- 1 0. 1 2' 14' 15' 2 2. 2 5' 2 8' 3 3' 3 4' 3 9. 9 3 11853-54, 62. 64, 65, 6G, So 12002-07, 28 12109

Type YI-First issued during summer of 1920.

1\Iinor variety: Private perforation Schermack III.

Plate numbers of plates which were used:

:!0 THE l·:-.ITt;o ~TAT!'!' ls:-.n: oF Ul18-~0

11641-54, 96

11667-68. 69

11673 11703 10

4 0 0 subject plates

800 subject plates

1600 subject plate

Type VII-First issued during fall of 1920 .

• \fiuor nu·ieo·: Pr·inttf' llf'l'fontl ion S<'hennack III.

4 00 subject plate

12262

THE (TXITED :-;TATt> b:-<I ' L 01·' l!Jh-:.!0 31

THE THREE CENT OFFSET.

The three rent denommation was the fir.,t of the ofhet issue to make its appear­ance. The war condttions which called it forth ha\t' already bctn mentioned. From November 2, 1917 until July l. 1919 the rate of domesttt letter postage was 3 cents an ounce, instead of 2 cents as it had bct:n sincL lli!B. The dwnge in rate naturally created an unusual need for 3 cent stamps. In the fisral year ending June 30, 1917 there wt-rc issued to postmasters 130.000,000 3 rent '>tamps, while in the year 1918 the total jumped to more than 4,599.000.000. !1 is lillie wonder. therefore. that the Bureau was hard pressed to keep up ,,·ith 1he hc;l\) demand f-or 1 cent stamps.

The original die £or the 3 cent denominauon Crypt. I) of the Series of 1908 w:ls not cut deep enoug-h to assure th:ll plates made from it would withstand the hard usc lO \\hich thL\ had to he subjected btL in 1917. The Bureau therefore rompkted and approYe;l a new die (Type ll) on December 8, 1917. The method of m:tking- it \\:Is as follows: an impression from the original die was first made on steel. then it., lines were retouched :!nd deepened .. md here and there new lines were added to it

T ypes of the Engraved Stamps.

The die charactcnstics of the engraYed stamps, listed below. are of significance when the otlset types are '>tmlied because proofs from both dies were used in the making of the 3 cent stamp of the o!Tset i.,.,ue.

' l' ;n)(' 1

( 1) Top linE' of toga. which extends left from the button to the frame line, is very faint and at places missing.

( 2) LinE's of shading in the toga from bull on to frame line are thin at the top and thick below. Upper part of fifth linE' is laekin~.

(:~) Rut ton of toga contains five vertical lines. ( 4) The> lips are thin. ( 5) There are two rather prominent lines under the chin. ( 6) The hair above the E'ar appears light due to lack or linPS. \7) ThE' bac·kKround of the stamp has a light appParan(·~.

( 1) Top line ot toga is complete. (2) I,inE'R of shading in toga are of uniform thickn('SS, and all are complete. ( 3) Button of toga contains five vertical litH'S. ( 4) The li 11S are thickf'r and corner of mouth turns downward. (:,) Lin('s under chin are not so prominent. (6) The hair above lhf' E>ar has bpen darkened by thP addition of l ines. ( 7) The background lin('s have been deepened, making the stamp seem darker.

'111e Need for the Offsets.

In spite of its best e!Tort the Bureau still could not satisfy the need for 3 cent stamps. The engraYed plates were wearing out more rapidly than they could be replaced by ne\\ ones. In the spring of 1918, therefore, it was determined to resort to off<.et printing for the production of 3 cent stamps.

An interesting commlntar) on the situation then exJsting in the Bure:~u is contained in a statement by Mr. Burgess Smith, who 11 as in charge of the Photo­lithographic section at the time:

""'hen Congress passed the law creating three cent postage the facili­ties of the Blll'Pau was so taxed by other work that it was impossible to pre­pare enoug-h steel plates to print three cent stamps in sufficient volume to meet the demand. The presses used for this [1lll'Pose 1·equired four plates, had a capacity of only 1,000 shPets eac·h. and it took considerable time to make one steel plate. The corps of mPn sufficient!)• skilled to make these plates was entirely employed on the production of plates for other purposes; consequently, a new mcLhod of printing and platC' making had to be devised 0\'Crnight.

"F'ortunat<'l)'. there was available a step-and-repeat camera, together with other plate making apparatus. which was at that lime more or less in experimental stage. This apparatus was purchased and installed in record time, and it fell to my lot to undertake what was then considered the impos­sible task of making lliatf's to IH'int stamps by offset lithography."

The first plate (no. 8370) was approved on March 12. 1918, printing was Im­mediately begun, :111d the stamps were tir~t put on sak :Vfarch 23. 1918. For a year the Bureau continued making 3 cent offsets. The last pbte u~ed (no. 9933) was made on February 13. 1919.

The 3 cent oiTsct was made only from 400 subject plates. .\!though several 1600 subject plates were produced, they never reached the printing- presses. 111e ~tamps were printed on unwatermarkt•d paper and given perforation 11.

How Type III Was Made.

The.: initial effort to produce stamps by the offset process resulted in what we designate as Type TIT of the 3 cent denomination. The ~ource of Type III w:~~ a die proof of Type I. this being used because its lines were finer and offered more contrast.

Mr. Smith h:1s thc following to say on the subject of how the first offset stamp came into being:

"A die proof of an ordinary three cent stamp was used for a copy. It was enlarged photographically and a transparency or positive using the 'wet plate' process was prepared for a master.

"As no printing proress makes an absolute farsimile impression of the plate, an atten1pt was made to correct the enlarg0ment of the stamp so that it would duplicate the effec·t of intaglio printing when printed by offset lithog­raphy. This·was done by scraping the C'dges of certain lines and increasing the width of others. I spent twenty-six hours, almost continuous work with­out sleeping, to prepare this master. To distinguish these stamps from the intaglio printed ones a change was made in the lines in the small medallion on 'Vashington's neck. From this copy a reduced negative about twice the size of the finished stamp, was made and placed in the step-and-repeat ma­chine."

In the Bureau of Engraving and Printing I have seen the original glass plates from which both type~ of the 3 cent o!Isets were made. These enlarged negatives, of which 1\fr. Smith spe:~ks abo\'e, measure 5 1r2 by 6 3's inches.

While Mr. Smith mentions only one specific change which was effected in the design of the stamp, as a matter of fact many minute diiTerences resulted from the retouching of which he >peaks. It is these differences which distinguish one type from ~wothcr. The a\·erage collector, however, is interested only in the outstanding marks which will enable him to determine types at a glance. The chief characteristics of Type ITI are:

33

TYPE Jrr !-Button of toga contains lin• vertieal lines. However the third or center

line consists of a dot between two dashl's. This of itseU distinguishes Type III from any other type.

2-In the toga the fifth line, whieh runs from the neck toward the lower part of frame line is <·ompletely missing. Other features of the toga resemble those of Type ll.

3- Tlw right end of the JHlHtril <·onsist::; of n prominent line which curves upward and toward the left.

4-The lower eye-lid is made hy a straight, solid line which is more promi­nent than that of any othc1· U'Jle.

5-There are more Jines in the hair above tlw ear than on Type I and II.

liT 6-There is a line of color b,•tween the "P" and "0" of POSTAGE. 7- The inner frame line at tlH• bottom o[ the portrait is complete. These

last two differences clearly distinguish Type III from Type I\'.

It will be obser\"ecl that stamps pnnted from worn plates lack some of the characteristics mentioned. The collector therefore has a number of alternatives on which he may rely in determining types. A sure test of Types I II and IV of the offsets is the line of color between the ''P" and "()" of POSTAG~present in III, mi.~sing in IV.

The size and spacing of ~tamps of Type lll and T\' arc other important differences. Type JJT measures 19 mm. horizontally and 22 111111. vertically. The spacing between stamps on the sheet is slightly more than 2 1/, mm. between both horizontal and vertical rows. Stamps of Type I\' mcasurt> I ~ 1 ! nun. horizontally and 21 ~ mm. vertically. The space between Ycrtical rows is 21 _ 111111., bur between horizontal rows it has been increased to 3 mm.

Shades.

The general appearance and shade o( the 3 cent ollsets should also serve to distinguish type~. ln the background of stamps of Type Ill the lines are not so he:H'} as 111 '1 ype 1\, ;llld the> m;Ike tht design .1ppear lighter than that of Type IV.

The Bureau was ha' mg much tltthculty wnh inb m ]I) 18. There was not available any pennanenL violet or purple, and the ink med was exceedingly fugitive resulting in a ,·arret} of ~hades. \ 'iolct has bcm the standard color of the 3 cent stamps for years. Violet is one o{ the colors of the spectrum and is generally con­sidered as coming halfway between blue and red. \ccording to one color theory the primary colors arc red, yellow and blue because it ''as originally supposed that all other colon could he made from them. Orange, green and Yiolet were called secondary colors because it was thought that they were made from combinations o( the primary colors. • \n equal combination of red and blue gl\·es the color Yiolct. Tf more blue is put IillO the comb1n:nion, a lighter shade of \iolct results, "huc·1s if more red is used the color becomes purple.

\\'hen the Bureau undertook to pnnl stamps by the offset method it found it advantageous to usc a different kmd of ink than that which it employed tor engraving stamps. A portion of Yarnish shellac ''as added to the ink. The first printing of Type HI was in a dark nolct shade of mk which had been purchased h) the Bureau from an ink concern at \Va~hington. Thereafter the Bureau used ink o( its own making.

The shade of Type Iff Yarics rrom light grayish Yiolet to deep Yiolet. Some of the early printings of Type.: I\' were abo in the \iolct shade: but as a general rule the stamps of Type TV arc purple in color and quite a hit darker than those of the earlier type.

Plate Numbers.

The normal positions of plate numbers on a sheet of cngraYcd stamps was adjacent to the fifth stamp in each direction from l'ach cornt:r of the sheet. llowever on the

• • 8 :l70

··········'··········· ~~~~~~~~ ·~~~~~~

first two plates printed by the ofhet process, namely nos. 83i0 and 83i5, the numbers were placed exactly in the center of the p;U1C so that they fell halfway between the fifth and sixth ~lamps, w1th the result that when the sheet \\as perforated the plate numbers were bisected by the perforations. On these two plates the numbers on the left margins were placed with the head of the numbers next to the stamp instead of

Till r~•TEn NT.\TE~ 1::-:~tt•: nF 1!11..., ~o

• 8~5

• • vice versa as is actually the case. The third plate, no. 8379, and all subsequent plates, had the numbers placeJ at the usual positions for tho~c of engra,·ed plates.

In the Amtrican Philatelist for january, l91Y appeared a complete list of plate numbers of Type I ll with an analysis of plate number Jitlerences which occurred by reason of the altering of numbers b) hand. lt •~ as follows for plates on which such differences appear:

8370

8375

8412 8418 8420 8558 8559 8562 8568 8fi72 8578 S579 8591 8592 8593 8596 8597 8598 S!i9!1 8600 8601 8602 8607 8609 H2G 8627 8 628 8646 8647 8648

8649

8668 S6G9

All numbers dividf'd b~· twrforations. Lett margin numbers placed witb head of numf'ral to stamp instead of with foot to stamp. All numbers divided by perforations. Left margin numbers placed with lwad of numeral to stamp instead of with foot to stamp. Plate originally d upli<'ate of 8370, "0'' erased and ''5" substituted, <'Ut by hand and there­fore all di!Terent. G214 scratched in margin bf'nf'at h ninf'ty-ftrst subject on lower right pane. 124 scratched in margin beneath ninety-first subject on lower right pane. 214 sera tched in margin benPa th ninety-f1 rsl subject on lower right pane. Last 8 twisted at top of left pan~. 214 snatc•h ed in margin henf'ath nillf'ly-lirst subject on lower righ t pane. 62 altered by hand on upper right side margin. Both S's invf'rted on lower left side margin. 7 2 altered by hand in all eight numbers. 7!\ altered by hand in all ( ight numlwrs. 79 altPred by hand in all eight numbf'rs. 1 altered by hand in all eight numbers. 2 allerpd by hand in all eight numbf'rs. 3 alt('red by baud in all eight numbers. 6 altered by hand in all eight numb<•rs. 7 allPrPd by hand in all eight numbers. Last 8 altered by hand in all eight numbers. Last !I allPrPd by hand in all Pight numbers. GOO altered by hand in all eight numbers. 601 altered by hand in all eight numhers. 602 altered by band in all eight numbers. 607 altPrPd b~· hand in all eight numbers. 609 altered b~· hand in all eight numbers. Las t G altered by hand in all e ight numbers. 7 alterod by hand in a ll eigh t n umbers. Last 8 aJtpred by hand in a ll eigh t numbers. Last 6 altered by h and in all eight n umbers. 7 altered by hand in all eight numbers. Last 8 altPred by hand in six numbers, both bottom numbers entirely a l­tered by band. !I altered by hand in six numbers. both bottom numbers entirely altered by hand. Last 8 altered by hand in all eight numbers. 9 alterf'd by hand in all eight numbers.

36

Plate number of Types 1, 2, 4 and 5, as previously classified, are found on plates of stamps of Type III. One hundred and twenty-eight plates were used in the print­ing of this type. The last plate ('\'o. 8711) was made M.ty 23, 1918.

Type IV The Bureau was not fully sausfied with the first 3 cent o!lset stamp because tt

lacked depth and was so light in background. Late in May, 1918 the Bureau there­fore determined to make a new ma~tcr neg:~tivc which would more nearly approach the engraved stamp in appearance. This time a proof from the die of Type II was photographed and used as the source of the master negative. The enlarged copy of it was touched up and its lines re·drawn and deepened in the same manner as pre­viously described. Thus came into being Type I\' of the 3 cent. The first plate of this type (No. 8720) was mack May 24 ami went to press fune l, 1918. Thereafter printing from plates of Type Ill was abandoned and all subsequent printings were from plates of Type IV. Stamps of the new type were first put on sale July 15, 1918.

Type JV is not difficult of identilicauon. 11le following are some of its charac­teristics:

TYPE :nz:: 1- Button of foga contains 5 vPrlical litH'S. TlH' ct>nter line is complete with

a dot in the middle of it. ThP 2nd and 4lh lines, on either side of center line, are broken. This marks Type IV from any other type.

2-'l'he lines of shading in top of to~a are completE> and heavy. 3- The right end of nostril lacks any decided curve line.

N' 4-The "P" and "0" of POSTAGE are joined. 5-The inner frame line at bottom of toga is missing.

Other differences have already been mentiOned, particularly the size of the stamp, its spacing and its shade. The violet shade of Type IV is scarce, while purple is com­mon. The range of shades extends from pale lavender to deep purple.

37

Type IV continued in usc until the makmg of the 3 cent offsets was discontinued. A total of 567 plates were put into use. The last plnte to be used (No. 9933) was made February 13, 1919, and printing ceased about a month later.

Plate numbers of Types 1. 2, 3, 4 and 5 arc found on Type IV. Many alterations of plate numbers were made by hand as previously described. Plates on which such changes were made are as follows: Nos. 8720, 21, 31, 41, 63, 64, 90, 93, 94, 97, 8800, 10, 16, 18, 25, 63, 9347, 48. 49, 50, 51, 52. 53, '54, 55, 56, 57, 60, 62, 63, 71, 72, 73, 74, 7'5, 78, 9901.

Was There Another Type?

By rc.~ason of an article written for the ,\merican Phil:ttelist for January, 1919 by J. B. Leavy and A. E. Owen, the question anses as to whether there was a fifth type nf the 3 cent, a typ<.: which would come between whnt is classified as Type III and IV. The article has this to say in describing characteristics of pl<~te ~o. 8718, which was used in printing on June I, 1918:

"Plate made from nl'w 100 suhj!'cl nHist~>r twgalive. subjects all ~4 mm. slwrte1· than IH'I'l'iously. horizontal S!JtH'C bctwe1•n suhjP<"Is 3mm. instead of 2 ~~ mm."

Continuing, the writers state:

"Plates S701 to 8716 and 871 Sand 871 !l were from the new ·100 subject mast<'r nl'galive whil'h was consider<'d unsatisfaC'tory on account or the spac­ing and the plat<'s wf>re cancelled without being used."

In hts booklet on "The U. S. 3c \'iolet, War and Peace," Louis G. Barrett quotes from the artide hy Leavy and Owen and says:

"Nos. 8701 to 16 and 8718 and 8719 were made from the new 400 sub­ject master-negative, of which plate 8717 remains the only representative, and were considered unsatisfactory on accoun L of the spal'ing, and were can­cellf'd without being used. Plate 8717 was printed from, however.

"It is different from all others preceding, ha,•ing the subjects spac•ed 3mm. apart vertically, instead of tht> normal 21. ~ mm., and it will be noted that this f<!ature is also distinguishing onP of the following series of Die II offset plates. This plate 8717 was printed from on June 1, and must be a sc·arctl article.

"Here it may be well to statP that the subjects have not in reality been spac·pll furt!)('r np:u·t but rathl'r I hat tlw >'llhjPc·ts .t!JPIIJS£>1V£>S have bePn re­duced in height ~2 mm .. the vertical measurement from the bottom of a stamp in one row to the bottom of a stamp in the next row remaining as before. 25 1-2 mm., the new subjeets nwasurin~ \'Prlically 22 mm. instead of 2:!11! nun. as formerly."

Accepting the abo\·e statement as correct, one would have to conclude that when a new 400 subject master negative was made with the <,tamps on it of a difierent size than the normal T]pe III stamps, then a distinctly new type came into existence. It would be analogous to T) pe Va of the 2 cent which dtfTcrs from Type V in size and in only one minor deviation of design.

I have made every reasonable efTort to locate plate No. 8717, with a view to checking on thi., possible type. but without success. NclthLf have I lx·cn able to con­tact anyone who has actually seen a copy of what might he called the 3 cent Type V.

J have taken up with Mr. Owen the question here discussed and he informs me that as soon as Mr. Leavy's notes first appeared he used every means at his command to rescue copies of plate . To. 8717 and 8720 but without result. He also knows of no one \Vho has a copy of either.

It might be that plate "Jo. 8717, and plates 8701-16 and 8718, 19, actually were the fir>t places co he made from Type TV. hut tlut they were not recognized as such

at the time. Plate No. 8717 went to press on June 1, 1918, the same day as did plate No. 8720, which is listed as being the first plate of Type IV. The difference in size attributed to the stamps on No. 8717 seems to be the same as dwt on plates of Type IV.

Offset against this supposition. howe\'er. is the fact tlut the writers of the orig­inal article on the subject were careful ohser\'ers and would not be likely to make ~uch mistake. Mr. LeaYy at the time was Go\'ernmcnt philatelist at \Vashington. lie took a keen interest in the ofT set is~ue and was the first to study it and write exten­si\ely concerning the surface printed stamps.

The problem of a possible Type V is therefore presented but not solved. It is suggested as an intcrestin~ field for continued research. Perhaps the painstaking ex­amination of man} more 3 cent otlscts ''ill bring w ltght tl1L clusin: "missing link."

'1'111 l·xiTIT> ~T\TI:~ b"'n: 111' l!ll~ :?0

Cu \ I'TI.I: \'[

THE THREE CENT OFFSET.

The Imperforate.

In the fall of 1918 the 3 cent offset, Type IV, was tssued imperforate. The date of its appearance is usually given as October 5, lYI8. Ilowever, the "Philatelic Ga­zette," VoL 8, page 258. is authority for the statement that the imperforates came out in New York about July 15. The primary purpmc of the imperforate was to supply the Schermack Company with stamps w be privately perforated. Perforation Type III of the Schcrm:ttk Company was therefore applied. Twenty-one plates were used in the printing of the 3 cent imperforates. .

Tvfost of the minor varieties hereafter mentioned are found on the imperforates. Double prints of them are quite di01cult to find. and arc ~cneraHy slightly "slipped" impressions.

Minor Flaws.

A minute examinatton of the 3 cent ofT sets of both typcs \\ill reveal many inherent minor flaws whi(h if on a sheet o( engraved stamps would desenc considerable com­ment.

On the bottom plate number stamp of one of the lower panes of plate 87~0 is found a white streak which mars the "S" of "U. S." It extends upward from the body of the "S" and cuts the upper frame line between the "S" and "P." A variety such as this is constant on all sheets printed from this plate. hut does not appear on other plates.

The 92nd stamp of the lower left pane of plate No. 95~7 has a defect which seems to close the right numeral "3" so that it might be said to resemble an "8."

The above arc two striking plate Raws. Jn this issue, however, most incidental defects which appear on only one plate may be passed o\·cr lightly. Several years :>go H. M. Jones of Huntington, \Vest Virginia, fa\'Orcd me with the following results of a careful study of the lower left pane of plate number 861 '5. Type HI (numbers refer to the position of the subject on the pane):

1 White spot in background under chin; smaller white spot in background at top of oval below "ST" of "POSTAGE."

2 Fine dot of color on upper horizontal litH' of toga near left end. 10 White dot in background under chin; vertirally disposed group of small

white spots in horizontal background lines under "E" of "POSTAGE." 16 White spot in background at left of nose. 20 Half-circular dot of color on bottom edge of "P" of "POSTAGE." 25 Fine dot in "E" of "POSTAGE." :30 Faint vertical mark of color 5 nlln. long on forehead over eye. 51 White spot in heavy shading of serond group of leaves from bottom at

left opposite mouth. 62 Left frame line partially bt·oken at left at center, showing a small rec­

tangular white spot. 68 Small white spot in background northeast of head. 71 Small white spot in horizontal background line 3 mm. below "U" of

''U. S." 87 White spot on neck near queue. 93 Small white spot in horizontal background line at southwest corner "U"

of "U.S." 94 Fine white dot in bottom margin below "NT" of "CENTS." 9 6 Very small white "horn" on tip of nose.

THE l':-;tTED ~T.\TF:- ~~~n. oF l !llt--20

The above are given as examples of the kintl of mmute Haws which crept into the making of all ofiset plates. They may or may not be fount! on more than one plate, depending on circumstances. The collector, however, is more concerned with flaws which are easier of iJcntitication, and which are found on many different plates.

The F law Under "S" of "U. S."

On certain of the 3 cent otlscts of Type I \' 1s found a dark blotch of color about 1\0 mm. in length at the tip of the foliage directly under the "S" of "U. S." This var;ety extsts on the sixth stamp of th~ upper nght pane, which is the stamp beneath the plate number. lt ts found on all plates between numbers 8720 (first plate of Type IV) ant! 9270, and on a numher of plates 111 the series from 9600 to 9900 in· c!usi\"e.

• • • • • .. • 88 12 • • • • ..~ ..........

There are several poss1ble expl.mauons as to how th1s Aaw occurred. Of course it is obvious that it JiJ not appear on the ··step down" ncgat1ve. Rather it is likely that it originated on the 400 subJect gbss po'>ltl\e, 1n the form of a small b1t of for· eign matter or a particle of film. The blotch would then have been transferretl to the ma,ter negative and th,·ncc to tht· platc

On the other hand the explanation gl\cn 1n the phtlatelic press in 1919 was that "when developing the 400 sub,ect master negative a small buhble broke the film under the "S" . leavin~ a Ycry small -.pot of plain glass at that point. Of course thi~ transferred to the zinc plat~' a'> a '>mall dark spot, anJ therefore appears in the rrinted sheets of stamps as a blotch of mlor. An at1empt was maJe to correct this Haw on plate 9274. which shows a ruouching of the design at the defective point. Pl:ne 9275 again shows the blotch of color. The correction was then made on the 400 subject master negatiH'. by painting in lines on the little spot of plain glass, and all platts from 927R on show the ftm cruJdy corrcrtcd." (American Philatelist, Vol 32, (March. 1919) p. 199).

T do not know on what authoritY it was slated that at first a correction was made on zinc plate No. 9274. .

The ahon: nplanation wa\ gi' en when it was thou~ht that all plates subsequent to <>278 showed the flaw correctt·<l. 1f such were the cause it would be natural to assume that the blotch originated on the m;tster ncgati \T. I loweYcr plates among the higher numben (the ~cries from 91)00 ro 9900) also sho\\ the uncorrected flaw.

'1'111·: ('SI'l'Eil HT\'1'1<:~ 1:-;:--t'E 01' 1!118-:20

•

9287

I believe therefor<. that the fLm onginate<.l on the -100 subject posttlve and was transferred to the master nc:gati\c wh1th was the sourcL of the early plates of Type IV. When it was noticed this master negati\'C was discarded, and the 400 subject positin: was retouched in such manntr ,1\ to rc:mon the blotch, hut leave a small opening in the tip of tht· foliage at that po11ll. From the corrected pmitive a IH.'\\'

negative was made, and it produced mmt zinc plates .1fter '-:o. 927R. I lowe,·cr, the former master ncgatin• containing thc: fla,, ln.thnttntly got hatk into usc and from it came plates in the scric~ from 9600 to 9900.

Defective "S" in "U. S."

A minor \·ariet> of a somt\\'hat s11ndar naturt 1s iound on the 96th stamp of the lcmtr right pane on pl.ilt'S in the '>cnc:s from 'l/00 to ~'l()O and doubtless others of Type TV. A small flaw on either the 400 subtect posill\l' or m:l\tc:r ntgati\'e oblitcr ated a small part of the tail of the lcttt•r "S'' of "U. S." It is quite likely that either the glass plate or the mastt r negative was then retouched. . \t any rate the result i~ that the tip of the tail. \\h1ch normally i~ turned upw.1rd, i.,·complctely missing. The bod\' of the "S" also appc:ars to be a little broader than normal.

Dot in "T" of "POST AGE:'

Another constant minor flaw is the 'mall dot \\'hiLh is found in the upper left p:~rt of the letter 'T" in "POST AC;F." This is found on the sixth stamp of the upper left JXIne (the stamp to the right of the plate number) and on a wide range C'f plate numbers. T mention .ts ex:.11nplcs pLttes R790 . .'liBi. 1!990. 934R and %86.

Press Numbers.

Plate number varittie5 on the 3 cent ofTseb arc prolific. :\!anv of these have lx-en mentwned preYiously. An iltm of a unique nature, howe\er. is found on a ft:>w plates of this issue. namely the mst rt1nn of a press number on tht bottom margm near the center of the shct·t and adjacent to the arrow. Apparently without authority a worker in the printing di\·ision scratched on the zinc plate the number of the press which was then carrying the plate. The following plates of Type Ill haYe such press numbers:

THE {'C\ ITED NT\TI :~ 1:-;:-;t h (J[' 1!11.''-:~0

8412 8418 8420 S559

.. •

. ·-·' .. . ·I • •

vnder 91st stamp of Lit p:me- "0 214 ·• same iwsition "124" same position "21~" same posilion-"214''

Type l\' plate unknown-under 91st stamp of LR pane-215

8782- under lOOtb stalllJ> or LL pane- 2Hi.

Phantom plate numbers anJ arrows arc frequently found on the margms of the 3 cent stamps.

So-called "Tinted" Paper.

As the ofTset plates became worn (rom usc, the ink at umes had a tendency to spread out over the entire surface of the plate. This meant that the white portions of the stamp and the gutters and margins became tinted and took on a light purple hue. Such variety is found on Type IV and is not difficult to locate.

Printing Errors.

One of the outstanding errors among 20th century stamps ts the 3 cent offset printed on both sides of the paper. It exists on Types III and IV. The face of such a sheet is normal. The printing on the back is distinct, but usually covers only a small portion of the sheet, anJ may be on a diagonal. For example, on a lower right pane of plate No. 8629, Type ITT, there was discovered what looked like a clear printing on the back of the sheet. It extended over only the right vertical row and margin on the right side of the sheet. On the back of a pane of 3 cent stamps, Type IV. from plate No. 9088, \vas found a direct printing which covereJ 30 of the stamps What appeared to be a direct impression aiM) was repeated on the back of plate 9002, covering about half of the sheet.

How did an error of this sort occur' [t is not likely that it resulted from a fold in the paper, as this would ha\'e taken away some of the stamps from the face of the sheet. If one desire~ to speculate on the subject, one might assume that a sheet which was quite hea\'ily inked left :1 re\'erse impression on the hack of a sheet which wa~ placed on top of it; and that in some manner the back of this latter sheet, or a n:trt of it, came in contact with the back of another sheet and transferred to it what appeared to be a direct impression.

Double prints arc found on both types of the 3 cent. An outstanding example of a true Jouble print is located on :1 sheet of Type TV where one impression was from olate No. 9374 and another from 9396. ' An unusual pnnting va riety is that which shows part of the sheet orinted once, and then what appears to be a second impression on the remainder of the sheet.

'l'lll·: ['siTED ST.\'1'1:" lsst'E OF l!Jlb-~0 .J.:3

This is illustrated htrein. Dr. C. \V. I Iennan has an item .>llndar to this which show~ a single, double and tnpk tmpre>'>IOn on the same pane. Varieties such as these we-re doubtless the rtsuh of mechamc.tl thtliculttes \\ hich ha\t· been pre\'iously re­viewed.

Printing \ariauons arc frequent!} discovered among the ~ ccilt otTscts. .\n ex­treme example is that of a sheet whtch was so hca\ ily inked that the stamps just about lo;t thc1r tdentity enure!) and became so m;Ul} dark purple: renan!!les.

An odd prinung error resulted from an oYerlapptng of paper 111 the printing of a sheet from plate ~o. 862'5. Apparently two sheets of paper entered the press at the same time, the bottom sheet extending out slightly from the Lop sheet. Tt there­fore receiYed the impression of about 5 mm. of the lower rO\\ of stamps and the bottom plate numbers of plate 8625. L1pon the disro\'cry of what on quick inspec­tion must ha\·e setmed to he a blank '>heel of paper, it was placed with the unprinted ~heels and run through the press again, thio, ttme being printed from plate ~o. 8735.

A \;Hiety "·hid1 undoubted!) nccurrnl in the same mannn ha, been reported ;h

existing on the bottom m.trgin of I cmt nlatc No. 9517. Clme to the number was found inYertcd ::t purple plate No. 9'533 which carne from the 3 'ent plate.

Many perforating errors :•)so escaped the department impcrtors and reached the hands of collectors. t\ n upper left pane of plate 9334 has the top row of perforations 1 o 111111. above the unper row of ~tamns. On anothcr sheet the perforations turn upward on a di;t)ronal as they come to the right side of the sheet.

Concerning Cancellations.

The collector too frequently is 1nclmed to neglect postally u~et! stamps of the 20th century, when as a matter of fact he ha~ comparatively more ditlicultv in finding anything unuS\1~\l among them than among the early tSs\ICS. .\n examination of thousands of onset stamps will re\'ca l \·cry few colored. town, or numer;tl c:lllcella­tions. Since this issue was used during the \Vorld \Var, the collector has a fine op­portunity to search for patriotic slogan rancellations, covers used from army camps :tnd similar items. I !ere is a field worthy of ronsidcrablc attention.

The entire oiTset issue ofTers to the cc;llcctor :> fertile field 111 \\'hirh to work. Its numerom tvpcs. shades. errors and minor \'aricties challenge him to dig deeper and frcquentlv they reward him for his effort. There is ~till much to he learned concern­ing the only surhce printed postage ~tamps C\'cr emitted lw the United States. and the collector who choo't's to give them snious studv \\'ill always ha\'e the chance to unt•arth facts \\'hich :~s yet l~y undisrO\cred.

CHECK LIST.

Sc·ott's No .

.329-:l f'<'nt Off'>t>t. rnwmk'cl. P Pt·f. 11 .

Type- III FiTst issued Mareh 23. 1918.

Typical shade: violet. Range Of Shades: light grayi!'h \'iOJet tO Jllll')!lP.

Minor varieties: Printed on both sides. Double print. PrPss numlwr on bottom margin. Iland drawn plate n11mhers.

Plate numbers of plate~ which WC're used:

-100 subject plates 8370-75. 76. 79. 80, 81. !-:!, 8:!. 81, 8!i 8411 12. 13. 14, 15, 11. 18, :!0, 21 8554 56, 57, fi8, ii9, (j0, 61, 6:!, 6:1, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69, 72, 73, 74, 78,

79. 80, 81. 82. 8!J. 81. 85, 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 96, 97, 98, 99

8600-~01, 02. 04, O:i. 06, O'i. ()8, 09, 10, 11, 12,1:3. 14, 15, 16, 17. 18, 19, 20. 21, 22, :!!i, :!6. ~7. :!8, 29, :!0, 31. :l:l, 3:1, 34, ~5. 36, 37, :lfl . I 0. 11 . I ·~. -1 :l, I I . I ;; . Hi . -li . 1 S . I !l , .dl, 51. 5 :l, :; :) , 54 , !:i 5, ~ f) , !'i 7 . :; S • !i !1. fi 11 . 6 1, 6 :.:, fi :1. li 4 . fi ;) , !l li . fi 7. 6 S. li !I , 7 0. 71 . 7 2, 7 I

8700-17 (NotP: \\'. \V. Jlo]lkin>~on informs lllf' that it is quite likely that

Plate No. 8 3 7 (j was disl'tll'dcd and 11<'\'C'r usC'd. J

Type IY First issued .July 15, 1!11 S.

Typi<'al shade•: purple RnngC' of shades: from pair> lavendPI' to deep purple. Minor variC'ties: Printed on both sidPs.

Double print. Sine;ll'. double and triple print on same pane. Pr!'ss nnlllh!'l' on bottom mar.c;in. !land drawn 11late numbers. PIHII!lom plat<' numll<'rs and arrows. Flaw unde1· "S" of "r. S." I•'Jaw under "S" retou<'IH.>d. l)pfC'rtive "S" in "U. S." Dot in "T" of "POSTAGE." On • tinted" paper. XullH'I'OUS miuor plate and printiug tla,Ys.

Plate numb€'rs of plat~>~ whi<'h w<'re uspcl·

400 subje<'t plates

8720 21. 22. n, 2-1. :?ii, 26, :!S, 30, 31. a2, 33. 34, :!5, 36. 37, ~8. 39, 40, 41, 43, 4:l. 14, 15. 46, 47. 48, 49, 50, i\1, fi2, 54, 55, 56, 57, 5!l, GO, 61, 62. H:l. IH, 65, 66, 6!l, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75. 76, 77, 78, 79. 80, Sl, 82, S I, S:i. Sfi. Si. 88, 89, 90, 91. 92, 93, 91, 95, 96, 9'i, 98, !19

8800--01·, 02. o!J, 04, o;;, os. 09. 10 11. J:l, 13, 11, 15. 16, 17, 18, 19, 2 o. 21. 2 4. 2 5. 2 s, !! !l. :J o. :n. 3 2. :l :l, 3 4. a r;. 3 6. 3 7. 3 s. 3 9, 4 o, 41, 42, 14, 45, 46, 48, t;;!, 53, 54. 55, 56, !i7, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63

8955-56, 58, ii9, 61. li:l. 63. 6fi, G6, 67, liS, 69, 'i'O, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 7ti, 77, 'iS, 79, SO, 81, 8:!, 83. 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99

9000 01, 02, 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08, O!l, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, l s. 1 !l. :l 0. 2 1. :! ::. :! -1. :? H. 2 7. 2 S, 2!1. :l 0. :l :l. 3 L :!5. :H;, 3 7, 3 8, 3!1, 42. II, 45. 46, 47, 18. 50, 51, 52, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 69, 71, 72, 73, 71, 7fi, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, !lO, 91, 92, 93, 94

9251- 52. 53, 54, 55. fiG. 63, Gfi. 68, 70. 74. 75, 78, 79, 80, 81, 86, 87, 88, 89, 92, 93, !l4, !15, 96. 97, 98

93oo 01. 02, o:l. o4. o5, o!l. 10. 11. 12. 13, 14. 2::1 24, 25, 26, 21. 30, 31, 32, 3~. 34, :)5, :lG. ~7. 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, 72, 73, 'j I. 75, 76. 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 98

9405 06, 07, OS, 82. 8:l, 84, 85, !lO, 91, 92, 93, 9-1, 95

Tm. l''\l'rt:n ~T\TJ·::-; 1!-'st 1: nJ ' l!l l t--:20 45

9500-01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 12, 1~. 14, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 43, 44. 45 , 46, 17, 48, ·19, 50, 53, 54, 59, 61, 62, 66, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76. 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99

9600-01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 11, l:l, 13, 1-1, 15, 1 6, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. :!8, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 , 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 46, 47, ·18, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 64, 55, 56, 57, 58, !i!J , 60, 66, 67, 68, 6!J, 70, 71, 86. 87. 88, 8!), 90, 91 , 95, 96,97

9704 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 26, 27, 28. 29. :.:o. :~1. 32, 33, 84, 85, 86, 99 !J800 01. 13, 14, 15, 1 6, 32, 45, 46, 47, 48. J9. 50, 51, 52 , 53, 54, 55 ,

!i 1i. 57 . 58. 6 :J, (i I . (i il. !i 6 . !i 7. 6 S . II :l, R:!, R 4 , H 5 • 8 6, 8 7 , 8 8, 8 9, 98, 99

9!100 0 1 , 0~. 04, 05. 10, 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 33

53.3-3 Cent Otfst>l . Impt>rf01·a t l.'.

T~pe IV First issued July 15 (?) Ortobcr 5, 1918.

Range of shades: light to deep purple. ,·aricty: Private perforation SchPrma<·k Ill.

Plate numbers of plates which wen• usc>d:

8781 87 !lOl!l-23, 24, 48, 50 9255- 56 !l:J:la- :!4, :Jl, 32, 33, 34, 84, 85, 86. !11. 93 9926

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

The following i\ a li\t of books and artides in periodic;tls which deal with the stamps of the ofTstt issue of 1918-20. I desirt to thank Don;tld Grieve, Vance Ilolden, I I. A. Meyer, I L M. Sanford, William Jordan, Jr., and Ralph A. Kimble for thtir assistance in preparing this list.

AMERICAN P HILATELI C CONGHESS (SECOND). BOOKLET OF ORIGINAL PAPgRS, p. 45.

AMEIUCAN PIIILATBLI ST Vol. :ll (191S) p. 362. Vol. 32 ( 191 S-19) pp. 69, 100, 109, 121. 148, 193, 198, 261, 290, 453. Vol. 33 (19:l0l p. 15!1 . \·ol. 34 (1920) pp. 66, 10 I, 231. Yo!. 48 (1934-35) pp. 97, 198.

BURJ<;AtJ ISSUES ASSOCIATION-numerous items in FmUCATIO:NAL REPORTS, SHIFT HU:NTER LETTERS and TJJE BUREAU SPECIALI ST.

COLLJ<;CTOHS CLUB PHILATELIST Vol. 6 No. 3 (July, 1927) p. 142. Vol. 10 No.4 (Oct. , 1931 ) pp. 357, 390, 40R.

i\lEJU;l~L'S WgEKLY STAMP NEWS Vol. :~2 (1918) Feb. 2, Apr. 27, May 1, May 25, Sept. 21, Oct. 1 9, Oct. 26,

Nov. 2, Nov. 1 6, Nov. 30. Vol. :~3 (1!ll!J) pp. 1. 13, 14, 17, 66, 74, 82, !lO, 98, 129, 1 39, 150, 158, 163,

17-1, 214, 242, 250, 258, 306, 311, 346, 357, 3!16, 444, 456. Vol. :l4 (1920) pp. 168, 180, 1!12, 221, 228, 2a4, 26 1 , 266, 293, 312, 326, 338,

:l60, 384, 396, 408, 444, 456, 468, 504, 542, 558, 574, 588, 684. Vol. 35 (1921) pp. 10, 74, 122, 138, 154, :.!94, :l26, 334, 355, 392, 404, 476,

488, 499, 69·1, 732. Vol. :l6 (1923) pp. 10, 54, 304, 316, 3:!8.

PHILATELIC CLASSICS, Yo!. 2 No. 13 (Nov .. 1!130) p. 6.

'fHE PHILATELIC GAZETTE, Vol. 8 (1!118) Jill. 72, 116, 188, 200, 224, 258, 267, 293. 335, 363, 392, 397.

'1'111:: L':--·r'l't:ll NT.\'l't::-. b~t·r-: OF l!Jlb-:.W

PHILATELIC OPli'\IOI'\, Yo!. 2 Ko. ·l (Feb., 1928) p. 55.

THE POHTA.GE S'fAMP, (May, 1918) p. 217.

POSTAGg STA~1PS OJ<' THE U.S. (20th CEXTURY REFERENCE LIST) Stanley Gibbons. Inc. (1930) p. 65.

SCOTT'S ~10NTIILY .JOURNAL Vol. 1 (:\fay. 1920) p .. i; (July, 1920) PIJ. 2, 9; (Dec., 1920) p. 1. Yo!. 11 (1930) p. 129. Vol. 1:l (1932) p. 190. Vol. l(j (Ul:Hi) p. 41-1. Yo!. 17 (?.Iar<'ll, 19:~6): (April, 1936) p. 65.

f'T A.:\lPS Vol. 2 (1933) 1>. :n:1. Vol.:: (t9:~:n pp. 14, 121, 302. Vol. 4 (193:n Jlp. 121. 302. Vol.;; (1933) llll. 10:!. :w.S, 2·Hi, 317,353, 4:!5. Vol. G (19:H) pp. 1:!3, Ui3, 373. \'ol. 7 (19:)4 l pp. 194. 337. Yo!. S \1931 J pp. 158, 267. Vol. 9 (1934) IJ. 13U. \'ol. l 6 (1936) pp. :l3S, 341, 375. Yol. 17 (1936) pp. :!61, 308. \'ol. 18 (19:-17) pp. 51, 157.

THg U. S. STA:\IPS OF Till<~ TWENTIETH CEXTURY-:\IAX G. JOHL, Revised J~uition, 1 !J'l7, pp. 1 7:!-1, :!16-:!6, 211-:!45.

THI<~ U. S 3c YIOLJ~T. WAlt AXD PF;A('E LOUIS G. BARRETT, Booklet No. :C!, Severn-Wylie-Jewett Co. (1920).

WEI<:KLY l'IIILATgLIC GOSSIP Vol. 1~ (1930) p. 12:!7. Vol. 1!; (19:il) p. 1591. Yo!. 32 (1936) 1>. 947. , ... ol. 33 (1936) p. 243.